Patent · US Active

Synchronizing state information between control units

US7739403B1 · kind B1 · utility

34Cited by
18References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 3, 2003
Grant dateJun 15, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 4, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F11/2038
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Techniques are described for synchronizing state information between a plurality of control units. A router, for example, is described that includes a primary control unit and a standby control unit. The primary control unit maintains router resources to ensure operation of the router. To ensure operation, the primary control unit receives state information from the router resources and maintains the state information for consumers, i.e. router resources that require or “consume” state information. Prior to updating the consumers with the state information, the primary control unit synchronizes the state information with the standby control unit. In the event the primary control unit fails, the standby control unit assumes control of the router resources. Upon assuming control, the standby control unit resumes updating the consumers with state information without having to “relearn” state information, e.g., by way of power cycling the router resources to a known state.

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