FIRST COME MEMORY ACCESSING WITHOUT CONFLICT

摘要

An information storage system (100) includes a controller (116) for managing the resources of a common mass storage device (128) in order to enable multiple hosts (104, 104) connected to a common bus (106) to independently read and write to the mass storage device (128) in a relatively high speed manner on a first come, real time basis. In particular, a system of commands is provided which enables each host (104) to read and write to the mass storage device (128) on an independent, first come, real time basis by locking the requested address space irrespective of the origination. Even though an address storage space may be locked, the data within such space is always readable by another host (104). Should a subsequent host (104) issue a command to write to the locked address space, the command is aborted and a flag is set indicating to the subsequent requesting host (104) that the area is locked.