# US 11,113,166 B2 · Monitoring system and method with baseboard management controller

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- Number: US 11,113,166 B2
- Document ID: US11113166B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/206,295
- Filed: 2018-11-30
- Published: 2020-04-09
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2018-10-05
- Assignees: Wiwynn Corporation
- Applicants: Wiwynn Corporation
- Inventors: Bing-Han Yang; Po-Shen Kuo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11113166B2

## CPC

- G06F 11/2294: {by remote test}
- G06F 11/0748: {in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault (remote testing G06F11/2294)}
- G06F 11/2733: {Test interface between tester and unit under test}
- G06F 11/3013: {where the computing system is an embedded system, i.e. a combination of hardware and software dedicated to perform a certain function in mobile devices, printers, automotive or aircraft systems (testing or monitoring of control systems or parts thereof G05B23/02)}
- G06F 11/3656: {using a specific debug interface}
- G06F 13/4282: {on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus (on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247)}
- G06F 2201/875: Monitoring of systems including the internet
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A monitoring system includes a baseboard management controller (BMC) disposed on a same baseboard as a system under test; an administrator device electrically connected to the BMC; and a software test fixture stored in the BMC, the software test fixture generating an electrical signal, which is transferred to a corresponding target device of the system under test to access a register of the corresponding target device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A monitoring system, comprising:
a baseboard management controller (BMC) disposed on a same baseboard as a system under test including a plurality of target devices;
an administrator device electrically connected to the BMC;
a software test fixture stored in the BMC, the software test fixture including a plurality of in-target probe (ITP) firmware programs each generating an electrical signal, which is transferred to a corresponding target device of the system under test to access a register of the corresponding target device; and
a plurality of bridge integrated circuits each being connected between the BMC and the corresponding target device, each bridge integrated circuit having an associated Internet Protocol (IP) address used to select the corresponding target device;
wherein the administrator device updates firmware of the system under test according to a monitoring result of the system under test.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the BMC conforms to Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) protocol.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising an inter-board communication bus disposed between the BMC and the system under test.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a communication interface that electrically connects the administrator device to the BMC.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the communication interface comprises a computer network.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the BMC comprises:
a processor;
a non-volatile memory that stores the software test fixture; and
a volatile memory that temporarily stores an executed result from the processor or received data.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the software test fixture is activated to monitor the corresponding target device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The monitoring system of claim 7, wherein the administrator device issues a command to the BMC to activate the software test fixture.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the administrator device comprises a user interface that displays content of the register of the corresponding target device under monitor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of target devices each comprises an integrated circuit.

### Claim 11

A monitoring method, comprising:
providing a software test fixture including a plurality of in-target probe (ITP) firmware programs each being associated with a corresponding target device of a plurality of target devices of a system under test, the software test fixture being stored in a baseboard management controller (BMC);
opening a user interface of an administrator device and selecting the corresponding target device;
electrically connecting the administrator device to the BMC;
activating the software test fixture;
accessing a register of the corresponding target device through the user interface; and
the administrator device updating firmware of the system under test according to a monitoring result of the system under test;
wherein the administrator device selects the corresponding target device according to an Internet Protocol (IP) address of an associated bridge integrated circuit of a plurality of bridge integrated circuits.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the software test fixture is stored in a non-volatile memory of the BMC.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the administrator device is electrically connected to the BMC via a computer network.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the administrator device activates the software test fixture by issuing a command to the BMC.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the BMC conforms to Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) protocol.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the BMC is disposed on a same baseboard as the system under test.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the software test fixture generates an electrical signal, which is transferred to the corresponding target device of the system under test to access the register of the corresponding target device.