Broadcom Assigned Two Patents

Combined local and network storage interface
Broadcom Corp., Irvine, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,433,770) developed by four co-inventors for a "combined local and network storage interface."

The co-inventors are Eric S. Noya, Groton, MA, Chris R. Franklin, Merrimack, NH, Randy M. Arnott, Mont Vernon, NH, and Jeffrey T. Wong, Newton, MA.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method, system and computer program product for a generic storage interface for local and remote networked storage is provided. It comprises providing a storage interface accessible by an OS, transmitting data from an application running on the OS to the storage interface and selectively storing the data using the same storage interface in either a local or a remote networked storage location. Firmware for the common storage interface assigns a unique identifier that classifies an I/O request as a local or remote networked I/O request and adds the I/O request to a common stack for local and remote networked storage elements. When an I/O request is removed from the stack, the unique identifier is used to identify the I/O request as a local or remote networked I/O request. Local I/O requests are executed via a local bus such as PCI, or SCSI. Remote networked I/O requests require a connection to one or more remote networked storage elements via a network. Memory space in a cache may be allocated for both local or remote networked I/O requests. DMA transfer may be employed for both local and remote networked I/O requests. Both local and remote networked I/O requests are executed using the same firmware and the same data interface."

The patent application was filed on Oct. 28, 2005 (11/260,278).

Storage device interface in microprocessor
for handheld systems
Broadcom Corp., Irvine, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,402,233) developed by Paul Yang Lu, Los Altos, CA, for a "method and apparatus for high throughput mass storage device interface in a microprocessor for handheld systems."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Certain embodiments of a method and apparatus for high throughput mass storage device interface in a microprocessor for handheld systems may comprise interleaving accesses to a plurality of mass storage devices communicatively coupled to a portable media processing device. Interleaved transfer may occur of data corresponding to the interleaved accesses to the plurality of mass storage devices communicatively coupled to the portable media processing device. At least a portion of the plurality of mass storage devices may be communicatively coupled internally to the portable media processing device. A remaining portion of the plurality of mass storage devices may be communicatively coupled externally to the portable media processing device."

The patent application was filed on Sept. 7, 2005 (11/220,731).