Systems and Methods of Providing Redundant Communication to an Electronic Device

Abstract

In at least some embodiments a system may comprise a first master device, a second master device, a redundancy manager coupled to the first and second master devices, and a slave device coupled to the redundancy manager. The redundancy manager is operable to receive a first data stream from the first master device and a second data stream from the second master device. The redundancy manager is further operable to selectively forward one of the first and second data streams to the slave device according to a prioritization of factors calculated to optimize an amount of valid communication to the slave device.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A system, comprising:
 a modem; and   a data redundancy manager coupled to the modem;   wherein the data redundancy manager is configured to receive a plurality of data streams and to select only one of said data streams to forward to the modem based on a validity status for each data stream,   wherein the data redundancy manager is configured to analyze each data stream to determine its validity status.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the data redundancy manager is configured to detect a request embedded in a first data stream being forwarded to switch to a second data stream. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the data redundancy manager is configured to check the validity status of the second data stream before completing said request. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30  wherein, if the validity status of the second data stream is positive, the data redundancy manager begins forwarding the second data stream. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30  wherein, if the validity status of the second data stream is negative, the data redundancy manager continues to forward the first data stream. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the data redundancy manager is configured to detect a request embedded in a non-forwarded data stream to begin forwarding the non-forwarded data stream and wherein the data redundancy manager selectively complies with the request based on the determined validity status for the non-forwarded data stream. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the data redundancy manager is configured to limit switching between said data streams to less than a predetermined switch rate even if requests to switch data streams are received at a rate greater than the predetermined switch rate. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 28  wherein, if the determined validity status of all data streams is negative, the data redundancy manager is configured is configured to switch between forwarding different data streams at a predetermined switch rate. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the data redundancy manager is configured to analyze said data streams to determine each validity status and to detect any switch requests embedded in said data streams without altering the data streams. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the data redundancy manager is configured to analyze said data streams to determine each validity status and to detect any switch requests embedded in said data streams without buffering the data streams. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 28  further comprising a remote tool coupled to the modem, wherein each data stream selectively comprises commands to the remote tool and switch commands that are recognized by the data redundancy manager, but not the remote tool. 
     
     
         39 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a data redundancy manager, a plurality of data streams;   analyzing, by the data redundancy manager, each data stream to detect its validity status;   forwarding, by the data redundancy manager, one of said data stream based on the validity status for each data stream.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising detecting a request embedded in a first data stream being forwarded to switch to a second data stream. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  further comprising checking the validity status of the second data stream before completing said request. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein, if the validity status of the second data stream is positive, forwarding the second data stream in response to the request. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41  wherein, if the validity status of the second data stream is negative, ignoring the request and continue forwarding the first data stream. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising detecting a request embedded in a non-forwarded data stream to begin forwarding the non-forwarded data stream and complying with the request based on the detected validity status for the non-forwarded data stream. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising limiting switching between said data streams to less than a predetermined switch rate even if requests to switch data streams are received at a rate greater than the predetermined switch rate. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 39  wherein, if the detected validity status of all data streams is negative, switching back and forth between forwarding two different data streams at a predetermined switch rate until one of the two data streams is detected to have a positive validity status. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 39  wherein analyzing said data streams to determine each validity status and to detect any switch requests embedded in said data streams is performed with out altering and without buffering the data streams.