Patent ID: 7596642
Filing Date: 2009-09-29
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer system for selecting one of multiple proposed paths to a device, the computer system comprising: a processor; means, including the processor, for determining for each proposed path, a number of components the proposed path shares with existing paths to the device, wherein the components comprise points of failure such that if one component fails then the paths including the component fails; and means, including the processor, for using the determined number of shared components for each proposed path to select one proposed path, wherein at least some of the components are included in other components that also comprise points of failure, wherein the components are lower level components, wherein the other components are higher level components, wherein a first higher level component includes a first plurality of lower level components, wherein a second higher level component includes a second plurality of lower level components, wherein both the first higher level component and the second higher level component can be used to connect to the device, and wherein the computer system further comprises: (i) means, including the processor, for determining that an existing path to the device passes through one of the first plurality of lower level components; and (ii) means, including the processor, for selecting, based on an indication provided by an availability index, a proposed path that passes through one of the second plurality of lower level components, in response to determining that the existing path to the device passes through one of the first plurality of lower level components.