System and method for protection of active files during extreme conditions

• US 20040068386A1
• Filed: 10/03/2002
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valtrus Innovations Limited (f/k/a Dolya Holdco 9 Limited) (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Dickson, Andrew H., Smith, Kevin H.
• Granted Patent: US 6,925,409 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/132
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1441 Resetting or repowering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3058 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring environmental properties or parameters of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring of power, currents, temperature, humidity, position, vibrations thermal management in cooling arrangements of a computing system G06F1/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3089 Monitoring arrangements determined by the means or processing involved in sensing the monitored data, e.g. interfaces, connectors, sensors, probes, agents software debugging using additional hardware using a specific debug interface G06F11/3656; performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring G06F11/3466

Abstract

A system and method for determining temperature anomalies that would affect the proper operation of a computer and, upon receipt of a determined temperature anomaly, causing certain data to be saved within a storage device in a file location appropriate for such data.

Claims

1. A computer system including:

a sensor for determining temperature anomaly conditions that would affect the proper operation of said computer;

a storage device; and

a processor operable upon a determined temperature anomaly for causing certain data to be saved within said storage device in a file location appropriate for such data.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor is located remote from said computer system.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said remote sensor is at another computer system.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor is networked with a plurality of computer systems.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said certain data includes in-process data.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said storage device is within the same housing as said processor.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor includes processing by said processor.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor can determine degrees of fault, and wherein said processor takes different action depending upon a determined fault degree.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein said processor action is selected from the list of:

notification of a user;

internal storage of in-process data;

external storage of in-process data;

external storage of other data previously stored in said storage device.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer further includes:

a service processor working in conjunction with said processor, said service processor working in conjunction with said sensor to control the saving of said data.

11. A method for use in a computer system protecting in-process data in the event of a temperature anomaly;

said method comprising the steps of;

processing data in and out of a volatile memory;

determining when said computer system is being subjected to a temperature anomaly;

processing any said determined temperature anomaly to determine the severity of said anomaly; and

storing in a non-volatile memory any data not already stored in a non-volatile memory upon a determination that a said anomaly is of a certain severity level.

12. The method of claim 11 further including the step of receiving temperature anomaly data from a remote location.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of sending determined temperature anomaly data to at least one system remote from said computer system.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said certain severity level is controllable by a user of said computer system.

15. The method of claim 11 further including the step of:

providing at least one warning based on said determined severity.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said determining step includes monitoring a transducer for one or more of the following events:

absolute temperature, rate of temperature rise, comparison to outside temperature, comparison to prior operating temperatures, and monitoring of products of combustion.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein said storing step includes writing said in-process data to a hard drive.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said hard drive is located within a housing wherein said processing step is performed.

19. The method of claim 11 further including the step of:

closing down the operation of said computer system after said storing step dependent upon the severity of said anomaly.

20. A data recovery system for use in a computer system comprising:

means for determining when a temperature anomaly is occurring; and

means operative in response to said determining means for storing in non-volatile storage any data not already in non-volatile storage, said storing being at a location appropriate for said data.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said determining means includes:

at least one temperature-dependent transducer; and

a processor for controlling said storing means in response to signals for said transducer.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said transducer is selected from the following:

absolute temperature, rate of temperature rise, comparison to outside temperature, comparison to prior operating temperatures, and monitoring of products of combustion.

23. The system of claim 20 further including:

means for providing at least one warning to a user based upon determined ones of said anomalies.

24. The system of claim 20 wherein said warning is provided upon determination of an anomaly less severe than the anomaly that enables said storing means.

25. The system of claim 21 further including:

means operative in response to said determining means for closing down the operation of said computer system after said storing means is enabled.

26. The system of claim 21 wherein said temperature-dependent transducer is located remotely from said storage means.

27. The system of claim 20 further comprising means for transmitting temperature anomaly data to at least one remote location.