Continuously available computer memory systems
US6418539B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 22, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jul 9, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 22, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F11/2097
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A highly reliable computer memory storage system that is divided into subsystems, each of which is provided in triplicate: a primary subsystem, a backup subsystem and a spare subsystem. Upon detection of a non-recoverable failure in a primary subsystem, the backup subsystem substantially immediately assumes the tasks of the primary subsystem while the spare subsystem is integrated into the operation of the computer memory storage system. The triple replication of all subsystems and mechanisms for detecting failures in at least the primary and secondary subsystems provides an overall memory system which is highly reliable and substantially never requires servicing. In an alternative embodiment, three subsystems can share a load equally, for example a cooling or power supply load requirement. Upon failure, of any one or two of such three redundant subsystems, the remaining subsystems(s) is built with sufficient extra capacity that remaining subsystem(s) can still supply the total power or cooling requirements of the system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.