US5758157A — Method and system for providing service processor…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 196 words

A method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system having at least one processor within a central processing complex, said at least one processor within said central processing complex including allocatable processor resources, said method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of: dedicating said at least one processor within said central processing complex for processing a service processor request by preallocating reserved CPU instruction cycles periodically to microcode in said central processing complex for use in processing a service processor request in response to receiving a service processor request; processing a service processor request within said central processing complex utilizing said at least one processor in response to receiving said service processor request and in response to sufficient processor resources being available to process said service processor request within said allocated portion of said allocatable resources, said service processor request capable of conveying a requirement for an initialization, control, recovery, and maintenance task in said data processing system; and transmitting said service processor request to an external processing complex in response to insufficient processor resources being available to process said service processor request within said allocated portion of said allocatable resources.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 196 words

A method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system having at least one processor within a central processing complex, said at least one processor within said central processing complex including allocatable processor resources, said method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of: dedicating said at least one processor within said central processing complex for processing a service processor request by preallocating reserved CPU instruction cycles periodically to microcode in said central processing complex for use in processing a service processor request in response to receiving a service processor request; processing a service processor request within said central processing complex utilizing said at least one processor in response to receiving said service processor request and in response to sufficient processor resources being available to process said service processor request within said allocated portion of said allocatable resources, said service processor request capable of conveying a requirement for an initialization, control, recovery, and maintenance task in said data processing system; and transmitting said service processor request to an external processing complex in response to insufficient processor resources being available to process said service processor request within said allocated portion of said allocatable resources.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 72 words

The method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system according to claim 1, wherein said step of providing within said at least one processor within said central processing complex a capability of processing a service processor request by allocating a portion of said allocatable processor resources within said at least one processor, includes providing a logical partition within said allocatable processor resources for processing a service processor request.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 90 words

The method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system according to claim 1, further comprising providing a second central processing complex having at least one processor within said second central processing complex, said at least one processor within said second central processing complex including allocatable processor resources, wherein said second central processing complex is coupled to said central processing complex and further including the step of allocating a portion of said allocatable processor resources within said second central processing complex for processing a service processor request.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 73 words

The method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system according to claim 3, wherein said step of transmitting said service processor request to an external processing complex includes transmitting said service processor request to said second central processing complex for processing in response to sufficient processor resources being available to process said service processor request within said allocated portion of said allocatable resources within said second central processing complex.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 59 words

The method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system according to claim 3 further comprising transmitting said service processor request to a third central processing complex, said third central processing complex being external to said data processing system, in response to said third central processing complex being better suited to perform said service processor request.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system according to claim 3 further comprising providing a hardware system element in said external processing complex having a processor for processing a service processor request.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 70 words

The method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system according to claim 6, wherein said step of transmitting said service processor request to an external processing complex includes transmitting said service processor request to said hardware system element in response to insufficient processor resources being available to process said service processor request within said allocated portion of said allocatable resources within said second central processing complex.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system according to claim 7, wherein said data processing system includes a shared electronic storage and said method further comprises coupling said central processing complex to said second central processing complex utilizing a shared electronic storage.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system according to claim 8, wherein said data processing system includes a local area network and said method further comprises the step of coupling said hardware service element to a local area network coupled to said central processing complex.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 62 words

The method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system according to claim 9, wherein said data processing system includes a LAN/bus adapter device and said method further includes the step of coupling said central processing complex to said local area network utilizing said LAN/bus adapter device capable of translating between LAN and CPC bus data formats and protocols.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 182 words

A method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system having a plurality of processors within a central processing complex, said plurality of processors within said central processing complex including allocatable processor resources, said method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of: providing within said plurality of processors within said central processing complex a capability of processing a service processor request by allocating a portion of said allocatable processor resources within said plurality of processors; processing a service processor request within said central processing complex utilizing at least one of said plurality of processors in response to receiving a service processor request, and in response to sufficient processor resources being available to process said service processor request within said allocated portion of said allocatable resources, said service processor request capable of conveying a requirement for an initialization, control, recovery, and maintenance task in said data processing system; and transmitting said service processor request to an external processing complex, if insufficient processor resources are available to process aid service processor request within said allocated portion of said allocatable resources.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 182 words

