Computer system and method including console housing multiple computer modules having independent processing units, mass storage devices, and graphics controllers

• US 6,718,415 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2000
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acqis LLC (Acqis Technology, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Acqis Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Chu, William W. Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Myers, Paul R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, RAYMOND NGAN
• Application Number:
  US09/569,758
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 710/305, 710/311, 710/313, 710/315, 710/316, 710/62, 710/63-64, 710/72-73, 710/300, 710/301, 710/303, 709/214, 709/217, 709/219, 709/226, 709/227, 714/43, 714/44, 714/11, 714/13, 708/1, 708/2
• US Class Current: 710/301
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/08 Clock generators with changeable or programmable clock frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/12 Synchronisation of different clock signals provided by a plurality of clock generators
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/20 for access to input/output bus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4027 using bus bridges G06F13/4022 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/409 Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/42 Bus transfer protocol, e.g. handshake; Synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4221 being an input/output bus, e.g. ISA bus, EISA bus, PCI bus, SCSI bus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4282 on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A computer system for multi-processing purposes. The computer system has a console comprising a first coupling site and a second coupling site. Each coupling site comprises a connector. The console is an enclosure that is capable of housing each coupling site. The system also has a plurality of computer modules, where each of the computer modules is coupled to a connector. Each of the computer modules has a processing unit, a main memory coupled to the processing unit, a graphics controller coupled to the processing unit, and a mass storage device coupled to the processing unit. Each of the computer modules is substantially similar in design to each other to provide independent processing of each of the computer modules in the computer system.

Claims

1. A computer system for multi-processing purposes, the computer system comprising:

a console comprising a first coupling site and a second coupling site;

each coupling site comprising a connector, the console being an enclosure that is capable of housing each coupling site;

a plurality of computer modules, each of the computer modules coupled to a connector, each of the computer modules comprising a processing unit, a main memory coupled to the processing unit, a graphics controller coupled to the processing unit, and a mass storage device coupled to the processing unit; and

wherein each of the computer modules is substantially similar in design to each other to provide independent processing of each of the computer modules in the computer system, and wherein any two of the computer modules can replace each other in operation.

2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the console further comprises of connections to two display monitors.

3. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the console further comprises of connections to two keyboards and two mouse devices.

4. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the console further comprises of two independent power supplies each coupled to one of the two computer modules.

5. The computer system of claim 1 further comprising a serial communication hub controller adapted to transfer data between any two of the computer modules, and each of the computer modules is substantially similar in design to each other to provide independent processing of each of the computer modules in the computer system.

6. The computer system of claim 5 wherein the serial communication hub controller comprises an Ethernet connection coupled to an external network.

7. A computer system for multi-processing purposes, the computer system comprising:

a console comprising a first coupling site and a second coupling site;

each coupling site comprising a connector, the console being an enclosure that is capable of housing each coupling site;

a plurality of computer modules, each of the computer modules coupled to a connector, each of the computer modules comprising a processing unit, a main memory coupled to the processing unit, a graphics controller coupled to the processing unit, and a mass storage device coupled to the processing unit;

wherein each of the computer modules is substantially similar in design to each other to provide independent processing of each of the computer modules in the computer system, and wherein any one of the plurality of computer modules provides a back up from another one of the plurality of computer modules.

8. The computer system of claim 7 further comprising a serial communication hub controller adapted to transfer data between any two of the computer modules, and each of the computer modules is substantially similar in design to each other to provide independent processing of each of the computer modules in the computer system.

9. The computer system of claim 8 wherein the serial communication hub controller comprises an Ethernet connection coupled to an external network.

10. A multi-processing computer system, said system comprising:

a console comprising a first coupling site and a second coupling site;

each coupling site comprising a connector, the console being an enclosure that is capable of housing each coupling site;

a plurality of computer modules, each of the computer modules coupled to a connector, each of the computer modules comprising a processing unit, a main memory coupled to the processing unit, a graphics controller coupled to the processing unit, a mass storage device coupled to the processing unit; and

a video output coupled to the processing unit, each of the computer modules being substantially similar in design to each other to provide independent processing of each of the computer modules in the computer system; and

a video switch circuit coupled to each of the computer modules through the video output, the video switch being configured to switch a video signal from any one of the computer modules to a display.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the display is coupled to the console through a single connector, the single connector coupling to each video output and also coupled to the video switch.

12. The system of claim 10 further comprising a user interface device switch coupled to each of the computer modules and coupled to a user interface device, the user interface device switch being adapted to connect the user interface device to either one of the computer modules.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the user interface device comprises a keyboard and a mouse.