Self-configuring fault-tolerant operational group

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018183657-A1
Application number	US-201615391023-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 27, 2016
Priority date	Dec 27, 2016
Publication date	Jun 28, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

In an embodiment, a method includes assigning, based on a switch module of a particular node of one or more nodes of a fault-tolerant group, a channel to the particular node. The method further includes determining a number of nodes in the fault-tolerant group by exchanging handshake information between the channel assigned to the particular node and channels assigned to other nodes of the fault-tolerant group. The method further includes initializing the fault-tolerant group with the determined number of nodes based on the exchanged handshake information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
assigning, based on a switch module of a particular node of one or more nodes of a fault-tolerant group, a channel to the particular node; determining a number of nodes in the fault-tolerant group by exchanging handshake information between the channel assigned to the particular node and channels assigned to other nodes of the fault-tolerant group; and initializing the fault-tolerant group with the determined number of nodes based on the exchanged handshake information.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the number of nodes in the fault-tolerant group is set by at least one switch of the switch module.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein exchanging handshake information further includes:
sending one or more messages from the channel from the particular node to the channel of a second node of the fault-tolerant group; if a response to the messages is received at the particular node, marking the channel as active; and determining the level of fault-tolerance based on the number of nodes in the fault-tolerant group.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein determining the level of fault-tolerance is further based on determining a number of nodes operatively connected to the one or more nodes through the channels marked as active.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising presenting, to a user, the level of fault-tolerance for approval.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the number of nodes in the fault-tolerant group includes receiving one or more termination signals along one or more unused channels, and determining the number of nodes in the fault-tolerant group to be the number of nodes that receive signals other than the termination signal.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the one or more channels correspond with ports, and the one or more channels are in a sequential order, and further comprising:
providing the one or more termination signals by connecting a termination device to one of the ports.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein:
providing the one or more termination signals includes providing a termination signal at one of the ports; and determining the number of nodes in the fault-tolerant group includes determining the number of nodes corresponding to channels before the termination device in reference to the sequential order of the ports.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein providing the one or more termination signals includes providing a termination signal at any unused port, and
determining the number of nodes in the fault-tolerant group includes determining the number of nodes corresponding to channels disconnected from the termination device.

10 . A system comprising:
a fault-tolerant group including:
one or more nodes;
a switch module of a particular node of the one or more nodes configured to assign a channel to the particular node;
wherein the fault-tolerant group is configured to automatically self-configure by:
determining a number of nodes in the fault-tolerant group by exchanging handshake information between the channel assigned to the particular node and channels assigned to other nodes of the fault-tolerant group, and
initializing the fault-tolerant group with the determined number of nodes based on the exchanged handshake information.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein determining the number of nodes in the fault-tolerant group is set by at least one switch of the switch module.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein exchanging handshake information further includes:
sending one or more messages from the channel from the particular node to the channel of a second node of the fault-tolerant group; if a response to the messages is received at the particular node, marking the channel as active; and determining the level of fault-tolerance based on the number of nodes in the fault-tolerant group.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein determining the level of fault-tolerance is further based on determining a number of nodes operatively connected to the one or more nodes through the channels marked as active.

14 . The system of claim 10 , further comprising a display configured to present, to a user, the level of fault-tolerance for approval.

15 . The system of claim 10 , wherein determining the number of nodes in the fault-tolerant group includes receiving one or more termination signals along one or more unused channels, and determining the number of nodes in the fault-tolerant group to be the number of nodes that receive signals other than the termination signal.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more channels correspond with ports, and the one or more channels are in a sequential order, and further comprising:
a termination device configured to connect to one of the ports and to provide the one or more termination signals.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein:
the termination device is further configured to provide the one or more termination signals includes providing a termination signal at one of the ports; and the fault-tolerant group is further configured to determine the number of nodes in the fault-tolerant group includes determining the number of nodes corresponding to channels before the termination device in reference to the sequential order of the ports.

18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein providing the one or more termination signals includes providing a termination signal at any unused port, and
determining the number of nodes in the fault-tolerant group includes determining the number of nodes corresponding to channels disconnected from the termination device.

19 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to store instructions for a fault-tolerant group, the instructions, when loaded and executed by a processor, causes the processor to:
assign, based on a switch module of a particular node of one or more nodes of a fault-tolerant group, a channel to the particular node; and automatically self-configure the fault tolerant group by:
determining a number of nodes in the fault-tolerant group by exchanging handshake information between the channel assigned to the particular node and channels assigned to other nodes of the fault-tolerant group, and
initializing the fault-tolerant group with the determined number of nodes based on the exchanged handshake information.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein determining the number of nodes in the fault-tolerant group is set by at least one switch of the switch module.

Assignees

• Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc

Inventors

• Beilin Samuel
• Tuohy Seamus

Classifications

• H04L41/0681 Primary

  Configuration of triggering conditions · CPC title

• H04L41/0876

  Aspects of the degree of configuration automation · CPC title

• H04L41/0893

  Assignment of logical groups to network elements · CPC title

• H04L43/10

  Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route · CPC title