US5671441A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for automatic generation of I/O configuration descriptions
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1994-11-29
•
Granted: 1997-09-23
•
Expires: 2014-11-29
Abstract
Abstract Automatic machine methods and apparatus for determining which components of an I/O configuration are shared by other components of the configuration. The information can be obtained through the use of existing self-description facilities and unique identifiers. By noting which channel paths are used to obtain configuration-data records and examining the unique identifiers provided for each I/O items it can be determined which I/O devices are accessible through the same control unit, and which control units provide access to the same I/O device. Furthermore, by examining the unique identifiers provided, it can be determined which I/O subsystems and which control units or channel subsystems are accessible through the same dynamic switch and which dynamic switches provide access to the same I/O subsystem of channel subsystem. A programmable subchannel is provided to enable communication between a CEC and an electrically-connected I/O item not represented in the current I/O configuration description being used by the CEC. Without the programmed subchannel, the CEC cannot access any I/O item not represented in the CEC's current I/O configuration description.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven Gardner Glassen
- 👤 Marten Jan Halma
- 👤 Eugene Paul Hefferon
- 👤 Francis Edward Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 09:04
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F9/4411
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
280 words
A method in a computer system with a central electronics complex (CEC), having at least one I/O channel subsystem, a plurality of channel paths and a plurality of I/O items, said I/O items being attachable to said subsystem via said channel paths in different ways as to provide a plurality of different system configurations, the method performed by the CEC for accessing information associated with said I/O items, said method comprising the following CEC-performed steps: structuring in the CEC an amorphous subchannel not defined in a current I/O configuration definition for the I/O channel subsystem, using the amorphous subchannel to test for the existence of each I/O item connected to one or more channel paths of said CEC by simulating a plurality of I/O item addresses by the amorphous subchannel without the CEC using the current I/O configuration definition for accessing the I/O item, attempting to access the I/O item addressed by the using step, determining characteristics of each of said I/O items by accessing self-description information provided for each of said I/O items; determining the channel paths usable to access each of said I/O items; storing the self-description information about said attached I/O items and storing information for each channel path connection to each I/O item in an I/O item configuration record; examining said I/O item configuration record to determine if any of said I/O items are shared by said channel paths or said I/O items, and using said I/O item configuration record to build an I/O configuration definition, wherein the amorphous subchannel previously contained no fixed I/O configuration definition information, and allows information about said I/O items to be stored, modified, or retrieved when I/O commands are issued.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
280 words
A method in a computer system with a central electronics complex (CEC), having at least one I/O channel subsystem, a plurality of channel paths and a plurality of I/O items, said I/O items being attachable to said subsystem via said channel paths in different ways as to provide a plurality of different system configurations, the method performed by the CEC for accessing information associated with said I/O items, said method comprising the following CEC-performed steps: structuring in the CEC an amorphous subchannel not defined in a current I/O configuration definition for the I/O channel subsystem, using the amorphous subchannel to test for the existence of each I/O item connected to one or more channel paths of said CEC by simulating a plurality of I/O item addresses by the amorphous subchannel without the CEC using the current I/O configuration definition for accessing the I/O item, attempting to access the I/O item addressed by the using step, determining characteristics of each of said I/O items by accessing self-description information provided for each of said I/O items; determining the channel paths usable to access each of said I/O items; storing the self-description information about said attached I/O items and storing information for each channel path connection to each I/O item in an I/O item configuration record; examining said I/O item configuration record to determine if any of said I/O items are shared by said channel paths or said I/O items, and using said I/O item configuration record to build an I/O configuration definition, wherein the amorphous subchannel previously contained no fixed I/O configuration definition information, and allows information about said I/O items to be stored, modified, or retrieved when I/O commands are issued.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said self-description information provided by each of said I/O items has a unique identifier including type and distinguishing characteristics of said I/O item.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said amorphous subchannel is a programmable subchannel used to contain parameters to enable use of the programmable subchannel for obtaining self-description information from I/O items; and said programmable subchannel having no fixed I/O configuration definition of its own.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein each of said channel paths has a channel identifier (CHPID) usable by said CEC; and information exits about which CHPIDs are usable by said CEC.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said I/O items and their channel paths are located by executing a program.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 1, wherein I/O items are tested using the entire range of device addresses for a single link destination address and a single channel address, prior to testing a next link destination address, wherein the entire range of link destination addresses are tested prior to testing a next channel path address until all channel path addresses have been tested.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 3 wherein an information gathering step is performed during which said parameters in said programmable subchannel are used to select each I/O item from which information is to be retrieved; and said information gathering step also using said parameters to enable the use of said programmable subchannel to determine if said I/O item is a dynamic switch or a control unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said I/O items honor a Sense ID command independent of any type of I/O item.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said programmable subchannel is programmed, and I/O commands are issued to each I/O item to determine presence and characteristics of each I/O item.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
101 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said unique identifier provided by each of said I/O items provides information about a node at which point said I/O item is attached to each of said channel paths; said unique identifier identifying said node by the use of a plurality of node descriptors (NDs), a plurality of associated node qualifiers (NQs), a plurality of node-element descriptors (NEDs), and a plurality of associated node qualifiers (NEQs); and said self-description information being retrieved by a plurality of commands to read said configuration data, set a plurality of interface identifiers, and read and store a node identifier.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a computer system with a central electronics complex (CEC), a plurality of subchannels and a plurality of connected I/O items, a programmable subchannel initially having no fixed I/O configuration definition, said programmable subchannel being capable of containing parameters and being independent of an I/O configuration program (IOCP), said programmable subchannel further comprising: a storage location for storing configuration information about a plurality of I/O items; said configuration information being usable to establish logical paths which enable the CEC to use said I/O items; and means for allowing information about said I/O items to be stored, modified, or retrieved when I/O commands are issued.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a computer system with a central electronics complex (CEC), a plurality of subchannels and a plurality of connected I/O items, a programmable subchannel initially having no fixed I/O configuration definition, said programmable subchannel being capable of containing parameters and being independent of an I/O configuration program (IOCP), said programmable subchannel further comprising: a storage location for storing configuration information about a plurality of I/O items; said configuration information being usable to establish logical paths which enable the CEC to use said I/O items; and means for allowing information about said I/O items to be stored, modified, or retrieved when I/O commands are issued.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The programmable subchannel of claim 11, wherein a said programmable subchannel is identifiable by said system by a special type field provided in a subchannel information block (SCHIB) within said programmable subchannel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The programmable subchannel of claim 11, containing addressing information for routing data between a CEC-resource logical partition and an I/O item.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The programmable subchannel of claim 11, wherein after said programmable subchannel contains configuration information, I/O commands are issued to said I/O item to determine presence and characteristics of said I/O item.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
137 words
A mechanism for locating I/O items and their associated channel paths in a Central Electronic Complex (CEC) of a computer system, said mechanism comprising: at least one channel subsystem attaching said I/O items via said channel paths in different ways to provide a plurality of different system configurations; self-description information being provided by each of said I/O items; means for collecting data associating said I/O items with channel paths; means for collecting characteristics information for said I/O items; said storage location, a storage location for storing a configuration description indicating a plurality of I/O items and their characteristics and their attachment to said channel subsystem by channel paths, wherein said mechanism does not depend on any prior fixed I/O configuration definition in the system, and means for using said storage location to build an I/O configuration definition.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
137 words
A mechanism for locating I/O items and their associated channel paths in a Central Electronic Complex (CEC) of a computer system, said mechanism comprising: at least one channel subsystem attaching said I/O items via said channel paths in different ways to provide a plurality of different system configurations; self-description information being provided by each of said I/O items; means for collecting data associating said I/O items with channel paths; means for collecting characteristics information for said I/O items; said storage location, a storage location for storing a configuration description indicating a plurality of I/O items and their characteristics and their attachment to said channel subsystem by channel paths, wherein said mechanism does not depend on any prior fixed I/O configuration definition in the system, and means for using said storage location to build an I/O configuration definition.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The mechanism of claim 15, further comprising means for examining said configuration description for determining if any of said I/O items share any of said channel paths, and if any of said channel paths share said I/O items.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
96 words
The mechanism of claim 15, wherein each of said I/O items provide a unique identifier including type and characteristics of said I/O item; each of said I/O items provides self-description information about a node by the use of a node descriptor (ND), a plurality of associated node qualifiers (NQs), a plurality of node-element descriptors (NEDs), and a plurality of associated node-element qualifiers (NEQs); and said CEC including a plurality of commands to read said configuration description, set a plurality of interface identifiers, and read and store a node identifier associated with each of said I/O items.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4207609A
Cited
US4604685A
Cited
US5119488A
Cited
US4697232A
Cited
US4812968A
Cited
US4970640A
Cited
US5325492A
Cited
US5197069A
Cited
US5297262A
Cited
US5444851A
Cited
US5420988A
Cited
US5465355A
Cited
US5414851A
Cited
US5301323A
Cited
US5517670A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-09-22 | 2001-03-24 | 2001-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-09-22 | 2005-03-24 | 2005-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-09-22 | 2009-03-24 | 2009-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |