JPH04178742A - Device diagnosis control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate a need to provide a microprocessor system with a special device by starting test programs related to a part or all of diagnostic items by a program mounted on a general computer and obtaining the results of the execution as visual information by the general computer. CONSTITUTION:A general computer 2 is provided with a CPU 21 as the center of operation control, a ROM 23 where its system program is stored, a RAM 24 where subprograms are stored by a proper method, a display part 28 on which operation procedures and the results of diagnosis are displayed, an output device 29 like a printer which prints the results of diagnosis, and an interface 27 connected to an interface 17 on the side of a system 1. A test program is started by the operation on the side of the general computer 2, and the results of diagnosis are displayed and outputted by the general computer 2. Thus, the operability for diagnosis is improved, and an unnecessary private device is unnecessary.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a diagnostic control method for a device whose operation is controlled by a processor such as a microprocessor, a so-called microprocessor sensor system.

[Conventional technology]

Diagnosis of a microprocessor system involves running a test program on the system and reporting the results.
The information was displayed on a display device within the system or provided exclusively for the system. For example, JP-A-62-
The method disclosed in Publication No. 52639 is such a method.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, when using such a method, it is necessary to provide the microprocessor system with a special display device and output device just for diagnosis, which is wasteful as they are not used for any purpose other than diagnosis. was there.

The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a diagnostic control method that does not require a special device to be dedicated to a microprocessor system.

[Means to solve the problem]

In the device diagnosis control method of the present invention, a general-purpose computer is connected to the device to be diagnosed, a test program prepared for the device to be diagnosed is started by a program installed in a general-purpose computer, and the execution results are transferred to the general-purpose computer. Convert to visual information using display and output devices.

[Effect]

In the method of the present invention, a test program can be started by an operation from a general-purpose computer, and the diagnostic results can be displayed and output on the general-purpose computer.

Therefore, the operability during diagnosis is excellent, and since the general-purpose computer can be disconnected except during diagnosis, there is no need to provide any unnecessary dedicated equipment.

〔Example〕

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below based on drawings showing embodiments thereof.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the main parts of the apparatus used to implement the diagnostic control method of the present invention, together with the main parts of the apparatus to be diagnosed. In the figure, reference numeral 1 indicates a microprocessor system to be diagnosed, which includes a CPU 11 that controls the entire system, and a main memory 13 that stores a test program 14 for diagnosis. This test program 14 is executed to test the functions of the main storage device 14, CPLll, and various LSIs 12, 12, etc. that constitute this system l. If an abnormality exists in the function, the abnormality detection section 15 detects this and stores information regarding this abnormality in the abnormality information storage section 16. The hardware that makes up the system is input/output interface 1.
7 to the general-purpose computer 2.

This general-purpose computer 2 is a CPU that is the center of arithmetic control.
2L ROM that stores the system program
23, a RAM 24 for storing subprograms to be described later in an appropriate manner, a display unit 28 for displaying operating procedures and diagnosis results, an output device 29 such as a printer for printing the diagnosis results, and the system 1 side The interface 27 is connected to the interface 17 of the computer.

Figure 2 shows the RAM 24 (ROM) of a general-purpose computer.
23) is a flowchart showing an overview of subprograms stored in the computer. When the subprogram is started on the general-purpose computer 2, a routine is first entered to display the main menu screen (Sl).

FIG. 3 shows an example of the main menu screen, in which a menu of diagnostic items (test items) corresponding to the microprocessor system is prepared, and the diagnostic item to be executed is selected and input according to the menu number. With this input, the screen of the display section 28 becomes a data setting screen shown in FIG. 4 (S2). This example shows a case where the high-speed SRAM check test item in the protected mode of the microprocessor system 1 is selected.

When you finish inputting the test data according to this display, the routine starts to display the subprogram startup screen (S3).
. FIG. 5 shows an example of this screen, and diagnosis based on the selected item is started by an appropriate operation such as inputting the "Y" key.

That is, the general-purpose computer 2 provides an interrupt signal to the microprocessor system 1. On the microprocessor system 1 side, this is stored in the reception data buffer within the interface 17. As a result of this reception, system 1
On the side, a portion of the test program 14 related to the selected diagnostic item is activated and executed. If a plurality of diagnostic items are selected, they are stored in the reception data buffer and the related test programs 14 are executed sequentially.

When the diagnosis of the system 1 by the test program is completed, information on the normal operating state is stored in a low-speed SRAM (not shown) as necessary. The abnormal state is detected by the abnormality information detection section 15 and stored in the abnormality information storage section 16. Further, this information is stored in a transmission data buffer (not shown).

Furthermore, an interrupt signal is issued from the system 1 side to the general-purpose computer 2 side. When the general-purpose computer 2 receives this interrupt signal, it reads the contents of the transmission data buffer, checks whether the diagnosis result is abnormal or normal (S4), and if there is no abnormality as a result of the diagnosis, as illustrated in FIG. Display a screen indicating that the diagnosis result is passed (S5) and return to the main menu screen (S).

On the other hand, if an abnormality exists, a screen as shown in FIG. 7, for example, is displayed (S6). Further, the abnormality information is outputted by the output device 29 (S7).

Note that the present invention is applicable not only to microprocessor systems but also to systems and devices using larger scale processors such as communication systems.

Further, the general-purpose computer may be a personal computer, a workstation, a minicomputer, etc. as appropriate.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the method of the present invention as described above, there is no need to provide a dedicated device for the diagnosis target, and it is sufficient to connect a general-purpose computer. The general-purpose computer can be removed and used for other purposes except during diagnosis, so there is no waste in terms of equipment. Furthermore, as described above, the method of the present invention has excellent effects, such as high operability since necessary diagnostic items can be selected and input in an interactive manner.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the main parts of a device used to carry out the diagnostic method of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a subprogram of the present invention, and FIGS. 3 to 7 are diagrams showing examples of display devices. be. 1... Microprocessor system 2... General purpose computer 14... Test program 21... Crtl 23... ROM 21I
...RAM 28...Display unit 29...Output device In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts. Agent Masuo Oiwa 2 General-purpose computer Figure 1 Figure 2 Procedure amendment (voluntary)

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a diagnostic control method for a device whose operation is controlled by a processor and is equipped with a test program for diagnosing its own functions, a general-purpose computer is connected to the device, and a part of the device is controlled by a program installed in the general-purpose computer. Alternatively, an apparatus diagnostic control method characterized in that the test programs relating to all diagnostic items are started and the results of the execution are converted into visual information by the general-purpose computer.