United States Patent [19]
`Pitt et a1.
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,717,934
`Feb. 10, 1998
`
`[54] SEQUENTIAL COMPUTER NETWORK
`SHUTDOWN SYSTEM AND PROCESS
`THEREFOR
`
`[75] Inventors: Ronald L. Pitt. Escondido; Carleton
`H. Smith. San Diego. both of Calif.
`
`[73] Assignee: Deltec Electronics Corporation, San
`Diego, Calif.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 330,697
`[22] Filed:
`Oct. 28, 1994
`
`[51] Int. Cl.6 ............................. .. G06F 1130; G06F 13/10
`[52] US. Cl. .................... .. 3951750; 395118222; 3951651
`[58] Field of Search ............................. .. 3951750. 182.22.
`3951650; 364/707
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`111985 Gilbert et al. ..................... .. 39511822
`4,495,568
`911986 Coppola
`.. 364/492
`4,611,289
`4,663,539 5/1987 Sharp et a].
`307138
`5,053,635 1011991 West
`307167
`5,117,324
`5/1992 Johnson, Jr.
`361166
`5,151,855
`9/1992 Gray et al
`3951750
`5,168,444 12/1992 Cukor et al.
`. 364/401
`5,287,515
`211994 Murai ........... ..
`3951700
`5,315,161
`5/1994 Robinson et al
`307166
`5,317,752
`5/1994 Jewett et a1
`.... .. 3951750
`5,323,393
`6/1994 Barrett et al
`370/858
`5,381,554
`111995 Langer et al
`3951750
`5,483,656
`111996 Oprescu et a1
`.. 3951750
`5,542,035
`711996 Kikinis et al. ........................ .. 3951750
`
`Primary Examiner-Jack B. Harvey
`Assistant Examiner-Sumati Letkowitz
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-—Lewis B. Sternfels
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57}
`A user con?gurable, rule based sequencing of the shutdown
`of individual devices or the entire computer network is
`forwarded to a collection of software programmed micro
`processors operating on the network. Every required device
`of the system is provided with shutdown software and a
`conventional UPS (known variously as an uninterruptable
`power supply, uninterruptable power system, uninterrupted
`power supply. and uninterrupted power system). A user
`interface program is used by a system administrator to
`con?gure the operation of the shutdown software. In the
`preferred embodiment. the network system includes. at a
`minimum. a ?le server coupled to a storage device contain
`ing a database, a database server. and at least one database
`work station. such as used for accounting purposes. Shut
`down software and a UPS are coupled or otherwise associ
`ated with each of the ?le server. the database server, the
`work station and, when used. the network communication
`device. The user interface program establishes the con?gu
`ration process. The shutdown software establishes the shut
`down process. The con?guration process is installed to
`con?gure the system and to establish rules or a system
`administrator's plan. The software validates the rules for
`error and inconsistencies. such as may have been made by
`the administrator. If there are any errors and inconsistencies.
`the system administrator is so advised and corrections are
`recommended If there are no errors or inconsistencies. the
`user interface program or software is permitted to commu
`nicate the system administrator‘s plan to all shutdown
`software running on the individual devices. The shutdown
`process follows the rules in the con?guration process.
`
`13 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`Micro?che Appendix Included
`(1544 Micro?che. 16 Pages)
`
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`m
`
`ServiceNow, Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`001
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 1 of 4
`
`5,717,934
`
`UPS
`/
`32
`
`DATABASE /l8
`SERvER
`SHUTDOWN
`/SOFTWARE '6
`30
`FILE \
`"P3
`SERVER
`32 12/ SHUTDOWN
`30 / SOFTWARE
`
`UPS \32
`
`I0
`/
`
`NETWORK
`COMMUNICATION /28
`DEvIcE
`
`SHUTDOWN SOFTWARE -- 30
`
`/|6
`
`‘4/ DATA
`BASE
`
`22
`
`20
`WORK STATION
`0F DATABASE /
`SERVER
`SHUTDOWN /30
`SOFTWARE
`
`32
`
`UPS
`
`34)
`WORK
`STATION SW \
`30
`
`UPS
`\32
`
`WORK
`STATION SW
`/ L7Z—— UPS_
`26
`30
`\az
`l
`34“ SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR
`COMPUTER
`SHUTDOWN SOFTWARE
`\so
`
`a2
`/
`Ups
`
`Fi . 1.
`g
`
`/ USER INTERFACE
`36
`SOFTWARE
`
`I
`
`ServiceNow, Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`002
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 2 0f 4
`
`5,717,934
`
`F I g. 20.
`
`3?
`
`BEGIN
`CONFIGURATION
`PROCESS
`
`I
`
`THE USER INTERFACE SOFTWARE BUILDS A LIST I
`OF COMPUTERS ON THE NETWORK THAT ARE
`RUNNING THE SHUTDOWN SOFTWARE
`
`I
`
`THE USER INTERFACE SOFTWARE THEN
`IDENTIFIES ANY DETECTABLE INTERDEPENDENCIES
`BETWEEN COMPUTERS (I.E., A COMMUNICATIONS
`DEVICE THAT PROVIDES A LINK BETWEEN A WORK
`STATION AND ITS SERVERI
`
`I
`
`THE USER INTERFACE SOFTWARE DISPLAYS THE
`DEVICES AND INTERDEPENDENCIES TO THE SYSTEM
`ADMINISTRATOR AND PROVIDES A MEANS TO THE SYSTEM
`ADMINISTRATOR TO ADD TO OR DETRACT FROM THE
`INTERDEPENDENCIES BY IDENTIFYING COMPUTERS
`THAT ARE OR ARE NOT DEPENDENT ON EACH OTHER
`
`I
`
`THE USER INTERFACE SOFTWARE CALCULATES A
`RECOMMENDED SHUTDOWN SCHEDULE FOR THE
`DEVICES BASED ON THE INTERDEPENDENCIES AND
`AVAILABLE RUN TIME OF EACH UPS
`
`40
`
`44
`
`to Fig. Eh.
`
`I
`
`ServiceNow, Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`003
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 3 of 4
`
`5,717,934
`
`From Fig. 20.
`
`Fig. 2b.
`
`46
`
`52
`
`THE USER INTERFACE
`SOFTWARE
`RECOMMENDS
`CHANGES TO CORRECT
`THE PROBLEM
`
`THE USER INTERFACE SOFTWARE PRESENTS THE
`RECOMMENDED SCHEDULE TO THE SYSTEM
`ADMINISTRATOR AND PROVIDES A MEANS FOR
`THE SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR TO MODIFY IT
`
`\48
`
`THE
`USER INTERFACE
`SOFTWARE CHECKS FOR ERRORS
`AND INCONSISTENCIES IN THE SYSTEM
`ADMINISTRATOR'S
`CHANGES
`
`ERRORS_
`FOUND
`
`NO ERRORS
`
`I
`
`54
`/
`
`THE USER INTERFACE SOFTWARE COMMUNICATES
`THE SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR'S PLAN
`IUSING EXISTING NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS
`METHODS) TO THE SHUTDOWN SOFTWARE
`RUNNING ON EACH COMPUTER
`
`I
`
`/56
`
`END OF
`CONFIGURATION
`PROCESS
`
`ServiceNow, Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`004
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 4 of 4
`
`5,717,934
`
`MANUAL
`SHUTDOWN
`
`START OF
`SHUTDOWN
`\sa
`VALUATE WHAT TYPE OF
`HUTDOWN THIS IS
`
`SCHEDULED
`SHUTDOWN
`
`POWER FAILURE SHUTDOWN
`
`646
`I
`
`T'MER W'TH
`MANUAL
`SHUTDOWN DELAY
`FROM THE
`
`TIMER WITH POWER
`FAILURE SHUTDOWN
`DELAY FROM THE
`SHUTDOWN PLAN
`
`TIMER WITH
`SCHEDULED
`SHUTDOWN DELAY
`FROM THE
`
`PROGRAM THE
`uPs WITH THE
`REsTART TIME FROM
`THE MANUAL
`SHUTDOWN PLAN
`
`PROGRAM THE
`UPS WITH THE
`REsTART TIME FROM
`THE POWER FAILURE
`SHUTDOWN PLAN
`
`PROGRAM THE
`UPS WITH THE
`REsTART TIME FROM
`THE SCHEDULED
`SHUTDOWN PLAN/I
`66c
`
`F
`
`g‘
`
`3
`'
`
`\
`60
`
`YES '
`TERMINATE ALL
`RUNNING
`PROGRAMS ON THIS
`COMPUTER
`I
`CLOSE ALI. OPEN
`FILES AND
`UNMOUNT ALL FILE
`SYSTEMS ON THIS
`COMPUTER
`
`HALT THE
`OPERATING SYSTEM
`AND TURN OFF
`THE UPS
`
`END OF SHUTDOWN
`PROCEDURE
`
`72
`
`I4
`
`T6
`
`‘I8
`
`ServiceNow, Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`005
`
`

`

`5,717,934
`
`1
`SEQUENTIAL COMPUTER NETWORK
`SHUTDOWN SYSTEM AND PROCESS
`THEREFOR
`
`REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX
`
`Attached hereto and incorporated herein is micro?che
`Appendix A. Appendix A is the source code for the “C” and
`“Assemblef’ language computer programs which program
`(con?gure) the processors and computers disclosed herein to
`implement the methods and procedures described herein.
`Appendix A consists of 1 title page and 16 ?ches. This
`source code is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
`owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction of the
`patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark
`Ot?ce patent ?les or records. but otherwise reserves all
`copyright rights whatsoever.
`
`10
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to a sequential computer
`network shutdown system and process therefor and. in
`particular. to a collection of software programs operating on
`a computer network and providing a user con?gurable, rule
`based sequencing of the shutdown of individual devices in
`the computer network.
`2. Description of Related Art and Other Considerations
`When shutting down a computer network, it is important
`that no portion or segment of the network be in a condition
`of instability at the time of shutdown, so as not to destroy or
`corrupt or otherwise deleteriously alfect any data in the
`network, wherever it may be located. This requirement
`exists for all computer networks, whether a local area
`network (LAN). a wide area network (WAN), a network
`encompassing an entire organization (enterprise). or a col
`lection of networks (internet).
`Regardless of its type, a conventional computer network
`includes two or more computers connected to a common
`data transmission line. As an option, network communica
`tion devices can be used as part of the common data
`transmission line.
`Of the several problems that may arise when the network
`or any portion or part of it is shut down, that is, when the
`whole system or a subset of the system is to cease operation,
`the following situation is considered by many practitioners
`to be the most common. At the point of shutdown, data often
`is in transmission from one part of the network to another
`and. if care is not taken, the data may be lost or corrupted or
`be placed in an unpredictable form. For example, a database
`server may be transmitting portions of the data to a computer
`at a work station in response to a request at that work station,
`or that database server may be a work station of a tile server
`and. on its part, be a server to other work stations. In this
`scenario, the database server requests the ?le server to obtain
`data from the storage device. The data is then transmitted to
`the database server for processing and subsequent transmis
`sion to the work station. The work station processes the
`received data. and the processed data is then returned to the
`database server for storage. The database server will then
`process the data and transmit it to the storage device by
`means of the ?le server. If shutdown occurs at any point
`prior to completion of this cycle, the data is often deleteri
`ously a?ected and may no longer be in usable condition or,
`at least, usable with any degree of con?dence.
`Accordingly, upon shutdown and to avoid such deleteri‘
`ous changes in updating data or in transmission of data to or
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`SS
`
`65
`
`2
`from any computer in the network. speci?c operations must
`occur in the following sequence. First. all work stations must
`be shut down. Second. the database server. prior to its
`shutdown. must complete that portion of the update to
`transmit the updated data to the ?le server. Third, the ?le
`server must store the data; only then can it be shut down. If
`these operations are followed in sequence. when the network
`is later powered up, all data will then be found to have
`remained in a predictable manner and can be used with
`con?dence. Without such a sequential shutdown sequence,
`predictability cannot be assured, and no known system for
`sequential network shutdown has been devised until con
`ception of the present invention.
`
`SUI/[MARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention successfully addresses and over
`comes this and other related problems by providing a user
`con?gurable. rule based sequencing of the shutdown of
`individual devices or the entire computer network. This
`sequencing is forwarded to a collection of software pro
`grammed microprocessors operating on the network.
`To enable use of the present invention, every required
`device of the system is provided with shutdown software, as
`de?ned by the present invention. and a conventional UPS.
`The term “
`” is an acronym which is variously used in
`the trade to mean uninterruptable power supply, uninterrupt
`able power system, uninterrupted power supply, and unin
`terrupted power system. Because of this varied use in
`terminology. this power supply or system will be referred to
`hereinafter simply by its “UPS" acronym A user interface
`program is used by a system administrator according to the
`principles of the present invention to con?gure the operation
`of the shutdown software.
`More speci?cally. in the preferred embodiment of the
`present invention, its network system includes. at a
`minimum. a ?le server coupled to a storage device contain
`ing a database, a database server. and at least one database
`work station. such as used for accounting purposes. Shut
`down software and a UPS are coupled or otherwise associ
`ated with each of the ?le server. the database server. the
`work station and, when used, the network communication
`device.
`The user interface program establishes the con?guration
`process. The shutdown software establishes the shutdown
`process. The con?guratioir process is installed to con?gure
`the system and to establish rules or a system administrator’s
`plan. The software validates the rules for error and
`inconsistencies, such as may have been made by the admin
`istrator. If there are any errors and inconsistencies. the
`system administrator is so advised and con'ections are
`recommended. If there are no errors or inconsistencies. the
`user interface program or software is permitted to commu
`nicate the system administrator’s plan to all shutdown
`software running on the individual devices. The shutdown
`process follows the rules in the con?guration process.
`More speci?cally, when the user interface program is run,
`several tasks are performed.
`First, the system is con?gured (a) to specify the order of
`shutdown and (b) the timing that shutdown is to take effect.
`As a shutdown plan, the system administrator devises this
`plan as con?guration software for any reason of shutdown,
`e.g., in the event of a power failure or a manual shutdown
`or a schedule of times when the system is to be turned oif,
`such as during a weekend. The con?guration is rule based,
`that is. it is implemented to set up rules, depending upon the
`shutdown situation envisioned. These rules are designed to
`
`ServiceNow, Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`006
`
`

`

`3
`afford the system administrator the ?exibility to set up his or
`her own rules but. on the other hand, the software is
`su?iciently intelligent to alert the system administrator if the
`proposed rules or con?guration will not become, or create a
`problem in itself.
`Second, a manual shutdown is set up and used on an ad
`hoc basis should the system administrator wish to bring the
`system down. This operation follows the rules established by
`the con?guration. When the manual shutdown occurs, the
`following options are made available: (a) the system is shut
`down inde?nitely until manually rebooted, that is, physi
`cally turned off and then turned on; (b) the system is shut
`down for a speci?ed period of time after which it is powered
`up; and (c) the system is rebooted. In any of these situations,
`a UPS must be attached to each device in order that the
`shutdown instructions be properly performed.
`Several advantages are derived from this arrangement. A
`sequential order of shutdown is established. Predictability in
`shutdown is assured. Deleterious changes in updating the
`database or in transmission of data to or from the work
`station are avoided during shutdown. whether through
`power failure or manual shutdown or timed schedules when
`the system is to be turned o?’.
`Other aims and advantages. as well as a more complete
`understanding of the present invention. will appear from the
`following explanation of an exemplary embodiment and the
`accompanying drawings thereof.
`
`20
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is diagrammatic view of the preferred embodiment
`of the present invention comprising a computer network of
`any size. whether LAN. WAN, enterprise or internet;
`FIG. 2 is a procedure outlining a con?guration process;
`and
`FIG. 3 is a procedure outlining a shutdown process.
`
`35
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`As shown in FIG. 1. the preferred embodiment of the
`present invention comprises a computer network or system
`10 which is con?gured as any of a local area network (LAN),
`a wider area network (WAN), a network encompassing an
`entire organization (enterprise), or a collection of networks
`(internet).
`System 10 preferably includes a ?le server 12 to which a
`storage device 14 containing a database is coupled. File
`server 12 is coupled by an interconnecting link 16 of
`electromagnetic energy to other parts or portions of system
`10. Link 16 may be a group of communication types, such
`as hardwired. radio and satellite. Such other parts or portions
`include a database server 18. a work station 29 of database
`server 18. and another computer network 22 which, in turn,
`may include its own work stations 24, 26 and 34 and/or
`servers. Optionally. if desired, a network communication
`device 28 is coupled as an interconnection link 16.
