Information processing device

Abstract

This information processing device comprises: at least one USB connection unit that connects a USB-compliant information processing device; at least one SAS connection unit that connects an SAS-compliant information processing device; and a USB / SAS conversion unit that converts the USB protocol and the SAS protocol to each other. When the information processing device receives data and a command that are transmitted from the USB-compliant information processing device, the USB / SAS conversion unit converts the data and the command into the format of the SAS protocol, and the converted data and command of the SAS protocol format are transmitted from the SAS connection unit to the SAS-compliant information processing device. The USB / SAS conversion unit can change a processing algorithm and execute parallel processing.

Description

Information processing device

[0001] The present invention relates to a device that performs data conversion to enable communication between devices and apparatuses having interfaces with different protocols, and more particularly to a device that enables communication between USB devices and SAS devices.

[0002] Conventionally, in a configuration in which information processing devices have different interfaces, for example, one information processing device, a host computer, has a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface (hereinafter also referred to as USB I / F), and the other information processing device, a drive, has a SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) interface (hereinafter also referred to as SAS I / F), a configuration is known in which a data protocol conversion device is placed between the two devices to transmit and receive data between the two devices (Patent Document 1).

[0003] JP 2012-68808 A

[0004] The SAS employed as the interface for the storage device described in Patent Document 1 divides a predetermined unit of data (e.g., one block) into a predetermined size (e.g., frame by frame) and transmits it. Furthermore, since the data transmission speed of SAS is faster than the data transmission speed of USB, the difference in data transmission speed between the two interfaces may cause the transmission of USB data to be delayed in time for the reception of data transmitted from SAS, resulting in a delay in data processing in USB.

[0005] In this way, if data processing is delayed in the USB, and the SAS waits for data transmission for more than 1 ms, the storage device (SAS) will suspend data transmission and retransmit the data from the beginning of the block. Meanwhile, in this case, although a delay occurs in the data processing status, the USB continues to receive data. Therefore, even if the SAS retransmits data that it once transmitted from the beginning of the block, the USB will properly receive the data as if it had been transmitted continuously.

[0006] However, in such cases, the host computer (USB) may already have received data, and when data is retransmitted from the storage device (SAS), the host computer may receive inappropriate data that overlaps with the data already received. In other words, in such cases, data transmission and reception cannot be performed properly, and the transmission and reception process may end in failure or data mismatch may occur. It may also take an excessive amount of time to complete the process.

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device for appropriately performing data communication between devices having different interfaces.

[0008] An information processing device according to one aspect of the present invention is an information processing device that performs USB / SAS protocol conversion to enable transmission and reception of data and commands between a USB-compliant information processing device and a SAS-compliant information processing device, and includes at least one USB connection unit for connecting the USB-compliant information processing device, at least one SAS connection unit for connecting the SAS-compliant information processing device, and a USB / SAS conversion unit for converting between the USB protocol and the SAS protocol, and The units are connected via a bus, receive data and commands sent from a USB-compliant information processing device, and store them in a USB protocol format in a memory possessed by the USB connection unit, the USB / SAS conversion unit converts the data and commands into a SAS protocol format, and transmits them to the SAS-compliant information processing device from the memory possessed by the SAS connection unit in which the data and commands in the SAS protocol format converted by the USB / SAS conversion unit are stored, and the USB / SAS conversion unit is capable of changing the processing algorithm and performing parallel processing.

[0009] An information processing method according to one aspect of the present invention is an information processing method for performing USB / SAS protocol conversion to enable transmission and reception of data and commands between a USB-compliant information processing device and a SAS-compliant information processing device, the information processing method including a USB connection step in which at least one USB connection unit connects a USB-compliant information processing device, a SAS connection step in which at least one SAS connection unit connects a SAS-compliant information processing device, and a USB / SAS conversion step in which a USB / SAS conversion unit converts between the USB protocol and the SAS protocol, and the USB connection unit and the USB / SAS conversion unit and the SAS connection unit communicate with each other via a bus. The method further includes a USB receiving and storing step in which the USB / SAS conversion unit receives data and commands transmitted from the USB-compliant information processing device and stores them in a USB protocol format in a memory included in the USB connection unit, a USB / SAS conversion step in which the USB / SAS conversion unit converts the data and commands into a SAS protocol format, and a SAS storing and transmitting step in which the data and commands in the SAS protocol format converted by the USB / SAS conversion unit are stored in the memory included in the SAS connection unit and transmitted to the SAS-compliant information processing device, wherein the USB / SAS conversion unit is capable of changing the processing algorithm and performing parallel processing.

[0010] According to the present invention, by using an FPGA as a chip for data conversion processing in an information processing device, it becomes possible to rewrite the program, modify, add, or delete functions. In addition, since the program enables efficient parallel processing, high-speed processing is possible.

[0011] Furthermore, the present invention makes it possible to carry out high-speed and smooth processing between devices with different types of interfaces, and also makes it possible to easily add functions by modifying the program, etc.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a part of an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a part of an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing data transfer executed by an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of data transfer executed by an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the components described in the following embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention to these alone. Note that the terms "figure" and "drawing" in this specification may refer to both concepts and specific data, depending on the context. When "figure" and "drawing" are data, they are images in any format.

[0014] Furthermore, for the sake of convenience, the same reference numerals in each drawing indicate the same or equivalent parts unless otherwise specified, and elements having similar structures and / or functions are intended, and unnecessary detailed explanations may be omitted. Furthermore, redundant explanations may be appropriately simplified or omitted. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a numerical range may be expressed using the symbol "to", and the numerical values ​​written before and after "to" are included in the numerical range.

[0015] [Embodiment] (Information Processing Device) Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information processing device performs USB / SAS protocol conversion to enable transmission and reception of data and commands between a USB-compliant information processing device and a SAS-compliant information processing device, and therefore also functions as a USB / SAS protocol conversion device. As shown in Fig. 1, the information processing device 1 includes at least one USB connection unit 31, USB connection unit 32, ..., USB connection unit 33 to which at least one USB-compliant information processing device 11, USB-compliant information processing device 12, ..., USB-compliant information processing device 13 is connected.

[0016] 1, the information processing device 1 further includes at least one SAS connection unit 41, SAS connection unit 42, ..., SAS connection unit 43 that connect at least one SAS-compliant information processing device 21, SAS-compliant information processing device 22, ..., SAS-compliant information processing device 23. As shown in Fig. 1, the information processing device 1 further includes a USB / SAS conversion unit 5 that converts between the USB protocol and the SAS protocol. The USB connection units 31, 32, ..., USB connection unit 33 and the USB / SAS conversion unit 5, as well as the USB / SAS conversion unit 5 and the SAS connection units 41, 42, ..., SAS connection unit 43, are connected via a bus.

[0017] The data and commands transmitted from the USB-compliant information processing device 11, the USB-compliant information processing device 12, ..., the USB-compliant information processing device 13 are received by the USB connection units 31, 32, ..., the USB connection units 33, respectively, and stored in the memory of the USB connection units 31, 32, ..., the USB connection units 33, respectively, in the USB protocol format.

[0018] 2, USB connection units 31, 32, ..., and 33 include memories 311, 321, ..., and 331, respectively. USB / SAS conversion unit 5 shown in Fig. 1 converts data and commands into a SAS protocol format. The data and commands in the SAS protocol format converted by USB / SAS conversion unit 5 are stored in memories included in SAS connection units 41, 42, ..., and 43, respectively, and are transmitted to SAS-compliant information processing devices 21, 22, ..., and 23, respectively.

[0019] The USB / SAS conversion unit 5 is capable of changing the processing algorithm and performing parallel processing. When the information processing device 1, which is a USB / SAS protocol conversion device, employs an FPGA, the USB / SAS conversion unit 5 has a DMA function, the USB connection units 31, 32, ..., 33 have a USB IP function, and the SAS connection units 41, 42, ..., 43 have a SAS IP function. Next, the USB connection units 31, 32, ..., 33 have a multi-protocol function supporting USB transfer modes such as UASP (USB Attached SCSI Protocol) and BOT (Bulk Only Transport), and these multiple transfer modes can be automatically switched between.

[0020] Furthermore, when an FPGA is applied to the information processing device 1, functions can be modified, changed, added, deleted, etc. by modifying, adding, deleting, etc. the program. Next, for example, personal computers can be applied to the USB-compliant information processing devices 11, 12, ..., 13, and for example, LTO (Linear Tape-Open) drives can be applied to the SAS-compliant information processing devices 21, 22, ..., 23. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, USB connection units 31, 32, ..., 33 have memories 311, 321, ..., 331 that store data and commands transmitted from USB-compliant information processing devices 11, 12, ..., 13, respectively, and SAS connection units 41, 42, ..., 43 have memories 411, 421, ..., 431 that store data and commands protocol-converted by USB / SAS conversion unit 5.

[0021] 3, the USB / SAS conversion unit 5 includes a storage unit 52 that stores programs and the like that convert data and commands between the USB protocol and the SAS protocol, and a control unit 51 that executes operations such as modifying the contents of the programs stored in the storage unit 52, adding new programs to the storage unit 52, and deleting existing programs. The information processing device 1 of the present invention is compatible with USB standards such as USB 1.1, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB 3.1, USB 3.2, and USB 4, and will also be compatible with standards that will be extended in the future.

[0022] The information processing device 1 of the present invention also supports USB transfer modes such as control transfer, interrupt transfer, bulk transfer, and isochronous transfer, and will also support future extended transfer modes. Furthermore, the information processing device 1 of the present invention also supports USB terminals / connectors such as Type-A, Type-B, Type-C, Micro USB, and Mini USB connectors, and will also support future extended transfer modes.

[0023] Furthermore, the information processing device 1 of the present invention supports computer buses such as VME, SCSI, parallel ATA, USB, IEEE 1394, Low Pin Count, Ethernet, PCI Express, HDMI (registered trademark), and Thunderbolt, and will also support buses that will be expanded in the future. Furthermore, the information processing device 1 of the present invention supports hardware interfaces such as USB, Thunderbolt, IEEE 1394, Ethernet, eSATA, SCSI, PCI-Express, serial SCSI, serial ATA, InfiniBand, Fibre Channel, PS / 2 connector, and RS-232, and will also support hardware interfaces that will be expanded in the future.

[0024] (Information Processing Method) Data transfer from a USB-compliant information processing device to a SAS-compliant information processing device, executed by an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 4, in step S001, the information processing device 1 connects to at least one USB-compliant information processing device 11, USB-compliant information processing device 12, ..., USB-compliant information processing device 13, and in step S002, the information processing device 1 connects to at least one SAS-compliant information processing device 21, SAS-compliant information processing device 22, ..., SAS-compliant information processing device 23. In step S003, the USB-compliant information processing device 11, USB-compliant information processing device 12, ..., USB-compliant information processing device 13 transmit data and commands.

[0025] In step S004, if the USB I / Fs of the USB connection units 31, 32, ..., and 33 receive data and commands, the process proceeds to step S005. If the USB I / Fs of the USB connection units 31, 32, ..., and 33 do not receive data and commands in step S004, the process ends. In step S005, the USB I / Fs of the USB connection units 31, 32, ..., and 33 perform reception processing and store the data and commands in memory 311, memory 321, ..., and memory 331 of the USB connection units 31, 32, ..., and 33.

[0026] In step 006, the USB / SAS converter 5 converts the data and commands stored in the memory 311, memory 321, ..., memory 331 from USB format to SAS format. For example, the data and commands are converted from USB packets to SAS frames as the unit of transmission. In step 007, the SAS I / Fs of the SAS connectors 41, SAS connectors 42, ..., SAS connectors 43 perform transmission processing, and transmit the data and commands converted to the SAS data format from the memories 411, 421, ..., 431 of the SAS connectors 41, SAS connectors 42, ..., SAS connectors 43, where the data and commands are stored, to the SAS-compliant information processors 21, SAS-compliant information processors 22, ..., SAS-compliant information processors 23.

[0027] Next, data transfer from a SAS-compliant information processing device to a USB-compliant information processing device, which is executed by an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 5, in step S011, the information processing device 1 connects to at least one SAS-compliant information processing device 21, SAS-compliant information processing device 22, ..., SAS-compliant information processing device 23. In step S012, the information processing device 1 connects to at least one USB-compliant information processing device 11, USB-compliant information processing device 12, ..., USB-compliant information processing device 13. In step S013, the SAS-compliant information processing device 21, SAS-compliant information processing device 22, ..., SAS-compliant information processing device 23 transmits data and commands. In step S014, if the SAS I / Fs of the SAS connection units 41, 42, ..., SAS connection units 43 receive data and commands, the process proceeds to step S015.

[0028] In step 014, if the SAS I / Fs of the SAS connection units 41, 42, ..., and 43 do not receive data or commands, the process ends. In step 015, the SAS I / Fs of the SAS connection units 41, 42, ..., and 43 perform reception processing and store the data and commands in memories 411, 421, ..., and 431 of the SAS connection units 41, 42, ..., and 43. In step 016, the USB / SAS conversion unit 5 performs protocol conversion from SAS format to USB format for the data and commands stored in memories 411, 421, ..., and 431. For example, the data and commands are converted from SAS frames to USB packets as the structural units of transmission and transfer.

[0029] In step 017, the USB connection units 31, 32, ..., 33 perform a transmission process, and transmit the data and commands converted to the USB data format from the memories 311, 321, ..., 331 of the USB connection units 31, 32, ..., 33 to the USB-compliant information processing devices 11, 12, ..., 13.

[0030] The embodiments disclosed herein are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above meaning, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0031] Furthermore, in the processes or operations described above, the processes or operations can be freely changed as long as no inconsistencies in the processes or operations occur, such as the use of data that should not yet be available in a certain step. Furthermore, the embodiments described above are merely examples for explaining the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0032] 1 Information processing device (USB / SAS protocol conversion device) 5 USB / SAS conversion unit 11 to 13 USB-compliant information processing device 31 to 33 USB connection unit 311 to 331 Memory 21 to 23 SAS-compliant information processing device 41 to 43 SAS connection unit 411 to 431 Memory 51 Control unit 52 Storage unit

Claims

1. An information processing device that performs USB / SAS protocol conversion to enable transmission and reception of data and commands between a USB-compliant information processing device and a SAS-compliant information processing device, comprising: at least one USB connection unit that connects the USB-compliant information processing device; at least one SAS connection unit that connects the SAS-compliant information processing device; and a USB / SAS conversion unit that converts between the USB protocol and the SAS protocol, wherein the USB connection unit and the USB / SAS conversion unit, and the USB / SAS conversion unit and the SAS connection unit, are connected via a bus; the data and commands transmitted from the USB-compliant information processing device are received and stored in a memory of the USB connection unit in a USB protocol format; and the USB / SAS conversion unit converts the data and commands into a SAS protocol format; The data and commands in the SAS protocol format converted by the USB / SAS conversion unit are transmitted from a memory of the SAS connection unit in which they are stored to the SAS-compliant information processing device, and the USB / SAS conversion unit is capable of changing processing algorithms and performing parallel processing.

2. An information processing method for performing USB / SAS protocol conversion to enable transmission and reception of data and commands between a USB-compliant information processing device and a SAS-compliant information processing device, comprising: a USB connection step in which at least one USB connection unit connects the USB-compliant information processing device; a SAS connection step in which at least one SAS connection unit connects the SAS-compliant information processing device; a USB / SAS conversion step in which a USB / SAS conversion unit converts between the USB protocol and the SAS protocol; wherein the USB connection unit and the USB / SAS conversion unit, and the USB / SAS conversion unit and the SAS connection unit, are connected via a bus; and a USB receiving and storing step in which the data and commands transmitted from the USB-compliant information processing device are received and stored in a memory of the USB connection unit in a format conforming to the USB protocol. an SB / SAS conversion step in which the USB / SAS conversion unit converts the data and commands into the format of the SAS protocol; and a SAS storage and transmission step in which the data and commands in the SAS protocol format converted by the USB / SAS conversion unit are stored in a memory of the SAS connection unit and transmitted to the SAS-compliant information processing device, wherein the USB / SAS conversion unit is capable of changing a processing algorithm and performing parallel processing.

3. An information processing device that performs USB / SAS protocol conversion to enable transmission and reception of data and commands between a USB-compliant information processing device and a SAS-compliant information processing device, comprising: at least one USB connection unit for connecting the USB-compliant information processing device; at least one SAS connection unit for connecting the SAS-compliant information processing device; and a USB / SAS conversion unit for converting between the USB protocol and the SAS protocol, wherein the data and commands received from the USB-compliant information processing device are transmitted to the SAS-compliant information processing device via the USB connection unit, the USB / SAS conversion unit, and the SAS connection unit, and the data and commands received from the SAS-compliant information processing device are transmitted to the USB-compliant information processing device via the SAS connection unit, the USB / SAS conversion unit, and the USB connection unit, and the USB / SAS conversion unit supports at least one data transfer protocol, The information processing device is characterized in that the USB / SAS conversion unit is capable of rewriting the data transfer protocol.

4. The information processing device according to claim 3, wherein said USB / SAS conversion unit comprises a control unit for adding, modifying, deleting and executing a program having a new function, and a storage unit for storing said program.

5. An information processing method for performing USB / SAS protocol conversion to enable transmission and reception of data and commands between a USB-compliant information processing device and a SAS-compliant information processing device, comprising: a USB connection step in which at least one USB connection unit connects the USB-compliant information processing device; a SAS connection step in which at least one SAS connection unit connects the SAS-compliant information processing device; a USB / SAS conversion step in which a USB / SAS conversion unit converts between the USB protocol and the SAS protocol; and further comprising: a SAS transmission step in which the data and commands received from the USB-compliant information processing device are transmitted to the SAS-compliant information processing device via the USB connection unit, the USB / SAS conversion unit, and the SAS connection unit; and a USB transmission step in which the data and commands received from the SAS-compliant information processing device are transmitted to the USB-compliant information processing device via the SAS connection unit, the USB / SAS conversion unit, and the USB connection unit. The information processing method, wherein the USB / SAS conversion unit supports at least one data transfer protocol, and the USB / SAS conversion unit is capable of rewriting the data transfer protocol.

6. An information processing method according to claim 5, characterized in that it includes a control step in which the USB / SAS conversion unit adds, modifies, deletes and executes a program having a new function, and a storage step in which the USB / SAS conversion unit stores the program.

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