US6381682B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for dynamically sharing memory in a multiprocessor system
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
•
Filing: 1998-06-10
•
Granted: 2002-04-30
•
Expires: 2018-06-10
Abstract
Abstract Multiple instances of operating systems execute cooperatively in a single multiprocessor computer wherein all processors and resources are electrically connected together. The single physical machine with multiple physical processors and resources is subdivided by software into multiple partitions, each with the ability to run a distinct copy, or instance, of an operating system. At different times, different operating system instances may be loaded on a given partition. Resources, such as CPUs and memory, can be dynamically assigned to different partitions and used by instances of operating systems running within the machine by modifying the configuration. The partitions themselves can also be changed without rebooting the system by modifying the configuration tree. A grouping of partitions, a community, shares memory. Memory may be private to a particular partition or may be shared by partitions within a community. When a community is formed the creating instance reads a configuration tree and builds management structures for the shared memory owned by the community. A single system may have one or more communities, each with their own representation within the configuration tree.
Inventors
- 👤 Karen L. Noel
- 👤 Gregory H. Jordan
- 👤 Paul K. Harter, Jr.
- 👤 Thomas Benson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:07
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/50; G06F9/5061; G06F9/5077; G06F2209/00; G06F2209/50; G06F2209/505
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A computer system having a plurality of system resources including processors, main memory, and I/O circuitry and a plurality of operating system instances, the computer system comprising: an interconnection mechanism for electrically interconnecting the processors, the main memory, and the I/O circuitry so that each processor has electrical access to all of the main memory and at least some of the I/O circuitry; a software mechanism for dividing the system resources into a plurality of partitions executing the plurality of operating system instances; at least two of the plurality of partitions forming a community sharing a region of the main memory as shared memory, wherein a segment of the shared memory forms a shared memory database shared by the community; and wherein the shared memory database indicates whether an operating system instance associated with a partition within the community is active.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A computer system having a plurality of system resources including processors, main memory, and I/O circuitry and a plurality of operating system instances, the computer system comprising: an interconnection mechanism for electrically interconnecting the processors, the main memory, and the I/O circuitry so that each processor has electrical access to all of the main memory and at least some of the I/O circuitry; a software mechanism for dividing the system resources into a plurality of partitions executing the plurality of operating system instances; at least two of the plurality of partitions forming a community sharing a region of the main memory as shared memory, wherein a segment of the shared memory forms a shared memory database shared by the community; and wherein the shared memory database indicates whether an operating system instance associated with a partition within the community is active.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A computer system according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the main memory is exclusively assigned to one of the plurality of partitions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computer system according to claim 1 wherein each operating system instance within a community maps to the shared memory database.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A computer system according to claim 3 wherein each operating system instance examines the shared memory database as said each operating system instance maps to the shared memory database to determine whether other operating system instances are active and, if other operating system instances are active, if the other operating system instances join the community.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A computer system according to claim 3 wherein each operating system instance examines the shared memory database as it maps to the shared memory database to determine whether other operating system instances are active and, if no other operating system instances are active, creates the community.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A computer system according to claim 5 wherein an operating system instance configures the shared memory database as it creates the community.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A computer system according to claim 4 wherein access to the shared memory database is synchronized through use of locks which block access to the shared memory database by one operating system instance while another operating system instance is accessing the shared memory database.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A computer system according to claim 7 wherein each partition of the plurality of partitions comprises a console program which controls the processors in said each partition and wherein the computer system further comprises a mechanism for sending configuration information from a master console program to each of the other console programs.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for constructing a computer system having a plurality of system resources including processors, main memory, and I/O circuitry and a plurality of operating system instances, the method comprising the steps of: (a) electrically interconnecting the processors, the main memory, and the I/O circuitry so that each processor has electrical access to all of the main memory and at least some of the I/O circuitry; (b) dividing the system resources into a plurality of partitions executing the plurality of operating system instances; (c) forming a community of partitions by sharing a region of the main memory as shared memory among at least two of the plurality of partitions, (d) forming a shared memory database for the community within the shared memory; and (e) including within the shared memory database an indication of whether an operating system instance associated with the community is active.