`Each of ?le server 12, database server 18, work stations
`20. 24 and 26. and network communication device 28 have
`their own, shutdown software 30 and UPS 32. As previously
`stated. the term “UPS" is an acronym for uninterruptable
`power supply, uninterruptable power system, an uninter
`rupted power supply, and uninterrupted power system. Each
`UPS 32 has its own self-supporting power supply, such as a
`battery or generator, and is a product of conventional for
`mulation and construction, as are system 10, ?le sa'ver 12,
`database 14. interconnecting device 16, database server 18,
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`5,717,934
`
`10
`
`15
`
`4
`work stations 20, 24 and 26, and network communication
`device 28. Existing communications are used, regardless of
`the type of computer network set up. e.g., by IEEE Standard
`802.3.
`A system administrator computer 34 is coupled to net
`work 22, although the coupling may be anywhere in system
`10, such as to interconnection 16. The system administrator
`at his computer 34 uses a user interface program 36 to de?ne
`a shutdown con?guration, as will be more fully explained
`hereinafter with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3. The con?guration
`permits shutdown which can be e?‘ected manually or by a
`power failure or according to a timed schedule.
`As illustrated in FIG. 2, the con?guration process is
`established by use of the user interface software program.
`This program will vary, depending upon the particular type
`of network with which it will be employed and, therefore. is
`tailored by the programmer, using conventional program
`ming methods, to the particular network. Thus, there will be
`as many dilferent interface programs as there are types of
`networks.
`The con?guration process is created in a series of steps.
`as follows. As shown in the step displayed in enclosure 38,
`the user interface software builds or compiles a list of
`computers on the network that are running the shutdown
`software depicted in FIG. 3. Speci?cally, the user interface
`software examines the network and creates an inventory of
`its components, in particular, its computers.
`Then. as disclosed in step 40. the user interface software
`identi?es any detectable interdependencies between the
`computers, such as a communications device, e.g., network
`communications device 28 shown in FIG. 1 to provide a link
`between a work station and its server.
`As disclosed in step 42. the user interface software
`displays the devices and interdependencies to the system
`administrator and provides a medium by which the system
`administrator can interface with the user interface software
`to add to or detract from the interdependencies by identify
`ing these computers that are or are not dependent upon each
`other.
`The user interface software, as denoted by step 44, then
`calculates a recommended shutdown schedule for each
`computer or device to be shut down, as based upon the
`interdependencies and available run times afforded by the
`several power storage capabilities of each UPS coupled to
`the device to be shut down.
`This information is then fed through a connection 46 to a
`step, as denoted by enclosure 48, by which the user interface
`software presents the recommended schedule to the system
`administrator and provides a medium for the system admin
`istrator to modify the schedule, should such modi?cation be
`judged to be necessary.
`The user interface software, as shown in decision enclo
`sure 50, then checks the schedule for errors and inconsis
`tencies in the system. whether modi?ed or not by the system
`administrator. An example of an inconsistency would be the
`shutdown of a server prior to the shutdown of its work
`stations. An example of an error would be the shutdown
`during a power failure having a longer duration than the UPS
`is capable of supporting. If any errors and inconsistencies
`exist, the user interface software recommends changes to
`correct this error/inconsistency problem, as stated in step 52,
`and these changes are fed back to the systems administrator
`through connector 46 to step 48 for appropriate corrections
`to be made.
`When no or any further errors or inconsistencies are
`detected, the system administrator’s plan is communicated.
`
`ServiceNow, Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`007
`
`

`

`5,717,934
`
`10
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`5
`as illustrated in step 54 and by using existing network
`communications methods, to the shutdown software 30
`running on each computer in system 10. ‘This then completes
`the con?guration process, as indicated by enclosure 56.
`Prior to the time that the system is or needs to be shut
`down, shutdown software 30 for each computer is con?g
`ln'ed with the process generally shown in FIG. 3. Speci?city
`in the process is dependent, for example, upon the type of
`shutdown involved and the type of computer involved, e.g.,
`work station or server.
`Shutdown commences, as denoted by enclosure 58 by
`such events or circumstances as by manual activation, by a
`power failure or by a schedule. The particular event is
`perceived by the shutdown software which is generally
`indicated by bracket 60, in particular, that part of the
`software, as indicated by decision 62, by which the type of
`shutdown is evaluated.
