Method and apparatus for implementing distributed event management in an embedded support processor computer system

• US 7,254,815 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2003
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Laschkewitsch, Clinton Gene, Movall, Paul Edward, Nelson, Ward Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson; William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Van H.
• Application Number:
  US10/422,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20040216136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,566 Days
• Field of Search: 719/310, 719/317, 719/318, 719/328, 709/202, 709/224, 710/15
• US Class Current: 719/318
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications

Abstract

Distributed event management in an embedded support processor computer system includes an embedded support processor having an event distribution agent used to communicate with local processes internal to the embedded support processor. A process communicates with the event distribution agent of the embedded support processor and registers for one or more events. Another process signals an event to the event distribution agent of the embedded support processor. The event distribution agent of the embedded support processor notifies each registered process of the signaled event. The event distribution agent of the embedded support processor is used to communicate with a peer event distribution agent included in a main processor of the embedded support processor computer system, and to communicate over a network with a peer event distribution agent included in an attached device, such as a personal computer.

Claims

1. Apparatus for implementing distributed event management in an embedded support processor computer system including at least one main processor, an embedded support processor, and an attached input/output (I/O) device, said apparatus comprising:

a memory;

the main processor and the embedded support processor coupled to said memory;

an event distribution agent included in the embedded support processor for storing process and event information and communicating with local processes of the embedded support processor;

an event distribution agent in the main processor for storing process and event information and communicating with local processes of the main processor;

an event distribution agent in the attached input/output (I/O) device for communicating with local processes in the I/O device;

said event distribution agents providing application programming interfaces (APIs) enabling event management processes including;

a process for dynamically registering and unregistering for events communicates with said event distribution agent of the embedded support processor and dynamically registers and unregisters for one or more events;

a process for dynamically registering and unregistering for events communicates with said event distribution agent of the main processor and dynamically registers and unregisters for one or more events;

a process for dynamically registering and unregistering for events communicates with said event distribution agent of the I/O device and dynamically registers and unregisters for one or more events;

a process for signaling an event to said event distribution agent of the embedded support processor using a local signaling process of the embedded support processor;

said event distribution agent of the embedded support processor notifying each said local process registered for the signaled event of the embedded support processor of the signaled event;

said event distribution agent of the embedded support processor, notifying said event distribution agent of the main processor of the signaled event; and

said event distribution agent of the embedded support processor, notifying said event distribution agent of the I/O device of the signaled event.

2. Apparatus for implementing distributed event management in an embedded support processor computer system as recited in claim 1 wherein said event distribution agent in the main processor receives signaled events of registered events of the main processor.

3. Apparatus for implementing distributed event management in an embedded support processor computer system as recited in claim 2 wherein said event distribution agent included in the main processor, responsive to being notified of the signaled event by said event distribution agent in the embedded processor, notifies each said registered local process of the main processor of the signaled event.

4. Apparatus for implementing distributed event management in an embedded support processor computer system as recited in claim 2 wherein said event distribution agent in the main processor notifies said event distribution agent of the embedded support processor of a received signaled event;

and responsive to being notified of the received signaled event by said event distribution agent in the main processor, said event distribution agent of the embedded support processor notifies each said registered local process of the signaled event.

5. Apparatus for implementing distributed event management in an embedded support processor computer system as recited in claim 1 wherein said event distribution agent in the input/output (I/O) device receives signaled events of registered events of the I/O device.

6. Apparatus for implementing distributed event management in an embedded support processor computer system as recited in claim 5 wherein said event distribution agent of the I/O device, responsive to being notified of the signaled event by said event distribution agent in the embedded processor, notifies each said registered local process of the I/O device of the signaled event.

7. Apparatus for implementing distributed event management in an embedded support processor computer system as recited in claim 5 wherein said event distribution agent in the I/O device notifies said event distribution agent of the embedded support processor of a received signaled event;

and responsive to being notified of the received signaled event by said event distribution agent in the I/O device, said event distribution agent of the embedded support processor notifies each said registered local process of the signaled event.

8. A method for implementing distributed event management in an embedded support processor computer system including an embedded support processor, a main processor, and an attached input/output (I/O) device, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an event distribution agent in the embedded support processor for storing process and event information and communicating with local processes of the embedded support processor;

providing an event distribution agent in the main processor for storing process and event information and communicating with local processes of the main processor;

providing an event distribution agent in the attached input/output (I/O) device for communicating with local processes of the I/O device;

providing application programming interfaces (APIs) with said event distribution agents for enabling event management processes including;

dynamically registering and unregistering any local process of the embedded support processor for one or more events with said event distribution agent of the embedded support processor;

dynamically registering and unregistering any local process of the main processor for one or more events with said event distribution agent of the main processor;

dynamically registering and unregistering any local process of the I/O device for one or more events with said event distribution agent of the I/O device;

signaling an event to said event distribution agent of the embedded support processor using a local signaling process of the embedded support processor;

said event distribution agent of the embedded support processor, notifying each said local process registered for the signaled event of the embedded support processor of the signaled event;

said event distribution agent of the embedded support processor, notifying said event distribution agent of the main processor of the signaled event; and

said event distribution agent of the embedded support processor, notifying said event distribution agent of the I/O device of the signaled event.

9. A method for implementing distributed event management in an embedded support processor computer system as recited in claim 8 wherein said event distribution agent of the main processor, responsive to being notified of the signaled event by said event distribution agent in the embedded processor, notifies each said local process registered for the signaled event of the main processor of the signaled event.

10. A method for implementing distributed event management in an embedded support processor computer system as recited in claim 8 wherein said event distribution agent of the I/O device, responsive to being notified of the signaled event by said event distribution agent in the embedded processor, notifies each said local process registered for said signaled event of the I/O device of said signaled event.

11. A method for implementing distributed event management in an embedded support processor computer system as recited in claim 10 includes the steps of signaling another event to said event distribution agent of the input/output (I/O) device using a local signaling process of the I/O device.

12. A method for implementing distributed event management in an embedded support processor computer system as recited in claim 11 includes the steps of said event distribution agent of the I/O device, notifying each said local registered process of the I/O device of said another signaled event.

13. A method for implementing distributed event management in an embedded support processor computer system as recited in claim 11 includes the steps of said event distribution agent of the I/O device, notifying said event distribution agent of said embedded support processor of said another signaled event.

14. A method for implementing distributed event management in an embedded support processor computer system as recited in claim 13 includes the steps of said event distribution agent of said embedded support processor, notifying said event distribution agent of said main processor of said another signaled event.

15. A method for implementing distributed event management in an embedded support processor computer system as recited in claim 14 includes the steps of said event distribution agent of the main processor, notifying each said local process registered for said another signal event of the main processor of said another signaled event.

16. A computer program product for implementing distributed event management in an embedded support processor computer system including an embedded support processor, a main processor, and an attached input/output (I/O) device, said computer program product including instructions stored on a computer recording medium consisting one of a floppy disk, an optically read compact disk, a compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), and a tape, wherein said instructions, when executed by the embedded support processor, and the main processor to cause the embedded support processor computer system to perform the steps of:

providing an event distribution agent in the embedded support processor for storing process and event information and communicating with local processes of the embedded support processor;

providing an event distribution agent in the main processor for storing process and event information and communicating with local processes of the main processor;

providing an event distribution agent in the attached input/output (I/O) device for communicating with local processes of the I/O device;

providing application programming interfaces (APIs) with said event distribution agents for enabling event management processes including;

dynamically registering and unregistering any local process of the embedded support processor for one or more events with said event distribution agent of the embedded support processor;

dynamically registering and unregistering any local process of the main processor for one or more events with said event distribution agent of the main processor;

dynamically registering and unregistering any local process of the I/O device for one or more events with said event distribution agent of the I/O device;

signaling an event to said event distribution agent of the embedded support processor using a local signaling process of the embedded support processor;

said event distribution agent of the embedded support processor, notifying each said local process registered for the signaled event of the embedded support processor of the signaled event;

said event distribution agent of the embedded support processor, notifying said event distribution agent of the main processor of the signaled event; and

said event distribution agent of the embedded support processor, notifying said event distribution agent of the I/O device of the signaled event.