Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Computer power control
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-15
2004-06-22
Lee, Thomas (Department: 2115)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Computer power control
C307S019000, C307S064000, C714S014000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06754835
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to computer systems, and more particularly to a method and system for allowing fault tolerance for power failures to be provided.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1
depicts a conventional network
1
including a master computer system
5
and conventional computer systems
10
,
20
and
30
that are chained together. Although only three conventional computer systems
10
,
20
and
30
are shown, the conventional network
1
will typically include a larger number of conventional computer systems (not shown). In addition, although separately depicted, the master computer system
5
could be the same as one of the conventional computer systems
10
,
20
and
30
. The conventional computer systems
10
,
20
and
30
each include a power supply
12
,
22
and
32
, respectively and a system load
14
,
24
and
34
, respectively. Each of the conventional computer systems
10
,
20
and
30
also includes an input
16
,
26
and
36
, respectively and an output
18
,
28
and
38
, respectively. For clarity, only one input
16
,
26
and
36
and one output
18
,
28
and
38
is shown. However, typically the inputs
16
,
26
and
36
and the outputs
18
,
28
and
38
include multiple pins.
The conventional computer systems
10
,
20
and
30
are chained together in the network
1
. Thus, the output
18
and
28
of one computer system
10
and
20
, respectively, is coupled to the input
26
and
36
, respectively, of the next computer system
20
and
30
, respectively. The conventional computer system
10
, which has its output
18
coupled to the input
26
of the conventional computer system
20
, is considered to be upstream of the conventional computer system
20
. The conventional computer system
30
, which has its input
36
coupled to the output
28
of the conventional computer system
20
, is considered to be downstream of the conventional computer system
20
. A conventional computer system
10
,
20
or
30
communicates upstream via its input
16
,
26
or
36
, respectively, and communicates downstream via its output
18
,
28
or
38
, respectively.
The conventional master computer system
5
can controls portions of the remaining conventional computer systems
10
,
20
and
30
. In addition, the conventional computer systems
10
,
20
and
30
can communicate with each other. In order to provide these functionalities, the system loads
14
,
24
and
34
are used to communicate with and redrive signals from other conventional computer systems in the conventional network
1
. Thus, the system loads
14
,
24
and
34
are connected to the inputs
16
,
26
and
36
, respectively, and to the outputs
18
,
28
and
38
, respectively. For example, the system load
24
can be used to redrive signals from the upstream conventional computer system
10
to the downstream conventional computer system
30
as well as to drive signals from the downstream conventional computer system
30
to the upstream conventional computer system
10
. The signals driven by the system loads
14
,
24
and
34
can include both data and commands to the conventional computer systems
10
,
20
and
30
, respectively.
For example, each of the conventional computer systems
10
,
20
and
30
may have a keyboard, a mouse and a monitor (not explicitly shown in FIG.
1
). The conventional master computer system
5
can control the keyboard, video and mouse of the remaining conventional computer systems
10
,
20
and
30
in the conventional network
1
. Each of the computer systems
10
,
20
and
30
thus may receive and send keyboard, video and mouse (KVM) signals through their outputs
18
,
28
and
38
and receive or send KVM signals through their inputs
16
,
26
and
36
, respectively. The system loads
14
,
24
and
34
may be used to redrive the KVM signals. The conventional master computer system
5
can control the operation of the keyboard, the video played on the monitor and the mouse of each of the remaining conventional computer systems
10
,
20
and
30
through the KVM signals.
Although the conventional network
1
functions, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the conventional network
1
is subject to failure due to failures of the power supplies
12
,
22
and
32
. As shown in
FIG. 1
, the power supplies
12
,
22
and
32
are coupled to and provide power to the system loads
14
,
24
and
34
, respectively. Without power, the system loads
14
,
24
and
34
cannot function properly. If the power supply
12
,
22
or
32
fails, the system load
14
,
24
or
34
, respectively, cannot redrive signals from another conventional computer system or from the conventional master computer system
5
. As a result, all downstream computer systems will be cut off from the remainder of the network
1
. This could cause a major failure of the conventional network
1
. For example, if the power supply
32
fails, only the conventional computer system
30
will be affected. However, if the power supply
12
fails then all of the conventional computer systems
20
and
30
will be cut off from the conventional master computer system
5
. Thus, the failure of a single system
10
could adversely affect virtually the entire network
1
.
Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method for providing fault tolerances for power failures in a computer system in a network composed of chained computer systems. The present invention addresses such a need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method and system for providing computer system for use in a network having a plurality of computer systems linked in a chain. The method and system comprise providing a power supply, at least one input and at least one output for the computer system. The at least one input is for receiving power from a first portion of the plurality of computer systems and for providing power from the power supply to the first portion of the plurality of computer systems. The at least one output is for providing power from the power supply to a second portion of the plurality of computer systems and for receiving power from the second portion of the plurality of computer systems. In one aspect, the first portion of the plurality computer systems provides an upstream computer system and the second portion of the plurality computer systems includes a downstream computer system. In this aspect, the method and system also comprise providing an input power control circuit and a reverse current protection circuits for the computer system. The input power control circuit is coupled with the at least one input and is for controlling power provided to the computer system such that power is input to the computer system when the power supply does not function. According to the system and method disclosed herein, the present invention allows computer systems in a network to share power. Thus, the reliability of the network is improved.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4659942 (1987-04-01), Volp
patent: 5266838 (1993-11-01), Gerner
patent: 5745670 (1998-04-01), Linde
patent: 5811962 (1998-09-01), Ceccherelli et al.
patent: 6153946 (2000-11-01), Koch et al.
patent: 6622257 (2003-09-01), Rollins et al.
Bandholz Justin Potok
Michaels Matthew S.
Chung Chi Whan
International Business Machines - Corporation
Lee Thomas
Sawyer Law Group
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