Current-based contention detection and handling system
First Claim
1. A system for detecting and handling excessive current resulting from contending subsystems among a plurality of communicating subsystems utilizing a plurality of communication connections, comprising:
- a communications driver integral to each subsystem for providing subsystem communication over said communication connections;
a current sensor device integral to each subsystem for detecting excessive current applied to said communications driver; and
a subsystem control device coupled to said current sensor for preventing continued excessive current.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A current-based contention detection and handling system, upon detection of excessive current being applied to a communicating subsystem, avoids potential system damage by preventing continued excessive current. In a preferred embodiment, a current sensor and a subsystem control unit are provided in each communicating subsystem. The subsystem control unit preferably includes a latch and control logic. A system coordinator is further preferably provided for directing recovery. Upon current sensor detection of excessive current to a subsystem bus driver, the subsystem control unit disables the bus driver and asserts an interrupt and fault line to alert the system coordinator. The system coordinator confirms the alert and, upon confirmation, a preferably resets both the subsystem and the subsystem control unit. The subsystem control unit preferably includes a latch and control logic.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for detecting and handling excessive current resulting from contending subsystems among a plurality of communicating subsystems utilizing a plurality of communication connections, comprising:
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a communications driver integral to each subsystem for providing subsystem communication over said communication connections; a current sensor device integral to each subsystem for detecting excessive current applied to said communications driver; and a subsystem control device coupled to said current sensor for preventing continued excessive current. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A system for detecting and handling excessive current resulting from contending subsystems among a plurality of communicating subsystems utilizing a plurality of communication connections, comprising:
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a communications driver integral to each subsystem for providing subsystem communication over said communication connections; a current sensor device integral to each subsystem for detecting excessive current applied to said communications driver; a subsystem control device coupled to said current sensor for preventing continued excessive current; and a system coordinator device coupled to said subsystem control devices for directing said subsystem control devices in preventing further excessive current. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for detecting and handling excessive current resulting from contending subsystems among a plurality of communicating subsystems communicating over a plurality of busses, comprising:
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a system coordinator device coupled to each of said communicating subsystems; a current sensor integral to each of said communicating subsystems, each current sensor being coupled to an integral subsystem bus driver such that said current sensor generates a sensor output signal in response to excessive bus driver input current; and a subsystem control device integral to each subsystem, each subsystem control device being coupled to said current sensor, said bus driver and said system coordinator device, such that said subsystem control device disables said bus driver and asserts a plurality of error-reporting connections to said system coordinator device in response to the sensor output signal, each subsystem control device being further coupled to a plurality of reset connections such that said subsystem control device ceases to disable said bus driver and ceases to assert said error-reporting connections in response to assertion of said reset connections by said system coordinator device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for detecting and handling excessive current resulting from contending subsystems among a plurality of communicating subsystems utilizing a plurality of communication connections, comprising the steps of:
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monitoring current being supplied to each of said communicating subsystems; detecting an occurrence of excessive current being supplied to any of said communicating subsystems; communicating said occurrence to a subsystem control device integral to said subsystem; and preventing continued excessive current using said subsystem control device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method for detecting and handling excessive current resulting from contending subsystems among a plurality of communicating subsystems utilizing a plurality of communication connections, comprising the steps of:
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monitoring current being supplied to each of said communicating subsystems; detecting an occurrence of excessive current being supplied to any of said communicating subsystems; communicating said occurrence to a subsystem control device; and preventing continued excessive current using said subsystem control device, wherein the step of preventing further excessive current is directed by a system coordinator device.
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21. A method for detecting and handling excessive current resulting from contending subsystems among a plurality of communicating subsystems utilizing a plurality of communication connections, comprising the steps of:
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monitoring current being supplied to each of said communicating subsystems; detecting an occurrence of excessive current being supplied to any of said communicating subsystems; communicating said occurrence to a subsystem control device; and preventing continued excessive current using said subsystem control device, wherein the step of communicating is accomplished by asserting an interrupt and plurality of fault lines connecting said contending subsystem to said system coordinator device, thereby communicating an excessive current condition to said system coordinator device. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for detecting and handling excessive current resulting from contending subsystems among a plurality of communicating subsystems utilizing a plurality of communication connections, comprising:
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means integral to each subsystem for monitoring current being supplied to each of said communicating subsystems; means integral to each subsystem for detecting an occurrence of excessive current being supplied to any of said communicating subsystems; means integral to each subsystem for communicating said occurrence to a subsystem control device; and means integral to each subsystem for preventing continued excessive current using said subsystem control device.
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Specification