Patent US7766692B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7766692B2
Active / In Force
US
⏱️ 1.2 years remaining
Cable interconnect systems with cable connectors implementing storage devices
Assignee: Oracle America Inc
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Filing: 2008-01-30
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Granted: 2010-08-03
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Expires: 2028-01-30
Abstract
Abstract In order to monitor connectivity status associated with an interconnect cable from the end-points to which either end of the cable is attached, a storage device storing a field replaceable unit identifier is provided to uniquely identify a cable end-point, which identifier can then be accessed to determine the connectivity status.
Inventors
- 👤 Bjorn Dag Johnsen
- 👤 Ola Torudbakken
- 👤 Inge Lars Birkeli
- 👤 Andreas Bechtolsheim
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:32
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q1/00; H04Q1/02; H04Q1/14; H04Q1/145; G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/30; H04Q1/035; H04Q1/06; H04Q1/064; H04Q1/066
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
A cable connector for attaching a cable, the cable connector comprising a storage device that stores a serial number for a cable end-point that uniquely identifies the cable end-point, wherein the cable connector comprises a power connection for supplying power from a local end of the cable to a remote end of the cable to power a storage device in a connector at the remote end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
A cable connector for attaching a cable, the cable connector comprising a storage device that stores a serial number for a cable end-point that uniquely identifies the cable end-point, wherein the cable connector comprises a power connection for supplying power from a local end of the cable to a remote end of the cable to power a storage device in a connector at the remote end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cable connector of claim 1 , wherein the storage device is configured to be accessible using an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) protocol.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
A cable comprising a connector at a first end-point thereof that includes a storage device that stores a serial number for the first end-point that uniquely identifies the first end-point, wherein the cable comprises a power connection for supplying power from a local end of the cable to a remote end of the cable to power a storage device in a connector at the remote end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
A cable comprising a connector at a first end-point thereof that includes a storage device that stores a serial number for the first end-point that uniquely identifies the first end-point, wherein the cable comprises a power connection for supplying power from a local end of the cable to a remote end of the cable to power a storage device in a connector at the remote end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The cable of claim 3 , comprising a connector at a second end-point thereof that includes a storage device that stores a serial number for the second end-point that uniquely identifies the second end-point.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The cable of claim 3 , comprising a connector that includes at least one sensor device to detect one or more of chassis connectivity, chassis power state and chassis operational state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cable of claim 5 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to be accessible using an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) protocol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The cable of claim 6 , wherein the at least one sensor is accessible from at least one of a local end and a remote end of the cable using an I2C protocol.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The cable of claim 7 , comprising at least one I2C register for at least one of local sensor information and remote sensor information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The cable of claim 7 , wherein sensor information is provided using one or more dedicated loopback signals within at least one of the cable and a connector of the cable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cable of claim 3 , wherein the storage device is configured to be accessible using an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) protocol.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The cable of claim 10 , wherein the storage device is accessible from at least one of a local end and a remote end of the cable using an I2C protocol.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cable of claim 3 , comprising a serial inter-integrated circuit (I2C) connection.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The cable of claim 12 , wherein dual-master support is provided on the I2C link.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cable of claim 3 , wherein information about a component connected to the connector of the cable is recorded dynamically in the storage device in the connector.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The cable of claim 3 , wherein information is exchanged by one or more of in-band, side band or an out-of-band management network infrastructure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
106 words
A computer system comprising a plurality of system components, having component connectors and at least one cable interconnecting system components, wherein the cable is provided with at least first and second connectors, and a storage device in at least one of the at least first and second connectors that stores a serial number for a corresponding end-point of the cable that uniquely identifies the corresponding end-point of the cable, and wherein the cable comprises a power connection for supplying power from a local end-point of the cable to a remote end-point of the cable to power a storage device in the connector at a remote end-point.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
106 words
A computer system comprising a plurality of system components, having component connectors and at least one cable interconnecting system components, wherein the cable is provided with at least first and second connectors, and a storage device in at least one of the at least first and second connectors that stores a serial number for a corresponding end-point of the cable that uniquely identifies the corresponding end-point of the cable, and wherein the cable comprises a power connection for supplying power from a local end-point of the cable to a remote end-point of the cable to power a storage device in the connector at a remote end-point.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer system of claim 16 wherein the at least one said storage device is provided in one of said first and second connectors.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer system of claim 16 , wherein at least one said storage device is provided in a system component.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of monitoring connectivity status associated with an interconnect cable from end-points to which either end of the cable is attached, the method comprising: providing a storage device in a local end of the cable, wherein the storage device stores a field replaceable unit identifier for uniquely identifying a cable end-point, wherein a storage device of a remote end-point of the cable is configured to be powered by a local end-point of the cable; and accessing the identifier to determine the connectivity status.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of monitoring connectivity status associated with an interconnect cable from end-points to which either end of the cable is attached, the method comprising: providing a storage device in a local end of the cable, wherein the storage device stores a field replaceable unit identifier for uniquely identifying a cable end-point, wherein a storage device of a remote end-point of the cable is configured to be powered by a local end-point of the cable; and accessing the identifier to determine the connectivity status.
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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) | 2013-08-02 | 2014-02-01 | 2014-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2017-08-02 | 2018-02-01 | 2018-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2021-08-02 | 2022-02-01 | 2022-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |