JP2003122592A - Hardware inspection system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hardware inspection system capable of performing the correction or alteration of a hardware test without correcting a program stored in a ROM. SOLUTION: Hardware 31 stores a CPU 41, the ROM 42, a RAM 43, and peripheral devices 44 and 45 to be retrieved, and connected to an input/output terminal 34. A hardware initialization program 42A and an interpreter 42B are stored in the ROM 42. When the interpreter 42B is started after the initialization of a hardware 32, an operator inputs, for example, a test program for inspecting the peripheral devices 44 from the input/output terminal 34, stores in a test program storage area 43A, instructs the execution thereof, and outputs the results. Since the interpreter 42B has an editor function, the test program can be corrected and changed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a central processing unit and a hardware inspection system for confirming the operation of hardware in which a recording medium storing a program executed by the central processing unit is mounted. Hardware inspection system that enables

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A large number of electronic devices such as CPUs (Central Processing Units) and ROMs (Read Only Memory) and electronic components such as boards (hereinafter collectively referred to as hardware) are used. Has been done. These hardware stores a control program in a recording medium such as a ROM, and executes the control program to perform predetermined control.

As described above, in hardware that uses a control program, it is first necessary to check whether the program or software has a defect. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 64-82127, a plurality of source texts in software development and software development support tools are used in parallel, and when the parallel work is completed, a work to be selected next is improved. I am devising. In this proposed technology, the data display device connected to the data processing device displays a plurality of windows and manages these windows while selectively activating the support tool and different data input interface for each support tool. To reduce the work load when developing software. JP-A-8-4701
Japanese Patent No. 4 also proposes software debugging and testing.

On the other hand, even if there is no defect in the software, normal operation cannot be performed if there is a failure in the hardware. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-10230
Japanese Patent Publication No. 2 proposes a test tool for conducting a confirmation test of the hardware operation of a computer.

FIG. 4 shows an outline of this proposal. This test tool has a file 11 in which each piece of hardware information to be tested, test contents, and a test procedure are described in a text format. This file 11
Is interpreted by the translator 13 in the test tool body 12 and tabulated. The interpreter 14 sequentially generates test execution tasks according to the file 11 tabulated by the translator 13. The generated test execution task group 15 calls the test item execution unit 16 with the start information as an argument. The test item execution unit 16 interprets the argument and issues the command of the virtual I / O system 17.

The virtual I / O system 17 tests the target hardware in the hardware group 19 by driving the corresponding driver in the device driver group 18 according to the file 11 tabulated by the translator 13. . Since the test execution tasks constituting the test execution task group 15 operate in parallel, the hardware group 1
Multiple hardware competition tests within 9 can be performed.

In this proposal, the file 11 in which the operator describes the test contents and the test procedure in text format
By creating, you can test the hardware according to its contents.

[0008]

In this proposal, it is possible to select the content or procedure of the test created in advance. However, the test content itself cannot be modified or changed. Generally, when inspecting hardware, a test program prepared especially for inspection is stored in advance in a part of the recording medium. Then, this test program is executed by instructing from an input terminal (not shown)
By checking the operation of a peripheral device or an input / output terminal (not shown) controlled by, it is decided whether or not there is any malfunction in the hardware.

In such inspection, it is possible to improve the inspection contents of the hardware by partially modifying or adding the test program. Conventionally, the test program is written in a high-level language, and after compiling and linking, it is stored in a recording medium such as a ROM as an embedded command for the inspection system. Therefore, if any addition or modification is made to the test program, it is necessary to write these contents in the compile / link ROM after the modification.

Also, when constructing a similar inspection system on different hardware, it is necessary to create a test program and write it in a recording medium. Therefore, in the hardware inspection system capable of correcting or changing the hardware test, the inspection is executed after the corrected or added test program is stored in the ROM. Therefore, the work for correction or change is complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a hardware inspection system capable of correcting or changing hardware tests without correcting a program stored in ROM.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, (a) a CPU, an initialization program for initializing hardware equipped with the CPU, and the initialization of the hardware by the initialization program. After that, a read-only memory in which an interpreter for executing a predetermined test program by converting the source code into an object code that can be executed by a CPU is incorporated in advance, a random access memory for storing the test program, and a test program Hardware provided with a circuit to be inspected by (b), input means for inputting a test program and a command instructing its execution to this hardware, and (c) the CPU executes the test program and inspects The output means that outputs the result when the target circuit is inspected To be provided in the hardware inspection system.

That is, in the invention described in claim 1, the CPU
ROM that stores hardware, ROM, and RAM
An initialization program for initializing the hardware in advance, and an interpreter for executing a predetermined test program by converting the source code into an object code that can be executed by the CPU after the hardware is initialized by the initialization program. Built in. Then, a test program and a command instructing its execution are input to this hardware from the input means, and C
When the PU executes the test program and inspects the circuit to be inspected, the result is output to the outside by the output means. Since the test program is written in the RAM in this way, the correction or change can be easily performed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the hardware inspection system according to the first aspect, the interpreter has an editor function, and random access from the input means is performed.
It is characterized in that the test program is modified or changed when there is an input instructing to modify or change the test program stored in the memory.

That is, according to the second aspect of the invention, since the interpreter has an editor function for modifying and changing the test program, necessary modification, deletion, or addition of the test program stored in the RAM can be easily performed. It is possible to test the hardware quickly and easily with the test program after the modification or change.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the hardware inspection system according to the first aspect, the interpreter interprets the command input from the input means to execute the test program stored in the random access memory and the execution thereof. It is characterized by outputting the result.

That is, according to the third aspect of the invention, the interpreter has a function of interpreting the command input from the input means, executing the test program, and outputting the hardware inspection result by the test program. Hardware diagnostics can be operated by commands given from the input means.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the hardware inspection system according to the first aspect, the interpreter interprets the command input from the input means and deletes the test program stored in the random access memory. It is characterized by that.

That is, according to the fourth aspect of the invention, when the inspection of a plurality of locations of the hardware is sequentially performed, the RA
Since it is necessary to rewrite the test program in M,
In such a case, the interpreter has a function of deleting the test program stored previously.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the hardware inspection system according to the first aspect, the interpreter is incorporated in the read-only memories of different hardware configurations as software having the same contents. I am trying.

That is, in the invention described in claim 5, in the case of inspecting a part of common hardware, the ROM is used.
In some cases, even if the same interpreter is built in, it is possible to inspect without making major changes to the test program.
It will be stored in the ROM with a different hardware configuration.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of a hardware inspection system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The hardware inspection system 31 includes hardware 32 to be inspected and an input / output terminal 34 connected to the hardware 32 via a serial interface 33.
The hardware 32 to be inspected includes a CPU 41, a ROM 42, a RAM 43, and first and second peripheral devices 44 and 45 via a bus (not shown).

FIG. 2 shows the main part of control of the hardware inspection system of this embodiment. This will be described with reference to FIG. The ROM 42 shown in FIG. 1 stores a hardware initialization program 42A and an interpreter 42B that initialize the hardware 32 when the power is turned on. Here, the interpreter 42B converts the source code as the design drawing of the software described in the programming language input from the input / output terminal 34 into the CP.
It is software for executing the program while converting the object code into a format that can be executed by the U41. When the hardware 32 is initialized by the hardware initialization program 42A (step S101 in FIG. 2), the interpreter 42B is activated at that time (step S102).

The interpreter 42B of this embodiment has the following three types.
Have two functions. (1) A function of interpreting a command input from the input / output terminal 34 and immediately executing it. (2) Editor function. (3) A function of executing a command sequence composed of a plurality of commands created by the editor function as one test program.

When the interpreter 42B is activated, this software sends a command prompt as an input prompt symbol for prompting input of a command to the input / output terminal 34 via the serial interface 33 (step S103). After that, the input / output terminal 34 waits for the input of a command. In this state, the operator inputs a test program as a command string for inspecting a certain function of the hardware 32 from the input / output terminal 34. When the test program is input from the input / output terminal 34 (step S104: Y), the test program storage area 43A as a predetermined area of the RAM 43 via the serial interface 33.
(Step S105).

In this state, the CPU 41 waits for input of a command instructing the execution of the test program from the input / output terminal 34 (step S106). When the execution of the test program is instructed (Y), the CPU 41 sequentially reads the test programs stored in the test program storage area 43A from the top address and executes the test programs (step S107). As a result, the inspection of the hardware 32 is executed. The execution result is output to the input / output terminal 34 (step S108). After this, step S1
Return to the process of 03. This allows the operator to determine whether the hardware 32 has operated normally.

With such a hardware inspection system,
For example, the first function of the first peripheral device 44 mounted on the hardware 32 is tested. The operator uses the editor function to input / output terminal 34.
The first test program for checking the first function composed of a plurality of commands and outputting the result is input. The first test program entered is
It is stored in the test program storage area 43A.

When the input of the first test program is completed in this way, the operator inputs the "program execution" command of the interpreter 42B from the input / output terminal 34. As a result, the CPU 41 executes the first test program stored in the test program storage area 43A to check the function of the first peripheral device 44. This inspection result is output to the input / output terminal 34.

A case where the test program is modified or changed will be described below. When the first test program is modified or changed, the operator can use the editor function to modify, add, or delete only the necessary parts of the first test program stored in the test program storage area 43A. it can. After such correction or change, when the operator inputs a "program execution" command from the input / output terminal 34, the function of the first peripheral device 44 is checked again.

Next, the second device mounted on the hardware 32
The second function of the peripheral device 45 is tested. The operator first inputs the "program list clear" command of the interpreter 42B from the input / output terminal 34. As a result, the test program storage area 43A
The first test program stored in is cleared (deleted). After deleting the first test program,
The operator inputs the second test program from the input / output terminal 34 by using the editor function of the interpreter 42B. Here, the second test program is a program for inspecting the second function of the second peripheral device 45 and outputting the result to the input / output terminal 34.

When the operator inputs the second test program from the input / output terminal 34, this program is stored in the test program storage area 43A. After that, when the operator inputs the "program execution" command of the interpreter 42B from the input / output terminal 34, the second test program currently stored in the test program storage area 43A is executed and the second peripheral device 45 is inspected. Then, the result is output from the input / output terminal 34.

The second test program can be modified or changed in the same manner as the first test program, but the description thereof will be omitted because it is redundant.

Modification of the Invention

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of a hardware inspection system according to a modified example of the present invention. 3, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be appropriately omitted.

Hardware inspection system 3 of this modification
1A is partially different in that the hardware 32A to be inspected has a third peripheral device 46 added to the hardware 32 of the previous embodiment. The same interpreter 42B as in the previous embodiment is also incorporated in the ROM 42 of this modification. As a result, for example, when inspecting the first function of the first peripheral device 44, the first test program used in the previous embodiment can be used as it is.
Alternatively, it can be used in a slightly customized state. The same applies to the second test program.

As described above, there is a possibility that the test program used in one piece of hardware can be used in other pieces of hardware without making a great change to inspect each hardware component such as a peripheral device. is there. Therefore, by mounting an interpreter on different hardware in advance, it is possible to easily construct a hardware inspection system having the same command interface, rather than storing each customized test program in the ROM 42. You can

[0039]

As described above, claims 1 to 5 are as follows.
According to the described invention, an initialization program for initializing the hardware in advance in the ROM of the hardware storing the CPU, the ROM and the RAM, and the source code after the hardware is initialized by the initialization program. Since it is decided to incorporate an interpreter for executing a predetermined test program by converting it into an object code that can be executed by the CPU, the CPU inputs a test program and a command instructing its execution to the hardware from the input means. When the test program is executed to inspect the circuit to be inspected, the result can be output to the outside by the output means. Conventionally, when such a test program is modified or changed, or an inspection item is added, a test program is created in a high-level language or an assembly language, compiled (assembled) and linked, and an inspection system on a ROM is installed. However, in the present invention, the work of compiling (assembling), linking, and writing to the ROM is unnecessary. Therefore, there is an effect that the inspection can be efficiently performed.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the hardware inspection system according to the first aspect, the interpreter has an editor function, so that necessary correction, deletion or addition of the test program stored in the RAM is performed. The hardware can be tested quickly and easily with the test program after the modification or change.

Further, according to the invention of claim 5, the interpreter is incorporated as software having the same contents in the ROMs having different hardware configurations in common, so that the hardware inspection system having the same command interface can be simplified. Can be built.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a hardware inspection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a main part of control of the hardware inspection system of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a hardware inspection system in a modified example of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a conventionally proposed test tool for performing a confirmation test of a hardware operation of a computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

31, 31A hardware inspection system 32, 32A hardware 34 Input / output terminals 41 CPU 42 ROM 42A hardware initialization program 42B interpreter 43 RAM 43A Test program storage area 44 First peripheral device 45 Second peripheral device 46 Third peripheral device

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A CPU, an initialization program for initializing hardware equipped with the CPU, and a source code converted into an object code executable by the CPU after the initialization of the hardware by the initialization program. A read-only memory in which an interpreter for executing a predetermined test program is incorporated in advance, a random access memory for storing the test program, and hardware including a circuit to be inspected by the test program. An input means for inputting the test program and a command instructing its execution to the hardware; and an output means for outputting the result when the CPU executes the test program and inspects the circuit to be inspected. Hardware characterized by comprising査 system. 2. The interpreter has an editor function, and the test program is modified or changed when an input for modifying or changing the test program stored in the random access memory is input from the input means. The hardware inspection system according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The interpreter interprets a command input from the input means to perform the random access
2. The hardware inspection system according to claim 1, which executes the test program stored in the memory and outputs the result. 4. The interpreter interprets a command input from the input means to perform the random access
The hardware inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the test program stored in the memory is deleted. 5. The hardware inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the interpreter is installed as software having the same content in common in read-only memories of different hardware configurations.