A system and method for increasing the throughput of a directory-based
storage system is provided. The storage system includes a data storage
system to store data signals, and a directory to store state information
for the data signals. Requests issued to the storage system are grouped
into sets. The requests within a same set are issued in succession to the
data storage system to initiate read and/or write memory operations. At
the same time, directory entries are read from the directory for each
request in the set. Each directory entry is updated as it is retrieved to
reflect the requested memory operation. After all directory entries are
retrieved, the updated entries are stored back to the directory in
succession so that the bi-directional interface to the directory
undergoes only a single direction change during the processing of the
set.