Data management method for adding or exchanging components on a running computer

Claim 1

A method for managing the configuration of a computer, said method comprising the acts of: extending a management information base module to include a plurality of variables, said variables selected to support adding a component to said computer while said computer runs, removing a component from said computer while said computer runs, and exchanging components of said computer while said computer runs, said management information base module stored on a computer readable medium; compiling the management information base module to generate a binary management information base; and generating a hot plug management information base table on a computer readable medium, said hot plug management information base table including variable data corresponding to variables defined in said management information base module, the variable data representing capabilities, characteristics or states of components of said computer.

Claim 2

A method for managing the configuration of a computer, said method comprising the acts of: extending a management information base module to include a plurality of variables, said variables selected to support adding a component to said computer while said computer runs, removing a component from said computer while said computer runs, and exchanging components of said computer while said computer runs, said management information base module stored on a computer readable medium; compiling the management information base module to generate a binary management information base; and generating a hot plug management information base table on a computer readable medium, said hot plug management information base table including variable data corresponding to variables defined in said management information base module, the variable data representing capabilities, characteristics or states of components of said computer.

Claim 12

A method for managing hot plug data to hot add or hot swap components of a computer, said method comprising the acts of: selecting a plurality of variables, said variables selected to support adding a component to said computer while said computer runs, removing a component from said computer while said computer runs, and exchanging components of said computer while said computer runs, said variables stored on a computer readable medium; and collecting in a computer readable medium, hot plug variable data representing capabilities, characteristics or states of components of said computer, said hot plug variable data related to said plurality of variables.

Claim 13

A method for managing hot plug data to hot add or hot swap components of a computer, said method comprising the acts of: selecting a plurality of variables, said variables selected to support adding a component to said computer while said computer runs, removing a component from said computer while said computer runs, and exchanging components of said computer while said computer runs, said variables stored on a computer readable medium; and collecting in a computer readable medium, hot plug variable data representing capabilities, characteristics or states of components of said computer, said hot plug variable data related to said plurality of variables.

Claim 15

A method for managing hot plug data to hot add or hot swap components of a computer, said method comprising the acts of: selecting a plurality of variables, said variables selected to support adding a component to said computer while said computer runs, removing a component from said computer while said computer runs, and exchanging components of said computer while said computer runs, said variables stored on a computer readable medium; collecting in a computer readable medium, hot plug variable data representing capabilities, characteristics or states of components of said computer, said hot plug variable data related to said plurality of variables, wherein said variables include a power state variable for examining or regulating the power state of a first component of said computer; collecting power state variable data for said first component of said computer; storing said power state variable data in a computer readable medium; and responding to a power state command by determining the power state of said first component, by shutting off power to said first component, or by starting power to said first component, said power state command including a representation of said power state variable.

Claim 16

A method for managing hot plug data to hot add or hot swap components of a computer, said method comprising the acts of: selecting a plurality of variables, said variables selected to support adding a component to said computer while said computer runs, removing a component from said computer while said computer runs, and exchanging components of said computer while said computer runs, said variables stored on a computer readable medium; collecting in a computer readable medium, hot plug variable data representing capabilities, characteristics or states of components of said computer, said hot plug variable data related to said plurality of variables, wherein said variables include a power state variable for examining or regulating the power state of a first component of said computer; collecting power state variable data for said first component of said computer; storing said power state variable data in a computer readable medium; and responding to a power state command by determining the power state of said first component, by shutting off power to said first component, or by starting power to said first component, said power state command including a representation of said power state variable.

Claim 18

A method for managing hot plug data to hot add or hot swap components of a computer, said method comprising the acts of: selecting a plurality of variables, said variables selected to support adding a component to said computer while said computer runs, removing a component from said computer while said computer runs, and exchanging components of said computer while said computer runs, said variables stored on a computer readable medium; collecting in a computer readable medium, hot plug variable data representing capabilities, characteristics or states of components of said computer, said hot plug variable data related to said plurality of variables, wherein said variables include a component state variable for suspending or resuming operation of a second component of said computer; collecting component state variable data for said second component of said computer; and storing said component state variable data in said computer readable medium.

