JP2003036182A - Information processor and method for diagnosing it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize an information processor capable of efficiently inspecting a device by integrated operation using a common program in any inspection process. SOLUTION: In an diagnostic program 31 to be carried out in the information processor, first to third three kinds of inspection modes are prepared to carry out inspection corresponding to a selected inspection mode by the program 31 only by selecting a required inspection mode on a display screen. In the first inspection mode, a user can designate an optional device to be an inspecting object. When selecting the second inspection mode, only inspection concerning only the device having an error last time can be carried out automatically. When selecting the third inspection mode, a device having high error occurrence ratio in its past inspection can be tested preferentially.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing device such as a personal computer and a diagnostic method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, systems for diagnosing the operation of various electronic devices have been developed. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-
Japanese Patent No. 304562 discloses a method for performing a function verification test of a switching system.

This is to verify the function of the exchange system by an automatic test device, and it is possible to automatically carry out a test for a plurality of test items defined in advance in a database. In addition, retesting is automatically performed for test items that have abnormally ended.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-21607,
For each of the multiple test items for the hardware to be tested, the anomaly rate in the past test is stored, and of the multiple test items for the specified hardware to be tested, only the test item with a high anomaly rate is automatically executed. Techniques for doing so are disclosed.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-110777 discloses a test method for an inspection target device such as an automatic transfer device. This is to perform inspection based on the validity of the time from the input of data to the inspection target device until the output data is obtained.

[0006]

As described above, various inspection systems have been proposed in the past, but each of them has a structure specialized for a specific inspection purpose, and general use is considered. The current situation is that it has not been done.

For example, in an information processing device such as a personal computer, it is necessary to carry out various inspections in various departments from the design / manufacturing stage of the product to the shipping stage. In this case, it may be necessary to inspect only a specific device, or some or all of the devices may be inspected. Furthermore, the device to be inspected often differs depending on the department in charge and the inspection process. In addition, all parts are inspected at the time of shipping, etc., and if an abnormality is found, repeat the inspection while returning to the department in charge of the part or the inspection process to repair or replace the part. It is also necessary. Therefore, it is desired to realize an inspection system that can be used for general purposes and that can effectively use past inspection results of other processes and departments.

The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and can be commonly used for various processes and inspection purposes, and further, by utilizing past inspection results performed in other processes and departments. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device capable of efficiently executing a necessary inspection and a diagnostic method thereof.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to each device executed by the diagnostic program in an information processing apparatus having a diagnostic program for executing an inspection of each of a plurality of devices. Means for accumulating history information of inspection results in a storage device in the information processing apparatus, and performing inspection on a device designated by a user among the plurality of devices.
Of the inspection mode, a second inspection mode in which a device in which an error is detected in the previous inspection is specified based on the history information accumulated in the storage device, and the inspection related to the device is executed; And a third inspection mode that preferentially executes inspections on devices with a high error occurrence rate, presents a screen for allowing the user to select the inspection mode, and selects the inspection on the screen. Control means for selectively causing the diagnostic program to perform the inspections in the first to third inspection modes according to the mode.

In this information processing apparatus, since each device is inspected by the diagnostic program executed in the apparatus, a common program can be used in any department or in any inspection process in the same apparatus. Inspection can be performed with the unified operation used. In this case, three types of inspection modes, first to third, are prepared for inspection, and the inspection corresponding to the selected inspection mode can be performed by the diagnostic program by simply selecting the required inspection mode on the display screen. To be executed. In the first inspection mode, the user can designate any device as the inspection target. In addition, if the second inspection mode is selected, only the inspection of the device that caused the error last time can be automatically executed, and if the third inspection mode is selected, the inspection of the device with a high error rate in the past inspection is prioritized. Can be executed.
Therefore, it can be commonly used for various processes and inspection purposes,
Moreover, only by selecting the inspection mode according to the purpose of the inspection, it is possible to efficiently perform the necessary inspection while effectively using the past inspection results performed in other inspection processes and departments.

In addition, a mode is provided for preferentially executing a test for a device that takes a long time to be inspected, or if a device determined to be normal has a time longer than usual to be inspected. By providing a function of making the inspection result an error, it becomes possible to efficiently perform inspection with higher flexibility and reliability.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This information processing apparatus is realized as, for example, a personal computer, and as shown in the figure, includes a CPU 11, a host bridge 12, a main memory 13, and a display controller 14, as well as various other peripheral devices connected to the bus 1. , A modem 15, a LAN controller 16, an IDE controller 17, a CD-ROM drive 18, a hard disk drive (HDD) 19, an I / O controller 20,
The flexible disk drive (FDD) 21 is included.

An operating system (OS) 30 and a diagnostic program 31 are installed in the hard disk drive (HDD) 19. The diagnostic program 31 is a program that operates on the OS 30 and can execute the inspection procedure for each of all devices in the computer.

The diagnostic program 31 is provided with a function of accumulating the inspection result in a history file each time the device is inspected. By using this history file, the device which has an error in the previous inspection can be detected. It is possible to automatically re-execute only the inspection, or to give priority to the inspection for the device having a high error occurrence rate. The history file is created on the HDD 19.

FIG. 2 shows an interface of the diagnostic program 31. As shown in the figure, the diagnostic program 31 has an interface () for inputting / outputting data to / from each device to be inspected. Through the interface (), the device to be inspected can be directly connected to the device driver or the like. Perform inspection of each device by accessing through. The device inspection procedure is determined in advance for each device, and usually one or more test items are inspected for each device. If no error is detected for all the test items, the inspection result of the device is normal (O
K), and if there is an error in even one test item, the inspection result of the device will be an error (NG).

The diagnostic program 31 also has an interface () for writing the history of the inspection results in the history file 32 and an interface () for referring to the history file 32 each time the device is inspected.
have. That is, first, the diagnostic program 3
1 inspects each device and obtains the inspection result. Then, based on the inspection result, the diagnostic program 31 stores information in the history file 32. In this way, the history of the past inspection results is accumulated in the history file 32 as needed. The information in the history file 32 is read by the diagnostic program 31 to identify the device that has an error in the previous inspection, the device with a high error rate in the past inspection, and the like.

Further, the diagnostic program 31 also has an input / output interface () with the script file 33. Here, the script file 33 is a kind of batch file for designating which device the diagnostic program 31 is to be inspected for. The diagnostic program 31 registers the inspection numbers corresponding to the respective inspection target devices, which are determined based on the information in the history file 32, in the script file 33 in the inspection order, and in accordance with the inspection number order registered in the script file 33. To execute.

FIG. 3 shows inspection result history information managed by the history file 32.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the history file 32, "previous result (OK / NG)", "error rate", and "for each device name or inspection number corresponding to that device" Items related to "average required time" are managed.

The "previous result (OK / NG)" indicates whether the previous test result for the device was judged to be normal (OK) or error (NG). Is registered each time is executed and is held until the next inspection is performed.

The "error rate" is a value indicating an error (NG) occurrence rate of all past inspection results for the device, and is updated according to the inspection result every time the device is inspected. .

The "average required time" is an average value of the times required for all the past inspections on the device, and the time required for the inspections each time the inspection for the device is executed is the past average required time. It will be updated at each inspection unless it exceeds a large amount. If the time required for this inspection greatly exceeds the average required time in the past, the inspection result is automatically corrected to error (NG) even if the inspection result for this time is normal (OK). It

FIG. 4 shows an example of the inspection result when the inspection of each of the devices # 1 to # 4 by the diagnostic program 31 has been performed three times in the past, and the "error rate" and "average" registered in the history file 32. The relationship with "required time" is shown.

In the first inspection (diagnosis # 1), the inspection result is OK and the required time is 4T for the device # 1, and the inspection result is OK and the required time is 8T for the device # 2. For # 3, the inspection result is NG and the required time is 4T. For device # 4, the inspection result is NG and the required time is 4T. In the second inspection (diagnosis # 2), the device # 1 is inspected. The result is OK, the required time is 4T, and for the device # 2, the inspection result is OK, the required time is 9T, the device # 3.
The inspection result is NG and the required time is 5T, and the inspection result is OK and the required time is 4 for the device # 4.
T, and in the third inspection (diagnosis # 3), device #
For 1 the inspection result is OK and the required time is 4T, for device # 2 the inspection result is OK and the required time is 10T, for device # 3 the inspection result is NG and the required time is 5T, for device # 4 Test result is O
It is assumed that the time required for K is 4T.

Note that T is an arbitrary unit time. In this case, when the third inspection (diagnosis # 3) is completed, the “average required time” of the device # 2 registered in the history file 32 is 9T, and the “error rate” of the device # 2 is It will be 100%.

