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:
Sep. 24, 1996
Filed:
Aug. 29, 1994
Brian P Doherty, Lisle, IL (US);
Douglas A Kimber, Batavia, IL (US);
Mikiel L Larson, St Charles, IL (US);
John H Pokropinski, Woodridge, IL (US);
Lucent Technologies Inc., Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
A highly available processor complex that can use industry standard hardware and software through use of an N+K sparing arrangement with a separate monitor ('watchdog') processor. The watchdog processor monitors periodic 'heartbeat' messages from the monitored elements and can change activity and status of such monitored elements through control messages. Further, the watchdog processor is operatively connected to a power control circuit that controls the power to the monitored elements. Thus, the watchdog processor can guarantee that a faulty element can be rendered non-functional and can also totally restart an element through power cycling it.