IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,694,693
Granted Patent B2
US 8,694,693 · App. 13/443,105 · Granted Apr 8, 2014

Methods and systems for providing user selection of associations between information handling resources and information handling systems in an integrated chassis

Inventors: Timothy M. Lambert (Austin, TX); Babu Chandrasekhar (Round Rock, TX); Michael A. Brundridge (Georgetown, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,694,693
App. No.
13/443,105
Filed
Apr 10, 2012
Granted
Apr 8, 2014
Kind
B2
Examiner
NAM, HYUN
Art Unit
2184
USPC
710/11
Abstract

In accordance embodiments of the present disclosure a method may include receiving a user indication of a desired association between at least one of a plurality of modular information handling systems and at least one or one or more information handling resources. The method may also include communicating one or more control signals to one or more switching elements housed in a chassis configured to house the plurality of modular information handling systems and the one or more information handling resources, such that a selected modular information handling system is communicatively coupled to a selected information handling resource in accordance with the user indication of the desired association.

Claims (52)

1. A system comprising:

a chassis constructed to receive a plurality of modular information handling systems;

a plurality of information handling resources housed in the chassis, each of the plurality of information handling resources available for selective and independent association with one of the modular information handling systems;

a chassis management controller to:

receive a user indication of an association between a first modular information handling system selected from the plurality of modular information handling systems and a first information handling resource selected from the plurality of information handling resources; and

generate an output signal indicative of the user indication; and

selection logic to:

receive the output signal from the chassis management controller;

based on the user indication, output control signals to a switching element housed in the chassis, wherein the switching element couples the first modular information handling system to the first information handling resource,

wherein the plurality of information handling resources include:

an input/output port of an input/output hub that expands a single input/output port into a plurality of input/output ports.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the chassis management controller receives the user indication from at least one of: a network interface; and a local interface housed in the chassis.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the switching element comprises at least one of: a switch; and a multiplexer, and wherein the input/output hub is included with the chassis.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the input/output port is an external Universal Serial Bus port.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of information handling resources includes an optical media drive.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the selection logic is to:

communicate, to the chassis management controller, status information regarding the association between the first modular information handling system and the first information handling resource; and

enable a user to access the status information.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein, when a failover occurs from the chassis management controller to a new chassis management controller, the chassis management controller is to:

maintain the status information for the new chassis management controller, wherein the new chassis management controller maintains the association.

8. A method comprising:

receiving, at a chassis management controller of an integrated chassis, a user indication of an association between a blade server and an information handling resource, wherein the blade server and the information handling resource are included in the integrated chassis; and

responsive to receiving the user indication, outputting, by the chassis management controller, a control signal to a switching element included in the integrated chassis, wherein the switching element communicatively couples the blade server and the information handling resource,

wherein the information handling resource is one of a plurality of information handling resources included in the chassis and available for selective and individual communicative coupling to the blade server, the plurality of information handling resources including:

an input/output port of an input/output hub that expands a single input/output port into a plurality of input/output ports.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the chassis management controller receives the user indication from at least one of: a network interface; and a local interface in the integrated chassis.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the input/output port is an external Universal Serial Bus port.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of information handling resources includes an optical media drive.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

communicating, to the chassis management controller, status information regarding a communicative coupling between the blade server and the information handling resource; and

enabling a user to access the status information.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

when a failover occurs from the chassis management controller to a new chassis management controller, maintaining the status information for the new chassis management controller, wherein the new chassis management controller maintains the communicative coupling.

14. An integrated chassis in which a plurality of blade servers operate, the integrated chassis comprising:

a plurality of information handling resources operating within the integrated chassis, each of the plurality of information handling resources available for selective and independent association with one of the plurality of blade servers;

a chassis management controller to:

receive a user indication of an association between a first blade server selected from the plurality of blade servers and a first information handling resource selected from the plurality of information handling resources; and

generate an output signal indicative of the user indication; and

selection logic to:

receive the output signal from the chassis management controller;

based on the user indication, output control signals to a switching element housed in the integrated chassis, wherein the switching element couples the first blade server to the first information handling resource,

wherein the plurality of information handling resources include:

an input/output port of an input/output hub that expands a single input/output port into a plurality of input/output ports.

15. The integrated chassis of claim 14 , wherein the chassis management controller receives the user indication from at least one of: a network interface; and a local interface housed in the integrated chassis.

16. The integrated chassis of claim 14 , wherein the switching element comprises at least one of: a switch; and a multiplexer, and wherein the input/output hub is included with the integrated chassis.

17. The integrated chassis of claim 14 , wherein the input/output port is an external Universal Serial Bus port.

18. The integrated chassis of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of information handling resources includes an optical media drive.

19. The integrated chassis of claim 14 , wherein the selection logic is to:

communicate, to the chassis management controller, status information regarding the association between the first blade server and the first information handling resource; and

enable a user to access the status information.

20. The integrated chassis of claim 19 , wherein, when a failover occurs from the chassis management controller to a new chassis management controller, the chassis management controller is to:

maintain the status information for the new chassis management controller, wherein the new chassis management controller maintains the association.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 10, 2012
From: LAMBERT, TIMOTHY M.; CHANDRASEKHAR, BABU; BRUNDRIDGE, MICHAEL A.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 028018/0751 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130268697A1 · Oct 10, 2013