Claim 19

A method for managing hot plug data to hot add or hot swap components of a computer, said method comprising the acts of: selecting a plurality of variables, said variables selected to support adding a component to said computer while said computer runs, removing a component from said computer while said computer runs, and exchanging components of said computer while said computer runs, said variables stored on a computer readable medium; collecting in a computer readable medium, hot plug variable data representing capabilities, characteristics or states of components of said computer, said hot plug variable data related to said plurality of variables, wherein said variables include a component state variable for suspending or resuming operation of a second component of said computer; collecting component state variable data for said second component of said computer; and storing said component state variable data in said computer readable medium.

Claim 22

A method for refreshing hot plug variables, wherein said hot plug variables are stored in a computer readable medium of a client computer, and wherein said hot plug variables include existing component variable data identifying at least one component of a server computer, said method comprising the acts of: polling, at a predetermined time interval, at least one component of said server computer for new component variable data identifying said at least one component of said server computer; and refreshing said hot plug variables by storing said new component variable data in said computer readable medium of said client computer to supersede said existing component variable data.

Claim 23

A method for refreshing hot plug variables, wherein said hot plug variables are stored in a computer readable medium of a client computer, and wherein said hot plug variables include existing component variable data identifying at least one component of a server computer, said method comprising the acts of: polling, at a predetermined time interval, at least one component of said server computer for new component variable data identifying said at least one component of said server computer; and refreshing said hot plug variables by storing said new component variable data in said computer readable medium of said client computer to supersede said existing component variable data.

Claim 24

A method for refreshing hot plug variables, wherein said hot plug variables are stored in a computer readable medium of a client computer, and wherein said hot plug variables include existing component variable data identifying at least one component of a server computer, said method comprising the acts of: polling, at a predetermined time interval, at least one component of said server computer for new component variable data identifying said at least one component of said server computer; and refreshing said hot plug variables by storing said new component variable data in said computer readable medium of said client computer to supersede said existing component variable data, wherein said hot plug variables include existing power state variable data describing the power state of at least one component of said server computer, wherein said act of polling includes polling at least one component for new power state variable data, and wherein said act of refreshing includes storing said new power state variable data to supersede said existing power state variable data stored on said computer readable medium of said client computer.

Claim 25

A method for refreshing hot plug variables, wherein said hot plug variables are stored in a computer readable medium of a client computer, and wherein said hot plug variables include existing component variable data identifying at least one component of a server computer, said method comprising the acts of: polling, at a predetermined time interval, at least one component of said server computer for new component variable data identifying said at least one component of said server computer; and refreshing said hot plug variables by storing said new component variable data in said computer readable medium of said client computer to supersede said existing component variable data, wherein said hot plug variables include existing power state variable data describing the power state of at least one component of said server computer, wherein said act of polling includes polling at least one component for new power state variable data, and wherein said act of refreshing includes storing said new power state variable data to supersede said existing power state variable data stored on said computer readable medium of said client computer.

Claim 26

A method for refreshing hot plug variables, wherein said hot plug variables are stored in a computer readable medium of a client computer, and wherein said hot plug variables include existing component variable data identifying at least one component of a server computer, said method comprising the acts of: polling, at a predetermined time interval, at least one component of said server computer for new component variable data identifying said at least one component of said server computer; refreshing said hot plug variables by storing said new component variable data in said computer readable medium of said client computer to supersede said existing component variable data; and broadcasting said hot plug variables including said component variable data from said server computer to said client computer, said client computer having management software which accesses said broadcasted hot plug variables to control hot plug operations performed on said server computer.

Claim 27

A method for refreshing hot plug variables, wherein said hot plug variables are stored in a computer readable medium of a client computer, and wherein said hot plug variables include existing component variable data identifying at least one component of a server computer, said method comprising the acts of: polling, at a predetermined time interval, at least one component of said server computer for new component variable data identifying said at least one component of said server computer; refreshing said hot plug variables by storing said new component variable data in said computer readable medium of said client computer to supersede said existing component variable data; and broadcasting said hot plug variables including said component variable data from said server computer to said client computer, said client computer having management software which accesses said broadcasted hot plug variables to control hot plug operations performed on said server computer.

