Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Intrasystem connection – Bus interface architecture
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-29
2002-10-08
Dharia, Rupal (Department: 2181)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Intrasystem connection
Bus interface architecture
C710S100000, C710S107000, C713S300000, C340S315000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06463495
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to secondary bus communications between components in a computer chassis.
1. Background: Home Automation Standards
Home automation systems have long used special techniques for local communication over power mains. This was originally necessitated by the absence of any other type of bus over which “smart” devices could “talk” to each other. However, communication over power mains also introduces very specific problems, including those of line noise received from motors and other devices attached to the power mains, the need to ensure that the data itself does not interfere with other devices connected to the mains, and limited bandwidth. For similar reasons, low-bandwidth power-mains communications have also been used for limited data communications between smart devices and local electric utility control systems.
One example of an industry standard for building or home automation data communication systems has been the X10 or X-10 communications protocol for remote control of electrical devices which communicate across standard wiring or power lines of a building such as a home. (In general, methods of ensuring the accuracy of transmitted and received data are known as communications protocols.) The X10 communications protocol allows various home electronic devices, such as lighting controllers or switches, status indicators, security systems, telephone interfaces, computer interfaces, and various home appliances, to readily be linked together for simple control applications. The X10 communications protocol generally has a narrow bandwidth, i.e., 120 KiloHertz (“KHz”), for communicating data at a relatively slow speed, i.e., 60 bits/second.
Another industry standard for home automation has been the Consumer Electronic Bus (“CEBus”) standard, which describes a local communications and control network designed specifically for the home. Like X10, the CEBus standard provides a standardized communication facility for exchange of control information and data among various devices and services in the home, such as lighting controllers or switches, status indicators, security systems, telephone interfaces, computer interfaces, stereo systems, and home appliances. The CEBus standard was developed by the Consumer Electronics Group of the Electronic Industries Association (“EIA”) and an inter-industry committee of representatives from both EIA and non-member companies. The CEBus standard generally has a wide bandwidth, e.g. 100-400 KHz, for communicating data at a relatively fast speed, i.e., 10 Kilobits/second and is significantly faster and more reliable than the X10 communications protocol. The CEBus standard also allows full networking of consumer application devices. The CEBus standard encompasses both the physical media (wires, fiber, etc.) and the protocol (software) used to create an intelligent home or office.
The newest standard for home automation is the EIA-600 standard, which is intended to handle existing and anticipated control communication requirements at minimum practical costs consistent with a broad spectrum of residential applications. It is intended for such functions as remote control, status indication, remote instrumentation, energy management, security systems, entertainment device coordination, etc. These situations require economical connection to a shared local communication network carrying relatively short digital messages.
2. Background: Platform Management
Presently, there are different types of data transmission systems which allow computer network components to be automatically controlled and monitored at a distance. These known systems are generally connected by a dedicated network, and consist of individual control and monitoring modules at each node, which are in turn managed by a central system.
The Intelligent Platform Management Interface (or “IPMI”) specification was announced by Intel, Dell, Hewlett-Packard Company, and NEC to provide a standard interface to hardware used for monitoring a server's physical characteristics, such as temperature, voltage, fans, power supplies and chassis.
The IPMI specification defines a common interface and message-based protocol for accessing platform management hardware. IPMI is comprised of three specifications: Intelligent Platform Management Interface, Intelligent Platform Management Bus (IPMB) and Intelligent Chassis Management Bus (ICMB). The IPMI specification defines the interface to platform management hardware, the IPMB specification defines the internal Intelligent Platform Management Bus, and the ICMB specification defines the external Intelligent Chassis Management Bus, an external bus for connecting additional IPMI-enabled systems.
IPMI provides access to platform management information. IPMI-enabled servers monitor and store platform management information in a common format which can be easily accessed by server management software, add-in devices or even directly from other servers.
A management bus, IPMB, allows add-in devices such as Emergency Management Cards to access platform management information, even if the processor is down. The IPMB can also be extended externally to the chassis (ICMB) to enable “system-to-system” monitoring. This allows a server to manage another ICMB-connected server even if it has no system management software or the processor is down.
Functions such as failure alerting, power control and access to failure logs are supported for systems connected to the ICMB, so multiple servers or peripheral chassis (storage and power supplies) can connect to the ICMB as an alternative to using Emergency Management Cards.
IPMI allows differentiated hardware solutions to be implemented quickly and easily. The IPMI interface isolates server management software from hardware, enabling hardware changes to be made without impacting the software. Although IPMI is not tied to a specific operating system or management application, it is complementary to higher level management software interfaces such as the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), Desktop Management Interface (DMI), Common Information Model (CIM), and Windows Management Interface (WMI), which facilitate the development of cross platform solutions.
IPMI allows system managers to determine the health of their server hardware, whether the server is running normally or is in a nonoperational state. Servers based on IPMI use “intelligent” or autonomous hardware that remains operational even when the processor is down so that platform management information is always accessible. The IPMI interfaces enable platform management hardware to be accessed not only by management software but also accessed by third party emergency management add-in cards and even other IPMI-enabled servers. System-to-system monitoring or management via a connected server is becoming increasingly important as system managers deploy complex system topologies such as clusters and rack-mounted configurations. In addition, the scalable nature of IPMI enables the architecture to be deployed across a server product line, from entry to high-end servers, and gives system managers a consistent base of platform management functionality upon which to effectively manage their servers. One specific disadvantage of this approach is that additional physical connections and device support is required to interconnect these components.
A Command and Control Infrastructure for a Computer System
The present application discloses a method and system of intrachassis computer component command and control wherein the existing power rail is used as a “network” connection for internal system components. Particularly advantageous functions, such as rollcall enumeration and command authentication and verification, are included in a preferred embodiment. Further, because these innovative techniques utilize the existing power rail, no additional external cables are required.
According to a preferred embodiment, the CEBus standard (or a CEBus standard modified for the requirements of the particular power
Angelo Michael F.
Jansen Kenneth A.
Olarig Sompong P.
Sides Chi Kim
Compaq Information Technologies Group L.P.
Conley & Rose & Tayon P.C.
Dharia Rupal
LandOfFree
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