US5560033A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for providing automatic power control for highly available n+k processors
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
•
Filing: 1994-08-29
•
Granted: 1996-09-24
•
Expires: 2014-08-29
Abstract
Abstract A highly available processor complex that can use industry standard hardware and software through use of an N+K sparing arrangement with a separate monitor ("watchdog") processor. The watchdog processor monitors periodic "heartbeat" messages from the monitored elements and can change activity and status of such monitored elements through control messages. Further, the watchdog processor is operatively connected to a power control circuit that controls the power to the monitored elements. Thus, the watchdog processor can guarantee that a faulty element can be rendered non-functional and can also totally restart an element through power cycling it.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian P. Doherty
- 👤 Douglas A. Kimber
- 👤 Mikiel L. Larson
- 👤 John H. Pokropinski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:49
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/20; G06F11/2097; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203; G06F1/3206; G06F1/3215; G06F1/3234; G06F1/325; G06F11/22; G06F11/26; G06F11/273; G06F11/2736; G06F11/0703; G06F11/0751; G06F11/0754; G06F11/0757; G06F11/202; G06F11/2023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
An N+K sparing processing arrangement comprising: a watchdog processor; a plurality of processors connected to said watchdog processor for message communication, each of said plurality of processors sending periodic messages to said watchdog processor, said plurality of processors being configured into processing groups by said watchdog processor, each of said processing groups including one or more active processors and one or more spare processors, each processor in each group performing a similar task, and each group performing different tasks for the other groups; and a plurality of power control circuits connected to each of said plurality of processors and each of said plurality of power control circuits communicating with said watchdog processor; said watchdog processor reconfiguring said processing groups and taking corrective action in response to receipt or non-receipt of said periodic messages from said plurality of processors, said corrective action including causing said power control circuits to remove power from one or more of said plurality of processors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
An N+K sparing processing arrangement comprising: a watchdog processor; a plurality of processors connected to said watchdog processor for message communication, each of said plurality of processors sending periodic messages to said watchdog processor, said plurality of processors being configured into processing groups by said watchdog processor, each of said processing groups including one or more active processors and one or more spare processors, each processor in each group performing a similar task, and each group performing different tasks for the other groups; and a plurality of power control circuits connected to each of said plurality of processors and each of said plurality of power control circuits communicating with said watchdog processor; said watchdog processor reconfiguring said processing groups and taking corrective action in response to receipt or non-receipt of said periodic messages from said plurality of processors, said corrective action including causing said power control circuits to remove power from one or more of said plurality of processors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An N+K sparing arrangement according to claim 1 further including a human-machine interface for causing said watchdog processor to change the configuration of said processing groups.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4263647A
Cited
US4710926A
Cited
US5153909A
Cited
US5008805A
Cited
US5129080A
Cited
US5239575A
Cited
US5448723A
Cited
US5440726A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-09-24 | 2000-03-25 | 2000-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-09-24 | 2004-03-25 | 2004-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-09-24 | 2008-03-25 | 2008-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |