Appeal No. 97-2979 Page 5
Application No. 08/219,553
controller, and SCSI targets. (Examiner’s Answer at 4.)
Next, the examiner describes the reference as follows.
Fischer on column 2, lines 35-59, describes how
the processors and targets communicate between each
other. There is a Mailbox or storage means given to
each processor modules (see column 4, lines 53-62)
and I/0 adaptors with Queue Descriptors for each I/0
device in the Mailboxes (see columns 5-7) for
storing ATTENTION DATA (see Module Attention and
Device Attention on columns 7-8 and 29, line 45 et
seq.) when a UNIT ATTENTION condition exists. The
commands to be sent and received between the hosts
and targets such as ATTENTION DATA, CHECK CONDITION,
giving a warning, resending the warning, REQUEST
SENSE, getting the sense key, checking UNIT
ATTENTION are SCSI standard commands which are
followed by Fischer as shown on column 24, lines 53-
54. The controller stores information such as
Exception Status Block (PM data) in a Mailbox for
the I/O adaptor corresponding to Queue Descriptor
for each target device (see columns 5-8, polling on
column 14, lines 64 et seq.). Fischer teaches the
basic structure of the inventive system for claims
1-3, but doesn't provide all of the details of SCSI
operation attributed to the various elements as
claimed by the Applicant. Fischer describes that
when the controller detects an error during a device
operation the Queue Descriptor which is in memory
for each decvice [sic] is checked as shown on column
32, lines 42-64. Fischer describes that EACH HOST
has memory allocated for EACH TARGET for SCSI
commands. The commands to be sent and received
between the hosts and targets such as ATTENTION
DATA, CHECK CONDITION, giving a warning, resending
the warning, REQUEST SENSE, getting the sense key,
checking UNIT ATTENTION are SCSI standard commands.
(Id. at 4-5.)
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007