US5867645A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Extended-bus functionality in conjunction with non-extended-bus functionality in the same bus system
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
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Filing: 1996-09-30
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Granted: 1999-02-02
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Expires: 2016-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A computer system having an interconnection apparatus for interconnecting processors, peripherals, and memories, including a bus structure with an extended-bus portion and a non-extended-bus portion, and the extended-bus-compliant devices having a status register. The extended-bus-compliant devices are operable in either extended-bus mode involving both the extended-bus portion and non-extended-bus portion of the bus structure, or non-extended-bus mode involving only the non-extended-bus portion. Upon detecting a transmission error or device-related fault, the contents of the status register are altered so as to render the extended-bus-compliant devices operable in the non-extended-bus mode using only the non-extended-bus portion.
Inventors
- 👤 Sompong Paul Olarig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:33
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/20; G06F11/2002; G06F11/2007; G06F2201/00; G06F2201/85
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A computer system having a fault-tolerant interconnection apparatus for interconnecting processors, peripherals and memories, said computer system comprising: a plurality of electronic devices, said plurality of electronic devices comprising: a first sub-plurality of electronic devices, each of said first sub-plurality of electronic devices being operable in a first mode; and a second sub-plurality of electronic devices, each of said second sub-plurality of electronic devices being operable in one of said first mode and a second mode, wherein said each of said second sub-plurality of electronic devices comprises: detecting means for detecting an error; and status means for effectuating a change in a mode status associated with said each of said second sub-plurality of electronic devices, said status means being actuatable in response to a signal provided by said detecting means; and a bus structure comprising a plurality of electrically conductive transmission lines disposed among said plurality of electronic devices for communicating electrical signals therebetween, said plurality of electrically conductive transmission lines comprising a first sub-plurality of electrically conductive transmission lines and a second sub-plurality of electrically conductive transmission lines such that said first and second sub-plurality of electrically conductive transmission lines form a single bus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
A computer system having a fault-tolerant interconnection apparatus for interconnecting processors, peripherals and memories, said computer system comprising: a plurality of electronic devices, said plurality of electronic devices comprising: a first sub-plurality of electronic devices, each of said first sub-plurality of electronic devices being operable in a first mode; and a second sub-plurality of electronic devices, each of said second sub-plurality of electronic devices being operable in one of said first mode and a second mode, wherein said each of said second sub-plurality of electronic devices comprises: detecting means for detecting an error; and status means for effectuating a change in a mode status associated with said each of said second sub-plurality of electronic devices, said status means being actuatable in response to a signal provided by said detecting means; and a bus structure comprising a plurality of electrically conductive transmission lines disposed among said plurality of electronic devices for communicating electrical signals therebetween, said plurality of electrically conductive transmission lines comprising a first sub-plurality of electrically conductive transmission lines and a second sub-plurality of electrically conductive transmission lines such that said first and second sub-plurality of electrically conductive transmission lines form a single bus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein: said status means comprises a status register, the contents of said status register being alterable in response to said signal provided by said detecting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein: said first mode involves using said first sub-plurality of electrically conductive transmission lines.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein: said second mode involves concurrently using said first sub-plurality of electrically conductive transmission lines and said second sub-plurality of electrically conductive transmission lines.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein: said detecting means comprises means for effectuating a built-in-self-test, said built-in-self-test corresponding to one of said second sub-plurality of electronic devices.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein: said detecting means comprises: parity error means, said parity error means being coupled to one of said plurality electrically conductive transmission lines; and system error means, said system error means being coupled to one of said plurality electrically conductive transmission lines.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
133 words
A system, comprising: a plurality of devices, wherein a sub-plurality of said plurality of devices are operable in an operating mode, said operating mode being one of a non-extended-bus mode and an extended-bus mode; a single bus having a first portion of electrically conductive transmission lines and a second portion of electrically conductive transmission lines, said single bus for interconnecting said plurality of devices and for data transmission therebetween; means for detecting an error associated with said data transmission, said data transmission being effectuated by one of said sub-plurality of devices; means for conducting a device-specific built-in-self-test for each of said sub-plurality of devices; and means for changing said operating mode associated with said one of said sub-plurality of devices, wherein said one of said sub-plurality of devices is affected with said error.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
133 words
A system, comprising: a plurality of devices, wherein a sub-plurality of said plurality of devices are operable in an operating mode, said operating mode being one of a non-extended-bus mode and an extended-bus mode; a single bus having a first portion of electrically conductive transmission lines and a second portion of electrically conductive transmission lines, said single bus for interconnecting said plurality of devices and for data transmission therebetween; means for detecting an error associated with said data transmission, said data transmission being effectuated by one of said sub-plurality of devices; means for conducting a device-specific built-in-self-test for each of said sub-plurality of devices; and means for changing said operating mode associated with said one of said sub-plurality of devices, wherein said one of said sub-plurality of devices is affected with said error.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as recited in claim 7, wherein: said changing means is actuatable in response to a signal provided by said detecting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system as recited in claim 7, wherein: said interconnecting means comprises a first plurality of electrically conductive transmission lines and a second plurality of electrically conductive transmission lines.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system as recited in claim 9, wherein: said non-extended-bus mode involves using said first plurality of electrically conductive transmission lines.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system as recited in claim 9, wherein: said extended-bus mode involves using simultaneously said first plurality and said second plurality of electrically conductive transmission lines.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system as recited in claim 7, wherein: said changing means comprises: status means for storing a binary value, said binary value being associated with one of said non-extended-bus mode and said extended-bus mode.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for managing a bus system having an extended-bus portion and a non-extended-bus portion, said bus system being disposed among at least one extended-bus-compliant device and at least one non-extended-bus-compliant device, wherein said at least one extended-bus-compliant device comprises a status register and means for conducting a built-in-self-test and for detecting an error associated with data transmission over said extended-bus portion, the method comprising the steps of: conducting a built-in-self-test for said at least one extended-bus-compliant device upon initialization; operating said at least one extended-bus-compliant device in an extended-bus mode if it passed said built-in-self-test, otherwise operating said at least one extended-bus-compliant device in a non-extended-bus mode; and continuing to operate said at least one extended-bus-compliant device in said extended-bus mode after determining it passed said built-in-self-test until a data transmission error is detected, whereupon reporting the occurrence of said data transmission error to an operating system and operating said at least one extended-bus-compliant device in said non-extended-bus mode.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for managing a bus system having an extended-bus portion and a non-extended-bus portion, said bus system being disposed among at least one extended-bus-compliant device and at least one non-extended-bus-compliant device, wherein said at least one extended-bus-compliant device comprises a status register and means for conducting a built-in-self-test and for detecting an error associated with data transmission over said extended-bus portion, the method comprising the steps of: conducting a built-in-self-test for said at least one extended-bus-compliant device upon initialization; operating said at least one extended-bus-compliant device in an extended-bus mode if it passed said built-in-self-test, otherwise operating said at least one extended-bus-compliant device in a non-extended-bus mode; and continuing to operate said at least one extended-bus-compliant device in said extended-bus mode after determining it passed said built-in-self-test until a data transmission error is detected, whereupon reporting the occurrence of said data transmission error to an operating system and operating said at least one extended-bus-compliant device in said non-extended-bus mode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method as recited in claim 13, wherein: said step of operating said at least one extended-bus-compliant device in a non-extended-bus mode involves altering the contents of said status register and further comprises the step of using said non-extended-bus portion of said bus system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method as recited in claim 13, wherein: said step of operating said at least one extended-bus-compliant device in said extended-bus mode further comprises the step of using said extended-bus portion of said bus system simultaneously with said non-extended-bus portion of said bus system.
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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) | 2002-02-01 | 2002-08-03 | 2003-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-01 | 2006-08-03 | 2007-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-01 | 2010-08-03 | 2011-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |