Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A back-up method for equipment settings of electronic equipment which has a plurality of parallel board units located in a subrack comprising the steps of: storing set data of each board unit in a first storage area of that board unit; storing a back-up copy of the set data of each board unit initially, in connection with outfitting said subrack with each said board unit said storing including storing the respective addresses of two of said board units in the set data for each board unit in such a way that a first address indicates another said board unit in which is stored a back-up copy of the set data of the respective board unit, and a second address indicates a respective other one of said units a back-up copy of the set data of which is stored in the respective board unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A back-up method for equipment settings of electronic equipment which has a plurality of parallel board units located in a subrack comprising the steps of: storing set data of each board unit in a first storage area of that board unit; storing a back-up copy of the set data of each board unit initially, in connection with outfitting said subrack with each said board unit said storing including storing the respective addresses of two of said board units in the set data for each board unit in such a way that a first address indicates another said board unit in which is stored a back-up copy of the set data of the respective board unit, and a second address indicates a respective other one of said units a back-up copy of the set data of which is stored in the respective board unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method according to claim 1, further comprising: storing in each said board unit a first identification number identifying the type of the respective board unit; and in connection with mounting a respective said board unit in which a first identification number has been stored in said subrack as a new board unit, initially checking the first identification number from the new board unit in order to prevent set data of wrong type from being copied to the new board unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method according to claim 2, further comprising: storing in each said board unit a second identification number stored in the set data of each board unit, which number identifying a configuration of said equipment; and changing each said second identification number to a new one when the equipment configuration is changed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
116 words
The method according to claim 3, further comprising: when changing a new board unit into the equipment, checking said second identification number of the respective new board unit, if the first identification number of the new board unit has been found to be correct, and, only if the second identification number differs from the corresponding identification number of the respective back-up copy of set values stored in the respective said other board unit, copying the respective back-up copy of other board unit to said new board unit, (b) if the second identification number is the same as the corresponding identification number of the back-up copy stored in said first board unit, no unnecessary copying is performed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 4, further comprising: using a random number generated by a random number generator as at least part of said second identification number.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein: said second identification number further includes information as to a date and time informing when said equipment configuration was made.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein: the set data of each board unit include information as to the address of the respective board unit in equipment; and said method further includes checking the respective when a new board unit is mounted in the equipment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 2, further comprising: at an installation/start-up stage of said equipment, storing an additional back-up copy of the set data of each board unit in a second storage area of the respective board unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 8, wherein: said set data as stored in each respective storage area includes a storage area-specific checksum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 2, further comprising: an installation/start-up stage of said equipment, storing an additional back-up copy of the set data of each board unit outside said board units, in a microcomputer associated with said equipment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein: said set data as stored in each respective storage area includes a storage area-specific checksum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein: said board units are arranged in an array in which respective ones of said units neighbor one another in a series having two opposite ends; each said first and second address respectively belonging to a respective two board units neighboring the respective said board unit, one of the board units considered as neighboring each board unit which is at an end of said array being the board unit at the respective opposite end of said array.