US 4,695,946 A · Maintenance subsystem for computer network including power control and remote diagnostic center

Abstract

A maintenance processor forms part of a computer network wherein the processor (also designated as the User Interface Processor) operates to initialize and maintain and communicate to remote diagnostic terminals for purposes of confirming integrity of the system and also for displaying data for locating any faults or problems in the network. The maintenance subsystem initiates start-up and self-test routines in a sequenced order for establishing the integrity of the units in the network. The subsystem includes means for testing two types of subsystems, that is, one having I/O controllers with self-test capability and another subsystem having I/O controllers without self-test capability. The UIP provides means for complete control of the network. It can interface the network to a remote service center where all operations such as power-up and initialization can be also effectuated.

In a computer network comprising a host computer and I/O subsystem connected to remote peripheral units via data link processors and also connected to a maintenance subsytem for initialization, testing and diagnostic operations, the maintenance subystem comprising:

(a) user interface processor means connected to said host computer and I/O subsystem and having further connections to a remote support-diagnostic center via a power control card unit, said user interface processor means including:
(a1) means to control the power on/off condition of any connected unit in the said computer network;
(a2) means to initiate self-test operations within said interface processor means;
(a3) means to initiate self-test routines in said data link processors;
(a4) means to transmit/receive diagnostic information to/from a remote support-diagnostic center;
(a5) means to display data, instructions and diagnostic information on an operator display terminal;
(a6) and wherein said user interface processor means operates to detect and identify any card or module having:
(i) a power fault;
(ii) a logic fault;
(iii) memory unit failure;
(iv) peripheral device failure;
(v) an intermittent hardware or software failure;
(a7) dual function controller means providing maintenance data transfer connections to said host computer and said data link processors, said dual function means including:
(a7a) means to execute maintenance data transfers to and from said data link processors while operating as a master to said data link processors;
(a7b) means to execute maintenance data transfers to and from said host computer while operating as a slave to said host computer;
(b) processor interface card unit means, connected to said main host computer and said I/O sybsystem, for providing a data transfer interface to said host computer and data link processors, said processor interface card unit means including:
(b1) interface means to said main host computer for data transfer operations;
(b2) means for storing a multi-word history trace of data resulting from a given input signal;
(b3) means for recording a series of events for analysis of operations;
(c) said operator display terminal, connected to said interface user processor means, for displaying data, instructions and diagnostic information to a human operator;
(d) power control card unit means, connected to said interface processor means and said remote support-diagnostic center, said power control card unit means including:
(d1) protocol circuit means providing bidirectional communication with said remote support center means;
(d2) means to execute instructions for powering on or powering off any said connected unit in said computer network;
(d3) means to detect power failures in the power modules of any said unit connected in the computer network;
(d4) means to transmit power status information to said interface processor means and to said remote support-diagnostic center;
(e) remote support-diagnostic center means for receiving data from said poweer control card unit means and said interface processor means, said diagnostic center means including:
(e1) means to analyze said received data and to generate remedial instructions to said interface processor means for display on said operator display terminal;
(e2) means to initiate and operate said user interface processor means for operation of those parts of the said host computer and I/O subsystem which are tested as operable.

25 more elements

Maintenance subsystem for computer network including power control and remote diagnostic center

Life of this patent

Maintenance subsystem for computer network including power control and remote diagnostic center

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14