A method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system having a plurality of processors within a central processing complex, said plurality of processors within said central processing complex including allocatable processor resources, said method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of: providing within said plurality of processors within said central processing complex a capability of processing a service processor request by allocating a portion of said allocatable processor resources within said plurality of processors; processing a service processor request within said central processing complex utilizing at least one of said plurality of processors in response to receiving a service processor request, and in response to sufficient processor resources being available to process said service processor request within said allocated portion of said allocatable resources, said service processor request capable of conveying a requirement for an initialization, control, recovery, and maintenance task in said data processing system; and transmitting said service processor request to an external processing complex, if insufficient processor resources are available to process aid service processor request within said allocated portion of said allocatable resources.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 76 words

The method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system according to claim 11, wherein said central processing complex has microcode for executing service processor functions and said step of providing within said plurality of processors within said central processing complex a capability of processing a service processor request by allocating a portion of said allocatable processor resources within said plurality of processors, includes providing CPU instruction cycles on demand by said microcode.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 77 words

The method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system according to claim 11, wherein said central processing complex has microcode for executing service processor functions and said step of providing within said plurality of processors within said central processing complex a capability of processing a service processor request by allocating a portion of said allocatable processor resources within said plurality of processors, includes providing preallocated reserved CPU instruction cycles periodically to said microcode.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 69 words

The method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system according to claim 11, wherein said step of providing within said plurality of processors within said central processing complex a capability of processing a service processor request by allocating a portion of said allocatable processor resources within the respective processor, includes providing a logical partition within said allocatable processor resources for processing a service processor request.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 70 words

The method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system according to claim 11, wherein said step of providing within said plurality of processors within said central processing complex a capability of processing a service processor request by allocating a portion of said allocatable processor resources within said plurality processors, includes dedicating at least one processor within said plurality of processors for processing said service processor request.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 88 words

The method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system according to claim 11 further comprising providing a second central processing complex having a plurality of processors within a central processing complex, said plurality of processors within said second central processing complex including allocatable processor resources, wherein said second central processing complex is coupled to said central processing complex and further including the step of allocating a portion of said allocatable processor resources within said second central processing complex for processing a service processor request.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 73 words

The method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system according to claim 16, wherein said step of transmitting said service processor request to an external processing complex includes transmitting said service processor request to said second central processing complex for processing in response to sufficient processor resources being available to process said service processor request within said allocated portion of said allocatable resources within said second central processing complex.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system according to claim 16 further comprising the step of providing a hardware system element having a processor for processing a service processor request.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 70 words

The method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system according to claim 18, wherein said step of transmitting said service processor request to an external processing complex includes transmitting said service processor request to said hardware system element in response to insufficient processor resources being available to process said service processor request within said allocated portion of said allocatable resources within said second central processing complex.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system according to claim 19 further comprising coupling said central processing complex to said second central processing complex utilizing a shared electronic storage.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system according to claim 20 further comprising coupling said hardware service element to said central processing complex utilizing a local area network.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system according to claim 11 further comprising providing a hardware system element having a processor for processing a service processor request.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method for executing a service processor request within a data processing system according to claim 22, wherein said step of transmitting said service processor request to an external processing complex includes transmitting said service processor request to said hardware system element.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 189 words

A data processing system for executing a service processor request, said data processing system having a plurality of processors within a central processing complex, said plurality of processors within said central processing complex including allocatable processor resources, said data processing system comprising: allocation means for providing within said plurality of processors within said central processing complex a capability of processing a service processor request by allocating a portion of said allocatable processor resources within said plurality of processors; processing means for processing a service processor request within said central processing complex utilizing at least one of said plurality of processors in response to receiving a service processor request and in response to sufficient processor resources being available to process said service processor request within said allocatable portion of said allocatable resources, said service processor request capable of conveying a requirement for an initialization, control, recovery, and maintenance task in said data processing system; and transmission means for transmitting said service processor request to an external processing complex in response to insufficient processor resources being available to process said service processor request within said allocated portion of said allocatable resources.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 189 words

A data processing system for executing a service processor request, said data processing system having a plurality of processors within a central processing complex, said plurality of processors within said central processing complex including allocatable processor resources, said data processing system comprising: allocation means for providing within said plurality of processors within said central processing complex a capability of processing a service processor request by allocating a portion of said allocatable processor resources within said plurality of processors; processing means for processing a service processor request within said central processing complex utilizing at least one of said plurality of processors in response to receiving a service processor request and in response to sufficient processor resources being available to process said service processor request within said allocatable portion of said allocatable resources, said service processor request capable of conveying a requirement for an initialization, control, recovery, and maintenance task in said data processing system; and transmission means for transmitting said service processor request to an external processing complex in response to insufficient processor resources being available to process said service processor request within said allocated portion of said allocatable resources.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 34 words

The data processing system of claim 24, wherein said allocation means includes means for providing CPU instruction cycles on demand to microcode resident in said plurality of processors and for executing service processor functions.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 35 words

The data processing system of claim 24, wherein said allocation means includes means for providing preallocated reserved CPU instruction cycles periodically to microcode resident in said plurality of processors and for executing service processor functions.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 29 words

The data processing system of claim 24, wherein said allocation means includes means for providing a logical partition within said allocatable processor resources for processing a service processor request.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 31 words

The data processing system according to claim 24, wherein said allocation means includes means for dedicating at least one processor within said central processing complex for processing said service processor request.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 74 words

The data processing system of claim 24 further comprising: a second central processing complex having a plurality of processors within a central processing complex, said plurality of processors within said second central processing complex including allocatable processor resources, wherein said second central processing complex is coupled to said central processing complex; and means for allocating a portion of said allocatable processor resources within said second central processing complex for processing a service processor request.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 55 words

The data processing system of claim 29, wherein said transmission means includes means for transmitting said service processor request to said second central processing complex for processing in response to sufficient processor resources being available to process said service processor request within said allocated portion of said allocatable resources within said second central processing complex.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 22 words

The data processing system of claim 29 further comprising a hardware system element having a processor for processing a service processor request.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 57 words

The data processing system of claim 31, wherein said transmission means includes means for transmitting said service processor request to said hardware system element in response to insufficient processor resources being available to process said service processor request within said allocated portion of said allocatable processor resources within said central processing complex and second central processing complex.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 25 words

The data processing system of claim 32, wherein said central processing complex is coupled to said second central processing complex by a shared electronic storage.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 24 words

The data processing system of claim 33, wherein said hardware service element is coupled to said central processing complex utilizing a local area network.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 28 words

The data processing system of claim 24 further comprising a hardware system element having a processor for processing a service processor request coupled to said central processing complex.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 48 words

The data processing system of claim 35, wherein said transmission means includes means for transmitting said service processor request to said system hardware element in response to insufficient said processor resources being available to process said service processor request within said allocated portion of said allocatable processor resources.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 96 words

The data processing system of claim 24, further comprising: a second central processing complex; a shared electronic storage connecting the central processing complex to the second central processing complex; means for placing a polling signal for each central processing complex in the shared electronic storage; means for the central processing complex to search for a polling signal from the second central processing complex in the shared electronic storage; and means for initiating a recovery of the second central processing complex in response to an absence of a polling signal associated with the second central processing complex.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 52 words

The data processing system of claim 37, wherein the data processing system further comprises: a hardware system element; and means for initiating a recovery by the hardware system element in response to an absence of an ability of the central processing complex to initiate a recovery of the second central processing complex.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-05-25	2001-11-24	2002-05-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-05-25	2005-11-24	2006-05-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-05-25	2009-11-24	2010-05-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and system for providing service processor capability in a data processing by transmitting service processor requests between processing complexes

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