GB2230362A

GB2230362A - Identifying processors

Info

Publication number: GB2230362A
Application number: GB9007102A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Charles Rawlings
Original assignee: Smiths Group PLC
Current assignee: Smiths Group PLC
Priority date: 1989-04-14
Filing date: 1990-03-29
Publication date: 1990-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 2010-03-29
Also published as: GB8908470D0; GB9007102D0; GB2230362B

Abstract

Each processor 2, 2' in equipment 1 has a PROM or similar store 3, 3' which is programmed with data, e.g. the serial number of the processor, which distinguishes it from other processors of the same type. The PROM may also contain information about the construction of the processor or the software that is compatible with the processor. During manufacture of the equipment, the stores are programmed with the information which can be read out subsequently such as on testing. A record of the serial number is retained in the test equipment. <IMAGE>

Description

PROCESSORS This invention relates to processors and to methods of identifying processors.

A computer may include many different microprocessors formed by one or more integrated circuits.

These may be interconnected by discrete wiring or by multiplexing techniques using a common data bus or by combinations of these. In some applications, the computer has built-in redundancy so that if one of the microprocessors is found to be operating incorrectly it can be effectively disconnected and replaced by an equivalent microprocessor. Such computers require some means for identifying the microprocessor; this is generally achieved by hard-wiring them to different inputs of a monitoring device. This, however, increases the complexity of wiring of the computer.

There are also other applications where it is desirable to identify different processors such as during manufacture and testing.

It is an object of the present invention to enable different processors to be identified.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a processor having a store associated therewith, the store containing a code identifying a unique characteristic of the processor such that by interrogating the store, the characteristic of the processor can be distinguished from other processors of the same type.

The unique characteristic preferably includes a serial number of the processor and may contain information about the construction of the processor and information identifying software compatible with the processor. The store may be a programmable read only memory.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided equipment including at least one processor according to the above one aspect of the present invention.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacture of electrical equipment of the kind including at least one processor having a store associated therewith including the steps of writing into the or each store a code identifying a unique characteristic of the or each processor which distinguishes the processor from other processors of the same type.

The method may include the step of reading out the code from the or each store to a further store.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of testing electrical equipment of the kind including at least one processor having a store associated therewith that contains a code identifying a unique characteristic of the or each processor which distinguishes the processor from other processors of the same type, the method including the step of reading out the code from the or each processor and retaining a record of the code.

Equipment including processors and its method of manufacture and testing, in accordance with the present invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows the equipment schematically.

With reference to Figure 1, the equipment 1 includes two processors 2 and 2' on electronic cards.

Each processor 2 and 2' includes a programmable read only memory (PROM) or similar store 3 and 3' in which machine-readable information can be stored. In one of the processors 2, the store 3 is connected directly to a connector 4, whereas in the other processor 2', the store 3' is connected to a connector 4' via a computing stage 5' of the processor. Both connectors 4 and 4' are connected to a connector 7 on the housing 8 of the equipment 1.

Also connected to the connector 7 is a further PROM 9 within the equipment.

The PROMs 3 and 3' are programmed with serial numbers (which could include letters) which identify the respective processor cards 2 and 2' uniquely. That is, even where the processors are of an identical type they have different serial numbers, so that, by interrogating one processor it can be distinguished from other processors of the same type. The programming of the PROMs 3 and 3' is preferably done during the first test of the equipment but may be done at any other stage of manufacture, such as, before installation in the equipment. Similarly, the PROM 9 is programmed with the serial number of the equipment 1 which enables the equipment to be distinguished from either identical equipment of the same type.

The programming of the serial numbers can be achieved by means of automatic test equipment (ATE) 10 connected to the connector 7. Alternatively, a small personal computer 13 or similar equipment could be used for programming or reading the contents of the PROMs 3, 3' and 9. The serial numbers recorded in the PROM's 3, 3' and 9 can subsequently be read by the ATE 10 into a permanant store 11 within the ATE. This information can be made available to other equipment via a network 12 or other means.The PROM's 3, 3' and 9 may also contain additional information such as: the drawing standard of build, that is the drawing numbers, issues and variants; the configuration of the processor and equipment, that is, a list of components used within the processor or equipment; the date of manufacture, that is, the date of the first test; and information about the software that is compatible with the processor or equipment.

On each occasion that the stores 3, 3' and 9 are accessed, the information stored in them can be recorded to provide a history of the processors 2 and 2' and the equipment 1. When the equipment is repaired by replacing any of the processors 2 or 2', the serial numbers and other information in the stores of the replacement processors is automatically recorded when the equipment is tested.

Information stored in the PROM's relating to the software that is compatible with the processor or equipment could be used to prevent unauthorised access to the processor.

The store associated with the processor need not neccessarily be located within the same integrated circuit as the processor or on the same card. The store could be on a separate integrated circuit installed at the manufacturing or test stage, such as in a plug-in device.

The invention facilitates the automatic assembly and testing of equipment and enables computer records to be kept replacing existing paper based records.

Claims

1. A processor having a store associated therewith, wherein said store contains a code identifying a unique characteristic of the processor such that by interrogating the store the characteristic of the processor can be distinguished from other processors of the same type.

2. A processor according to Claim 1, wherein the said unique characteristic includes a serial number of the processor.

3. A processor according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the store contains information about the construction of the processor.

4. A processor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the store contains information identifying software compatible with the processor.

5. A processor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the store is a programmable read only memory.

6. A processor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

7. Equipment including at least one processor according to any one of the preceding claims.

8. Equipment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

9. A method of manufacture of electrical equipment of the kind including at least one processor having a store associated therewith including the step of writing into the or each store a code identifying a unique characteristic of the or each processor which distinguishes the processor from other processors of the same type.

10. A method according to Claim 9, including the step of reading out the code from the or each store to a further store.

11. A method of manufacture of electrical equipment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

12. A method of testing electrical equipment of the kind including at least one processor having a store associated therewith that contains a code identifying a unique characteristic of the or each processor which distinguishes the processor from other processors of the same type, wherein the method includes the step of reading out the code from the or each processor and retaining a record of the code.

13. A method of testing electrical equipment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

14. Any novel feature or combination of features as hereinbefore described.