GB2362233A - System and method for testing computer components by co-operation of two computer hosts - Google Patents

System and method for testing computer components by co-operation of two computer hosts Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2362233A
GB2362233A GB0011107A GB0011107A GB2362233A GB 2362233 A GB2362233 A GB 2362233A GB 0011107 A GB0011107 A GB 0011107A GB 0011107 A GB0011107 A GB 0011107A GB 2362233 A GB2362233 A GB 2362233A
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Prior art keywords
test
computer
master
transferring
slave
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Granted
Application number
GB0011107A
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GB0011107D0 (en
GB2362233B (en
Inventor
Tong-Rui Zhang
Teng S Chen
Kuang-Shin Lin
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Inventec Corp
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Inventec Corp
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Publication of GB2362233A publication Critical patent/GB2362233A/en
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Publication of GB2362233B publication Critical patent/GB2362233B/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F11/00—Error detection; Error correction; Monitoring
    • G06F11/22—Detection or location of defective computer hardware by testing during standby operation or during idle time, e.g. start-up testing
    • G06F11/2289—Detection or location of defective computer hardware by testing during standby operation or during idle time, e.g. start-up testing by configuration test

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Quality & Reliability (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Debugging And Monitoring (AREA)

Abstract

A system and method for testing computer components by using two computer hosts 302, 304 is disclosed. A test command transferring module 314 transmits a test command 330 from a slave computer 302, a master computer 304 accepts the test command via a test command receiving module 322 and preferably sets itself to go into a testing mode. An acknowledgement message transferring module 324 of the master computer generates an acknowledgement message 332 and transfers it to the slave computer for being accepted by an acknowledgement message receiving module 316. A test pattern transferring module 318 transmits a test pattern 334 from the slave computer and it is accepted by a test pattern receiving module 326 of the master computer. The computing module generates a test result by using the test pattern. The test result is then transferred from a test result transferring module to the slave computer and it is accepted by a test result receiving module 320. Finally, the slave computer compares the test result and test pattern to check whether the detected component works normally or not.

Description

2362233 SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING COMPUTER COMPONENTS BY COOPERTION
OF TWO COMPUTER HOSTS The present invention relates to a method and system for testing devices, and more particularly, to a method and system for automatically testing computer components by cooperation of two computer hosts.
The advent of electrical engineering brings kinds of information into human's life through electrical devices, for example, modems and browsers respectively become essentially peripheral devices and software when people download information from Internet. On the other hand, printing jobs are done via parallel ports (LPT ports), infrared red device, or network conventionally, kinds of devices are thus developed to achieve the aforementioned requirement.
As technology pushes forward, the electrical devices are mass-produced for the purpose of decreasing their manufacturing costs. It is an important issue that strictly controls the yield rate and quality of the mass-production devices before sold out. For a computer host, some devices such as hard drives, CPUs, keyboards and mouses can be detected directly without any aid 1 of another computer host. However, for some computer components, for example, parallel ports (LPT ports), modems, infrared red devices, can not be tested under a single computer host. An additional computer host is thus employed to cooperatively complete the testing procedure. These two computer hosts are respectively treated as a master computer (being detected) and a slave computer (performing testing procedure) and then the operator starts the testing procedure after selecting test items.
Please refer to FIGURE 1, operating processes illustrative of the conventionally testing procedure is shown therein. The operator firstly selects a component of the master computer for testing in block 102, of course the same test item are selected in both the master and slave computers. A test pattern is then transferred from the slave computer to the master one in block 104. The master computer manipulates the test pattern by using the detected component and then generates a test result in block 106. The test result is then transferred to the slave computer in block 108. Next, the slave computer compares the relation between the test pattern and test result to ensure whether the detected component is normal or not in block 110. As noted, when the aforementioned test flow is employed for detecting the infrared red device, transmission frequencies with different baud rates can be used for testing. Furthermore, the test result in block 106 can be generated by using a specific algorithm, for example, the slave computer can employ a cyclic redundant check at the test pattern. The master computer also employs the same approach to manipulate the test pattern togenerate the test result in the detected component. Consequently, the slave computer compares the check result of itself and the test result from the master computer to ensure whether the infrared red device is normal. Of course, the infrared red device works normally when the above two results are the same.
Conventional approach must manually control the testing operations so as to select a specific component for test. It becomes an annoying job for the operator to repeatedly perform the same test procedure. For example, the operator has to repeatedly select transmission frequencies having different baud rates (about 10 different baud rates) when detecting an infrared red device. The manual operations may sometimes cause errors or faults when repeatedly selecting the test item or performing the test procedure.
Additionally, because the slave computer does not know the current status of the master computer in the above-mentioned test procedure, therefore the master must start the test procedure before the slave computer. Otherwise, when the master computer is not in the testing status, the test procedure will be halted because the slave computer still waits for response from the master computer after transferring the test pattern. A need has arisen to disclose a system and method, in which the computer components can be detected when two computer hosts are required so as to eliminate the disadvantages of the conventional approach.
The principal object of the invention is the provision of a system and method for detecting computer components by cooperation of two computer hosts.
According to the above object, the disclosed system and method establishes communication and testing modules in both the master and slave 3 computers. The communication module of the slave computer further encompasses a test command transferring module and an acknowledgement message receiving module. The communication moduleof the master computer includes a test command receiving module and an acknowledgement message transferring module. Additionally, the testing module of the slave computer includes a test pattern transferring module, a test result receiving module, and a comparison module. The testing module of the master computer encompasses a test pattern receiving module, a test result transferring module, and a computing module. When the testing procedure starts, the test command transferring module transmits a test command from the slave computer, the master computer accepts the test command via test command receiving module and then set itself to go into the testing status. Next, the acknowledgement message transferring module generates an acknowledgement message and transfers it to the slave computer for being accepted by the acknowledgement message receiving module. After the test pattern transferring module transmits a test pattern from the slave computer and accepted by the test pattern receiving module of the master computer, the computing module generates a test result by using the test pattern. The test result is then transferred from the test result transferring module to the slave computer and accepted by the test result receiving module. Finally, the slave computer compares the test result and test pattern to ensure whether the tested computer component works normally or not.
4 In the drawings:
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIGURE. 1 shows a flow diagram illustrative of the operating processes for detecting computer components conventionally, FIGURE. 2 shows a flow diagram illustrative of the operating processes for detecting computer components according to the present invention; FIGURE 3 shows a schematic diagram illustrative of the connection structure between the master and slave computers according to the present invention; FIGURE 4 shows a flow diagram illustrative of the operating processes of the master computer; and FIGURE 5 shows.a flow diagram illustrative of the operating processes of the slave computer.
Please refer to FIGURE 3, a connection structure of the preferred embodiment between the master and slave computers is shown therein. A slave computer 302 and a master computer 304 respectively encompass communication modules 306 and 310, testing modules 308 and 312. The communication module 306 further includes a test command transferring module 314 and an acknowledgement message receiving module 316, the communication module 310 further includes a test command receiving module )s 322 and an acknowledgement message transferring module 324.
Additionally, the testing module 308 of the slave computer 302 encompasses a test pattern transferring module 318, a test result receiving modu.1e 320, and a comparison module 340. On the other hand, the testing mo dule 312 of the master computer 304 encompasses a test pattern receiving module 326, a test result transferring module 328, and a computing module 338. When the test procedure starts, the slave computer 206 generates a test command and then routes it to the master computer 304 via the data path 330 from the test command transferring module 314. The master computer 304 sets itself into a testing status and then routes an acknowledgement message from the acknowledgement message transferring module 324 via a data path 33 to the slave computer 302 after the test command receiving module 322 receives the test command. After the acknowledgement message receiving module 316 receives the acknowledgement message from the master computer 302, the slave computer 302 generates and transmits a test pattern via a data path 334 to the master computer 302 from the test pattern transferring module 318.
The computing module 338 of the master computer 302 manipulates the test pattern received by the test pattern receiving module 326 to generate a test result. The master computer 302 next transfers the test result to the slave computer 304 through the test result transferring module 328, data path 336 to the test result receiving module 320 The comparison module 340 in the slave computer 302 then compares the test pattern and test result to decide whether the detected computer component of the master computer 304 works normally or not.
As noted, physical structures of the aforementioned data path 330, 332, 334, and 336 may vary as the detected component. For example, when the 6 detected component is a parallel or serial port, a cable is employed to connect the master and slave computers; however, none of connection cable is required when an infrared red device is detected, of course the two computers should not be too far away from each other. Additionally, the comparison module 340 can employ the algorithm such as CRC or the like. Actually, any algorithm, which can be applied in both the master and slave computers for detecting the computer components, can be employed in the present invention.
Please refer to FIGURE 2, a flow diagram illustrative of the processes of testing the computer component is shown therein. The slave computer 302 firstly starts the test procedure in block 202, and then an operator selects a test item in the slave computer 302 such as selecting a transmission frequency having a specific baud rate for detecting an infrared red device in block 204. Next, the slave computer 302 transfers a test command to the master computer 304 in block 206, and then the master computer 304 transfers an acknowledgement message back to the slave computer 302 in block 208 after receiving the test command. The master computer 304 also sets itself into the test status according to the test command. The slave computer 302 transfers a test pattern to the master computer in block 210, and then the master computer 304 generates a test result when the selected component is completely detected by using the test pattern in block 212.
After the master computer 304 directs the test result to the slave computer 302 in block 214, the slave computer 302 compares the test result with the test pattern in block 216 to obtain the current status -of the detected component.
Please note that the above test command may include the name and 7 parameters required for the detected component. For example, the name is infrared red device and the parameter is the currently used baud rate when the infrared red device is currently detected. Therefore the mbster computer 304 understands the currently detected component after receiving the test command, the manual operations of the conventional approaches are obviously unnecessary in the disclosed method. Additionally, the test command can be stored for repeatedly detecting components of a plurality of computer hosts that each one can be treated as the master computer 304 in the invention, and faults arisen by manual operations can be significantly decreased than before. Furthermore, the master computer 304 is driven into the test procedure only when the test command arrives, therefore the disadvantage that whole the test procedure halts for waiting responses from the master computer 304 caused by misunderstanding the current status of the master computer 304 can be eliminated.
Next please refer to FIGURE 4, a flow chart illustrative of the operating processes of the slave computer 302 is shown therein. At first, the slave computer 302 generates a test command according to the test item and component selected by the operator in block 402. The test command is then routed to the master computer 304 in block 404 and then the slave computer 302 waits for responses from the master computer 304 in block 406. When the master computer 304 transfers an acknowledgement massage back to the slave computer 302, the slave computer 302 transmits a test pattern to the master computer 304 and waits for further responses in block 408. When the test result is transferred back in block 410, the slave computer 302 compares the test result and test pattern in block 412. The detected component is 8 therefore judged to be normal or not in block 414. The operator can go on the consecutive test procedure such as selecting another test items and components to generate another test commands in block 418 when the detected component works normally. Otherwise, an error message will be 5 shown to the operator in block 418 when the detected component is abnormal.
Please now refer to FIGURE 5, a flow chart illustrative of the operating processes of the master computer 304 is shown. The master computer 304 firstly checks whether a test command comes from the slave computer 302 after the master computer 304 is running in block 502. When there is a test command, the master computer 304 then interprets the test command in block 504 and then sets itself into test status in block 510 when the test command is detected to be a correct command in block 506. Oppositely, the master computer 304 transfers an "out of performing the test command" as a response back to the slave computer 302 in block 508. When the master computer 304 is already set to a testing status, an acknowledgement message will be transmitted to the slave computer 302 in block 512, and then the master computer 304 waits for the test pattern from the slave computer 302 in block 514 and 516. After the test pattern has been transferred, the master computer 304 performs the predeterm ined algorithm to generate the test result at the detected component by using the test pattern in block 518. Finally, the test result is then routed to the slave computer 302 for further processing in block 520.
As noted, any computer host such as a workstation, a PC, a notebook computer, a handheld PC, or even a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant, PDA) device can employ the disclosed method and system to detect those selected 9 components of the hosts above-mentioned. Additionally, the above test commands can be stored and then performed, which becomes a part of quality control of factories so as to achieve the purpose of detecting computer components automatically.
As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated of the present invention rather than limiting of the present invention. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structure.

Claims (1)

  1. CLAIMS i'.
    1. A system for detecting components by cooperation of two domputer hosts, wherein said system comprises:
    slave communication means allocated in a slave computer for transferring a test command, and for receiving an acknowledgement message from a master computer; master communication means allocated in said master computer being responsive to said test command for setting said master computer into a test status, and for generating said acknowledgement message when said master computer being set into said test procedure; slave testing means allocated in said slave computer being responsive to said acknowledgement message for transferring a test pattern, and being responsive to a test result from said master computer for generating a comparison result, wherein said comparison result is used to decide whether a detected component works normally; and master testing means allocated in said master computer being responsive to said test pattern for generating said test result in said detected component, and for transferring said test result to said slave computer.
    2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said master testing means employs a cyclic redundant check to generate said test result.
    3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said detected component is an infrared red device, a parallel port, a serial port, or a modem.
    11 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said slave communication means comprises: test command transferring means for transferring said test command; and acknowledgement message receiving means for receiving said acknowledgement message.
    5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said master communication means comprises: test command receiving means for receiving said test command; and acknowledgement message transferring means for transferring said acknowledgement message.
    6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said slave testing means comprises a comparison means being responsive to said test pattern and said test result for generating said comparison result.
    7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said slave testing means comprises: test pattern transferring means being responsive to said acknowledgement message for transferring said test pattern, and test result receiving means for receiving said test result.
    8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said master testing means 12 comprises a computing means being responsive to said test pattern for generating said test result.
    9. A system for detecting components by cooperation of a master computer and a slave computer, wherein said system comprises: slave communication means allocated in said slave computer for transferring a test command and for receiving an acknowledgement message from a master computer, wherein said test command including a name and parameters of a detected component in said master computer; master communication means allocated in said master computer being responsive to said test command for setting said master computer into a test status, and for generating said acknowledgement message when said master computer being set into said test procedure;, slave testing means allocated in said slave computer being responsive to said acknowledgement message for transferring a test pattern, and being responsive to a test result from said master computer for generating a comparison result, wherein said comparison result is used to decide whether said detected component works normally; and master testing means allocated in said master computer. being responsive to said test pattern for. generating said test result, and for transferring said test result to said slave computer.
    10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said master testing means employs a cyclic redundant check approach to generate said test result.
    13 11. The system according to claim 9, wherein said detected component is an infrared red device, a parallel port, a serial port, or a modem.
    12. The system according to claim 9, wherein said slave communication means comprises: test command transferring means for transferring said test command; and acknowledgement message receiving means for receiving said acknowledgement message.
    13. The system according to claim 9, wherein said master communication means comprises: test command receiving means for receiving said test command, and acknowledgement message transferring means for transferring said acknowledgement message.
    14. The system according to claim 9, wherein said slave testing means comprises. comparison means being responsive to said test pattern and said test result for generating said comparison result; test pattern transferring means being responsive to said acknowledgement message for transferring said test pattern; and test result receiving means for receiving said test result.
    15. A method for detecting a component by cooperation of a master computer 14 and a slave computer, wherein said detected component is allocated in said master computer, said method comprising the steps of: generating a test command for transferring to said master computer; setting said master computer into a test status according to said test command; transferring a test pattern from said slave computer to said master computer; generating a test result by using said detected component according to said test pattern., and comparing said test pattern and said test result to decide whether said detected component works normally.
    16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said test command including a name and parameters of said detected component.
    17. The method according to claim 15, wherein said master testing means employs a cyclic redundant check approach to generate said test result.
    18. The method according to claim 15, wherein said detected component is an infrared red device, a parallel port, a serial port, or a modem.
    19. The method according to claim 15, wherein a detected item is selected before generating said test command.
    Is
GB0011107A 2000-05-08 2000-05-08 System and method for testing computer components by cooperation of two copmuter hosts Expired - Fee Related GB2362233B (en)

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GB0011107A GB2362233B (en) 2000-05-08 2000-05-08 System and method for testing computer components by cooperation of two copmuter hosts

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GB2362233A true GB2362233A (en) 2001-11-14
GB2362233B GB2362233B (en) 2002-07-03

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Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN100336026C (en) * 2003-09-03 2007-09-05 英业达股份有限公司 Integration measuring method for serial terminal and modem
WO2012168863A1 (en) * 2011-06-10 2012-12-13 International Business Machines Corporation Processing operator message commands
US8560737B2 (en) 2011-06-10 2013-10-15 International Business Machines Corporation Managing operator message buffers in a coupling facility
US8689240B2 (en) 2011-06-10 2014-04-01 International Business Machines Corporation Transmitting operator message commands to a coupling facility
US8788719B2 (en) 2011-06-10 2014-07-22 International Business Machines Corporation Executing a start operator message command
US9037907B2 (en) 2011-06-10 2015-05-19 International Business Machines Corporation Operator message commands for testing a coupling facility

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2244161A (en) * 1987-04-14 1991-11-20 Japan Electronic Control Syst Method and apparatus for inspecting microprocessor-based unit and/or component thereof
GB2259588A (en) * 1991-09-12 1993-03-17 Dowty Communications Ltd Testing data terminal equipment
US5953688A (en) * 1996-08-09 1999-09-14 Institute For Information Industry Multi-port data collection system

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2244161A (en) * 1987-04-14 1991-11-20 Japan Electronic Control Syst Method and apparatus for inspecting microprocessor-based unit and/or component thereof
GB2259588A (en) * 1991-09-12 1993-03-17 Dowty Communications Ltd Testing data terminal equipment
US5953688A (en) * 1996-08-09 1999-09-14 Institute For Information Industry Multi-port data collection system

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN100336026C (en) * 2003-09-03 2007-09-05 英业达股份有限公司 Integration measuring method for serial terminal and modem
WO2012168863A1 (en) * 2011-06-10 2012-12-13 International Business Machines Corporation Processing operator message commands
US8560737B2 (en) 2011-06-10 2013-10-15 International Business Machines Corporation Managing operator message buffers in a coupling facility
US8689240B2 (en) 2011-06-10 2014-04-01 International Business Machines Corporation Transmitting operator message commands to a coupling facility
US8752068B2 (en) 2011-06-10 2014-06-10 International Business Machines Corporation Transmitting operator message commands to a coupling facility
US8788719B2 (en) 2011-06-10 2014-07-22 International Business Machines Corporation Executing a start operator message command
US8799522B2 (en) 2011-06-10 2014-08-05 International Business Machines Corporation Executing a start operator message command
US8918797B2 (en) 2011-06-10 2014-12-23 International Business Machines Corporation Processing operator message commands
US8930963B2 (en) 2011-06-10 2015-01-06 International Business Machines Corporation Processing operator message commands
US9037907B2 (en) 2011-06-10 2015-05-19 International Business Machines Corporation Operator message commands for testing a coupling facility
US9043643B2 (en) 2011-06-10 2015-05-26 International Business Machines Corporation Operator message commands for testing a coupling facility

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Publication number Publication date
GB0011107D0 (en) 2000-06-28
GB2362233B (en) 2002-07-03

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20080508