Patent US6158015A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6158015A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for swapping, adding or removing a processor in an operating computer system
Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
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Filing: 1998-03-30
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Granted: 2000-12-05
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Expires: 2018-03-30
Abstract
Abstract One embodiment of the present invention provides a computer system that allows a processor module to be removed while the computer system is operating. This computer system includes a connector, for connecting the processor module to the computer system. It also includes a power switch coupled between a power source and the connector, for selectively removing power from the processor module in the connector while power is maintained to other components of the computer system. The computer system additionally includes a mechanism that modifies the operating system so that the computer system will continue to function without the processor module. Thus, this embodiment of the present invention allows the processor module to removed, replaced and reinitialized without shutting down the computer system.
Inventors
- 👤 Dean A. Klein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:29
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/40; G06F13/4063; G06F13/4068; G06F13/4081
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A computer system that allows a processor module to be removed while the computer system is operating, comprising: a connector within the computer system, for connecting the processor module to the computer system; a power switch coupled between a power source in the computer system and the connector, for removing power from the processor module in the connector, while power is maintained to other components of the computer system; a mechanism within the computer system that modifies an operating system within the computer system, so that the computer system will continue to function without the processor module; and a mechanism that upon receiving a command to prepare the computer system for removal of the processor module is configured to save state from the processor module to a first location in the computer system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A computer system that allows a processor module to be removed while the computer system is operating, comprising: a connector within the computer system, for connecting the processor module to the computer system; a power switch coupled between a power source in the computer system and the connector, for removing power from the processor module in the connector, while power is maintained to other components of the computer system; a mechanism within the computer system that modifies an operating system within the computer system, so that the computer system will continue to function without the processor module; and a mechanism that upon receiving a command to prepare the computer system for removal of the processor module is configured to save state from the processor module to a first location in the computer system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of isolation buffers, for isolating electrical pathways between the processor module and the connector in the computer system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism within the computer system that activates preparation of the computer system for removal of the processor module.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer system of claim 3, wherein the mechanism within the computer system that activates preparation of the computer system for removal of the processor module includes a switch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer system of claim 3, wherein the mechanism within the computer system that activates preparation of the computer system for removal of the processor module receives a command from a computer program.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer system of claim 3, wherein the mechanism within the computer system that activates the preparation of the computer system for removal of the processor module detects a problem in the processor module before activating the preparation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the first location includes another processor in the computer system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the first location includes a storage area in the computer system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism within the computer system that overwrites boot code in the computer system with code that restores state from the first location in the computer system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer system of claim 1, farther comprising a mechanism within the computer system that modifies an interrupt structure in the computer system so that the processor module will not receive interrupts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism within the computer system that modifies an interrupt structure in the computer system so that interrupts are redirected to another processor in the computer system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism within the computer system that waits for a bus transaction involving the processor module to complete before preparing the computer system for removal of the processor module.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism within the computer system that waits for a computational task involving the processor module to complete before preparing the computer system for removal of the processor module.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
170 words
A computer system that allows a processor module to be removed while the computer system is operating, comprising: a connector within the computer system, for connecting the processor module to the computer system; a mechanism within the computer system that activates preparation of the computer system for removal of the processor module; wherein the mechanism that activates preparation of the computer system for removal of the processor module is configured to save state from the processor module to a first location in the computer system; a power switch coupled between a power source in the computer system and the connector, for removing power from the processor module in the connector, while power is maintained to other components of the computer system; a plurality of isolation buffers, for isolating electrical pathways between the processor module in the connector and the computer system; and a mechanism within the computer system that modifies an operating system within the computer system, so that the computer system will continue to function without the processor module.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
170 words
A computer system that allows a processor module to be removed while the computer system is operating, comprising: a connector within the computer system, for connecting the processor module to the computer system; a mechanism within the computer system that activates preparation of the computer system for removal of the processor module; wherein the mechanism that activates preparation of the computer system for removal of the processor module is configured to save state from the processor module to a first location in the computer system; a power switch coupled between a power source in the computer system and the connector, for removing power from the processor module in the connector, while power is maintained to other components of the computer system; a plurality of isolation buffers, for isolating electrical pathways between the processor module in the connector and the computer system; and a mechanism within the computer system that modifies an operating system within the computer system, so that the computer system will continue to function without the processor module.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer system of claim 14, wherein the first location includes another processor in the computer system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer system of claim 14, wherein the first location includes a storage area in the computer system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer system of claim 14, further comprising a mechanism within the computer system that overwrites boot code in the computer system with code that restores state from the first location in the computer system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer system of claim 14, further comprising a mechanism within the computer system that modifies an interrupt structure in the computer system so that the processor module will not receive interrupts.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer system of claim 14, further comprising a mechanism within the computer system that waits for a computational task involving the processor module to complete before preparing the computer system for removal of the processor module.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
105 words
A program storage device storing instructions that when executed by a computer perform a method for preparing a computer system for removal of a processor module from the computer system while the computer system is operating, comprising: receiving a command to prepare the computer system for removal of the processor module; saving state from the processor module to a first location in the computer system; modifying parameters of an operating system in the computer system, so that the computer system will continue to function without the processor module; and removing power from the processor module while maintaining power to other parts of the computer system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
105 words
A program storage device storing instructions that when executed by a computer perform a method for preparing a computer system for removal of a processor module from the computer system while the computer system is operating, comprising: receiving a command to prepare the computer system for removal of the processor module; saving state from the processor module to a first location in the computer system; modifying parameters of an operating system in the computer system, so that the computer system will continue to function without the processor module; and removing power from the processor module while maintaining power to other parts of the computer 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) | 2003-12-05 | 2004-06-05 | 2004-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-12-05 | 2008-06-05 | 2008-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-12-05 | 2012-06-05 | 2012-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |