Simultaneous download to multiple targets

• US 20070169106A1
• Filed: 12/14/2005
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Liu, Lei, Graves, Jason, Rao, Sudhir, Douglas, Darren
• Granted Patent: US 7,814,479 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/20 using active fault-masking, e.g. by switching out faulty elements or by switching in spare elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/202 where processing functionality is redundant redundant communication control functionality G06F11/2005, redundant storage control functionality G06F11/2089
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

Provided are a techniques for processing a download. Under control of a first target device, a download command is received via a first communication medium that indicates that an update is to be downloaded. The download command is issued to a second target device via a second communication medium, wherein the second communication medium is a private device communication medium that enables private communication between the first target device and the second target device. The update is received via the first communication medium. In response to determining that the update has been downloaded, run with the update.

Claims

1. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

under control of a first target device,

receive a download command via a first communication medium that indicates that an update is to be downloaded;

issue the download command to a second target device via a second communication medium, wherein the second communication medium is a private device communication medium that enables private communication between the first target device and the second target device;

receive the update via the first communication medium; and

in response to determining that the update has been downloaded, run with the update.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

under control of the first target device,

wait to receive an acknowledgment from the second target device indicating that the download command has been received.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the update is received as a series of downloads and wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

under control of the first target device,

wait to receive an acknowledgment from the second target device for each one of the series of downloads; and

in response to determining that the acknowledgment has not been received from the second target device within a predetermined amount of time, process an error.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

under control of the second target device,

receive the download command from the first target device via the second communication medium;

activate an internal device communication medium; and

receive the update via the internal device communication medium, wherein the second target device and the first target device receive the update simultaneously.

5. The computer program product of claim 4, wherein the update is received as a series of downloads and wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

under control of the second target device,

send an acknowledgment to the first target device upon receipt of each one of the series of downloads.

6. The computer program product of claim 4, wherein the second target device maintains an indicator to maintain synchronization between the first target device and the second target device while receiving the update.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

under control of the first target device,

waiting to receive an acknowledgment from the second target device indicating that the download command has been received.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the update is received as a series of downloads and further comprising:

under control of the first target device,

waiting to receive an acknowledgment from the second target device for each one of the series of downloads; and

in response to determining that the acknowledgment has not been received from the second target device within a predetermined amount of time, processing an error.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

under control of the second target device,

receiving the download command from the first target device via the second communication medium;

activating an internal device communication medium; and

receiving the update via the internal device communication medium, wherein the second target device and the first target device receive the update simultaneously.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the update is received as a series of downloads and further comprising:

under control of the second target device,

sending an acknowledgment to the first target device upon receipt of each one of the series of downloads.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the second target device maintains an indicator to maintain synchronization between the first target device and the second target device while receiving the update.

7. A computer-implemented method for processing a download, comprising:

under control of a first target device,

receiving a download command via a first communication medium that indicates that an update is to be downloaded;

issuing the download command to a second target device via a second communication medium, wherein the second communication medium is a private device communication medium that enables private communication between the first target device and the second target device;

receiving the update via the first communication medium; and

in response to determining that the update has been downloaded, running with the update.

13. A system for processing a download, comprising:

logic capable of performing operations, the operations comprising;

under control of a first target device,

receiving a download command via a first communication medium that indicates that an update is to be downloaded;

issuing the download command to a second target device via a second communication medium, wherein the second communication medium is a private device communication medium that enables private communication between the first target device and the second target device;

receiving the update via the first communication medium; and

in response to determining that the update has been downloaded, running with the update.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

under control of the first target device,

waiting to receive an acknowledgment from the second target device indicating that the download command has been received.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the update is received as a series of downloads and wherein the operations further comprise:

under control of the first target device,

waiting to receive an acknowledgment from the second target device for each one of the series of downloads; and

in response to determining that the acknowledgment has not been received from the second target device within a predetermined amount of time, processing an error.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

under control of the second target device,

receiving the download command from the first target device via the second communication medium;

activating an internal device communication medium; and

receiving the update via the internal device communication medium, wherein the second target device and the first target device receive the update simultaneously.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the update is received as a series of downloads and wherein the operations further comprise:

under control of the second target device,

sending an acknowledgment to the first target device upon receipt of each one of the series of downloads.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the second target device maintains an indicator to maintain synchronization between the first target device and the second target device while receiving the update.