US4577272A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fault tolerant and load sharing processing system
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1983-06-27
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Granted: 1986-03-18
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Expires: 2003-06-27
Abstract
Abstract Incoming data messages to a system having a plurality of channels are assigned for processing to one of the channels to share the processing load more or less equally among all the channels of the system. Each channel receives messages by means of a communications link for processing. Included in each channel is a disk drive for a storage medium, a disk controller and peripheral controllers for input/output equipment as required. Each channel of the system also includes a data processor. A message is received from the communication link of any of the channels, which message is identified by the data processor of that channel. The processor then evaluates the number of messages waiting to be processed in each of the other channels for assignment to a channel having the least number of messages on the processing list. The processor considers only on-line channels in this assignment selection. Upon the failure of a channel that has messages assigned thereto, these messages will be reassigned to other on-line channels by a back-up channel that has been previously identified with the failed channel. Thus, messages are processed as expeditiously as possible by load sharing.
Inventors
- 👤 James D. Ballew
- 👤 Phil H. Rogers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:34
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/20; G06F11/2002; G06F11/2007; G06F11/201; G06F11/2053; G06F11/2089; G06F15/00; G06F15/16; G06F15/177; G06F2201/00; G06F2201/85
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A method of allocating incoming messages for processing in one channel of a multi-channel fault tolerant, load sharing data processing system and for reassigning message upon the malfunctioning of a channel, comprising the steps of: identifying each incoming message at each channel of the data processing system containing data to be processed for assignment to one of the channels of the systems for processing; assigning the identified message to the channel having the smallest number of messages waiting to be processed; transmitting the identified message to the assigned channel for processing in the order assigned; transmitting the assigned message to at least one other channel of the system for back-up storage; monitoring each of the channels of the system for a malfunction condition; identifying each message in all functioning channels that remains unprocessed and assigned to the malfunctioning channel; reassigning each of the identified messages to the remaining functioning channels on the basis of the smallest number of messages waiting to be processed; and in response to a reassignment of a message, processing the message in the reassigned channel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
179 words
A method of allocating incoming messages for processing in one channel of a multi-channel fault tolerant, load sharing data processing system and for reassigning message upon the malfunctioning of a channel, comprising the steps of: identifying each incoming message at each channel of the data processing system containing data to be processed for assignment to one of the channels of the systems for processing; assigning the identified message to the channel having the smallest number of messages waiting to be processed; transmitting the identified message to the assigned channel for processing in the order assigned; transmitting the assigned message to at least one other channel of the system for back-up storage; monitoring each of the channels of the system for a malfunction condition; identifying each message in all functioning channels that remains unprocessed and assigned to the malfunctioning channel; reassigning each of the identified messages to the remaining functioning channels on the basis of the smallest number of messages waiting to be processed; and in response to a reassignment of a message, processing the message in the reassigned channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method of allocating incoming messages as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of identifying a message includes adding a source communication line number to the message to permit a processed response to be routed to the correct channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of allocating incoming messages as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of identifying a message includes adding the received channel number to the message prior to assignment to a channel for processing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of allocating incoming messages as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of identifying a message includes adding a sequence number to the received message.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of allocating incoming messages as set forth in claim 1 including the step of incrementing by one the number of messages waiting to be processed in the channel assigned the last transmitted message.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of allocating incoming messages as set forth in claim 1 including repeating the step of reassigning each of the messages waiting to be processed in the malfunctioning channel until all messages have been reassigned to other functioning channels of the systems.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of allocating including messages as set forth in claim 1 including the step of updating the list of functioning channels and deleting from the list channels that have malfunctioning and identifying channels available for message processing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of allocating incoming messages for processing as set forth in claim 1 including the step of identifying in each back-up channel the completion of the processing of a message in the assigned channel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of allocating incoming messages as set forth in claim 8 including the step of updating the queue of messages to be processed in each functioning channel upon completion of the processing of an assigned message.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of allocating incoming message for processing in one channel of a multi-channel fault tolerant, load sharing data processing system and for reassigning message upon the malfunctioning of a channel, comprising the steps of: identifying each message at each channel of the data processing system containing data to be processed for assignment to one of the channels of the system for processing, said identification including adding the clock time of arrival to the message; assigning a message to the channel having the smallest number of messages waiting to be processed; transmitting the identified message to the assigned channel for processing in the order assigned; processing the message identified in the channel having the earliest clock time assigned thereto; monitoring the assigned channel for a malfunction condition; in response to a malfunction condition in the assigned channel, reassigning each of the messages in the fault condition channel to other channels of the system for processing in accordance with the clock time of arrival of the message to the system; and in response to the reassignment of a message, processing the message in the reassigned channel.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of allocating incoming message for processing in one channel of a multi-channel fault tolerant, load sharing data processing system and for reassigning message upon the malfunctioning of a channel, comprising the steps of: identifying each message at each channel of the data processing system containing data to be processed for assignment to one of the channels of the system for processing, said identification including adding the clock time of arrival to the message; assigning a message to the channel having the smallest number of messages waiting to be processed; transmitting the identified message to the assigned channel for processing in the order assigned; processing the message identified in the channel having the earliest clock time assigned thereto; monitoring the assigned channel for a malfunction condition; in response to a malfunction condition in the assigned channel, reassigning each of the messages in the fault condition channel to other channels of the system for processing in accordance with the clock time of arrival of the message to the system; and in response to the reassignment of a message, processing the message in the reassigned channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of allocating incoming messages for processing as set forth in claim 10 including the step of transmitting the processed message from the system through the channel that originally received the message.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method of allocating incoming messages as set forth in claim 10 including the step of listing in each channel of the system the number of messages to be processed by each of the other channels of the system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of allocating incoming messages as set forth in claim 10 including the step of identifying each message in a channel with the channel originally receiving the message.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of allocating incoming messages as set forth in claim 10 including the step of placing each message assigned to a channel on a queue of work to be processed on the basis of the clock time the message entered the system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of allocating incoming messages for processing as set forth in claim 10 including the step of transmitting each received message to all of the channels of the system for back-up storage.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of allocating incoming message for processing as set forth in claim 15 including the step of removing from storage after completion of the processing thereof in the assigned channel each back-up of the message stored in each of the other channels of the system.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of allocating incoming messages for processing in one channel of a multi-channel fault tolerant, loading sharing data processing system, comprising the steps of: transmitting an incoming message to more than one channel of the system; generating a channel fail message for any channel that has malfunctioned; identifying each message in all functioning channels that remains unprocessed and assigned to the failed channel; and reassigning each of the identified messages to the remaining functioning channels on the basis of the smallest number of messages waiting to be processed.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of allocating incoming messages for processing in one channel of a multi-channel fault tolerant, loading sharing data processing system, comprising the steps of: transmitting an incoming message to more than one channel of the system; generating a channel fail message for any channel that has malfunctioned; identifying each message in all functioning channels that remains unprocessed and assigned to the failed channel; and reassigning each of the identified messages to the remaining functioning channels on the basis of the smallest number of messages waiting to be processed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method of allocating incoming messages for processing as set forth in claim 17 including the step of reassigning each of the messages waiting to be processed in the failed channel until all such messages have been reassigned to other functioning channels of the system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of allocating incoming messages for processing as set forth in claim 17 including the step of transmitting a transaction request message to each of the channels identifying a reassignment of each message from the failed channel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-03-17 | 1989-09-16 | 1990-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-17 | 1993-09-16 | 1994-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-17 | 1997-09-16 | 1998-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |