US 5,400,346 AGranted

Method for diagnosing conditions in a signal line

AssigneePhoenix Microsystems, Inc.

InventorsJames L. Clayton, Bruce G. Neale

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Abstract

A system is disclosed for intelligently providing suggestions for solving problems encountered during installation and testing of complex electronic circuitry. A plurality of first outputs provide indications of non-selectable conditions of the system, such as conditions related to power supplies. A plurality of second outputs provide indications of conditions of signals coupled to the system, and a plurality of third outputs provide indications of selectable parameters, such as switch positions. These indications and conditions are monitored for incorrect conditions and are polled in an order determined by importance of the condition with respect to operation of the system. Responsive to an incorrect condition or indication being polled, the polling process is halted and a message is generated indicating how the incorrect condition or indication may be corrected.

Claims18

Dependent claims

In a communications system, in combination:

a communications medium including a plurality of first circuit means unidirectionally responsive to operation of said communications medium, for unidirectionally providing first signals reflective of said operation;
a plurality of second circuit means including a plurality of switches selectively coupled to said communications medium, for providing second signals indicative of switched states of said plurality of switches;
a plurality of indicator means coupled to said communications medium and said first and second circuit means, for providing selected indications representative of predetermined conditions of said communications medium and said first and second circuit means;
a plurality of first monitor means, each responsive to at least one switched state of a respective one of said second circuit means, for signalling said state;
a plurality of second monitor means, each responsive to a particular said condition of a respective one of said indicator means for signalling each said predetermined condition;
sequence sampling means responsive to said signalling from said first and second monitor means, for sampling discrete said states and conditions, in sequence, and providing selected signals which are a function of said conditions and states;
and
message generation means responsive to said selected signals, for providing as an output, a message related to the conditions of said first and second circuit means and said communications medium, whereby incorrect said conditions and said states are observable.

5 more elements

In an electrical device having a plurality of conditions configurable for having different first aspects, and a plurality of non-configurable conditions having different second aspects, a method for providing messages as how to correct incorrect ones of said first and second aspects comprising the steps of:

(1) providing first outputs comprising indications of said configurable first aspects;
(2) providing second outputs comprising indications of non-configurable said second aspects;
(3) providing third outputs comprising combinations of said first and second aspects;
(4) determining a correct or incorrect state of said first, second, and third outputs;
(5) sequentially interrogating said first, second, and third outputs in a selected order and providing a fourth, inhibiting output responsive to a first occurring said incorrect state of said first, second and third outputs;
(6) halting said interrogation responsive to said fourth output and at a point in said selected order where said fourth output occurs;
and
(7) generating a message of how said incorrect state may be corrected, whereby as the step of sequentially interrogating said first, second, and third outputs is activated, the steps of halting said interrogation and generating said message are unresponsive to said interrogation until said selected order of said interrogation reaches a said incorrect state of said first, second, and third outputs.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.