Redundant component system and method for facilitating endsystem functionality
View Patent ↗An arrangement includes a redundant component system and an endsystem linked with the redundant component system. The redundant component system includes a plurality of components such that the total number of components of this plurality is based on a redundant component quantity. To determine the redundant component quantity, a code-based sequence is provided by the present invention. The code-based system may optionally provide an output that includes designs for redundant component systems, each design having a total number of components equal to the redundant component quantity. To operate the component system, a continuous endsystem functionality program sequence is also provided by the present invention. The continuous endsystem functionality program sequence correlates operational or “duty” cycles for each component comprising the redundant component system with fault tolerant characteristics so that at least one component provides functionality to the endsystem at any given time.
1. In a redundant component system, a method for facilitating endsystem functionality, comprising the steps of:
(a) receiving redundant component system data from a redundant component system including a component time specification value, a system operational time value, a component overlap time value, and a component recovery time value;
(b) for the component time specification value, the system operational time value, and the component overlap time value, producing a resulting operational component quantity;
(c) for the component time specification value, the system operational time value, the component overlap time value, and the component recovery time value, producing a resulting recovery component quantity; and
(d) determining a redundant component quantity from the operational component quantity and the resulting recovery component quantity.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of producing a resulting operational component comprises the steps of:
(a) solving an operational program sequence
T2
(
T1
-
(
K1
×
T3
)
)
for the a condition
T1<T2
to produce a solved value, T-op,
where
T1=the component time specification value,
T2=the system operational time value,
T3=the component time overlap value, and
K1=a first constant; and
(b) associating the solved value T-op with the operational component quantity.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of producing a resulting recovery component quantity comprises the steps of:
(a) solving a recovery program sequence
K2
+
(
T4
/
(
T1
-
(
K1
×
T3
)
)
)
⌊
(
T4
/
T2
)
⌋
for a condition
T1<T2
to produce a solved value, Tr,
where
T1=the component time specification value,
T2=the system operational time value,
T3=the component time overlap value,
T4=the component recovery time value,
K1=a first constant, and
K2=a second constant; and
(b) associating the solved value Tr with the recovery component quantity.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of determining a redundant component quantity comprises the steps of:
(a) identifying the smallest numerical value between the operational component quantity, T-op, and the recovery component quantity, Tr;
(b) converting the identified smallest numerical value to an integer value, Tred; and
(c) associating the integer value, Tred, with the redundant component quantity.
5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of configuring a redundant component system based on the redundant component quantity.
6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the step of configuring a redundant component system includes the step of generating a design for the component system.
7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the step of configuring a redundant component system comprises the step of providing an output of the design of the component system so that hardware associated with each component is configured to form the component system.
8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of applying functionality to the endsystem via the redundant component system.
9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of applying functionality includes the step of providing continuous functionality to the endsystem via the redundant component system.
10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the redundant component system comprises a plurality of disk drives.
11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the redundant component quantity provides the minimum number of disk drives required for applying functionality to a controller module via the redundant component system.
12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the redundant component system comprises a plurality of transmitters.
13. The method according to claim 1 wherein the redundant component quantity provides the minimum number of transmitters required for applying functionality to a transceiver via the redundant component system.
14. The method according to claim 1 wherein the redundant component system comprises a plurality of detectors.
15. In a redundant component system wherein the redundant component system comprises a plurality of disk drives, a method for facilitating endsystem functionality, the method comprising the steps of:
a) receiving redundant component system data from a redundant component system including a component time specification value, a system operational time value, a component overlap time value, and a component recovery time value;
b) for the comoponent time specification value, the system operational time value, and the component overlap time value, producing a resulting operational component quantity;
c) for the component time specification value, the system operational time value, the component overlap time value, and the component recovery time value, producing a resulting recovery component quantity; and
d) determining a redundant component quantity from the operational component quantity and the resulting recovery component quantity.
16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the redundant component quantity provides the minimum number of said plurality of disk drives required for applying functionality to a controller module via the redundant component system.
17. In a redundant component system, a code-based sequence in a computer-readable medium for facilitating endsystem functionality, comprising:
(a) a reception routine for receiving redundant component system data from a redundant component system including a component time specification value, a system operational time value, a component overlap time value, and a component recovery time value;
(b) a first quantity routine for producing a resulting operational component quantity based on the component time specification value, the system operational time value, and the component overlap time value;
(c) a second quantity routine for producing a resulting recovery component quantity based on the component time specification value, the system operational time value, the component overlap time value, and the component recovery time value; and
(d) a determination routine determining a redundant component quantity from the operational component quantity and the resulting recovery component quantity.
18. The code-based sequence according to claim 17 further comprising a configuration sequence for configuring a redundant component system based on the redundant component quantity.
19. The code-based sequence according to claim 17 wherein the first quantity routine comprises:
a) a routine for solving an operational program sequence
T2
(
T1
-
(
K1
×
T3
)
)
for a condition
T1<T2
to produce a solved value, T-op
where
T1=the component time specification value,
T2=the system operational time value,
T3=the component time overlap value,
K1=a first constant, and
b) a routine for associating the solved value T-op with the operational component quantity.
20. The code based sequence according to claim 17 wherein the second quantity routine comprises:
(a) a routine for solving a recovery program sequence
K2
+
(
T4
/
(
T1
-
(
K1
×
T3
)
)
)
⌊
(
T4
/
T2
)
⌋
for a condition
T1<T2
to produce a solved value, Tr,
where
T1=the component time specification value,
T2=the system operational time value,
T3=the component time overlap value,
T4=the component recovery time value,
K1=a first constant, and
K2=a second constant; and
(b) a routine for associating the solved value Tr with the recovery component quantity.
21. The code based sequence according to claim 17 wherein the determination routine comprises:
(a) a routine for identifying the smallest numerical value between the operational component quantity, T-op, and the recovery component quantity, Tr;
(b) a routine for converting the identified smallest numerical value to an integer value, Tred; and
(c) a routine for associating the integer value, Tred, with the redundant component quantity.
22. The code based sequence according to claim 17 further comprising a routine for configuring a redundant component system based on the redundant component quantity.
23. The code based sequence according to claim 17 further comprising a routine for applying functionality to the endsystem via the redundant component system.
24. An arrangement, comprising:
(a) a redundant component system, the redundant component system including a plurality of components such that the total number of components of the plurality of components is based on a redundant component quantity;
(b) an endsystem linked with the redundant component system; and
(c) an arrangement for determining a redundant component quantity established by the steps of:
(a) identifying the smallest numerical value between a operational component quantity, T-op, and a recovery component quantity, Tr;
(b) converting the identified smallest numerical value to an integer value, Tred; and
(c) associating the integer value, Tred, with the redundant component quantity.
25. The arrangement according to claim 24 wherein the redundant component quantity is established through an operational program sequence.
26. The arrangement according to claim 25 wherein the operational program sequence comprises the steps of:
(a) solving an operational program sequence
T2
(
T1
-
(
K1
×
T3
)
)
for a condition
T1<T2
to produce a solved value, T-op,
where
T1=the component time specification value,
T2=the system operational time value,
T3=the component time overlap value, and
K1=a first constant; and
(b) associating the solved value T-op with the operational component quantity.
27. The arrangement according to claim 24 wherein the redundant component quantity is established through a recovery program sequence.
28. The arrangement according to claim 27 wherein the recovery program sequence quantity comprises the steps of:
(a) solving a recovery program sequence
K2
+
(
T4
/
(
T1
-
(
K1
×
T3
)
)
)
⌊
(
T4
/
T2
)
⌋
for a condition
T1<T2
to produce a solved value, Tr,
where
T1=the component time specification value,
T2=the system operational time value,
T3=the component time overlap value,
T4=the component recovery time value,
K1=a first constant, and
K2=a second constant; and
(b) associating the solved value Tr with the recovery component quantity.
29. The arrangement according to claim 24 wherein the redundant component system applies functionality to the endsystem.
30. An arrangement, comprising:
(a) a redundant component system, the redundant component system including a plurality of components such that the total number of components of the plurality of components is based on a redundant component quantity; and
(b) an endsystem linked with the redundant component system wherein the redundant component quantity is established through an operational program sequence and wherein the operational program sequence compnses the steps of:
(1) solving an operational program sequence
T2
(
T1
-
(
K1
×
T3
)
)
for a condition
T1<T2
to produce a solved value, T-op,
where
T1=the component time specification value,
T2=the system operational time value,
T3=the component time overlap value, and
K1=a first constant; and
(2) associating the solved value T-op with the operational component quantity.
31. An arrangement, comprising:
(a) a redundant component system, the redundant component system including a plurality of components such that the total number of components of the plurality of components is based on a redundant component quantity; and
(b) an endsystem linked with the redundant component system, wherein the redundant component quantity is established through a recovery program sequence and wherein the recovery program sequence quantity comprises the steps of:
(1) solving a recovery program sequence
K2
+
(
T4
/
(
T1
-
(
K1
×
T3
)
)
)
⌊
(
T4
/
T2
)
⌋
for a condition
T1<T2
to produce a solved value, Tr,
where
T1=the component time specification value,
T2=the system operational time value,
T3=the component time overlap value,
T4=the component recovery time value,
K1=a first constant, and
K2=a second constant; and
(2) associating the solved value Tr with the recovery component quantity.