US RE40,034 E1
Method and apparatus to reduce serial communications path connection overhead
Judy Lynn Westby, Bloomington, Minn. (US); and Michael H. Miller, Eden Prairie, Minn. (US)
Assigned to Seagate Technology LLC, Scotts Valley, Calif. (US)
Filed on Nov. 13, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/714,478.
Application 10/714478 is a reissue of application No. 09/193482, filed on Nov. 17, 1998, now 6,317,800, filed on Nov. 13, 2001.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/065920, filed on Nov. 17, 1997.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/065926, filed on Nov. 17, 1997.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/065919, filed on Nov. 17, 1997.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/067211, filed on Dec. 01, 1997.
Int. Cl. G06F 13/14 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 710—40  [710/107; 710/240] 39 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
[ 20. A system, comprising:
a first serial device having n ports, each port supporting a serial communications path; and
an arbitration-and-control apparatus configured to arbitrate for control of the serial communications path and, after control is achieved, maintain control of the serial communications path as long as at least a first predetermined amount of data is available within control of the first serial device, wherein the first predetermined amount of data within control of the first serial device includes at least some data not available for transfer to the serial communications path.]