EP0076655A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Computer peripheral control apparatus
Assignee: Ascend Communications Inc
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Filing: 1982-09-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A fault-tolerant computer system (10) provides information transfers between the units of a computing module, including a processor unit (12) and a memory unit (16) and one or more peripheral control units (20, 24, 28), on a bus structure (30) common to all the units. Information-handling parts of the system, both in the bus structure and in each unit, can have a duplicate partner (14, 18, 22). Error detectors check the operation of the bus structure and of each system unit to provide information transfers only on fault-free bus conductors and between fault-free units. The computer system can operate in this manner essentially without interruption in the event of faults by using only fault-free conductors and functional units. Arbitration circuits of unusual speed and simplicity provide units of the computing module with access to the common bus structure according to the priority of each unit. The units of a module check ncoming and outgoing signals for errors, signal other module units of a detected error, and disable the unit from sending potentially erroneous information onto the bus structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Keneth T. Wolff
- 👤 Joseph E. Samson
- 👤 Kurt F. Baty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:04
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/1608; G06F11/1625; G06F11/1629; G06F11/1641; G06F11/20; G06F11/2002; G06F11/2007; G06F13/00; G06F13/14; G06F13/36; G06F13/368; G06F13/374; G06F11/08; G06F11/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
Computer peripheral control apparatus for connection with a computer bus structure (30) for the transfer of data between one or more computer functional units (12, 16) connected to that bus structure and at least one computer peripheral device connected with the control apparatus, where the bus structure includes first and second duplicative buses (42, 44), characterised by A. input means (400, 402) for receiving signals from any of said first and second buses and being conditioned by an applied control signal for responding to signals on only a single one of said first and second buses, B. bus output means (404) for applying signals identically to both of said first and second buses independent of the conditioning of said input means, C. device output means for connection to the peripheral device, and D. first fault-detecting means (406) for detecting a first selected fault condition in the control apparatus and responding to such a detected fault-condition to disable said bus output means (404) from applying signals to either of said first and second buses.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
Computer peripheral control apparatus for connection with a computer bus structure (30) for the transfer of data between one or more computer functional units (12, 16) connected to that bus structure and at least one computer peripheral device connected with the control apparatus, where the bus structure includes first and second duplicative buses (42, 44), characterised by A. input means (400, 402) for receiving signals from any of said first and second buses and being conditioned by an applied control signal for responding to signals on only a single one of said first and second buses, B. bus output means (404) for applying signals identically to both of said first and second buses independent of the conditioning of said input means, C. device output means for connection to the peripheral device, and D. first fault-detecting means (406) for detecting a first selected fault condition in the control apparatus and responding to such a detected fault-condition to disable said bus output means (404) from applying signals to either of said first and second buses.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that said first fault-detecting means (406) detects a fault condition in signals applied to said buses by way of said output means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, characterised by further fault-detecting means (414) for detecting a second selected fault-condition in signals transferred in at least one direction at said device output means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in that A. said further fault-detecting means detects at least a second fault condition in signals applied to said device output means, and B. said first fault-detecting means includes means for responding to the detection of said second fault condition for also disabling said bus output means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the bus structure further includes a third bus, and characterised by means for receiving signals from, and for applying signals to, the third bus, said means providing signal receiving and signal applying operations both in the absence of any said detection fault condition and in the presence thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised by first and second device controlling sections, each of which is connected with said input means to receive signals from said bus structure, and is arranged for providing identical operations in response to said received signals and for producing output signals in response to said operations, and at least said first of which is arranged to apply output signals to said bus output means and to apply further output signals to said device output means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, characterised by means for identically applying to both said controlling sections signals received at said device output means from a peripheral device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, characterised in that said first fault-detecting means includes comparator means for comparing signals output from said first controlling section to said buses by way of said bus output means with corresponding signals from said second controlling section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, characterised by means for comparing signals output from said first controlling section to the peripheral device by way of said device output means with corresponding signals from said second controlling section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 9, characterised by means for checking signals received at said device output means from a peripheral device for a fault condition, and for producing a fault-reporting signal in response thereto.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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