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for constructing a computer system having a plurality of system resources including processors, main memory, and I/O circuitry and a plurality of operating system instances, the method comprising the steps of: (a) electrically interconnecting the processors, the main memory, and the I/O circuitry so that each processor has electrical access to all of the main memory and at least some of the I/O circuitry; (b) dividing the system resources into a plurality of partitions executing the plurality of operating system instances; (c) forming a community of partitions by sharing a region of the main memory as shared memory among at least two of the plurality of partitions, (d) forming a shared memory database for the community within the shared memory; and (e) including within the shared memory database an indication of whether an operating system instance associated with the community is active.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein step (b) comprises the step of: (b1) assigning at least some of the main memory to each of the plurality of partitions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of each operating system instance mapping to the shared memory database as it joins the community.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of: (f) each operating system instance examining the shared memory database to determine whether other operating system instances are active and joining the community if the other operating system instances are active.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein step (f) comprises the step of: (f1) creating the community if no other operating system instance is active.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 13 wherein step (f) comprises the step of: (f2) reconfiguring the shared memory database.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein step (f) comprises the step of: (f3) locking the shared memory database to block access to the shared memory database by another operating system instance as the operating system instance examines the shared memory database.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
156 words
A computer program product for constructing a computer system having a plurality of system resources including processors, main memory, and I/O circuitry and hardware for electrically interconnecting the processors, memory and I/O circuitry so that each processor has electrical access to all of the memory and at least some of the I/O circuitry, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon including: (a) program code for dividing the system resources into a plurality of partitions configured to execute a plurality of operating system instances; (b) program code for forming a community of partitions, which shares a region of the main memory as shared memory; (c) program code for forming a shared memory database for the shared memory of the community; and (d) program code for accessing said shared memory database to provide an indication of whether an operating system instance associated with a partition within the community is active.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
156 words
A computer program product for constructing a computer system having a plurality of system resources including processors, main memory, and I/O circuitry and hardware for electrically interconnecting the processors, memory and I/O circuitry so that each processor has electrical access to all of the memory and at least some of the I/O circuitry, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon including: (a) program code for dividing the system resources into a plurality of partitions configured to execute a plurality of operating system instances; (b) program code for forming a community of partitions, which shares a region of the main memory as shared memory; (c) program code for forming a shared memory database for the shared memory of the community; and (d) program code for accessing said shared memory database to provide an indication of whether an operating system instance associated with a partition within the community is active.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
A computer program product according to claim 16 wherein the program code for dividing the system resources into a plurality of partitions assigns at least some of the main memory exclusively to one of the partitions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product according to claim 16 wherein the computer program product for constructing a computer system having a plurality of system resources further comprises program code for mapping each operating system instance within a community to the shared memory database.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
64 words
A computer program product according to claim 18 further comprising program code for each operating system instance examining the shared memory database as the operating system instance maps to the shared memory database, determining whether other operating system instances are active, and joining the community if other operating system instances are active, or creating the community if no other operating system instances are active.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
WO1988001772A1
Cited
US4843541A
Cited
US4853843A
Cited
EP0321694A2
Cited
US5450570A
Cited
US5588111A
Cited
US5237566A
Cited
US5325517A
Cited
US5613146A
Cited
US5828894A
Cited
US5537574A
Cited
US5481707A
Cited
US5392397A
Cited
US5414851A
Cited
US5625831A
Cited
US5471609A
Cited
EP0593874A2
Cited
US5784702A
Cited
US5574914A
Cited
US5517648A
Cited
US5408649A
Cited
US5956522A
Cited
US5860115A
Cited
US5692193A
Cited
US5583987A
Cited
US5636341A
Cited
WO1996007257A2
Cited
US5606696A
Cited
US5481719A
Cited
US5640584A
Cited
US5717942A
Cited
US5737763A
Cited
WO1997004388A1
Cited
US5819020A
Cited
US5765154A
Cited
US6047323A
Cited
US5898870A
Cited
US5838968A
Cited
US6012151A
Cited
US6041377A
Cited
US6035414A
Cited
US5931938A
Cited
US6058423A
Cited
US5884018A
Cited
US6002851A
Cited
US5950228A
Cited
US5987621A
Cited
US6021508A
Cited
US5923890A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-04-29 | 2005-10-29 | 2006-04-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-04-29 | 2009-10-29 | 2010-04-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-04-29 | 2013-10-29 | 2014-04-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |