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US5504905A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for communicating a change in system configuration in an information handling network

Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1994-05-17
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Granted: 1996-04-02
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Expires: 2014-05-17
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Abstract

Abstract An information handling network includes a plurality of information processing systems having a pretermit system configuration operating under the control of a corresponding number of operating systems where during a initial microcode load (IML) period prior to loading the operating systems a change in the system configuration is detected based on the predetermined system configuration. Upon detecting the change, a communication adaptor device is activated for communicating certain configuration information over the network before loading the operating system.

Inventors

  • 👤 James W. Cleary
  • 👤 Carolyn L. Lay
  • 👤 Mitchell E. Medford
  • 👤 Michael R. Primm
  • 👤 Frederick C. Stanley

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 18:54
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 98 words
An information processing system for operating in an information handling network under the control of an operating system loaded into a system memory having a predetermined system configuration, comprising: detection means for detecting a change in system configuration and determining a new system configuration during an initial microcode load (IML) period prior to loading the operating system into the system memory; and communication means operable prior to loading of the operating system for communicating the new system configuration information over the information handling network upon detecting the change in the system configuration prior to loading the operating system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 98 words
An information processing system for operating in an information handling network under the control of an operating system loaded into a system memory having a predetermined system configuration, comprising: detection means for detecting a change in system configuration and determining a new system configuration during an initial microcode load (IML) period prior to loading the operating system into the system memory; and communication means operable prior to loading of the operating system for communicating the new system configuration information over the information handling network upon detecting the change in the system configuration prior to loading the operating system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 31 words
The processing system of claim 1 further including: means for allowing or disallowing a user activated change in the system configuration in response to an authorization signal from another processing system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
The processing system of claim 1 further including means for receiving the new system configuration information communicated by another processing system over the information handling network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 116 words
A processing system operating in an information handling network under control of an operating system, comprising: a central processing unit; a system memory; a communication adaptor Operable prior to loading of the operating system for communicating over the information handling network; storage means for storing a system configuration; detection means for detecting a change in the system configuration and determining a new system configuration during an initial microcode load (IML) period prior to loading the operating system into the system memory; collection means for collecting a system configuration information upon detecting the change in the system configuration; and means for activating said communication adaptor prior to loading the operating system for communicating the system configuration information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 116 words
A processing system operating in an information handling network under control of an operating system, comprising: a central processing unit; a system memory; a communication adaptor Operable prior to loading of the operating system for communicating over the information handling network; storage means for storing a system configuration; detection means for detecting a change in the system configuration and determining a new system configuration during an initial microcode load (IML) period prior to loading the operating system into the system memory; collection means for collecting a system configuration information upon detecting the change in the system configuration; and means for activating said communication adaptor prior to loading the operating system for communicating the system configuration information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
The processing system of claim 4 wherein said collection means includes means for loading a diagnostic program into the system memory.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 30 words
The processing system of claim 4 further including means for allowing or disallowing user activated change in the system configuration in response to an authorization signal from another processing system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 26 words
The processing system of claim 4 further including means for receiving the new system configuration as communicated by another processing system over the information handling network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 131 words
An information handling network, comprising: a plurality of networked processing systems each operating under control of a corresponding operating system loaded into a system memory each processing system having a system configuration, including: detection means for detecting a change in system configuration and determining a new system configuration during an IML period prior to loading the corresponding operating system into the system memory; communication means operable prior to loading of the operating system for communicating the new system configuration information prior to loading the operating system; and at least one administrator processing system including: monitor means for monitoring at least a portion of the communications over the information handling network; and means for receiving the system configuration information communicated by a processing system upon detecting a change in its system configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 131 words
An information handling network, comprising: a plurality of networked processing systems each operating under control of a corresponding operating system loaded into a system memory each processing system having a system configuration, including: detection means for detecting a change in system configuration and determining a new system configuration during an IML period prior to loading the corresponding operating system into the system memory; communication means operable prior to loading of the operating system for communicating the new system configuration information prior to loading the operating system; and at least one administrator processing system including: monitor means for monitoring at least a portion of the communications over the information handling network; and means for receiving the system configuration information communicated by a processing system upon detecting a change in its system configuration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 39 words
The information handling network of claim 8, wherein at least one of said processing systems includes means for allowing or disallowing user activated change in the system configuration in response to an authorization signal from the administrator processing system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 31 words
The information handling network of claim 8, wherein at least one of said processing systems includes means for receiving the new system configuration communicated by another one of the processing systems.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5307465A Cited
US5390303A Cited
US5237689A Cited
US5237690A Cited
US5379431A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-04-02 1999-10-02 2000-04-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-04-02 2003-10-02 2004-04-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-04-02 2007-10-02 2008-04-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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