Fault tolerance using logical checkpointing in computing systems
US6954877B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 29, 2001 |
| Grant date | Oct 11, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 30, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/0601
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for checkpointing a primary computer process to a backup computer process such that if there is a failure of a primary process, the backup process can takeover without interruption. In addition, upgrades to different version of software or equipment can take place without interruption. The invention provides a lightweight checkpointing method that allows checkpointing of only external requests or messages that change the state of the service instance, thereby reducing the overhead and performance penalties. In addition, the present invention checkpoints data for primary and backups that do not share resources but are logically equivalent. All communication between the primary and backup takes places using network protocols.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.