Multiple module computer system and method including differential signal channel comprising undirectional serial bit channels

• US 7,676,624 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2008
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acqis LLC (Acqis Technology, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Acqis LLC (Acqis Technology, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chu, William W. Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, RAYMOND NGAN
• Application Number:
  US12/077,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20080244149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 710300-317, 710 62- 64, 710 72- 73, 709214-219, 709226-227
• US Class Current: 710/313
• 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 comprising:

a console comprising a first coupling site and a second coupling site, each coupling site comprising a connector and a slot, the console being an enclosure housing the coupling sites;

a plurality of computer modules, each computer module coupled to one of the coupling site through the connector and the slot, comprising

a processing unit,

a main memory coupled to the processing unit,

a serial communication controller couples to the connector of the coupling site for communication to an external network; and

a first interface controller coupled to a differential signal channel communicating an encoded serial bit stream of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction, wherein the differential signal channel comprises two sets of unidirectional serial bit channels which transmit data in opposite direction;

wherein each of the computer modules is similar in design to each other and operates fully independent of each other, and wherein one of the computer modules comprises a core computing power and environment for a personal computer user.

2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the console further comprises a second interface controller that communicates to the first interface controller through the differential signal channel.

3. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the console further comprises a serial communication hub controller that couples to the serial communication controller in each of the computer modules through the connector of the coupling site to support the communication to an external network.

4. The computer system of claim 1 wherein one of the computer modules is configured to provide protection against failure of another one of the computer modules.

5. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the computer module further comprises a programmable memory device, said programmable memory device being configurable to store a password for controlling access to the computer module.

6. A computer system comprising:

a console comprising a power supply, a first coupling site and a second coupling site, each coupling site comprising a connector and a slot, the console being an enclosure housing the coupling sites and the power supply,

a plurality of computer modules;

each computer module coupled to one of the coupling site through the connector and the slot, comprising

a processing unit,

a serial communication controller coupled to the connector of the coupling site for communication to an external network,

a main memory coupled to the processing unit, and

a first interface controller coupled to a low voltage differential signal (LVDS) channel comprises two sets of unidirectional serial bit channels in opposite directions communicating an encoded serial bit stream of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction;

wherein each of the computer modules is similar in design to each other, and each set of unidirectional serial bit channels comprise a plurality of pairs of differential signal lines.

7. The computer system of claim 6 wherein the console further comprises a second interface controller that communicates to the first interface controller of each computer module through the low voltage differential signal (LVDS) channel and the connector of the coupling site.

8. The computer system of claim 6 wherein the console further comprises a serial communication hub controller that couples to the serial communication controller of the computer modules to support the communication to the external network.

9. The computer system of claim 6 wherein one of the computer modules can replace another one of the computer modules in operation.

10. The computer system of claim 6 wherein one of the computer modules comprises a core computing power and environment for a personal computer user.

11. A 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 housing each coupling site;

a plurality of computer modules, each computer module coupled to one of the coupling sites through the connector, and comprising a processing unit, a main memory coupled to the processing unit, and

an interface controller coupled to a differential signal channel comprises two sets of unidirectional low voltage serial bit channels in opposite directions transmitting encoded PCI bus transaction data;

wherein each of the computer modules operates fully independent of each other, and

wherein the interface controller couples to the console through the differential signal channel for data communication, through the connector of the coupling site.

12. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the computer module further comprises of an Ethernet controller coupled to the console through the connector of the coupling site for communication to an external network.

13. The computer system of claim 11 wherein one of the computer modules can replace another one of the computer modules in operation.

14. The computer system of claim 11 wherein that operates on varying clock frequency for varying its power consumption while in operation.

15. The computer system of claim 11 wherein each of the unidirectional serial channels comprises a plurality of pairs of differential signal lines.

16. A computer system comprising:

a console comprising a first coupling site, and a second coupling site, each coupling site comprising a connector and a slot, the console being an enclosure housing each coupling site,

a first interface controller coupled to a differential signal channel comprises two sets of unidirectional low voltage serial bit channels in opposite directions transmitting encoded PCI bus transaction data; and

a plurality of computer modules;

each computer module coupled to one of the coupling sites through the connector and the slot and each computer module comprising

a processing unit,

a main memory coupled to the processing unit, and

an Ethernet controller coupled to the connector of the coupling site;

wherein each of the computer modules operates fully independent of each other.

17. The computer system of claim 16 wherein the console further comprises a mass storage device that couples to one of the computer module.

18. The computer system of claim 16 wherein the computer module further comprises a second interface controller coupled to a differential signal channel communicating an encoded serial bit stream of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction data, wherein the differential signal channel comprises two sets of unidirectional serial bit channels which transmit data in opposite.

19. The computer system of claim 18 wherein the second interface controller couples to the first interface controller through the differential signal channel and the connector of the coupling site.

20. The computer system of claim 16 wherein one of the computer modules is configured to provide protection against failure of another one of the computer modules.

21. A computer system comprising:

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

each coupling site comprising a slot, the console being an enclosure housing each coupling site, a first serial communication controller, and a plurality of computer modules;

each computer module coupled to one of the coupling sites through the connector and the slot, each computer module comprising

a processing unit,

a main memory coupled to the processing unit, and

a second serial communication controller coupled to the first serial communication controller through the connector of the coupling site communicating with two unidirectional serial, low voltage differential signal (LVDS) channels which transmit data in opposite directions, and

wherein each of the computer modules operates independent of each other.

22. The computer system of claim 21 wherein the console further comprises a mass storage device that couples to one of the computer module.

23. The computer system of claim 21 wherein one of the computer modules can replace another one of the computer modules in operation.

24. The computer system of claim 21 wherein the transmitted data of the serial, low voltage differential signal (LVDS) channels comprises encoded Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction.

25. The computer system of claim 21 wherein each of the unidirectional serial bit channels comprises a plurality of pairs of differential signal lines.

26. A computer system comprising:

a console comprising a first coupling site and a second coupling site, each coupling site comprising a connector and a slot, the console being an enclosure housing the coupling sites;

a plurality of computer modules, each computer module coupled to one of the coupling sites through the connector and the slot, comprising

a processing unit,

a main memory coupled to the processing unit,

a low voltage differential signal (LVDS) channel comprising two sets of unidirectional multiple serial bit channels which transmit data in opposite directions,

an Ethernet controller coupled to the connector of the coupling site for communication to an external network through the console, and

a first interface controller coupled the LVDS channel for communicating an encoded serial bit stream of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction;

wherein each of the computer modules is similar in design to each other and operates fully independent of each other.

27. The computer system of claim 26 wherein the console further comprises a second interface controller that communicates to the first interface controller through the LVDS channel.

28. The computer system of claim 26 wherein the console further comprises a Ethernet hub controller that couples to the Ethernet controller in each of the computer modules through the connector of the coupling site to support the communication to an external network.

29. The computer system of claim 26 wherein one of the computer modules is configured to provide protection against failure of another one of the computer modules.

30. The computer system of claim 26 wherein the console further comprises a hard disk drive that couples to one of the computer module.

31. A computer system comprising:

a console comprising a power supply, a first coupling site and a second coupling site, each coupling site comprising a connector and a slot, the console being an enclosure housing the coupling sites and the power supply,

a plurality of computer modules;

each computer module coupled to one of the coupling site through the connector and the slot, comprising

a processing unit,

a serial communication controller coupled to the connector of the coupling site for communication to an external network,

a main memory coupled to the processing unit,

a low voltage differential signal (LVDS) channel comprising two sets of unidirectional multiple serial bit channels in opposite directions, and

a first interface controller coupled to the LVDS channel for communicating an encoded serial bit stream of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction;

wherein each of the computer modules is similar in design to each other, and one of the computer modules can replace another one of the computer modules in operation.

32. The computer system of claim 31 wherein the console further comprises a second interface controller that communicates to the first interface controller of each computer module through the LVDS channel and the connector of the coupling site.

33. The computer system of claim 31 wherein the console further comprises a serial communication hub controller that couples to the serial communication controller of the computer modules to support the communication to the external network.

34. The computer system of claim 31 wherein the console further comprises a hard disk drive that couples to one of the computer module.

35. The computer system of claim 31 wherein one of the computer modules comprises a core computing power and environment for a personal computer user.

36. A 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 housing each coupling site;

a plurality of computer modules, each computer module coupled to one of the coupling sites through the connector, and comprising

a processing unit,

a main memory coupled to the processing unit,

a low voltage differential signal (LVDS) channel comprises two sets of unidirectional multiple serial bit channels in opposite directions, and

an interface controller coupled to the LVDS channel for transmitting encoded Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction data;

wherein each of the computer modules can operate fully independent of each other, and wherein the interface controller couples to the console through the LVDS channel for data communication.

37. The computer system of claim 36 wherein the computer module further comprises an Ethernet controller coupled to the console through the connector of the coupling site for communication to an external network.

38. The computer system of claim 36 wherein one of the computer modules can replace another one of the computer modules in operation.

39. The computer system of claim 36 that operates on varying clock frequency for varying its power consumption while in operation.

40. The computer system of claim 36 wherein the console further comprises a hard disk drive that couples to one of the computer modules.

41. A computer system comprising:

a console comprising a first coupling site, and a second coupling site, each coupling site comprising a connector and a slot, the console comprising an Ethernet hub controller and an enclosure housing

each coupling site,

the Ethernet hub controller,

a low voltage differential signal (LVDS) channel comprising two sets of unidirectional multiple serial bit channels in opposite directions, and

a first interface controller coupled to the LVDS channel, and

a plurality of computer modules;

each computer module coupled to one of the coupling sites through the connector and the slot and each computer module comprising

a processing unit,

a main memory coupled to the processing unit, and

an Ethernet controller coupled to the Ethernet hub controller;

wherein each of the computer modules can operate fully independent of each other.

42. The computer system of claim 41 wherein the console further comprises a hard disk drive that couples to one of the computer module.

43. The computer system of claim 41 wherein the computer module further comprises a second interface controller coupled to the LVDS channel in the console communicating an encoded serial bit stream of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction data.

44. The computer system of claim 41 wherein the data transmission of the LVDS channel comprises encoded Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction.

45. The computer system of claim 41 wherein one of the computer modules is configured to provide protection against failure of another one of the computer modules.

46. A computer system comprising:

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

each coupling site comprising a slot, the console being an enclosure housing

each coupling site,

two unidirectional multiple serial, low voltage differential signal (LVDS) channels which transmit data in opposite directions, and

a plurality of computer modules;

each computer module coupled to one of the coupling sites through a connector and the slot, each computer module comprising

a processing unit,

a main memory coupled to the processing unit, and

a serial communication controller coupled to the connector of the coupling site for communication to an external network,

an interface controller coupled to the LVDS channels; and

wherein each of the computer modules can operate independent of each other.

47. The computer system of claim 46 wherein the console further comprises a hard disk drive that couples to one of the computer modules.

48. The computer system of claim 46 wherein one of the computer modules can replace another one of the computer modules in operation.

49. The computer system of claim 46 wherein the data transmission of the LVDS channels comprises encoded Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction.

50. The computer system of claim 46 wherein one of the computer modules is configured to provide protection against failure of any one of the other computer modules.