US5220668A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital data processor with maintenance and diagnostic system
Assignee: Ascend Communications Inc
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Filing: 1991-06-28
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Granted: 1993-06-15
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Expires: 2011-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A state machine in a digital data processor in a UNIX-type operating system environment has state managers associated with the functional units of the data processor for indicating the state of the units; a message handler for, alternately, (a) generating requests for processing event messages indicative of conditions in the processor, that are awaiting processing and (b) generating a request for evaluation of one state manager's maintenance state, limited to transition from one state to another; and a scheduling means responsive to requests from the message handler for selectively processing the event messages, to the passage of time, and to changes of state of state managers, and for scheduling evaluation of a state manager's maintenance state. The scheduling means schedules evaluation of respective state manager's maintenance states according to a priority determined by (a) dependencies between state managers, wherein one state manager is dependent on another state manager, and (b) priorities set by scheduling conditions registered by state managers. The scheduling means executes the steps of (a) evaluating a predetermined input condition, (b) selectively making a state transition in accord with that input condition and the state manager's maintenance state, and (c) selectively performing a predetermined action associated with said transition.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles A. Bullis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:56
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/22; G06F11/26; G06F11/273; G06F11/2736; G06F11/30; G06F11/3051; G06F11/3055
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
In a digital data processor of the type having processing means for processing data including one or more functional units operatively interconnected along a bus, said functional units including any of processing units, memory assemblies, peripheral devices, peripheral device controllers and the like, the improvement wherein said processing means includes state machine means for providing a maintenance state model of said digital data processor, said state machine means including a plurality of state managers each associated with one of said functional units for indicating the state thereof, said processing means including event signalling means coupled to said state machine means for generating event messages indicative of conditions of said digital data processor, at least a first said state manager being selectively responsive to any of said event messages and a state indicated by another state manager to change the state indicated by said first state manager.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
In a digital data processor of the type having processing means for processing data including one or more functional units operatively interconnected along a bus, said functional units including any of processing units, memory assemblies, peripheral devices, peripheral device controllers and the like, the improvement wherein said processing means includes state machine means for providing a maintenance state model of said digital data processor, said state machine means including a plurality of state managers each associated with one of said functional units for indicating the state thereof, said processing means including event signalling means coupled to said state machine means for generating event messages indicative of conditions of said digital data processor, at least a first said state manager being selectively responsive to any of said event messages and a state indicated by another state manager to change the state indicated by said first state manager.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
In a digital data processor according to claim 1 the improvement wherein said processing means includes scheduling means responsive to a request for at least one of (a) processing said event messages and (b) scheduling evaluation of a state manager's maintenance state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
In a digital data processor according to claim 2, the improvement wherein said scheduling means includes means for evaluating a state manager's maintenance state by executing the steps of (a) evaluating a predetermined input condition, (b) selectively making a state transition in accord with that input condition and with the state manager's maintenance state, and (c) selectively performing a predetermined action associated with said transition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
In a digital data processor according to claim 3 the improvement wherein processing means includes message handling means coupled to said event signalling means and to said state machine means for, alternately, (a) generating requests for processing of all pending event messages and (b) generating a request for evaluation of one state manager's maintenance state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
In a digital data processor according to claim 4 the improvement wherein said message handling means includes means for, repeatedly and alternately, executing the steps of (a) generating requests for processing of all pending event messages and (b) generating a request for evaluation of at most one state transition of one state manager's maintenance state.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
In a digital data processor according to claim 4 the improvement wherein said scheduling means is arranged to schedule evaluation of respective state managers' maintenance states according to a priority determined by (a) dependencies between state managers, wherein one state manager can mark itself dependent on another state manager, and (b) priorities set by scheduling conditions registered by state managers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
In a digital data processor according to claim 1 the improvement wherein said state managers are configured to represent a configuration of said digital data processor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
In a digital data processor according to claim 1, the improvement wherein said processing means operates under a UNIX-type operating system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
220 words
In a digital data processor of the type having processing means for processing data, including one or more functional units operatively interconnected along a bus, said functional units including any of processing units, memory assemblies, peripheral devices, peripheral device controllers and the like, the improvement wherein said processing means includes event signalling means for generating event messages indicative of conditions of said digital data processor, and state machine means for providing a maintenance state model of said digital data processor, said state machine means including A. a plurality of state managers each associated with one of said functional units for indicating the state thereof, B. said state managers being configured to represent a configuration of said digital data processor, C. message handling means for, alternately, (a) generating requests for processing of all pending event messages awaiting processing, and (b) generating a request for evaluation of one state manager's maintenance state, D. scheduling means responsive to said requests for selectively processing said event messages and for scheduling evaluation of a state manager's maintenance state, said scheduling means arranged to schedule evaluation of respective state managers' maintenance states according to a priority determined by (a) dependencies between state managers, wherein one state manager can mark itself dependent on another state manager, and (b) priorities set by scheduling conditions registered by state managers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
220 words
In a digital data processor of the type having processing means for processing data, including one or more functional units operatively interconnected along a bus, said functional units including any of processing units, memory assemblies, peripheral devices, peripheral device controllers and the like, the improvement wherein said processing means includes event signalling means for generating event messages indicative of conditions of said digital data processor, and state machine means for providing a maintenance state model of said digital data processor, said state machine means including A. a plurality of state managers each associated with one of said functional units for indicating the state thereof, B. said state managers being configured to represent a configuration of said digital data processor, C. message handling means for, alternately, (a) generating requests for processing of all pending event messages awaiting processing, and (b) generating a request for evaluation of one state manager's maintenance state, D. scheduling means responsive to said requests for selectively processing said event messages and for scheduling evaluation of a state manager's maintenance state, said scheduling means arranged to schedule evaluation of respective state managers' maintenance states according to a priority determined by (a) dependencies between state managers, wherein one state manager can mark itself dependent on another state manager, and (b) priorities set by scheduling conditions registered by state managers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
In a digital data processor according to claim 9, the further improvement wherein said scheduling means includes means for executing the steps of (a) evaluating a predetermined input condition, (b) selectively making a state transition in accord with that input condition and the state manager's maintenance state, and (c) selectively performing a predetermined action associated with said transition.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-06-14 | 1996-12-14 | 1997-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-06-14 | 2000-12-14 | 2001-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-06-14 | 2004-12-14 | 2005-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |