US5852720A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for storing display data during first time period prior to failure of computer and during second time period after reset of the computer
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
•
Filing: 1996-08-16
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Granted: 1998-12-22
•
Expires: 2016-08-16
Abstract
Abstract A communication system is presented whereby sequences of video screens sent from a host CPU to a video controller can be stored and subsequently retrieved by a terminal located remote from the host CPU. The host CPU and video controller form part of a server arranged within a distributed computing system. An administrator situated at the remote terminal can retrieve select video screens produced during server operations to determine information regarding the server configuration and possible causes of server failure or future failure. The sequence of video screens thereby represent video screen changes stored upon a server controller adapted for coupling to the server expansion bus. The video screen changes represent a sequence of video screen changes occurring prior to server failure or after server reset. Those changes provide beneficial information to an administrator located remote from the server, and allows the administrator to communicate with the server using several possible communication protocols. The server controller snoops display data written from the host CPU to the video controller and mirrors the display data upon buffers within the server controller. Information within the buffers can be called upon by a remotely situated administrator regardless of whether server power is lost in the interim.
Inventors
- 👤 R. Scott Gready
- 👤 Wesley M. Ellinger
- 👤 Gordon R. Clark
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:51
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/0703; G06F11/0706; G06F11/0709; G06F11/0766; G06F11/30; G06F11/34; G06F11/3466; H; H04; H04L; H04L41/00; H04L41/22; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; G06F11/22; G06F11/2294; G06F11/32; G06F11/324; G06F11/327; G06F11/3409; G06F11/3414; G06F11/3476; G06F11/3485; G06F2201/00; G06F2201/88; H04L41/06; H04L67/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A computer, comprising: a host central processing unit (CPU); an expansion bus operably coupled between said host CPU and a video controller; and a server controller connected to said expansion bus, wherein said server controller comprises a controller memory for storing display data forwarded from said host CPU to said video controller during a first time period prior to failure of said computer and during a second time period after reset of said computer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
A computer, comprising: a host central processing unit (CPU); an expansion bus operably coupled between said host CPU and a video controller; and a server controller connected to said expansion bus, wherein said server controller comprises a controller memory for storing display data forwarded from said host CPU to said video controller during a first time period prior to failure of said computer and during a second time period after reset of said computer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer as recited in claim 1, wherein said expansion bus comprises an EISA bus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The computer as recited in claim 1, wherein said video controller is coupled to a video memory such that both said video controller and said server controller are responsive to address information within a video address range for simultaneously storing said display data in both said video memory and controller memory, respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer as recited in claim 1, wherein said host CPU is connected to a local CPU bus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer as recited in claim 4, further comprising a bus interface unit coupled between said local CPU bus and said expansion bus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The computer as recited in claim 1, wherein said server controller comprises detection logic coupled between said expansion bus and said controller memory for monitoring said display data forwarded across said expansion bus to said video controller and for thereafter writing said display data to said controller memory.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer as recited in claim 6, wherein said display data is forwarded across said expansion bus during times when said host CPU writes said display data to said video controller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
104 words
The computer as recited in claim 1, wherein said controller memory comprises: a local frame buffer for storing a current display screen of said display data forwarded to said video controller; and a temporary snapshot buffer coupled to receive the current display screen of said display data forwarded from said local frame buffer; a snapshot buffer coupled to receive a previous display screen of said display data forwarded from said local frame buffer; and comparison logic coupled between said temporary snapshot buffer and said snapshot buffer for determining a change between said previous display screen and said current display screen of said display data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer as recited in claim 8, wherein said controller memory further comprises a current reset sequence buffer for storing said change during said second time period.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The computer as recited in claim 8, wherein said controller memory further comprises a current sequence buffer operably coupled to a current start buffer, and wherein said change is forwarded to said current sequence buffer and any overflow therefrom is forwarded to said current start buffer during said first time period.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
105 words
A server controller, comprising: detection logic adapted for coupling to a server to determine the presence of display data forwarded from the server; a controller memory coupled to said detection logic, wherein said controller memory comprises a local frame buffer and a current reset sequence buffer; and said local frame buffer is configured to store a current display screen of said display data, and said current reset sequence buffer is configured to store a change between the current display screen of said display data and a previous display screen of said display data during a time period after which said server receives a first reset.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
105 words
A server controller, comprising: detection logic adapted for coupling to a server to determine the presence of display data forwarded from the server; a controller memory coupled to said detection logic, wherein said controller memory comprises a local frame buffer and a current reset sequence buffer; and said local frame buffer is configured to store a current display screen of said display data, and said current reset sequence buffer is configured to store a change between the current display screen of said display data and a previous display screen of said display data during a time period after which said server receives a first reset.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The server controller as recited in claim 11, wherein said change between the current display screen of said display data and the previous display screen of said display data is represented as a packet of digital data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The server controller as recited in claim 12, wherein said packet of digital data comprises fewer binary values than a set of binary values used in storing either the current display screen or the previous display screen.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
The server controller as recited in claim 12, wherein said packet of digital data comprises a byte of data indicative of a character to be displayed and another byte of data indicative of attributes given to the character to be displayed, said attributes are selected from the group comprising color and intensity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The server controller as recited in claim 12, wherein said packets are arranged in series representing a sequence of video screen changes which occur after said server receives the first reset.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The server controller as recited in claim 11, wherein said current reset sequence buffer is adapted for access by a terminal located remote from said server to display upon said terminal a sequence of video screen changes which occur after said server receives the first reset.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
121 words
The server controller as recited in claim 11, further comprising: a previous reset sequence buffer configured to store said change between the current display screen of said display data and the previous display screen of said display data upon the server receiving a second reset prior to the first reset; and said previous reset sequence buffer is adapted for access by a terminal located remote from said server to display upon said terminal a sequence of video screen changes which occur after the server receives said second reset, wherein the current reset sequence buffer is adapted for access by said terminal to display upon said terminal a sequence of video screen changes which occur after said server receives the first reset.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
100 words
A server controller, comprising: detection logic adapted for coupling to a server to determine the presence of display data forwarded from the server; a controller memory coupled to said detection logic, wherein said controller memory comprises a local frame buffer and a current sequence buffer; and said local frame buffer is configured to store a current display screen of said display data, and said current sequence buffer is configured to store a change between the current display screen of said display data and a previous display screen of said display data during a time period before which said server fails.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
100 words
A server controller, comprising: detection logic adapted for coupling to a server to determine the presence of display data forwarded from the server; a controller memory coupled to said detection logic, wherein said controller memory comprises a local frame buffer and a current sequence buffer; and said local frame buffer is configured to store a current display screen of said display data, and said current sequence buffer is configured to store a change between the current display screen of said display data and a previous display screen of said display data during a time period before which said server fails.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The server controller as recited in claim 18, wherein said change between the current display screen of said digital data and the previous display screen of said digital data is represented as a packet of digital data.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The server controller as recited in claim 19, wherein said packet of digital data comprises fewer binary values than a set of binary values used in storing either the current display screen or the previous display screen.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
The server controller as recited in claim 19, wherein said packet of digital data comprises a byte of data indicative of a character to be displayed and another byte of data indicative of attributes given to the character to be displayed, said attributes are selected from the group comprising color and intensity.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The server controller as recited in claim 19, wherein said packets are arranged in series representing a sequence of video screen changes which occur before said server fails.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
The server controller as recited in claim 19, wherein said current sequence buffer is adapted for access by a terminal located remote from said server to display upon said terminal a sequence of video screen changes which occur before said server fails.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for accessing a sequence of display screens forwarded from a server to a video controller, comprising: loading into a local frame buffer a current display screen of display data forwarded from the server to the video controller; comparing the current display screen of display data to a previous display screen of display data previously loaded into said local frame buffer to produce a screen change packet; repeating the steps of loading and comparing for a sequence of display screens compiled as a plurality of screen change packets which occur during a first time period immediately prior to failure of said server and during a second time period immediately after reset of said server; and assessing said plurality of screen change packets by a terminal located remote from said server to display upon the terminal said sequence of display screens.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for accessing a sequence of display screens forwarded from a server to a video controller, comprising: loading into a local frame buffer a current display screen of display data forwarded from the server to the video controller; comparing the current display screen of display data to a previous display screen of display data previously loaded into said local frame buffer to produce a screen change packet; repeating the steps of loading and comparing for a sequence of display screens compiled as a plurality of screen change packets which occur during a first time period immediately prior to failure of said server and during a second time period immediately after reset of said server; and assessing said plurality of screen change packets by a terminal located remote from said server to display upon the terminal said sequence of display screens.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as recited in claim 24, wherein said loading comprises snooping an expansion bus for addresses within a specific address range sent over the expansion bus from the server.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as recited in claim 24, wherein said accessing comprises remote dialing from the terminal into a modem coupled to a buffer configured to store said plurality of screen change packets.
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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) | 2001-12-21 | 2002-06-22 | 2002-12-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-21 | 2006-06-22 | 2006-12-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-21 | 2010-06-22 | 2010-12-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |