JTAG component description via nonvolatile memory
AssigneeNCR Corporation
InventorsLarry C. James, Mark A. Taylor, Chris A. Harrison, David L. Simpson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Nonvolatile memory is provided on each module of a computer system including one or more modules with each module including a plurality of components including JTAG technology. A test bus operable in accordance with the 1149.1 standard is included in the computer system and is arranged to access the nonvolatile memory. Boundary scan information for the components on a module and also additional information, preferably fully describing all JTAG related characteristics and operations, is stored in the nonvolatile memory. A JTAG bus system is then able to access the module memory and obtain all information required to fully implement JTAG operations for the module.
Claims8
A method of operating a test bus incorporated into a computer system including one or more modules each of which includes a plurality of components each in turn including boundary scan architecture for testing said components via said test bus, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing nonvolatile memory on each of said one or more modules, said nonvolatile memory being accessible by said test bus;
- storing boundary scan information for each of said plurality of components in said nonvolatile memory;
- and
- accessing said nonvolatile memory to retrieve boundary scan information required by said test bus for testing said plurality of components.
A module for use in a computer system including one or more of said modules and a serial test bus, said module comprising:
- module test means for interfacing said module with said serial test bus;
- a plurality of components mounted on said module, said plurality of components being connected to said test bus through said module test means for testing said components;
- and
- nonvolatile memory means accessible by said test bus through said module test means for storing boundary scan information for each of said plurality of components.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.