Patent · US Active

Method to detect errors in computer systems by using state tracking

US7457985B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by

23References

5Claims

0Family size

Assignee

International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

Joachim von Buttlar · Schenefeld, DE
Janet R. Easton · Woodstock, US
Kenneth J. Oakes · Wappingers Falls, US
Andrew W. Piechowski · Lagrangeville, US
Martin Taubert · Schrobenhausen, DE
John S. Trotter · Pleasant Valley, US

Key dates

Filing date	Sep 9, 2005
Grant date	Nov 25, 2008
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Feb 14, 2027

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG06F11/362
WIPO fieldComputer technology
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for detecting errors in a computer system including a processing unit to perform tasks to change items. The method comprises the steps of assigning a task control block to the processing unit, and using the task control block to keep track of items being changed by the processing unit. The method comprises the further steps of at defined times, checking the task control block to identify items being changed by the processing unit, and checking the states of said identified items to determine if those states are correct. The preferred embodiment of the invention detects an error when it arises (where possible), and utilizes an infrastructure that allows simple and periodic consistency checks (for example, at designated code points) that detect the error before it causes follow-on problems.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.