Method and apparatus for monitoring computer systems during manufacturing, testing and in the field

A method of monitoring a plurality of data processing systems from a monitoring system to determine when any of the data processing systems experiences a failure, wherein the plurality of data processing systems and the monitoring system each is installed in a manufacture/test facility, the method comprising steps of:

• (A) coupling the plurality of data processing systems to the monitoring system via a network cloud;
• (B) executing a plurality of tests on each of the plurality of data processing systems to test the functional operation of the plurality of data processing systems, each one of the plurality of tests generating a failure when one of the plurality of data processing systems does not properly execute the one of the plurality of tests;
• and
• (C) when one of the plurality of data processing systems experiences a failure, detecting the failure at the monitoring system based upon communications over the network cloud between the one of the plurality of data processing systems and the monitoring system.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a network cloud;
• a plurality of remote data processing systems installed at a plurality of remote customer sites and coupled to the network cloud;
• and
• a local monitoring system disposed at a local customer service site and coupled to the network cloud, wherein the local monitoring system monitors the plurality of remote data processing systems to determine when any of the remote data processing systems experiences a failure, and wherein the local monitoring system detects a failure in one of the remote data processing systems based upon communications over the network cloud between the one of the plurality of remote data processing systems and the local monitoring system.

An apparatus comprising:

• a network cloud;
• a plurality of data processing systems installed in a manufacture/test facility coupled to the network cloud, each one of the plurality of data processing systems executing a plurality of tests to test the functional operation of the one of the plurality of data processing systems, each one of the plurality of tests generating a failure when the one of the plurality of data processing systems does not properly execute the one of the plurality of tests;
• and
• a monitoring system, coupled to the network cloud, to monitor the plurality of data processing systems to determine when any of the data processing systems experiences a failure, wherein the monitoring system detects a failure in one of the data processing systems based upon communications over the network cloud between the one of the plurality of data processing systems and the monitoring system.

A method of automatically downloading an updated a piece of software to a plurality of data processing systems, the plurality of data processing systems each being coupled to a service center, the method comprising steps of:

• (A) providing the updated piece of software on the service center;
• (B) periodically receiving service requests from each of the plurality of data processing systems, each service request including information from which a determination can be made as to whether the data processing system that transmitted the request has a copy of the updated piece of software;
• (C) in response to the service requests, automatically determining which of the plurality of data processing systems do not have a copy of the updated piece of software;
• and
• (D) automatically downloading a copy of the updated piece of software to the data processing systems that do not have a copy of the updated piece of software.

A method of using a monitoring system to monitor the status of a plurality of data processing systems in a manufacture/test facility, the method comprising steps of:

• (A) executing a plurality of tests on each of the plurality of data processing systems to test the functional operation of the plurality of data processing systems, each one of the plurality of tests generating a failure when one of the plurality of data processing systems does not properly execute the one of the plurality of tests;
• (B) when a failing one of the plurality of data processing systems experiences a failure;
• storing information in the failing one of the plurality of data processing systems identifying a nature of the failure;
• and
• broadcasting a service request from the failing one of the plurality of data processing systems to the monitoring system, the service request indicating that the failure has occurred;
• and
• (C) storing information in the monitoring system to record the failure in response to information provided by the failing one of the plurality of data processing systems.

A method of using a monitoring system to monitor the status of a plurality of data processing systems in a manufacture/test facility, the method comprising steps of:

• (A) executing a plurality of tests on each of the plurality of data processing systems to test the functional operation of the plurality of data processing systems, each one of the plurality of tests generating a failure when one of the plurality of data processing systems does not properly execute the one of the plurality of tests;
• (B) periodically transmitting inquiries from the monitoring system to each of the plurality of data processing systems requesting information as to whether the one of the plurality of data processing systems has experienced a failure;
• and
• (C) when a failing one of the plurality of data processing systems experiences a failure;
• storing information in the failing one of the plurality of data processing systems identifying a nature of the failure;
• and
• responding to one of the periodic inquiries by transmitting the stored information that indicates the nature of the failure to the monitoring system.

A method of monitoring a plurality of data processing systems from a monitoring system to determine when any of the data processing systems experiences a failure, the method comprising steps of:

• (A) coupling the plurality of data processing systems to the monitoring system via a network cloud;
• and
• (B) when one of the plurality of data processing systems experiences a failure, detecting the failure at the monitoring system based upon communications over the network cloud between the one of the plurality of data processing systems and the monitoring system,
• wherein step (B) further includes steps of:
• (B1) detecting the failure at the one of the data processing systems, and broadcasting a service request over the network cloud from the one of the plurality of data processing systems to the monitoring system, the service request indicating that the failure has occurred in the one of the plurality of data processing systems;
• and
• (B2) periodically transmitting communications over the network cloud from the monitoring system to the one of the plurality of data processing systems to determine whether the one of the plurality of data processing systems is capable of returning a responsive communication over the network cloud, and when no responsive communication is received from the one of the plurality of data processing systems, determining that the failure has occurred in the one of the data processing systems.