1. A storage control apparatus that includes a plurality of storage units connected with one another via a network and controls original data and backup data stored in the storage units, the storage units including a first storage unit that stores first original data in a first primary directory and a second storage unit that stores second original data in a second primary directory and backup data of the first original data in a first backup directory, the storage control apparatus comprising:
a failure detecting unit that detects an occurrence of a failure in the first primary directory; and
a logical-memory-area creating unit that creates, upon detection of the failure, a logical memory area in the second storage unit, the logical memory area being created in an area separate from the second primary directory and the first backup directory, in the logical memory area, the first backup directory and a second backup directory being allocated, and the first backup directory being allocated as the first primary directory.
2. The storage control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storing unit that stores, in the second backup directory allocated in the logical memory area, backup data of third original data stored in a third storage unit, the third storage unit storing the third original data in a third primary directory and the backup data of the third original data having been stored in a backup directory of the first storage unit.
3. The storage control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storing unit that stores, in the first backup directory, backup data of the first original data stored in the first primary directory allocated in the logical memory area.
4. The storage control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the original data and the backup data have a hierarchical structure.
5. A storage control method that is applied to a storage control apparatus including a plurality of storage units connected with one another via a network and controlling original data and backup data stored in the storage units, the storage units including a first storage unit that stores first original data in a first primary directory and a second storage unit that stores second original data in a second primary directory and backup data of the first original data in a first backup directory, the storage control method comprising:
detecting an occurrence of a failure in the first primary directory; and
creating, upon detection of the failure, a logical memory area in the second storage unit, the logical memory area being created in an area separate from the second primary directory and the first backup directory, in the logical memory area, the first backup directory and a second backup directory being allocated, and the first backup directory being allocated as the first primary directory.
6. The storage control method according to claim 5, further comprising storing, in the second backup directory allocated in the logical memory area, backup data of third original data stored in a third storage unit, the third storage unit storing the third original data in a third primary directory and the backup data of the third original data having been stored in a backup directory of the first storage unit.
7. The storage control method according to claim 5, further comprising storing, in the first backup directory, backup data of the first original data stored in the first primary directory allocated in the logical memory area.
8. The storage control method according to claim 5, wherein the original data and the backup data have a hierarchical structure.
9. A computer-readable recording medium that stores therein a computer program that causes a computer to control original data and backup data stored in a plurality of storage units connected with one another via a network in a storage control apparatus, the storage units including a first storage unit that stores first original data in a first primary directory and a second storage unit that stores second original data in a second primary directory and backup data of the first original data in a first backup directory, the computer program causing the computer to execute:
detecting an occurrence of a failure in the first primary directory; and
creating, upon detection of the failure, a logical memory area in the second storage unit, the logical memory area being created in an area separate from the second primary directory and the first backup directory, in the logical memory area, the first backup directory and a second backup directory being allocated, and the first backup directory being allocated as the first primary directory.
10. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 9, further comprising storing, in the second backup directory allocated in the logical memory area, backup data of third original data stored in a third storage unit, the third storage unit storing the third original data in a third primary directory and the backup data of the third original data having been stored in a backup directory of the first storage unit.
11. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 9, further comprising storing, in the first backup directory, backup data of the first original data stored in the first primary directory allocated in the logical memory area.
12. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 9, wherein the original data and the backup data have a hierarchical structure.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A driver comprising switching circuitry referenced to a voltage level and configured to provide a drive signal for a switch referenced to another voltage level and subject to a control voltage limit.
2. The driver as recited in claim 1 wherein said switching circuitry is referenced to a ground potential and said switch is referenced to about five volts.
3. The driver as recited in claim 1 wherein said switch is a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) referenced to said another voltage, said switching circuitry configured to provide a gate drive signal for said switch within a gate voltage limit thereof.
4. The driver as recited in claim 1 wherein said switching circuitry comprises a plurality of driver switches couplable to ground and referenced to a ground potential and said switch is couplable to a source of electrical power and referenced to said another voltage level provided therefrom, ones of said plurality of driver switches being couplable to said ground, said source of electrical power and a bias voltage source for providing a bias voltage, ones of said plurality of driver switches configured to cooperate to provide said drive signal referenced to said another voltage and within said control voltage limit of said switch.
5. The driver as recited in claim 1 wherein said switching circuitry comprises at least one driver switch configured to enable a mode of operation wherein said drive signal for said switch is referenced to said voltage level.
6. For use with a power converter couplable to a source of electrical power adapted to provide an input voltage thereto, said power converter including a power train having a switch referenced to said input voltage and subject to a control voltage limit, a driver, comprising:
switching circuitry referenced to a voltage level different from said input voltage and configured to provide a drive signal for said switch within said control voltage limit of said switch.
7. The driver as recited in claim 6 wherein said input voltage is about five volts and said switching circuitry is referenced to a ground potential.
8. The driver as recited in claim 6 wherein said switch is a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) referenced to said input voltage, said switching circuitry configured to provide a gate drive signal for said switch within a gate voltage limit thereof.
9. The driver as recited in claim 6 wherein said switching circuitry comprises a plurality of driver switches couplable to ground, ones of said plurality of driver switches being couplable to said ground, said source of electrical power and a bias voltage source for providing a bias voltage, ones of said plurality of driver switches configured to cooperate to provide said drive signal referenced to said input voltage and within said control voltage limit of said switch.
10. The driver as recited in claim 6 wherein said switching circuitry comprises at least one driver switch configured to enable a mode of operation wherein said drive signal for said switch is referenced to said voltage level.
11. For use with a power converter couplable to a source of electrical power adapted to provide an input voltage thereto, a method of driving a switch of said power converter referenced to said input voltage and subject to a control voltage limit, comprising:
providing a drive signal for said switch within said control voltage limit of said switch with switching circuitry referenced from a voltage level different from said input voltage.
12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said input voltage is about five volts and said switching circuitry is referenced to a ground potential.
13. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said switch is a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) referenced to said input voltage, said switching circuitry providing a gate drive signal for said switch within a gate voltage limit thereof.
14. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said switching circuitry comprises a plurality of driver switches couplable to ground, ones of said plurality of driver switches being couplable to said ground, said source of electrical power and a bias voltage source for providing a bias voltage, ones of said plurality of driver switches cooperating to provide said drive signal referenced to said input voltage and within said control voltage limit of said switch.
15. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising enabling a mode of operation wherein said drive signal for said switch is referenced to said voltage level.
16. A power converter couplable to a source of electrical power adapted to provide an input voltage thereto, comprising:
a power train including a switch, referenced to said input voltage and subject to a control voltage limit, configured to conduct for a duty cycle and provide a regulated output characteristic at an output of said power converter;
a controller configured to provide a signal to control said duty cycle of said switch; and
a driver including switching circuitry referenced to a voltage level different from said input voltage and configured to provide a drive signal for said switch within said control voltage limit as a function of said signal from said controller.
17. The power converter as recited in claim 16 wherein said controller is configured to provide a complement of said signal to control said duty cycle of said switch, said driver being configured to provide said drive signal for said switch within said control voltage limit as a function of said complement of said signal from said controller.
18. The power converter as recited in claim 16 wherein said switch is a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) referenced to said input voltage, said switching circuitry configured to provide a gate drive signal for said switch within a gate voltage limit thereof.
19. The power converter as recited in claim 16 wherein said switching circuitry comprises a plurality of driver switches couplable to ground, ones of said plurality of driver switches being couplable to said ground, said source of electrical power and a bias voltage source for providing a bias voltage, ones of said plurality of driver switches configured to cooperate to provide said drive signal referenced to said input voltage and within said control voltage limit of said switch.
20. The power converter as recited in claim 16 wherein said switching circuitry comprises at least one driver switch configured to enable a mode of operation wherein said drive signal for said switch is referenced to said voltage level.