Host Bus Adapter Port State Notification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Intelligent connection systems in networks fail to detect and address port failures that prevent communication, leading to unnecessary attempts by other ports to connect with the failed port, resulting in increased network traffic and processing delays.

Innovation Solution

A host bus adapter detects communication interruptions with a remote port and transmits a notification to the intelligent connection system, masquerading as the failed port to report its state change, allowing other ports to manage the failure and adjust communication paths accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ports continuously attempt to communicate with failed ports, then communication reliability is maintained, but network traffic increases and processing delays occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork traffic

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the intelligent connection system receives notifications about port failures from host bus adapters and proactively notifies other ports about the failed port's status. This feedback loop prevents ports from continuously attempting to communicate with failed ports, thereby reducing unnecessary network traffic while maintaining communication reliability through informed port selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The intelligent connection system acts as an intermediary between ports and the network fabric. It receives failure notifications from host bus adapters and mediates by distributing this information to relevant ports, enabling them to adjust their communication paths without directly attempting to contact the failed port, thus reducing network traffic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If ports continuously attempt to communicate with failed ports, then communication attempts are made, but processing delays increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication attemptsVSAvoidprocessing delays

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the intelligent connection system proactively notify ports about failures before those ports attempt to communicate with the failed port. This advance warning allows ports to pre-adjust their communication paths, eliminating time-wasting communication attempts and reducing processing delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The feedback mechanism provides real-time information about port failures to the intelligent connection system, which then notifies other ports. This feedback loop prevents ports from initiating communication with failed ports, thereby eliminating processing delays associated with failed communication attempts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If the intelligent connection system detects port failures, then communication paths can be optimized, but detection capability is limited by protocol requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication path optimizationVSAvoidport failure detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by having host bus adapters monitor their own ports and detect failures independently. When a failure occurs, the adapter generates and transmits a notification to the intelligent connection system without requiring external intervention or complex detection mechanisms, thereby simplifying the detection process while enabling communication path optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The host bus adapter acts as an intermediary between the physical port and the intelligent connection system. It translates physical port failures into standardized notifications that the intelligent connection system can process, bridging the gap between simple physical detection and sophisticated communication path optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS7839765B2Advertising port state changes in a network

Publication Date: 2010.11.23 VALTRUS INNOVATIONS LTD

AI summary

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a host bus adapter for implementing a first port of a node on a network of nodes interconnected through an intelligent connection system comprising: a transceiver providing a physical interface for the first port; and a protocol controller that transmits a notification to the intelligent connection system on behalf of a remote second port indicating that the second port may have failed when the second port fails to communicate with the first port.