Hierarchical Bus Device Positioning via Automatic Enumeration
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Solution Overview
Problem
In complex hierarchical bus networked systems, users face challenges in determining the physical location of identical peripherals, as current methods do not scale well with system size or complexity, leading to difficulties in issuing commands to specific devices.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for automatically determining and indicating the system positions of devices by enumerating peripheral devices, detecting anchor and port device nodes, and recording their system positions, allowing for accurate mapping of physical instances to software instances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual tracking or observation methods are used to identify device positions, then users can determine device locations in simple systems, but the method does not scale well with system size and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-identification by automatically enumerating devices and generating hierarchical path information without requiring user observation or manual tracking. The computer system autonomously determines device positions by analyzing bus connections and generating path strings that represent the hierarchical location of each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual observation methods (mechanical/systematic user actions) with an automated software-based enumeration system. The computer system uses software to automatically traverse the bus hierarchy, detect devices, and generate path information, substituting human effort with automated computational processes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If identical peripherals are connected to the system, then the system can handle multiple devices of the same type, but users cannot distinguish which software instance corresponds to which physical device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a hierarchical path dimension to device identification. Instead of relying solely on device names or types, the system creates a new identification dimension based on the physical connection path through the bus hierarchy (e.g., chassis slot → expansion card → port → device), allowing unique identification of identical devices based on their location in the hierarchy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces hierarchical path information as an intermediary between the physical device and the software instance. This path string acts as a mediator that connects the physical location (chassis, slot, port) to the software representation, enabling users to map software instances to physical devices without direct observation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If expansion ports and additional devices are added to the system, then the system's functionality is enhanced, but the complexity of tracking device positions becomes even more unmanageable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the device identification problem into hierarchical components (chassis level, expansion card level, port level, device level). Each level of the hierarchy is enumerated separately, and the complete path is constructed by combining these segments. This segmentation allows the system to handle complex expansions by breaking down the identification into manageable hierarchical steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested hierarchical structure where devices are nested within expansion cards, which are nested within chassis, which are nested within the bus system. The hierarchical path string reflects this nested structure, allowing the system to automatically track device positions even as devices are added to expansion ports, because each nested level is independently enumerated and connected through the path hierarchy.
Data Source
AI summary
System and method for determining and conveying connectivity of cabled computer peripherals to a user. Characteristic information regarding each of multiple devices connected to a computer system in a system hierarchy of a bus networked system may be stored, including a device hierarchy associated with each device that identifies respective hardware nodes included in the device, and one or more visual attributes of the device. Respective system positions may be automatically determined for at least some of the devices based on the device hierarchy. A respective point of reference of at least one device may be determined based on the characteristic information of one or more of the devices. The computer system may generate information that indicates the respective system position of the at least one device relative to the respective point of reference of the device, which is useable to visually identify the device in the bus networked system.