Patent EP0306211A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0306211A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Synchronized twin computer system
Assignee: Digital Equipment Corp
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Filing: 1988-08-25
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-08-25
Abstract
Abstract A dual processor computer system includes a first processing system having a central processing unit which executes a series a data processing instructions, a data bus system for transferring data to and from the first central processing unit, a memory unit coupled to the first central processing unit, and a cross-link communications element for transferring data into and out of the first processing system. A similarly configured second processing system, operating independently of the first processing system, is also provided. The cross-link communications element associated with the second processing system is coupled to the cross-link communication element of the first processing system, for transferring data into the second processing system from the first processing system and for transferring data into the first processing system from the second computer system.
Inventors
- 👤 William F. Bruckert
- 👤 Thomas D. Bissett
- 👤 Dennis Mazur
- 👤 John Munzer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:45
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/04; G06F1/12; G06F1/16; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/1629; G06F11/1633; G06F11/1641; G06F11/1645; G06F11/165; G06F11/1658; G06F11/1675; G06F11/1679; G06F11/0703; G06F11/0751; G06F11/0754; G06F11/076; G06F11/0796; G06F11/08; G06F11/10; G06F11/1008; G06F11/1044; G06F11/14; G06F11/22; G06F11/2205; G06F2201/00; G06F2201/88
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A dual processor computer system comprising: a first processing system including a first central processing unit executing a series of data processing instructions, a first data bus system for transferring data to and from said first central processing unit, a first memory unit coupled to said first central processing unit, a first cross-link communications element for transferring data into and out of said first processing system; and a second processing system, operating independently of said first processing system, said second processing system including a second central processing unit executing said series of data processing instructions approximately synchronously with said first central processing unit, a second data bus system for transferring data to and from said second central processing unit, a second memory unit coupled to said second central processing unit, a second cross-link communications element, coupled to said first cross-link communication element, for transferring data into said second processing system from said first processing system and for transferring data into said first processing system from said second computer system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
A dual processor computer system comprising: a first processing system including a first central processing unit executing a series of data processing instructions, a first data bus system for transferring data to and from said first central processing unit, a first memory unit coupled to said first central processing unit, a first cross-link communications element for transferring data into and out of said first processing system; and a second processing system, operating independently of said first processing system, said second processing system including a second central processing unit executing said series of data processing instructions approximately synchronously with said first central processing unit, a second data bus system for transferring data to and from said second central processing unit, a second memory unit coupled to said second central processing unit, a second cross-link communications element, coupled to said first cross-link communication element, for transferring data into said second processing system from said first processing system and for transferring data into said first processing system from said second computer system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
The daul processor computer system of claim 1 further comprising: first oscillator means coupled to said first processing system, for providing first timing signals to said first processing system, and second oscillator means, synchronized with said first oscillator means and coupled to said first processing system, for providing second timing signals to said second processing system; and wherein said first and second oscillator means each includes phase lock means for phase-locking said first and second timing signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The dual processor computer system of claim 2 wherein said first cross-link communications element includes means for inputting and outputting data from said first processing system, and wherein said second cross-link communications element includes means for inputting and outputting data from said second processing system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
104 words
The dual processor computer system of claim 1 wherein said first processing system includes a first cabinet for housing said first processor system, a first power supply mounted in said first cabinet connected to provide power to said first computer system, and a first cooling system mounted in said cabinet for cooling said first processing system, and wherein said second processing system includes a second cabinet for housing said second processing system, a second power supply mounted in said second cabinet to provide power to said second processing system, and a second cooling system mounted in said cabinet for cooling said second processing system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The daul processor computer system of claim 1 wherein said first and second data bus systems are located on physically separate backplanes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The dual processor computer system of claim 1 wherein the first and second processor systems are both connected to a single I/O module.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
115 words
A dual processor computer system comprising: a first processor system executing a series of instruction; a second processor system configured substantially identically to said first processor system also executing said series of instructions; cross-link means for linking said first and second processor systems by exchanging outputs of said first and second processing means; and synchronizing means, coupled to said cross-link means, for selectively synchronizing said first and second processor systems to cause said first and second processor systems to process the same instructions in said series of instructions at approximately the same time through comparison of said outputs, and for disengaging said cross-link means to allow said first and second processor systems to operate asynchronously.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
115 words
A dual processor computer system comprising: a first processor system executing a series of instruction; a second processor system configured substantially identically to said first processor system also executing said series of instructions; cross-link means for linking said first and second processor systems by exchanging outputs of said first and second processing means; and synchronizing means, coupled to said cross-link means, for selectively synchronizing said first and second processor systems to cause said first and second processor systems to process the same instructions in said series of instructions at approximately the same time through comparison of said outputs, and for disengaging said cross-link means to allow said first and second processor systems to operate asynchronously.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The dual processor computer system of claim 7 wherein said cross-link means includes: means for communicating serially between said first and second processor systems when said processor systems are not in synchronous operation; and means for communicating in parallel between said first and second processor systems during synchronous operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
The dual processor computer system of claim 7 wherein said cross-link means includes: a first cross-link communications element for transferring information into and out of said first processor system; and a second cross-link communications element for transferring data into said second processor system from said first processor system and for transferring data into said first processor system from said second processor system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The dual processor system of claim 7 wherein said first and second processor systems each includes two central processing units and wherein said cross-link means comprises: means for serially communicating between said first and second processor systems; and means for communicating in parallel between said first and second processor systems.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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