The diagnostic processing shown in FIG. 4 may be performed a plurality of times in the same inspection process, or may be performed in different inspection processes in different departments each time. In any case, since the history information regarding the previous inspection result and the like is stored in the HDD 19 as the history file 32, the inspection result before the previous time can be effectively used in the inspection in any inspection process.

Next, referring to FIG. 5, the diagnostic program 3
The user interface provided by 1 will be described.

FIG. 5 shows an example of an operation screen displayed by the diagnostic program 31 when the diagnostic program 31 is activated. On this operation screen, as shown in the figure, an inspection number input field 101 for inputting an inspection number corresponding to each device to be inspected, an “execute” button 102 for instructing the diagnostic program 31 to start diagnosis, and A list display area 103 is provided for displaying the device name and the diagnosis result corresponding to all the inspection numbers.

Further, on this operation screen, as a button for allowing the user to select a diagnostic mode to be executed by the diagnostic program 31, a "previous NG" button 104, an "error rate priority" button 105, and a "required time priority" are given. Button 1
06 is provided.

The "previous NG" button 104 is a button for setting the diagnostic mode to the "previous NG" mode.
In the "previous NG" mode, a device in which an error is detected in the previous inspection is selected based on the history information of the history file 32, and only the inspection regarding the selected device is automatically executed.

The "error rate priority" button 105 is a button for setting the diagnostic mode to the "error rate priority" mode. In the "error rate priority" mode, the hierarchical relationship of the error occurrence rate of each device is determined based on the history information of the history file 32, and the inspection of the device having a high error occurrence rate is preferentially executed. That is, usually, the inspection for each of the plurality of devices is performed in a predetermined order (for example,
The CPU, memory, modem, LAN, and so on are executed in the order of inspection numbers), but in the "error rate priority" mode, the inspection is executed in order from the device with the highest error rate, and the test with the lowest error rate is performed. Will be executed last. Therefore, the inspection regarding the device of interest can be performed first.

Of course, it is also possible to interrupt the diagnostic processing on the way by an instruction from the user, such as a cancel button, so that it is possible to carry out only the inspection for the devices having an error occurrence rate of a predetermined value or more. Is.

The "required time priority" button 106 is a button for setting the diagnostic mode to the "required time priority" mode. In the "time required priority" mode, the history file 32
A device whose average required time required for the inspection is equal to or greater than the reference value is selected based on the history information of 1., and only the inspection for the selected device is executed. This is a diagnostic mode that considers that an unstable element may be included, for example, even if the previous inspection result is OK, the device that takes longer than usual to inspect becomes NG in the next inspection. Is.

Each time the inspection is executed, the time required for the current inspection of the device judged to be OK is
A method is adopted that detects whether the average required time of the device acquired from the history information exceeds a predetermined time or more, and changes the inspection result of the device to an error when the average required time exceeds the predetermined time. However, in this case, the unstable element can be sufficiently dealt with without using the “required time priority” mode.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The relationship between the diagnostic mode selected by the user and the diagnostic process executed will be described.

The "last NG" button 104, the "error rate priority" button 105, and the "required time priority" button 10 described above.
When none of 6 is pressed and the “execute” button 102 is pressed, the “normal” mode is set (step S1).
01, S102), the inspection of all the inspection numbers or the inspection of the inspection number input in the inspection number input field 101 by the user is executed (step S102). The examination of all examination numbers is the default mode of the diagnostic program 31, and if the user does not input anything in the examination number input field 101, the examinations of all examination numbers are automatically executed in the order of examination numbers.

When the "previous NG" button 104 is pressed, the "previous NG" mode is set (step S101), and at that time, the inspection number which has been NG in the previous inspection is specified based on the history information of the history file 32, It is set in the examination number input field 101. And "execute"
When the button 102 is pressed, the inspection is automatically executed only for the inspection number that has become NG in the previous inspection (step S10).
3).

When the "error rate priority" button 105 is pressed, the "error rate priority" mode is set (step S10).
1) At that time, the inspection numbers are sorted in the order of the error occurrence rate based on the history information of the history file 32, and the inspection numbers are set in the inspection number input field 101. Then, when the "execute" button 102 is pressed, the inspections are executed in order from the inspection number with the highest error occurrence rate (step S10).
4).

When the "required time priority" button 106 is pressed, the "required time priority" mode is set (step S10).
1) At that time, an examination number having an average required time of at least a reference value is specified based on the history information of the history file 32, and the examination number is set in the examination number input field 101. Then, when the "execute" button 102 is pressed, the inspections of only the inspection numbers whose average required time is equal to or greater than the reference value are automatically executed (step S105).

Next, the processing procedure of the diagnostic program 31 executed in each of the "previous NG" mode, the "error rate priority" mode, and the "required time priority" mode will be described.

The flowchart of FIG. 7 shows the processing procedure in the "previous NG" mode. In the "previous NG" mode, the diagnostic program 31 first sets the history file 32.
Is opened (step S201), and the information of "previous results (OK / NG)" corresponding to all inspection numbers (all devices) is retrieved from the history information of the history file 32 (step S202). Then, the diagnostic program 31
Extracts an inspection number whose inspection result is NG (step S2
03), the extracted inspection number is the script file 3
3 is registered (step S204). Then, the diagnostic program 31 executes only the inspection corresponding to each inspection number registered in the script file 33 (step S205).

The flowchart of FIG. 8 shows the processing procedure in the "error rate priority" mode. In the "error rate priority" mode, first, the diagnostic program 31 opens the history file 32 (step S211), and from the history information of the history file 32, all the inspection numbers (all devices).
The information of the "error rate" corresponding to each is taken out (step S212). Next, the diagnostic program 31 rearranges the inspection numbers in descending order of error rate (step S213), and registers the rearranged inspection numbers in the script file 33 (step S214). Then, the diagnostic program 31 executes the inspections corresponding to the inspection numbers registered in the script file 33 in the order of registration (step S215).

The flowchart of FIG. 9 shows the processing procedure in the "required time priority" mode. In the "required time priority" mode, first, the diagnostic program 31 opens the history file 32 (step S221), and from the history information of the history file 32, all the examination numbers (all devices).
The information of the "average required time" corresponding to each is taken out (step S222). Then, the diagnostic program 31
Extracts an inspection number whose average required time is equal to or greater than the reference value (step S223), and registers the extracted inspection number in the script file 33 (step S224). Then, the diagnostic program 31 executes only the inspection corresponding to each inspection number registered in the script file 33 (step S225).

Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 10, a required time check process including a process of correcting the inspection result based on the time required for the inspection and the average required time of the past inspections will be described.

The diagnostic program 31 first executes an inspection for each device in the designated diagnostic mode (step S231). Then, each time the inspection of each device is completed, the inspection result and the time required for the inspection are acquired (step S232). And the diagnostic program 31
Opens the history file 32, extracts the average required time of the corresponding device in the history file 32, and compares it with the required time of this inspection (steps S233, S23).
4, S235).

When the time required for the inspection this time exceeds the average time required for the past inspections (YE in step S236)
S) If the excess time exceeds the predetermined allowable range, the inspection result is corrected to NG and registered in the history file 32 even if the inspection result of this time is OK (step S237). ).

On the other hand, if the required time for this inspection does not exceed the average required time for the past inspections (step S2
No of 36), it is determined that the required time of this inspection is within the allowable range, the value of the required time of this inspection is reflected in the average required time of the history file 32, and the result of this inspection (OK or NG). ) Is registered in the history file 32 (steps S238 and S239).

Here, in order to correctly update the average required time, it was judged whether the required time was exceeded regardless of whether the inspection result was OK or NG this time. It is only necessary to determine whether the required time is exceeded for devices that have been determined to be normal by the inspection.

Further, all the functions of the diagnostic processing of this embodiment are realized by the diagnostic program 31, so that the diagnostic program 31 can be executed by installing it in a normal computer through a computer-readable storage medium and executing it. The same effect as that of the embodiment can be easily obtained.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and can be variously modified in an implementation stage without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some constituent elements are deleted from all the constituent elements shown in the embodiment, the problem described in the section of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved, and the effect described in the section of the effect of the invention can be solved. If you get
A configuration in which this component is deleted can be extracted as an invention.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It can be commonly used for various processes and inspection purposes, and the required inspection can be efficiently performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view for explaining a function of a diagnostic program used in the information processing apparatus of the embodiment.

3 is a diagram for explaining the structure of a history file managed by the diagnostic program of FIG.

4 is a diagram showing an example of a diagnostic process and its diagnostic result by the diagnostic program of FIG.

5 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen provided by the diagnostic program of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a diagnostic process executed by the diagnostic program of FIG.

7 is a flowchart showing a diagnostic processing procedure in a "previous NG" mode executed by the diagnostic program of FIG.

8 is a flowchart showing a diagnostic processing procedure in an "error rate priority" mode executed by the diagnostic program of FIG.

9 is a flowchart showing a diagnostic processing procedure in a "required time priority" mode executed by the diagnostic program of FIG.

10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of required time check processing executed by the diagnostic program of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... CPU 12 ... Host bridge 13 ... Memory 14 ... Display controller 15 ... Modem 16 ... LAN controller 19 ... HDD 31 ... Diagnostic program 32 ... History file 33 ... Script file

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus having a diagnostic program for executing an inspection of each of a plurality of devices, wherein history information of inspection results regarding each device executed by the diagnostic program is accumulated in a storage device in the information processing apparatus. Means, a first inspection mode for performing an inspection on a device designated by the user among the plurality of devices, and an error detected in the previous inspection based on history information accumulated in the storage device. A second inspection mode in which the identified device is specified and an inspection related to the device is executed, and a third inspection mode in which an inspection related to a device having a high error occurrence rate is preferentially executed based on the history information. , Presents a screen for allowing the user to select one of the inspection modes, and according to the inspection mode selected on the screen, 1 through the information processing apparatus characterized by comprising a control means for selectively performed the inspection in the third test mode in the diagnostic program. 2. A fourth inspection mode in which the control means specifies a device whose time required for the inspection is equal to or greater than a reference value based on history information accumulated in the storage device and executes the inspection for the device. Further presenting a screen for allowing the user to select the first to fourth inspection modes, and performing the inspection in the first to fourth inspection modes according to the inspection mode selected on the screen. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is configured to be selectively executed by the diagnostic program. 3. The time required for this inspection for a device determined to be normal by this inspection performed by the diagnostic program is an average required time required for the past inspection acquired from the history information. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for detecting whether or not the time is exceeded for a predetermined time or more, and changing the inspection result of the device to an error when the time is exceeded for a predetermined time or longer. 4. A diagnostic method for executing an inspection of each of a plurality of devices in an information processing apparatus using a diagnostic program executed by the information processing apparatus, the inspection being performed for each device by the diagnostic program. Accumulating the resulting history information in a storage device in the information processing device; a first inspection mode for executing an inspection on a device designated by a user among the plurality of devices; and accumulating in the storage device. A second inspection mode in which a device in which an error has been detected in the previous inspection is specified based on the history information that has been detected and the inspection related to the device is executed; And a screen for prompting the user to select one of these inspection modes. And a step of causing the diagnostic program to selectively execute the inspection in the first to third inspection modes according to the inspection mode selected on the screen. . 5. A fourth inspection mode is further provided, which specifies a device whose time required for inspection is equal to or greater than a reference value based on history information accumulated in the storage device and executes an inspection on the device. Presenting a screen for prompting the user to select the first to fourth inspection modes, and selecting the inspection in the first to fourth inspection modes to the diagnostic program according to the inspection mode selected on the screen. 5. The method for diagnosing an information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the method is executed in a dynamic manner. 6. Whether the time required for the current inspection exceeds the average required time required for the previous inspection obtained from the history information by a predetermined time or more for the device determined to be normal in the current inspection. 5. The method further comprising the step of detecting whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed and changing the inspection result of the device to an error.
A method for diagnosing the information processing apparatus described. 7. A computer program for causing a computer to execute an inspection of each of a plurality of devices in a computer, wherein history information of inspection results is stored in the information processing apparatus each time an inspection of each device is performed. A step of accumulating in the device, a first inspection mode for executing an inspection on a device designated by a user among the plurality of devices, and a previous inspection based on history information accumulated in the storage device. A second inspection mode in which a device in which an error is detected is specified and an inspection regarding the device is executed, and a third inspection mode in which an inspection regarding a device with a high error occurrence rate is executed preferentially based on the history information. And presents a screen for allowing the user to select those inspection modes, and the inspection mode selected on the screen is displayed. Computer program characterized by comprising a step of selectively implementing the inspection in the first through third test mode in accordance with.