Radio frequency linked computer architecture

• US 20040166905A1
• Filed: 02/07/2003
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Espinoza-Ibarra, Ricardo, Cherniski, Andrew M., Wortman, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/360,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20040166905A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409

Abstract

A RF-linked computer system comprises a radio tight enclosure that contains a plurality of cavities capable of accepting multiple function modules. The function modules have radio frequency communication systems that intercommunicate in multiple parallel channels and wide bandwidth within the enclosure. The RF-linked computer system further comprises an optical communication link capable of communicating to devices and systems exterior to the enclosure.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a radio-tight enclosure;

a plurality of cavities contained within the enclosure, the plurality of cavities capable of accepting and holding multiple function modules;

one or more function modules capable of insertion into the cavities and comprising a radio frequency communication system capable of intercommunicating in multiple parallel channels and wide bandwidth within the enclosure; and

one or more optical communication links capable of communicating to devices and systems exterior to the enclosure.

2. A computer system according to claim 1 wherein:

the one or more optical communication links are the only communication link between the computer system and devices and systems exterior to the enclosure.

3. A computer system according to claim 1 wherein:

the multiple parallel channels and wide bandwidth within the enclosure extend across the entire radio spectrum, the radio tight enclosure preventing interference with bands allocated to commercial, communications, broadcast, military, aircraft, and other allocated frequency bands.

4. A computer system according to claim 1 wherein:

the function modules further comprise;

one or more radio frequency interfaces; and

one or more antennas coupled to the one or more radio frequency interfaces, the radio frequency interfaces and the antennas capable of intercommunicating with function modules within the enclosure, forming a virtual bus comprising a plurality of dynamically-modifiable parallel wireless communication channels.

5. A computer system according to claim 1 wherein:

the plurality of function modules comprise one or more function modules that can execute a system arbitration functionality comprising;

a capability to detect presence of function modules;

a capability to assess functionality and/or performance of the function modules; and

a capability to assign communication resources and parallel channels for intercommunication among function modules.

6. A computer system according to claim 1 wherein:

the one or more function modules can execute a system arbitration functionality comprising;

a capability to assign wireless communication resources and channels among the plurality of function modules so that the function modules operate mutually independently on a wireless fabric in a backplane-free and communication connector-free internal environment with the function modules operating as cross-linked and autonomous system contributors.

7. A computer system comprising:

a radio-tight enclosure; and

a plurality of function modules capable of insertion into the radio tight enclosure, the function modules further comprising;

one or more radio frequency interfaces; and

one or more antennas coupled to the one or more radio frequency interfaces, the radio frequency interfaces and the antennas capable of intercommunicating with function modules within the enclosure, forming a virtual bus comprising a plurality of dynamically-modifiable parallel wireless communication channels.

8. A computer system according to claim 7 wherein:

the function modules intercommunicate only by wireless communication without physical internal buses coupling the function modules.

9. A computer system according to claim 7 wherein:

the plurality of function modules comprise one or more function modules that can execute system arbitration functionality comprising;

a capability to detect presence of function modules;

a capability to assess functionality and/or performance of the function modules; and

a capability to assign communication resources and parallel channels for intercommunication among function modules.

10. A computer system according to claim 7 further comprising:

one or more power lines; and

an optical communication channel capable of interfacing to systems and devices outside the enclosure.

11. A computer system according to claim 10 wherein:

the radio-tight enclosure has radio tightness at least partially on the basis that breaches to the outside are limited to a single optical I/O port and limited filtered power lines into the enclosure.

12. A computer system comprising:

a radio-tight enclosure; and

a plurality of function modules capable of intercommunicating within the enclosure via multiple parallel radio frequency channels, the plurality of function modules comprising one or more function modules that can execute system arbitration functionality comprising;

a capability to detect presence of function modules;

a capability to assess functionality and/or performance of the function modules; and

a capability to assign communication resources and parallel channels for intercommunication among function modules.

13. A computer system according to claim 12 wherein the system arbitration capability further comprises:

a capability to parse tasks.

14. A computer system according to claim 12 wherein the system arbitration capability further comprises:

a capability to detect and report failure data.

15. A computer system according to claim 12 wherein the system arbitration capability further comprises:

a capability to arbitrate master/slave management.

16. A computer system according to claim 12 wherein the system arbitration capability further comprises:

a capability to assign wireless communication resources and channels among the plurality of function modules so that the function modules operate mutually independently on a wireless fabric in a backplane-free and communication connector-free internal environment with the function modules operating as cross-linked and autonomous system contributors.

17. A computer system according to claim 12 wherein:

the function modules intercommunicate only by wireless communication without physical internal buses coupling the function modules.

18. A computer system comprising:

a plurality of function modules;

a radio tight enclosure that contains a plurality of cavities capable of accepting the plurality of function modules, the function modules being capable of intercommunicating inside the enclosure by wireless communication;

a power line; and

an optical communication channel capable of interfacing to systems and devices outside the enclosure.

19. A computer system according to claim 18 wherein:

the radio-tight enclosure has radio tightness at least partially on the basis that breaches to the outside are limited to a single optical I/O port and limited power lines into the enclosure.

20. A method of computing comprising:

communicating among a plurality of function modules within a radio-tight enclosure via multiple parallel radio frequency channels;

detecting presence of one or more of the plurality of function modules;

assessing functionality and/or performance of the detected function modules; and

assigning communication resources and parallel channels for intercommunication among function modules based on the assessed functionality.

21. A method according to claim 20 further comprising:

scheduling a plurality of applications for execution by the function modules;

determining resources and utilization of the resources within the function modules; and

allocating the plurality of applications among the resources.

22. A method according to claim 20 further comprising:

detecting failure data; and

reporting the failure data.

23. A method according to claim 20 further comprising:

assigning wireless communication resources and channels among the plurality of function modules so that the function modules operate mutually independently on a wireless fabric in a backplane-free and communication connector-free internal environment with the function modules operating as cross-linked and autonomous system contributors.

24. A computer system comprising:

a radio-tight enclosure;

a plurality of function modules capable of insertion into the radio-tight enclosure;

means for wirelessly communicating among the plurality of function modules interior to the radio-tight enclosure; and

optical means for communicating between the plurality of function modules interior to the radio-tight enclosure and exterior devices.

25. A computer system according to claim 24 further comprising:

means for communicating among a plurality of function modules within a radio-tight enclosure via multiple parallel radio frequency channels;

means for detecting presence of one or more of the plurality of function modules;

means for assessing functionality and/or performance of the detected function modules; and

means for assigning communication resources and channels to intercommunicate among the plurality of function modules based on the assessed functionality.

26. A computer system comprising:

a radio-tight enclosure;

a plurality of cavities contained within the enclosure, the plurality of cavities capable of accepting and holding multiple function modules;

one or more function modules capable of insertion into the cavities and comprising a radio frequency communication system capable of intercommunicating in multiple parallel channels and wide bandwidth within the enclosure; and

a power delivery infrastructure coupled to the plurality of cavities for supplying power to the one or more function modules, the power delivery infrastructure comprising the only hardware common to all function modules, the power delivery infrastructure being redundant and replaceable without disrupting computer system operation.