Redundant bus bridge systems and methods using selectively synchronized clock signals
First Claim
1. A redundant bus bridge system for communicating between a first bus and a second bus, the system comprising:
- a first clock generator operative to produce a first clock signal;
a second clock generator operative to produce a second clock signal;
a first bus bridge connecting the first bus and the second bus and responsive to said first clock generator and said second clock generator, wherein said first bus bridge is operative to transfer data between the first bus and the second bus in synchronism with a selected one of said first clock signal and said second clock signal; and
a second bus bridge connecting the first bus and the second bus and responsive to said first clock generator and said second clock generator, wherein said second bus bridge is operative to transfer data between the first bus and the second bus in synchronism with a selected one of said first clock signal and said second clock signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A redundant bus bridge system for communicating between a first bus and a second bus includes a first clock generator operative to produce a first clock signal and a second clock generator operative to produce a second clock signal. A first bus bridge, e.g., a first RAID controller, connects the first bus and the second bus and is responsive to the first clock generator and the second clock generator. The first bus bridge is operative to transfer data between the first bus and the second bus in synchronism with a selected one of the first clock signal and the second clock signal. A second bus bridge, e.g., a second RAID controller, connects the first bus and the second bus and is responsive to the first clock generator and the second clock generator. The second bus bridge is operative to transfer data between the first bus and the second bus in synchronism with a selected one of the first clock signal and the second clock signal. According to aspects of the present invention, the first bus bridge is operative to transfer data between the first bus and the second bus in synchronism with the second clock signal when the second bus bridge is operational, and the first bus bridge is operative to transfer data between the first bus and the second bus in synchronism with the first clock signal when the second bus bridge is non-operational.
84 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A redundant bus bridge system for communicating between a first bus and a second bus, the system comprising:
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a first clock generator operative to produce a first clock signal; a second clock generator operative to produce a second clock signal; a first bus bridge connecting the first bus and the second bus and responsive to said first clock generator and said second clock generator, wherein said first bus bridge is operative to transfer data between the first bus and the second bus in synchronism with a selected one of said first clock signal and said second clock signal; and a second bus bridge connecting the first bus and the second bus and responsive to said first clock generator and said second clock generator, wherein said second bus bridge is operative to transfer data between the first bus and the second bus in synchronism with a selected one of said first clock signal and said second clock signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A circuit assembly for a redundant bus bridge system that communicates between a first bus and a second bus, the circuit assembly comprising:
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a clock generator operative to produce a local clock signal; a selective clock synchronizing circuit configured to receive said local clock signal and an externally-supplied remote clock signal and operative to produce a synchronized clock signal synchronized to a selected one of said local clock signal and said remote clock signal; and a bus bridge connected to said selective clock synchronizing circuit and operative to transfer data between the first bus and the second bus responsive to said synchronized clock signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. In a redundant bus bridge system including a first and second bus bridges included in respective first and second circuit assemblies, a method of operating comprising the steps of:
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generating a first clock signal on the first circuit assembly; generating a second clock signal on the second circuit assembly; and transferring data over the first bus bridge and the second bus bridge in synchronism with a selected one of the first clock signal and the second clock signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification