Electrical computers and digital processing systems: interprogra – Event handling or event notification
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-18
2004-10-12
An, Meng-Al T. (Department: 2126)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: interprogra
Event handling or event notification
C709S220000, C709S223000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06804819
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of storage area networks, and more particularly to data-flow processing through a layered framework.
2. Related Art
Traditional approaches exist for data path architectures in storage networks. These approaches generally follow a stream oriented configuration for data transfer with flow control.
Stream oriented approaches typically focus on using a data path to communicate between processes. For example, a first process may write data to a data path for a second process. The second process must wait for the data to arrive from the first process. These processes must wait for the data to be pushed to them along the path. Thus, stream oriented architectures have a drawback based on their intrinsic nature.
Specifically, stream oriented architectures suffer from stability issues. If one process fails, then other processes may not receive any data. Additionally, other difficulties include: managing the paths between and among processes for each storage device, server (host) and network device; monitoring the processes so users of the various processes can be alerted to faulty processes; and managing inter-host dependencies when processes are altered because the functionality is altered.
Therefore, in view of the above, what is needed is a system, method and computer program product for a data propagation platform. Furthermore, what is needed is a system, method and computer program product for producing applications capable of being added and/or layered without changing, affecting, or disrupting the basic processing architecture. Still further, what is needed is a system, method and computer program product for a data propagation platform that provides flexibility in that processes can be instantiated as modules linked in data paths. Yet still further, what is needed is a system, method and computer program product for a data propagation platform that is capable of providing a stable architecture for data paths and processes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a method, system, and computer program product for a data propagation platform that satisfies the above-stated needs. Device modules are constructed to form the basic elements of the data path. Device modules manipulate passing objects by processing only those objects that the device modules are designed to understand. In one embodiment, objects which are not understood are passed without modification. Objects include messages, which are encapsulated data and commands. Thus, device modules execute commands in the data path.
The present invention can be implemented in a storage area network (SAN) and operated from a SAN appliance that interfaces between the hosts and the storage subsystems of the SAN. Furthermore, the present invention can be implemented in more complex network topologies as described herein in embodiments.
Further aspects of the invention, and further features and benefits thereof, are described below. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4274139 (1981-06-01), Hodgkinson et al.
patent: 4404647 (1983-09-01), Jones et al.
patent: 4611298 (1986-09-01), Schuldt
patent: 4654819 (1987-03-01), Stiffler et al.
patent: 4688221 (1987-08-01), Nakamura et al.
patent: 4701915 (1987-10-01), Kitamura et al.
patent: 4942579 (1990-07-01), Goodlander et al.
patent: 4996687 (1991-02-01), Hess et al.
patent: 5051887 (1991-09-01), Berger et al.
patent: 5129088 (1992-07-01), Auslander et al.
patent: 5136523 (1992-08-01), Landers
patent: 5138710 (1992-08-01), Kruesi et al.
patent: 5155845 (1992-10-01), Beal et al.
patent: 5157663 (1992-10-01), Major et al.
patent: 5167011 (1992-11-01), Priest
patent: 5175849 (1992-12-01), Schneider
patent: 5185884 (1993-02-01), Martin et al.
patent: 5206939 (1993-04-01), Yanai et al.
patent: 5212784 (1993-05-01), Sparks
patent: 5212789 (1993-05-01), Rago
patent: 5235601 (1993-08-01), Stallmo et al.
patent: 5257367 (1993-10-01), Goodlander et al.
patent: 5263154 (1993-11-01), Eastridge et al.
patent: 5276867 (1994-01-01), Kenley et al.
patent: 5278838 (1994-01-01), Ng et al.
patent: 5317731 (1994-05-01), Dias et al.
patent: 5325505 (1994-06-01), Hoffecker et al.
patent: 5347653 (1994-09-01), Flynn et al.
patent: 5357509 (1994-10-01), Ohizumi
patent: 5367682 (1994-11-01), Chang
patent: 5375232 (1994-12-01), Legvold et al.
patent: 5390313 (1995-02-01), Yanai et al.
patent: 5404361 (1995-04-01), Casorso et al.
patent: 5430866 (1995-07-01), Lawrence et al.
patent: 5430885 (1995-07-01), Kaneko et al.
patent: 5432922 (1995-07-01), Polyzois et al.
patent: 5435004 (1995-07-01), Cox et al.
patent: 5452420 (1995-09-01), Engdahl et al.
patent: 5479615 (1995-12-01), Ishii et al.
