User selectable priority for disk array background operations

For use with a computer system having a resource shared by a host processor and a bus master, a method of selecting priority between a foreground command by a host processor and a background command by a bus master, comprising the steps of:

• detecting a priority command indicating a priority level of a background command for the resource by the bus master;
• converting the priority level into a pause duration indicative of a time to delay a foreground command for the resource by the host processor and a pause interval indicating a number of foreground commands out of a predetermined number of foreground commands to process before delay of the foreground command;
• determining if the foreground command is to be delayed based on the pause interval;
• and
• delaying the foreground command for the pause duration if the foreground command is to be delayed.

A computer system, comprising:

• a bus;
• a host processor coupled to the bus;
• a bus master coupled to the bus;
• a resource coupled to the bus master;
• and
• the bus master executing command prioritization code to perform the steps of:
• detecting a priority command indicating a priority level of a background command for the resource by the bus master;
• converting the priority level into a pause duration indicative of a time to delay a foreground command for the resource by the host processor and a pause interval indicating a number of foreground commands out of a predetermined number of foreground commands to process before delay of the foreground command;
• determining if the foreground command is to be delayed based on the pause interval;
• and
• delaying the foreground command for the pause duration if the foreground command is to be delayed.