Modular network interface system and method

Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Input/output data processing – Input/output expansion

Reexamination Certificate

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

C710S062000, C709S238000, C709S249000, C370S419000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06757748

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of network servers, and more particularly to a data input/output system and method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A critical component of both private intranets and the publicly accessible internet is what is commonly referred to as a web server. A web server is typically a computer which is capable of receiving requests for information and returning data or performing specialized processing upon the receipt of a network request for such processing. Conventional network architectures envision servers as large scale computing platforms. For example, large commercial entities may include very large systems acting as web servers fielding requests for processing. Alternatively, these entities might employ large parallel server operations where a multitude of individual server computers all service requests for information and processing in parallel.
In today's network architectures, smaller users such as individuals or small businesses that require server systems will typically be forced to share part of the processing capability of one of these large scale systems. In many cases this sharing of resources does not provide adequate processing capability for the individual or small business user. Further, the sharing of a large processing system means that all parties utilizing that server processing capability are vulnerable to the failure of that system. These large processing platforms are also more difficult to customize if one small user needs specific features or components that other small users do not need. Further, as Internet and intranet traffic have grown, it has become apparent that even the largest processing platforms reach a limit to their processing capability especially in light of the increased traffic in large multimedia content and the necessity for real time processing of transactions.
Another difficulty in providing server technology to individual or small business users is associated with the difficulties in maintaining provisioning and administrating the server technology. Conventional server systems are typically very complex to administer. Software development efforts have not focused on providing simple user interfaces because the typical personnel that are tasked with maintaining servers are typically very sophisticated network technicians.
Large scale servers that are shared by multiple small users present difficulties in monitoring and metering traffic for individual users. For example, if a server provider desired to bill a user of a large scale system according to the processing time or the transaction count that occurred relative to that particular user, it is very difficult to arrive at an accurate assessment of that activity when the server hardware is shared by that user and many other users.
In the past, it has been difficult to provide server capability close to the end user. This is in large part because the typical larger server architectures require special environmental conditions and special hardware environments to supply power and large bandwidth communication links. The environment of a telephone company's central office is typically very close to the end user, however, the space power and environmental constraints within these facilities make it completely impractical to co-locate large server platforms within these facilities.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a data input/output system and method that substantially eliminates or reduces the problems and disadvantages associated with previous methods and systems. In particular, a network interface card is provided which consolidates network traffic between a plurality of web server processing cards and one or more networks.
In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, a network interface card including a first printed circuit board is provided. First and second connectors may be coupled with the printed circuit board and a plurality of ethernet communications links may form at least a portion of a coupling between the first and second connectors. The first connector may be configured to receive a third connector associated with a midplane. In one embodiment a chip may be coupled with the first printed circuit board such that the plurality of ethernet communication links couple the first connector with the chip. A second communication link may also be provided coupling the chip and the second connector. The chip of the present invention may be operable to consolidate data received through the first connector for distribution of the data to the second connector.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the chip may include a hub chip.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the chip may include a switch chip.
Technical advantages of the present invention include providing a network interface card operable to consolidate data received from a plurality of web server processing cards. The network interface card provides a single point of data communications, simplifying troubleshooting, operations, administration, management, provisioning and traffic metering and measurement regarding the associated web server processing cards.
Another technical advantage of the present invention includes providing a network interface card which includes plug and play capability within a midplane.
Yet another technical advantage of the present invention includes providing a network interface card which is hot swappable within a midplane.
Other technical advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, description, and claims.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4222385 (1980-09-01), Backhouse
patent: 4511950 (1985-04-01), Bunner et al.
patent: 4885741 (1989-12-01), Douskalis
patent: 4918572 (1990-04-01), Tarver et al.
patent: 5031075 (1991-07-01), Casanova et al.
patent: 5034915 (1991-07-01), Styrna et al.
patent: 5051096 (1991-09-01), Cooke et al.
patent: 5214567 (1993-05-01), Feightner et al.
patent: 5317477 (1994-05-01), Gillett
patent: 5504638 (1996-04-01), Kinoshita et al.
patent: 5579204 (1996-11-01), Nelson et al.
patent: 5603044 (1997-02-01), Annapareddy et al.
patent: 5606664 (1997-02-01), Brown et al.
patent: 5615211 (1997-03-01), Santore et al.
patent: 5661631 (1997-08-01), Crane, Jr.
patent: 5682298 (1997-10-01), Raynham
patent: 5754869 (1998-05-01), Holzhammer et al.
patent: 5793610 (1998-08-01), Schmitt et al.
patent: 5850562 (1998-12-01), Crump et al.
patent: 5913037 (1999-06-01), Spofford et al.
patent: 5953340 (1999-09-01), Scott et al.
patent: 5960035 (1999-09-01), Sridhar et al.
patent: 6046912 (2000-04-01), Leman
patent: 6115755 (2000-09-01), Krishan
patent: 6115788 (2000-09-01), Thowe
patent: 6163464 (2000-12-01), Ishibashi et al.
patent: 6175490 (2001-01-01), Papa et al.
patent: 6192399 (2001-02-01), Goodman
patent: 6208522 (2001-03-01), Manweiler et al.
patent: 6243756 (2001-06-01), Whitmire et al.
patent: 6260155 (2001-07-01), Dellacona
patent: 6313988 (2001-11-01), Pham
patent: 6314501 (2001-11-01), Gulick et al.
patent: 6324062 (2001-11-01), Treiber et al.
patent: 6325636 (2001-12-01), Hipp et al.
patent: 6374329 (2002-04-01), McKinney et al.
patent: 6381239 (2002-04-01), Atkinson et al.
patent: 6397292 (2002-05-01), Venkatesh et al.
patent: 6411506 (2002-06-01), Hipp et al.
patent: 6418120 (2002-07-01), Yona et al.
patent: 6421730 (2002-07-01), Narad et al.
patent: 6433568 (2002-08-01), Whipple et al.
patent: 6447726 (2002-09-01), Delucas et al.
patent: 6459700 (2002-10-01), Hoang
patent: 6493825 (2002-12-01), Blumenau et al.
patent: 2001/0036191 (2001-11-01), Borchering
patent: 0 816 977 (1998-01-01), None
patent: WO 99/57639 (1999-11-01), None
“Cabinet PC in ‘book format’ with one free combislot,” LS-IC/BASIC1 Brochure, XP-002202891,Leukhardt Systemelektronik GmbH,1999, 2 pages.
“Hardware Matchbox Webserver,” Brochure, XP-002203094,Wearables Lab,Jan. 1999, 4 pages.
“SP2500 Series EtherFast 10/100 Mbps NICs,” Brochure, Xp-002203092,Micronet® Communications Inc.,Se

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for the USA inventors and patents. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Modular network interface system and method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Modular network interface system and method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Modular network interface system and method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3354639

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.