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:
Jan. 26, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 31, 1996
Siamak Tavallaei, Spring, TX (US);
Louis R Gagliardi, Tomball, TX (US);
Joseph Peter Miller, Cypress, TX (US);
Compaq Computer Corporation, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A system management module (SMM) for a host server system includes a system management processor (SMP) connected to a system management local bus. The system management local bus connects to the system PCI bus through a system management central (SMC). The SMC includes the main arbitration unit for the PCI bus and also includes the arbiter for the system management local bus. The SMM includes a video controller and keyboard and mouse controller connected to the system management local bus to support remote consoling of the SMM. The SMC includes logic to monitor PCI cycles and to issue error signals in the event of a system error. The SMC also isolates failed components by masking request, grant and interrupt lines for the failed device. Further, if a spare component is provided, the SMC permits dynamic switching to the spare. In addition to detecting errors and performing survival and maintenance operations, the SMC enhances system performance during normal operations by supporting master-target priority determinations to more efficiently arbitrate mastership of system busses such as the PCI bus.