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US 2003/0197057 A1Published application
Monitor and control port for circuit cards
AssigneeADC Telecommunications Israel Ltd.
InventorsJoseph Menashe, Van Nadav
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AssigneeADC Telecommunications Israel Ltd.
InventorsJoseph Menashe, Van Nadav
Estimating the term…
An electronic circuit card having a central processing unit and a port electrically connected to the central processing unit is provided. The port is electrically connectable to a monitor and control system via a backplane of a housing for containing the electronic circuit card and a panel located externally of the housing. The monitor and control system is located externally of the housing and the panel. The port is adapted to convey signals between the central processing unit and the monitor and control system for at least one of monitoring and altering the operation of one or more software programs of the central processing unit.
An electronic circuit card comprising:
An electronic module comprising:
An electronic system comprising:
A method for monitoring an electronic circuit card of an electronic module, the method comprising:
A method for altering operation of an electronic circuit card of an electronic module, the method comprising:
A method for monitoring and altering operation of an electronic circuit card of an electronic module, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
Digital communication
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The present invention relates generally to the field of electronic circuit cards and, in particular, to monitor and control ports for electronic circuit cards.
Many electronic modules, such as electronic modules of telecommunications systems, include a number of electronic circuit cards, such as line cards, e.g., digital subscriber line (DSL) cards, common telephony module (CTM) cards, or the like. Many line cards have a central processing unit (CPU) for controlling the cards and/or providing functionality to the cards via software programs running on the CPU. Some electronic modules also include one or more main (or management) electronic circuit cards electrically connected to the CPU of each of the line cards.
The main cards usually have a port that is connectable to a computer or the like for configuring and/or debugging the line cards. However, software programs running on the CPUs of the line cards cannot be monitored or altered via the main card using a computer or the like. Therefore, if problems occur with a line card due to problems with the software programs, the line card is removed from the module and replaced with another line card. However, this disrupts service to customers.
FIG. 1 illustrates an electronic system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific illustrative embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a port on an electronic circuit card that is adapted to convey signals between a central processing unit of the electronic circuit card and a monitor and control system for at least one of monitoring and altering operation of one or more software programs of the central processing unit. The port is electrically connectable to the monitor and control system via a backplane of a housing for containing the electronic circuit card and a panel located externally of the housing. This provides an alternative to connecting a monitor and control system directly to ports located on central processing units of electronic circuit cards to monitor and/or alter operation of the software of the central processing units.
FIG. 1 illustrates an electronic system 100, such as a telecommunications system. Electronic system 100 includes a panel 102 having a port 104. An electronic module 106 is located externally to panel 102. In one embodiment, electronic module 106 is a digital subscriber line (DSL)/voice gateway, such as the MG-1 Multimedia Gateway available from ADC Telecommunications, Eden Prairie, Minn. Electronic module 106 includes a backplane 108 located in a housing 110. Electronic module 106 has a port 112 electrically connected to port 104. An electronic circuit card 114 of electronic module 106 has a port 116 electrically connected to port 112. Port 116 is further electrically connected to a central processing unit 118 of electronic circuit card 114. Port 104 is connectable to a monitor and control system 120, such as a personal computer, an emulation terminal, or the like, located externally to electronic system 100 such that monitor and control system 120 is electrically connected to central processing unit 118 for monitoring and altering the operation of one or more software programs of central processing unit 118. In one embodiment, the one or more software programs of central processing unit 118 control operation of and provide functionality to electronic circuit card 114.