US6442713B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cluster node distress signal
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1999-03-30
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Granted: 2002-08-27
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Expires: 2019-03-30
Abstract
Abstract The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a cluster node distress system and method that improves the reliability of a cluster. The cluster node distress system provides a cluster node distress signal when a node on the cluster is about to fail. This allows the cluster to better to determine whether a non-communicating node has failed or has merely been partitioned from the cluster. The preferred cluster node distress system is embedded deeply into the operating system and provides a pre-built node distress signal that can be quickly sent to other nodes in the cluster when an imminent failure of that node is detected, improving the probability that the node distress signal will get out before the node totally fails. When the node distress signal is effectively sent to other nodes in the cluster, the cluster can accurately determine that the node has failed and has not just partitioned from the cluster. This allows the cluster to respond correctly, i.e., by assigning other nodes primary responsibility, with less intervention needed by administrators.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy Roy Block
- 👤 Rodney Lee Rabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 11:47
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; H; H04; H04L; H04L69/00; H04L69/40; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/20; G06F11/202; G06F11/2023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A node in a cluster of nodes, the node comprising: at least one processor; a memory coupled to at least one processor; a cluster node distress signaler residing in said memory, the cluster node distress signaler including a prebuilt distress message indicating failure of the node on a cluster, the cluster node distress signaler sending the prebuilt distress message to the other nodes in the cluster when a failure event is detected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
A node in a cluster of nodes, the node comprising: at least one processor; a memory coupled to at least one processor; a cluster node distress signaler residing in said memory, the cluster node distress signaler including a prebuilt distress message indicating failure of the node on a cluster, the cluster node distress signaler sending the prebuilt distress message to the other nodes in the cluster when a failure event is detected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cluster node distress signaler includes a dedicated distress signal execution task waiting to send the prebuilt distress message when a failure event is detected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cluster distress signaler includes a method for sending the prebuilt distress message asynchronously and a method for sending the prebuilt distress message synchronously.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the method for sending the prebuilt distress message asynchronously uses a current execution task to send to the prebuilt distress message and wherein the method for sending the prebuilt distress message synchronously uses a waiting dedicated distress signal execution task.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said cluster distress node signaler uses the method for sending the prebuilt distress message asynchronously to allow for more orderly shutdown procedures when sufficient time before the failure event exists, and uses the method for sending the prebuilt distress message synchronously otherwise.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cluster distress node signaler includes a mechanism for assuring the node removes itself from the cluster after the cluster distress signal has been sent to the other nodes in the cluster.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cluster distress node signaler comprises an integrated part of an operating system residing in the memory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the prebuilt distress message comprises a previously instantiated message object.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
109 words
A cluster node apparatus comprising: at least one processor; a memory coupled to at least one processor; a cluster node distress signaler residing in said memory, the cluster node distress signaler including a prebuilt distress message indicating failure of the cluster node apparatus, wherein the cluster node distress signaler includes a method for sending the prebuilt distress message asynchronously that uses a current execution task and a method for sending the prebuilt distress message synchronously method uses a waiting dedicated distress signal execution task, and wherein the cluster node distress signaler sends the prebuilt distress message to the other nodes in the cluster when a failure event is detected.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
109 words
A cluster node apparatus comprising: at least one processor; a memory coupled to at least one processor; a cluster node distress signaler residing in said memory, the cluster node distress signaler including a prebuilt distress message indicating failure of the cluster node apparatus, wherein the cluster node distress signaler includes a method for sending the prebuilt distress message asynchronously that uses a current execution task and a method for sending the prebuilt distress message synchronously method uses a waiting dedicated distress signal execution task, and wherein the cluster node distress signaler sends the prebuilt distress message to the other nodes in the cluster when a failure event is detected.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said cluster distress node signaler uses the method for sending the prebuilt distress message asynchronously to allow for more orderly shutdown procedures when sufficient time before the failure event exists, and uses the method for sending the prebuilt distress message synchronously otherwise.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the cluster distress node signaler includes a mechanism for assuring the cluster node apparatus removes itself from the cluster after the cluster distress signal has been sent to the other nodes in the cluster.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the cluster distress node signaler is part of an operating system residing in memory.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the prebuilt distress message comprises a previously instantiated message object.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
38 words
A method comprising the steps of: providing a prebuilt distress message indicating a node on a cluster is experiencing a failure event; and sending the prebuilt distress message when an impending failure event is detected within the node.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
38 words
A method comprising the steps of: providing a prebuilt distress message indicating a node on a cluster is experiencing a failure event; and sending the prebuilt distress message when an impending failure event is detected within the node.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of providing a dedicated distress signal task to process and send the prebuilt distress message.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the step of sending the prebuilt distress message comprises sending the prebuilt distress message asynchronously to allow for more orderly shutdown procedures when sufficient time before the impending failure event exists and sending the prebuilt distress message synchronously otherwise.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of assuring the node removes itself from the cluster after the cluster distress signal has been sent to the other nodes in the cluster.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of determining the type of impending failure event.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
104 words
A method comprising the steps of: providing a prebuilt distress message indicating a node on a cluster is experiencing a failure event; providing a dedicated distress signal task to process and send the prebuilt distress message; detecting an impending failure event within the node; asynchronously sending the prebuilt distress message to other nodes in the cluster when sufficient time before the detected impending failure event exists and otherwise sending the prebuilt distress message to the other nodes in the synchronously; and assuring the node removes itself from the cluster after the cluster distress signal has been sent to the other nodes in the cluster.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
104 words
A method comprising the steps of: providing a prebuilt distress message indicating a node on a cluster is experiencing a failure event; providing a dedicated distress signal task to process and send the prebuilt distress message; detecting an impending failure event within the node; asynchronously sending the prebuilt distress message to other nodes in the cluster when sufficient time before the detected impending failure event exists and otherwise sending the prebuilt distress message to the other nodes in the synchronously; and assuring the node removes itself from the cluster after the cluster distress signal has been sent to the other nodes in the cluster.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the step of asynchronously sending the prebuilt distress message uses the dedicated distress signal task and wherein the step of synchronously sending the prebuilt distress message uses a current execution task.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the prebuilt distress message comprises a previously instantiated message object.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
60 words
A program product comprising: (A) a cluster node distress signaler including a prebuilt distress message indicating failure of a node on a cluster, the cluster node distress signaler sending the prebuilt distress message from the node to the other nodes in the cluster when a failure event is detected; and (B) signal bearing media bearing said cluster node distress signaler.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
60 words
A program product comprising: (A) a cluster node distress signaler including a prebuilt distress message indicating failure of a node on a cluster, the cluster node distress signaler sending the prebuilt distress message from the node to the other nodes in the cluster when a failure event is detected; and (B) signal bearing media bearing said cluster node distress signaler.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The program product of claim 22 wherein said signal bearing media comprises transmission media.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The program product of claim 22 wherein said signal bearing media comprises recordable media.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The program product of claim 22 wherein the cluster node distress signaler includes a dedicated distress signal execution task waiting to send the prebuilt distress message when a failure event is detected.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
The program product of claim 22 wherein the cluster distress signaler includes a method for sending the prebuilt distress message asynchronously and a method for sending the prebuilt distress message synchronously.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
47 words
The program product of claim 26 wherein the method for sending the prebuilt distress message asynchronously uses a current execution task to send to the prebuilt distress message and wherein the method for sending the prebuilt distress message synchronously uses a waiting dedicated distress signal execution task.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
49 words
The program product of claim 27 wherein said cluster distress node signaler uses the method for sending the prebuilt distress message asynchronously to allow for more orderly shutdown procedures when sufficient time before the failure event exists, and uses the method for sending the prebuilt distress message synchronously otherwise.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
39 words
The program product of claim 22 wherein the cluster distress node signaler includes a mechanism for assuring the node removes itself from the cluster after the cluster distress signal has been sent to the other nodes in the cluster.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The program product of claim 22 wherein the cluster distress node signaler comprises an integrated part of an operating system residing in the memory.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The program product of claim 22 wherein the prebuilt distress message comprises a previously instantiated message object.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
104 words
A program product comprising: (A) a cluster node distress signaler including a prebuilt distress message indicating failure of a cluster node apparatus, wherein the cluster node distress signaler includes a method for sending the prebuilt distress message asynchronously that uses a current execution task and a method for sending the prebuilt distress message synchronously method uses a waiting dedicated distress signal execution task, and wherein the cluster node distress signaler sends the prebuilt distress message from the cluster node apparatus to the other nodes in the cluster when a failure event is detected; and (B) signal bearing media bearing the cluster node distress signaler.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
104 words
A program product comprising: (A) a cluster node distress signaler including a prebuilt distress message indicating failure of a cluster node apparatus, wherein the cluster node distress signaler includes a method for sending the prebuilt distress message asynchronously that uses a current execution task and a method for sending the prebuilt distress message synchronously method uses a waiting dedicated distress signal execution task, and wherein the cluster node distress signaler sends the prebuilt distress message from the cluster node apparatus to the other nodes in the cluster when a failure event is detected; and (B) signal bearing media bearing the cluster node distress signaler.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
The program product of claim 32 wherein said signal bearing media comprises transmission media.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
14 words
The program product of claim 32 wherein said signal bearing media comprises recordable media.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
49 words
The program product of claim 32 wherein said cluster distress node signaler uses the method for sending the prebuilt distress message asynchronously to allow for more orderly shutdown procedures when sufficient time before the failure event exists, and uses the method for sending the prebuilt distress message synchronously otherwise.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
41 words
The program product of claim 32 wherein the cluster distress node signaler includes a mechanism for assuring the cluster node apparatus removes itself from the cluster after the cluster distress signal has been sent to the other nodes in the cluster.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
24 words
The program product of claim 32 wherein the cluster distress node signaler is part of an operating system residing on the signal bearing media.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
17 words
The program product of claim 32 wherein the prebuilt distress message comprises a previously instantiated message object.
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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) | 2005-08-26 | 2006-02-25 | 2006-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-08-26 | 2010-02-25 | 2010-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-08-26 | 2014-02-25 | 2014-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |