The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 31, 1987
Filed:
Sep. 17, 1984
Randall L Deaver, Longmont, CO (US);
John L Milligan, Longmont, CO (US);
International Business Machines Corp., Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to improvements in communication procedures, especially in networks which include at least one device which is capable of being manually switched to an off-line condition. In accordance with the invention, when a switch on such a device is thrown to the position which would place the device in an off-line condition, the device formulates and transmits a message to indicate that it is going to a temporary off-line condition. This message can be used at other devices which are connected in the communication network. Such a message can be employed at a network focal point for maintaining such a device in a polling loop regardless of the fact that the device may, for some period of time, fail to respond to any polls. Such a message can also be employed in any device which was in active communication with the device at the time it was placed in the temporary off-line condition to queue a restart request. In accordance with the invention, when the device which had been placed manually in an off-line condition, is again restored to the on-line condition, it will be in a condition to respond a poll from the network focal point. When it so responds to the poll, the network focal point is informed that the device is again capable of communicating, and any device which has a restart request pending for the device can enable the restart request.