Claim 29

A method for refreshing hot plug variables, wherein said hot plug variables are stored in a computer readable medium of a client computer, and wherein said hot plug variables include existing component variable data identifying at least one component of a server computer, said method comprising the acts of: polling, at a predetermined time interval, at least one component of said server computer for new component variable data identifying said at least one component of said server computer; refreshing said hot plug variables by storing said new component variable data in said computer readable medium of said client computer to supersede said existing component variable data; and requesting, with a retrieve data routine running on said client computer, said hot plug variables including said component variable data from said server computer, wherein management software running on said client computer accesses said requested hot plug variables to control hot plug operations performed on said server computer.

Claim 30

A method for refreshing hot plug variables, wherein said hot plug variables are stored in a computer readable medium of a client computer, and wherein said hot plug variables include existing component variable data identifying at least one component of a server computer, said method comprising the acts of: polling, at a predetermined time interval, at least one component of said server computer for new component variable data identifying said at least one component of said server computer; refreshing said hot plug variables by storing said new component variable data in said computer readable medium of said client computer to supersede said existing component variable data; and requesting, with a retrieve data routine running on said client computer, said hot plug variables including said component variable data from said server computer, wherein management software running on said client computer accesses said requested hot plug variables to control hot plug operations performed on said server computer.

Claim 31

A method for making hot plug variables available to a software module on a computer, wherein said hot plug variables are defined by a hot plug management information base, said method comprising the acts of: storing on computer readable media on said computer, a binary hot plug management information base, said binary hot plug management information base generated by compiling with a management information base compiler a hot plug management information base module, said hot plug management information base module defining hot plug variables selected to support adding a component to a computer while said computer runs, removing a component from said computer while said computer runs, and exchanging components of said computer while said computer runs, said hot plug variables including a power state variable for regulating the power state of at least one component of said computer and also including a component state variable for suspending or resuming the operation of at least one component of said computer; and accessing, with software running on said computer, data in said binary hot plug management information base.

Claim 32

A method for making hot plug variables available to a software module on a computer, wherein said hot plug variables are defined by a hot plug management information base, said method comprising the acts of: storing on computer readable media on said computer, a binary hot plug management information base, said binary hot plug management information base generated by compiling with a management information base compiler a hot plug management information base module, said hot plug management information base module defining hot plug variables selected to support adding a component to a computer while said computer runs, removing a component from said computer while said computer runs, and exchanging components of said computer while said computer runs, said hot plug variables including a power state variable for regulating the power state of at least one component of said computer and also including a component state variable for suspending or resuming the operation of at least one component of said computer; and accessing, with software running on said computer, data in said binary hot plug management information base.

Claim 33

A method for making hot plug variables available to a software module on a computer, wherein said hot plug variables are defined by a hot plug management information base, said method comprising the acts of: storing on computer readable media on said computer, a binary hot plug management information base, said binary hot plug management information base generated by compiling with a management information base compiler a hot plug management information base module, said hot plug management information base module defining hot plug variables selected to support adding a component to a computer while said computer runs, removing a component from said computer while said computer runs, and exchanging components of said computer while said computer runs, said hot plug variables including a power state variable for regulating the power state of at least one component of said computer and also including a component state variable for suspending or resuming the operation of at least one component of said computer; accessing with software running on said computer, data in said binary hot plug management information base; storing said binary hot plug management information base on a second computer linked to said first computer by a network; and accessing data in said binary hot plug management information base with software running on said second computer which controls hot plug operations performed on said first computer.

Claim 34

A method for making hot plug variables available to a software module on a computer, wherein said hot plug variables are defined by a hot plug management information base, said method comprising the acts of: storing on computer readable media on said computer, a binary hot plug management information base, said binary hot plug management information base generated by compiling with a management information base compiler a hot plug management information base module, said hot plug management information base module defining hot plug variables selected to support adding a component to a computer while said computer runs, removing a component from said computer while said computer runs, and exchanging components of said computer while said computer runs, said hot plug variables including a power state variable for regulating the power state of at least one component of said computer and also including a component state variable for suspending or resuming the operation of at least one component of said computer; accessing with software running on said computer, data in said binary hot plug management information base; storing said binary hot plug management information base on a second computer linked to said first computer by a network; and accessing data in said binary hot plug management information base with software running on said second computer which controls hot plug operations performed on said first computer.

Claim 35

A method for controlling, from a client computer, hot plug operations performed on a server computer, said method comprising the acts of: preparing a hot plug management information base module defining hot plug management information base variables; compiling said hot plug management information base module to generate a binary management information base module; distributing said binary management information base module to a computer readable medium of said client computer and to a computer readable medium of said server computer; polling components of said server computer to generate server-based hot plug management information base variable data stored on a computer readable medium of said server computer, said server-based hot plug management information base variable data related to said hot plug management information base variables defined in said hot plug management information base module; refreshing client-based hot plug management information base variable data stored on a computer readable medium of said client computer by sending to said client computer said server-based hot plug management information base variable data; generating with management software running on said client computer, a suspend device driver request related to a component state variable defined by said management information base module; sending said suspend device driver request to agent software running on said server computer, said agent software responsively recognizing said suspend device driver request to suspend a device driver servicing a component of said server computer; generating with management software running on said client computer, a power off request related to a power state variable defined by said management information base module; sending said power off request to said agent software, said agent software responsively recognizing said power off request to stop power to a component of said server computer; generating with management software running on said client computer, a power on request related to a power state variable defined by said management information base module; sending said power on request to said agent software, said agent software responsively recognizing said power off request to start power to a component of said server computer; generating with management software running on said client computer, a resume device driver request related to a component state variable defined by said management information base module; and sending said resume device driver request to agent software running on said server computer, said agent software responsively recognizing said resume device driver request to resume said device driver.

Claim 36

A method for controlling, from a client computer, hot plug operations performed on a server computer, said method comprising the acts of: preparing a hot plug management information base module defining hot plug management information base variables; compiling said hot plug management information base module to generate a binary management information base module; distributing said binary management information base module to a computer readable medium of said client computer and to a computer readable medium of said server computer; polling components of said server computer to generate server-based hot plug management information base variable data stored on a computer readable medium of said server computer, said server-based hot plug management information base variable data related to said hot plug management information base variables defined in said hot plug management information base module; refreshing client-based hot plug management information base variable data stored on a computer readable medium of said client computer by sending to said client computer said server-based hot plug management information base variable data; generating with management software running on said client computer, a suspend device driver request related to a component state variable defined by said management information base module; sending said suspend device driver request to agent software running on said server computer, said agent software responsively recognizing said suspend device driver request to suspend a device driver servicing a component of said server computer; generating with management software running on said client computer, a power off request related to a power state variable defined by said management information base module; sending said power off request to said agent software, said agent software responsively recognizing said power off request to stop power to a component of said server computer; generating with management software running on said client computer, a power on request related to a power state variable defined by said management information base module; sending said power on request to said agent software, said agent software responsively recognizing said power off request to start power to a component of said server computer; generating with management software running on said client computer, a resume device driver request related to a component state variable defined by said management information base module; and sending said resume device driver request to agent software running on said server computer, said agent software responsively recognizing said resume device driver request to resume said device driver.

Claim 37

A method for updating hot plug data for a component connected to a computer, said method comprising the acts of: preparing a management information base module defining hot plug variables for a class of components capable of connecting to a computer; compiling said management information base module to generate a binary hot plug management information base; connecting a component of said class of components to said computer; preparing hot plug management information base variables in a computer readable medium of said computer, said hot plug management information base variables corresponding to said class of components; polling said component to obtain hot plug management information base variable data for said component; and updating said hot plug management information base variables to contain said obtained hot plug management information base variable data.

Claim 38

A method for updating hot plug data for a component connected to a computer, said method comprising the acts of: preparing a management information base module defining hot plug variables for a class of components capable of connecting to a computer; compiling said management information base module to generate a binary hot plug management information base; connecting a component of said class of components to said computer; preparing hot plug management information base variables in a computer readable medium of said computer, said hot plug management information base variables corresponding to said class of components; polling said component to obtain hot plug management information base variable data for said component; and updating said hot plug management information base variables to contain said obtained hot plug management information base variable data.