US6389555B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System and method for fail-over data transport
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
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Filing: 2001-04-23
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Granted: 2002-05-14
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Expires: 2021-04-23
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for maintaining a communications within a computer system after a data transport failure across a first link. Fail-over capability is attained by re-establishing communications across a secondary link using different transport mechanisms. Between two Input/Output Processors (IOPs) within a computer system, such as a server, a series of data transactions therebetween are queued until transaction completion. Upon detection of a failure condition between the IOPs across the first link, the IOPs engage fail-over mechanisms to preserve uncompleted data transactions until communications are re-established across the secondary link.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian T. Purcell
- 👤 Jay C. Brinkmeyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 01:13
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/20; G06F11/2002; G06F11/2007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for fail-over connection between a first and second input/output processing unit within a computer system, the method comprising the acts of: detecting a failure condition across a first communications link connecting the first and second input/output processing units, the failure condition interrupting submission of a plurality of transactions onto the first communications link; queuing, upon the failure condition detection, the plurality of transactions; selecting, upon the failure condition detection, a secondary communications link between the first and second input/output processing units within the computer system; establishing communications between the first and second input/output processing units across the secondary communications link; and submitting the plurality of queued transactions for forwarding across the secondary communications link.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for fail-over connection between a first and second input/output processing unit within a computer system, the method comprising the acts of: detecting a failure condition across a first communications link connecting the first and second input/output processing units, the failure condition interrupting submission of a plurality of transactions onto the first communications link; queuing, upon the failure condition detection, the plurality of transactions; selecting, upon the failure condition detection, a secondary communications link between the first and second input/output processing units within the computer system; establishing communications between the first and second input/output processing units across the secondary communications link; and submitting the plurality of queued transactions for forwarding across the secondary communications link.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of data transactions are queued in at least one linked list.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for fail-over connection between a first processing unit and a second processing unit within a computer system, the method comprising the acts of: queuing a plurality of transactions, the plurality of transactions for communication between the first processing unit and the second processing unit across a first communications link; detecting a failure condition interrupting communication of the plurality of transactions across the first communications link; establishing communication, after detection of the failure condition, between the first and second processing units across a second communications link connecting the first and second processing units, the second communications link for communicating the plurality of queued transactions; and if the act of establishing communication fails to occur within a given timeout period, purging the plurality of queued transactions.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for fail-over connection between a first processing unit and a second processing unit within a computer system, the method comprising the acts of: queuing a plurality of transactions, the plurality of transactions for communication between the first processing unit and the second processing unit across a first communications link; detecting a failure condition interrupting communication of the plurality of transactions across the first communications link; establishing communication, after detection of the failure condition, between the first and second processing units across a second communications link connecting the first and second processing units, the second communications link for communicating the plurality of queued transactions; and if the act of establishing communication fails to occur within a given timeout period, purging the plurality of queued transactions.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for fail-over connection between a first processing unit and a second processing unit within a computer system, the method comprising the acts of: queuing a plurality of transactions for communication between the first processing unit and the second processing unit across a first communications link; detecting a failure condition interrupting communication of the plurality of transactions across the first communications link; selecting, upon the failure condition detection, a second communications link between the first and second processing units; establishing communication between the first and second processing units across the second communications link to communicate the plurality of queued transactions; and if the act of selecting the second communications link fails to occur within a given selection timeout period, then purging the plurality of queued transactions.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for fail-over connection between a first processing unit and a second processing unit within a computer system, the method comprising the acts of: queuing a plurality of transactions for communication between the first processing unit and the second processing unit across a first communications link; detecting a failure condition interrupting communication of the plurality of transactions across the first communications link; selecting, upon the failure condition detection, a second communications link between the first and second processing units; establishing communication between the first and second processing units across the second communications link to communicate the plurality of queued transactions; and if the act of selecting the second communications link fails to occur within a given selection timeout period, then purging the plurality of queued transactions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 1 , comprising the act of: after detecting the failure condition, setting a memory status flag, the flag corresponding to the status of a memory allocation on at least one of the first and second processing units.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the computer system comprises a server.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
115 words
A computer system comprising: a first input/output processing unit; a second input/output processing unit, the first and second processing units communicating across a first communications link therebetween; and fail-over logic to maintain communications between the first and second input/output processing units after detecting a failure condition across the first communication link, the fail-over logic comprising: a data transaction queue to queue, upon detection of the failure condition, a plurality of transactions for communication between the first and second input/output processing units, the fail-over logic configured to: establish communication between the first and second input/output processing units across a secondary communications link, and submit the plurality of queued transactions for forwarding across the secondary communications link.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
115 words
A computer system comprising: a first input/output processing unit; a second input/output processing unit, the first and second processing units communicating across a first communications link therebetween; and fail-over logic to maintain communications between the first and second input/output processing units after detecting a failure condition across the first communication link, the fail-over logic comprising: a data transaction queue to queue, upon detection of the failure condition, a plurality of transactions for communication between the first and second input/output processing units, the fail-over logic configured to: establish communication between the first and second input/output processing units across a secondary communications link, and submit the plurality of queued transactions for forwarding across the secondary communications link.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer system according to claim 7 , wherein the data transaction queue comprises a plurality of linked lists.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
145 words
A computer system comprising: a first processing unit; a second processing unit, the first and second processing units communicating across a first communications link established therebetween; fail-over logic to maintain communications between the first and second input/output processing units after detecting a failure condition across the first communication link, the fail-over logic configured to establish communication between the first and second input/output processing units across a secondary communications link; and a data transaction queue to store a plurality of data transactions for communication between the first and second processing units, wherein, upon the failure condition detection, the plurality of data transactions are stored within the data transaction queue until the fail-over logic establishes communication across the secondary communications link; wherein, if the fail-over logic does not establish communication across the secondary communications link before expiration of a timeout period, the data transaction queue is purged.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
145 words
A computer system comprising: a first processing unit; a second processing unit, the first and second processing units communicating across a first communications link established therebetween; fail-over logic to maintain communications between the first and second input/output processing units after detecting a failure condition across the first communication link, the fail-over logic configured to establish communication between the first and second input/output processing units across a secondary communications link; and a data transaction queue to store a plurality of data transactions for communication between the first and second processing units, wherein, upon the failure condition detection, the plurality of data transactions are stored within the data transaction queue until the fail-over logic establishes communication across the secondary communications link; wherein, if the fail-over logic does not establish communication across the secondary communications link before expiration of a timeout period, the data transaction queue is purged.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first communications link comprises one of Personal Computer Interconnect, ServerNet, Fibre Channel, and Ethernet, and wherein the second communications link comprises one of Personal Computer Interconnect, ServerNet, Fibre Channel, and Ethernet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer system according to claim 7 , the first communications link comprises one of Personal Computer Interconnect, ServerNet, Fibre Channel, and Ethernet, and wherein the second communications link comprises one of Personal Computer Interconnect, ServerNet, Fibre Channel, and Ethernet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 4 , wherein the first processing unit comprises an I 2 O-compliant processing unit, and wherein the second processing unit comprises an I 2 O-compliant processing unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer system according to claim 9 , wherein the first processing unit comprises an I 2 O-compliant processing unit, and wherein the second processing unit comprises an I 2 O-compliant processing unit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the act of queuing the plurality of transactions is performed upon detection of the failure condition.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 3 , comprising the act of selecting, upon detection of the failure condition, the secondary communications link.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method according to claim 15 , comprising the acts of: after the act of selecting the second communications link, determining whether a particular transaction of the plurality of transactions has been queued for longer than a given timeout period; and if not, submitting the particular transaction for communication across the second communications link.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 16 , comprising the acts of determining whether communications have been established; and if not, requeuing the particular transaction.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 16 , comprising the acts of: if the particular transaction has been queued for longer than the given timeout period, purging the particular transaction.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the secondary communications link is inactive until communications are established across the secondary communications link.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer system according to claim 7 , wherein the secondary communications link is inactive until communications are established across the secondary communications link.
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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) | 2005-05-13 | 2005-11-12 | 2006-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-05-13 | 2009-11-12 | 2010-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-05-13 | 2013-11-12 | 2014-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |