Patent ID: 7496701

Claim:
A support system management device, comprising: a support system including a master lock register adapted to hold an identification (“ID”); and a plurality of virtual servers, each having an ID corresponding to each of said plurality of virtual servers, including a first image that is adapted to write a first ID corresponding to the first image to the master lock register, and to become a master image, wherein the master image transmits a periodic heartbeat message to the support system to indicate that the master image is viable and in control of the support system; and wherein the support system further includes a heartbeat timer and a processor wherein, if the heartbeat timer expires before the support system receives the periodic heartbeat message, the processor clears the master lock register and transmits a broadcast message to the plurality of virtual servers; wherein, when said plurality of virtual servers receive said broadcast message, in response to receiving said broadcast message, each of said plurality of virtual servers capable of controlling the support system transmits an ID corresponding to each of said plurality of virtual servers to said support system, and wherein a first received ID by the support system from one of said plurality of virtual servers is written into said master lock register, and the control of said support system is written into said master lock register, and the control of said support system is passed to the virtual server corresponding to the first received ID written into said master lock register.