`Based upon the evaluation, for example, if shutdown has
`occurred manually, by a power failure or by scheduling. a
`shutdown timer is loaded with a shutdown delay correspond
`ing to the type of shutdown evaluated. as denoted by one of
`steps 64a, 64b and 640. Thereafter, as shown in steps 66a,
`66b and 660, UPS 32 of the computer, whether server. work
`station, system administrator or other, is programmed with
`the restart time from the rules or system administrator’s plan
`established in the con?guration step.
`The instructions from the appropriate programming are
`then fed to a common point or connector, as denoted by
`connector 68.
`Expiration of the shutdown timer is detected as indicated
`by decision enclosure 70. If the time has not expired, the
`sequence is recycled to connector 68 until the time has
`expired.
`When the shutdown timing has expired. all running pro
`grams on the computer are terminated. as shown by step 72.
`Thereafter, as denoted by step 74, all open ?les in this
`computer are closed, and all ?le systems thereon are
`unmounted. Finally, the operating system is halted and that
`computer’s UPS is turned off, as shown by step 76, leading
`to completion of the shutdown procedure for that computer,
`as denoted by enclosure 78.
`Therefore, when shutdown of the network actually occurs,
`each computer has its software programmed instructions
`already in place in a running computer. If shutdown is
`manual, the user interface software sends messages through
`the network to the shutdown software in the respective
`component computers. If shutdown is a power failure, the
`UPS of the sevu'al computers detects this event to com
`mence each computer’s shutdown. If shutdown is scheduled,
`the shutdown software itself determines that the time has
`come to begin shutdown. Thus. regardless of the particular
`cause of shutdown, each computer continues to run from its
`own power supply in its UPS for the time set by the
`instructions preprogrammed in its own software 30, and
`shuts down at the conclusion of the set time period.
`Accordingly, for example, a computer at a work station is
`timed to continue to run and then shut down prior to the
`shutdown of a server. Because all computers are so shut
`down in the preprogrammed sequence, when the network is
`later powered up, all data will then be found to have
`remained in a predictable manner and can be used with
`con?dence.
`Although the invention has been described with respect to
`a particular embodiment thereof, it should be realized that
`various changes and modi?cations may be made therein
`without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
`
`6
`APPENDIX A
`Appendix Ain Micro?che form consisting of 1 title page and
`16 ?ches containing the images of the source code.
`This source code is subject to copyright protection. The
`copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduc
`tion of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and
`Trademark O?ice patent ?les or records, but otherwise
`reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
`What is claimed is:
`1. An automated sequential shutdown system method for
`a computer network including at least one computer at a
`work station having an uninterruptable power supply (UPS)
`and a power storage capability therefor and at least one
`server computer having a UPS and a powm' storage capa
`bility therefor connected to a common data transmission
`line. for establishing a con?guration using user interface
`software, comprising the steps of using the user interface
`software for:
`compiling a list of the computers on the network that are
`running shutdown software to create an inventory of
`the network components;
`identifying any detectable interdependencies between the
`computers;
`displaying the computers and interdependencies to a
`system administrator to provide a medium in accor
`dance with a plan by which the system administrator
`can interface with the user interface software to add to
`or detract ?'om the interdependencies by identifying
`those computers that are or are not dependent upon
`each other;
`calculating a recommended shutdown schedule for each
`computer or device to be shut down. as based upon the
`interdependencies and available run times afforded by
`the several power storage capabilities of each UPS
`coupled to the device to be shut down;
`feeding the schedule through a connection for presenting
`the recommended schedule to the system administrator
`and for providing a medium for the system adminis
`trator to effect any desired modi?cation of the schedule;
`checking the schedule for errors and inconsistencies in the
`system;
`if any errors and inconsistencies exist. recommending
`changes to correct any such arm and inconsistency
`problem. and feeding these changes back to the system
`administrator through the connection for appropriate
`con'ections to be made;
`when no or any further errors or inconsistencies are
`detected, communicating the system administrator’s
`plan by use of existing network communications meth
`ods to the shutdown software running on each com
`puter in the network.
`2. An automated sequential shutdown system method
`according to claim 1 in which the computer network has at
`least two computers and uninterruptable power supplies
`(UPS’s) respectively associated therewith, further compris
`ing the steps of:
`establishing rules in the computers according to the
`system administrator's plan by which system shutdown
`is sequentially con?gured for each computer and its
`interrelationship among the other computers; and
`following the rules when shutdown occurs.
`3. An automated sequential shutdown system method
`according to claim 1, for use in a computer network includ
`ing at least one computer at a work station and at least one
`server computer connected to a common data transmission
`line, and a UPS with a self-contained power supply coupled
`to each of the computers, furthm' comprising the steps of
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`ServiceNow, Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
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`7
`supplying shutdown software for each of the computers and
`providing each of the shutdown software with respective
`ones of the shutdown rules corresponding to types of shut
`down envisioned and times for shutting down each of the
`computers.
`4. An automated sequential shutdown system method
`according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
`establishing rules in the computers according to the
`system administrator’s plan by which system shutdown
`is sequentially con?gured for the computers, in which
`said rules establishing step comprises the step of cal
`culating a schedule of times for shutting down the
`computers in a timed sequence to maintain all data
`therein in a predictable manner for later use with
`con?dence;
`supplying shutdown software for each of the computers;
`providing each of the shutdown software with respective
`ones of the shutdown rules corresponding to types of
`shutdown envisioned and times for shutting down each
`of the computers; and
`following the rules when shutdown occurs.
`5. An automated sequential shutdown system method
`according to claim 4 in which said calculating step com
`prises the steps of:
`permitting modi?cation of the schedule by a system
`administrator;
`checking the schedule for errors and inconsistencies; and
`correcting the schedule if any errors orinconsistencies are
`found.
`6. An automated sequential shutdown system method
`according to claim 5 in which said rules following step
`comprises. for each computer and its associated UPS, the
`steps of:
`detecting a shutdown;
`evaluating the type of shutdown;
`loading a shutdown timer with a shutdown delay corre
`sponding to the type of shutdown evaluated;
`programming the UPS with a restart time from the shut
`down rules;
`detecting if expiration of the shutdown timer has
`occurred;
`if the shutdown timer has expired. terminating all running
`programs on the computer in which a program is
`running;
`closing all ?les and unmounting all ?le systems on the
`computer; and
`halting the system and turning off the UPS.
`7. An automated sequential shutdown system method
`according to claim 1, for use in a computer network having
`(1) parts connected to a common data transmission line
`including (a) a ?le server coupled to a storage device
`containing a database, (b) a database server, and (c) at least
`one database work station, (2) an optional network commu
`nication device in the common data transmission line, and
`(3) UPS and shutdown software associated with the ?le
`server, the database server, the work station and the network
`communication device, in which said step for following the
`rules when shutdown occurs comprises the step of executing
`the rules at the time of shutdown to each one of the ?le
`server, database server, work station and optional network
`communication device in sequential shutdown order as
`established by said rules establishing step.
`8. An automated sequential shutdown system method
`according to claim 1 in which said rules establishing step
`includes the steps of validating the rules for any error and
`inconsistency therein, correcting the rules should any such
`error and inconsistency exist, and thereafter permitting com
`munication of the rules to shutdown software coupled to
`individual devices in the network.
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`8
`9. An automated sequential shutdown system method
`according to claim 8, for use in a computer network having
`(1) parts connected to a common data transmission line
`including (a) a ?le server coupled to a storage device
`containing a database, (b) a database server. and (c) at least
`one database work station, (2) an optional network commu
`nication device in the common data transmission line, and
`(3) UPS and shutdown software associated with the ?le
`server, the database server, the work station and the network
`communication device, in which said step for following the
`rules when shutdown occurs comprises the step of executing
`the rules at the time of shutdown to each of the ?le server.
`database server, work station and optional network commu
`nication device in sequential shutdown order as established
`by said rules establishing step.
`10. An automated sequential shutdown system method
`according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of:
`detecting a shutdown;
`evaluating the type of shutdown;
`loading a shutdown timer with a shutdown delay corre
`sponding to the type of shutdown evaluated;
`programming the UPS with a restart time from the shut
`down plan;
`detecting if expiration of the shutdown timer has
`occurred;
`if the shutdown timer has expired. terminating all running
`programs on the comp