Patent US5954796A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5954796A
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System and method for automatically and dynamically changing an address associated with a device disposed in a fire channel environment
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
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Filing: 1997-02-11
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Granted: 1999-09-21
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Expires: 2017-02-11
Abstract
Abstract A computer system with a plurality of devices compatible with the Fibre Channel Protocol, which computer system is provided with the capability to dynamically alter the configuration of the plurality of devices without a system reset, or without additional software overhead. This capability is realized by providing unique mapping relationships between low-level Fibre Channel information structures related to the devices and upper-level link elements compatible with an Operating System associated with the computer system.
Inventors
- 👤 James F. McCarty
- 👤 Richard D. Gunlock
- 👤 Michael E. McGowen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:21
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/20; G06F11/2002; G06F11/2007; G06F11/201; H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/42; H04L12/427; H04L12/433; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/10; H04L67/104; H04L67/1044
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for dynamically altering the loop address of a device on a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL) in a computer system, comprising the steps of: determining an information structure related to said device upon a loop reset; keeping track of said information structure as said device moves around said Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop; associating said information structure with a unique logical link element, said unique logical link element being operable with an Operating System for said computer system, said associating step being performed by association means; and updating said association means responsive to a change in said information structure.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for dynamically altering the loop address of a device on a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL) in a computer system, comprising the steps of: determining an information structure related to said device upon a loop reset; keeping track of said information structure as said device moves around said Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop; associating said information structure with a unique logical link element, said unique logical link element being operable with an Operating System for said computer system, said associating step being performed by association means; and updating said association means responsive to a change in said information structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said determining step comprises ascertaining an AL -- PA, a Node -- Name, a Port -- Name, a Device -- Type and a Device -- Function, related to said device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
113 words
In a computer system operable with an Operating System (OS), the computer system having a Fibre Channel (FC) communication environment, which environment includes a plurality of FC devices, at least one of said FC devices being an initiator, a method for dynamically controlling the configuration of said plurality of FC devices, comprising the steps of: determining an FC-specific information structure related to each of said plurality of FC devices; associating said FC-specific information structure for each of said plurality of FC devices with a logical link element compatible with said Operating System, said associating step being effectuated by association means; and updating said association means responsive to a reconfiguration of said FC environment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
113 words
In a computer system operable with an Operating System (OS), the computer system having a Fibre Channel (FC) communication environment, which environment includes a plurality of FC devices, at least one of said FC devices being an initiator, a method for dynamically controlling the configuration of said plurality of FC devices, comprising the steps of: determining an FC-specific information structure related to each of said plurality of FC devices; associating said FC-specific information structure for each of said plurality of FC devices with a logical link element compatible with said Operating System, said associating step being effectuated by association means; and updating said association means responsive to a reconfiguration of said FC environment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said determining step is performed by said initiator responsive to a reset.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said determining step comprises ascertaining a physical address for each of said plurality of FC devices.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said determining step comprises ascertaining a World -- Wide -- Name for each of said plurality of FC devices.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as recited in claim 6, wherein said ascertaining step comprises identifying at least one of a Port -- Name and a Node -- Name for each of said plurality of FC devices.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said determining step comprises ascertaining a device -- type for each of said plurality of FC devices.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said associating step comprises creating a unique BUS -- TARGET -- LUN nexus for each of said plurality of FC devices.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said updating step comprises deleting a BUS -- TARGET -- LUN responsive to said reconfiguration of said FC environment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said updating step comprises creating a new BUS -- TARGET -- LUN responsive to said reconfiguration of said FC environment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said updating step comprises modifying said FC-specific information structure responsive to said reconfiguration of said FC environment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a computer system operable with an Operating System (OS), the computer system having a Fibre Channel (FC) communication environment, which environment includes a plurality of FC devices, at least one of said FC devices being an initiator, a system for dynamically controlling channel communication comprising: means for determining FC-specific information related to each of said plurality of FC devices; means for associating said FC-specific information for each of said plurality of FC devices with a logical link compatible with said Operating System; and means for updating said associating means responsive to a reconfiguration of said FC environment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a computer system operable with an Operating System (OS), the computer system having a Fibre Channel (FC) communication environment, which environment includes a plurality of FC devices, at least one of said FC devices being an initiator, a system for dynamically controlling channel communication comprising: means for determining FC-specific information related to each of said plurality of FC devices; means for associating said FC-specific information for each of said plurality of FC devices with a logical link compatible with said Operating System; and means for updating said associating means responsive to a reconfiguration of said FC environment.
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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) | 2002-09-20 | 2003-03-22 | 2003-09-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-20 | 2007-03-22 | 2007-09-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-20 | 2011-03-22 | 2011-09-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |