EP0649092A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for fault tolerant connection of a computing system to local area networks
Assignee: Tandem Computers Inc
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Filing: 1994-09-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-09-07
Abstract
Abstract A computing system, having an input/output bus for communicating data thereon, is connected to a network by a pair of network controller devices. Each of the network controller devices, in turn, connect to a corresponding one of a pair of multi-ported network repeater elements which are, in turn, connected to one another by a pair of network links. At least one workstation is connected to each of the network repeaters. One of the network controllers is initially selected as a primary data communicating path from the computing system to the network. The network controllers periodically transmit messages to one another, and if receipt of those messages by the primary network controller is noted, the selection of the primary controller will be switched to the other.
Inventors
- 👤 Kevin J. Rowett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 04:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/20; G06F11/2002; G06F11/2005; G06F11/2007; G06F11/202; G06F11/2046; G06F11/2017; G06F11/2038; G06F11/2097
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A method for fault tolerant connection of a processing means to a network, the processing means having an input/output bus means for communicating data, the method comprising the steps of: connecting to the input/output bus means first and second network controller means; providing a pair of hub means each having a plurality of ports at which data is received or transmitted, a one of the plurality ports of each of the pair of hub means being coupled to corresponding ones of the first and second network controller means for receiving data therefrom or transmitting data thereto, another of the plurality of ports of a one of the pair of hub means being coupled to another of the plurality of ports of the other one of the pair of hub means; connecting at least one station means to another one of the plurality of ports of each of the pair of hub means; and selecting a one of the first or second network controller means as a primary data communication path between the processing means and the pair of hub means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, including the step of transmitting from the first and second network controller means for receipt by at least the second and first network controller means, respectively, message data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the transmitting step occurs periodically.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the absence of receipt of the message data from the first or second controller means by the second or first controller means, respectively, is reported to the processor means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 4, including the step of selecting another of the first or second network controller means as a primary data communication path when absence of receipt of the message data from the prior selected one of the first or second network controller means is reported to the processor means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1, wherein a further one of the plurality of ports of each of the hub means is coupled to the other for communicating data therebetween, and means for selecting one of he hub-to-hub connections as a primary data communicating path between the pair of hub means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
167 words
A fault tolerant connection of a processing system to a network, the processing system having an input/output bus means for communicating data, the connection comprising: first and second network controller means connected to the input/output bus means; a pair of forwarding means each having a plurality of ports at which data is received or transmitted, a one of the plurality ports of each of the pair of forwarding means being coupled to corresponding ones of the first and second network controller means for communicating data therebetween, another of the plurality of ports of a one of the pair of forwarding means being coupled to another of the plurality of ports of the other one of the pair of forwarding means; at least one station means connected to a port of each of the pair of forwarding means; and means for selecting a one of the first or second network controller means as a primary data communication path from the processing means to the pair of forwarding means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The fault tolerant connection of claim 7, the one station means including means for selecting a connection to a one of the ports of each of the pair of forwarding means as a primary path for data communication to and from the one station means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The fault tolerant connection of claim 7, including means for causing the first and second network controller means to transmit message data to be received by at least the second and first network controller means, respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
The fault tolerant connection of claim 9, wherein the first and second network controller means report absence of receipt of message data to the processing means, and wherein the processing means selects another of the first or second network controller means as a primary data communication path when absence of receipt of the message data from the prior selected one of the first and second network controller means is reported to the processor means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4527270A
Cited
EP0416943A2
Cited
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