patent: 5481701 (1996-01-01), Chambers, IV
patent: 5495601 (1996-02-01), Narang et al.
patent: 5497483 (1996-03-01), Beardsley et al.
patent: 5504882 (1996-04-01), Chai et al.
patent: 5519844 (1996-05-01), Stallmo
patent: 5522046 (1996-05-01), McMillen et al.
patent: 5528759 (1996-06-01), Moore
patent: 5530845 (1996-06-01), Hiatt et al.
patent: 5537533 (1996-07-01), Staheli et al.
patent: 5544347 (1996-08-01), Yanai et al.
patent: 5546535 (1996-08-01), Stallmo et al.
patent: 5546556 (1996-08-01), Matsushita
patent: 5561815 (1996-10-01), Takata et al.
patent: 5566316 (1996-10-01), Fechner et al.
patent: 5568628 (1996-10-01), Satoh et al.
patent: 5568629 (1996-10-01), Gentry et al.
patent: 5583994 (1996-12-01), Rangan
patent: 5596736 (1997-01-01), Kerns
patent: 5611069 (1997-03-01), Matoba
patent: 5619694 (1997-04-01), Shimazu
patent: 5625818 (1997-04-01), Zarmer et al.
patent: 5659787 (1997-08-01), Schieltz
patent: 5664144 (1997-09-01), Yanai et al.
patent: 5671439 (1997-09-01), Klein et al.
patent: 5673322 (1997-09-01), Pepe et al.
patent: 5673382 (1997-09-01), Cannon et al.
patent: 5680580 (1997-10-01), Beardsley et al.
patent: 5684945 (1997-11-01), Chen et al.
patent: 5692155 (1997-11-01), Iskiyan et al.
patent: 5710885 (1998-01-01), Bondi
patent: 5710918 (1998-01-01), Lagarde et al.
patent: 5715393 (1998-02-01), Naugle
patent: 5719942 (1998-02-01), Aldred et al.
patent: 5720027 (1998-02-01), Sarkozy et al.
patent: 5732238 (1998-03-01), Sarkozy
patent: 5737743 (1998-04-01), Ooe et al.
patent: 5740397 (1998-04-01), Levy
patent: 5742792 (1998-04-01), Yanai et al.
patent: 5745789 (1998-04-01), Kakuta
patent: 5748897 (1998-05-01), Katiyar
patent: 5761410 (1998-06-01), Martin et al.
patent: 5761507 (1998-06-01), Govett
patent: 5764913 (1998-06-01), Jancke et al.
patent: 5765186 (1998-06-01), Searby
patent: 5765204 (1998-06-01), Bakke et al.
patent: 5768623 (1998-06-01), Judd et al.
patent: 5771367 (1998-06-01), Beardsley et al.
patent: 5774655 (1998-06-01), Bloem et al.
patent: 5774680 (1998-06-01), Wanner et al.
patent: 5784703 (1998-07-01), Muraoka et al.
patent: 5787304 (1998-07-01), Hodges et al.
patent: 5787459 (1998-07-01), Stallmo et al.
patent: 5787470 (1998-07-01), DeSimone et al.
patent: 5787485 (1998-07-01), Fitzgerald, V et al.
patent: 5790774 (1998-08-01), Sarkozy
patent: 5805919 (1998-09-01), Anderson
patent: 5809328 (1998-09-01), Nogales et al.
patent: 5809332 (1998-09-01), Vishlitzky et al.
patent: 5812754 (1998-09-01), Lui et al.
patent: 5812784 (1998-09-01), Watson et al.
patent: 5819020 (1998-10-01), Beeler, Jr.
patent: 5828475 (1998-10-01), Bennett et al.
patent: 5828820 (1998-10-01), Onishi et al.
patent: 5832088 (1998-11-01), Nakajima et al.
patent: 5835718 (1998-11-01), Blewett
patent: 5835764 (1998-11-01), Platt et al.
patent: 5842224 (1998-11-01), Fenner
patent: 5848251 (1998-12-01), Lomelino et al.
patent: 5850522 (1998-12-01), Wlaschin
patent: 5852715 (1998-12-01), Raz et al.
patent: 5857208 (1999-01-01), Ofek
patent: 5857213 (1999-01-01), Benhase et al.
patent: 5873125 (1999-02-01), Kawamoto
patent: 5889935 (199
Bates John W.
Vekiarides Nicos A.
An Meng-Al T.
Cao Diem
LandOfFree
Method, system, and computer program product for a data... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method, system, and computer program product for a data..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method, system, and computer program product for a data... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3292826