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US 6,477,486 B1Granted
Automatic location determination of devices under test
AssigneeDell USA, L.P.
InventorsSubha Rojan Ram, Roger Wong
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A test device for a computer system includes a burn rack having a plurality of workcells. A simple network management protocol switch device is provided adjacent the burn rack. The switch device includes a plurality of ports. A plurality of cables are provided such that a respective cable interconnects a respective port of the switch device and a respective workcell. A monitor is provided adjacent the burn rack and is connected to a port of the switch device. At least one of the workcells has a computer mounted therein provided with a unique Mac Address and connected to the respective cable at the respective workcell. The monitor is connected to a burn rack database.
Claims12
A burn rack test device comprising:
- a burn rack including a plurality of workcells, each workcell having a workcell identifier;
- a simple network management protocol switch device adjacent the burn rack, the switch device including a plurality of ports and switches, each port having a port identifier and each switch having a switch identifier;
- a plurality of cables, a respective cable interconnecting a respective port of the switch device and a respective workcell;
- a monitor adjacent the burn rack, the monitor connected to a database and to a port of the switch device;
- at least one of the workcells having a device under test mounted therein being tracked during a build process and connected to the respective cable at the respective workcell;
- each device under test being provided with a unique Mac Address, the Mac Address relating to a lifetime identifier being used for tracking the device under test during the build process, a test identification, and a time stamp for the start of the a test;
- each switch and a related one of the ports designate a port identifier, whereby the Mac Address is used to determine which port each switch is connected to;
- each device under test repeatedly broadcasting information including the Mac Address, the information being stored in the database;
- and
- a subsequent broadcast for each device under test removing previously broadcast information and storing updated information from the subsequent broadcast in the database.
7 more elements
A test device for a computer system comprising:
- a burn rack including a plurality of workcells, each workcell having a workcell identifier;
- a simple network management protocol switch device adjacent the burn rack, the switch device including a plurality of ports and switches, each port having a port identifier and each switch having a switch identifier;
- a plurality of cables, a respective cable interconnecting a respective port of the switch device and a respective workcell;
- a monitor adjacent the burn rack, the monitor connected to a database and to a port of the switch device;
- a plurality of the workcells having a computer mounted therein being tracked during a build process and connected to the respective cable at the respective workcell;
- each computer being provided with a unique Mac Address, the Mac Address relating to a lifetime identifier being used for tracking the computer during the build process, a test identification and a time stamp forth the start of the test;
- each switch and a related one of the ports designate a port identifier, whereby the Mac Address is used to determine which port each switch is connected to;
- each computer repeatedly broadcasting information including the Mac Address, the information being stored in the database;
- and
- a subsequent broadcast for each computer removing previously broadcast information and storing updated information from the subsequent broadcast in the database.
7 more elements
A method of testing a computer during a manufacturing process comprising the steps of
- providing a bum rack including a plurality of workcells, each workcell having a workcell identifier,
- mounting a simple network management protocol switch device adjacent the burn rack, the switch device including a plurality of ports and switches, each port having a port identifier and each switch having a switch identifier;
- interconnecting a plurality of cables, a respective cable interconnecting a respective port of the switch device and a respective workcell;
- mounting a monitor adjacent the burn rack, the monitor connected to a database and to a port of the switch device;
- mounting a computer in at least one of the workcells, the computer being tracked during the manufacturing process and being connected to the respective cable in the respective workcell;
- providing a unique Mac Address to each computer;
- relating the Mac Address to a lifetime identifier being used for tracking the computer during the build process, a test identification and a time stamp forth the start of the test;
- utilizing each switch and one of the related ports to designate a port identifier;
- utilizing the Mac Address to determine which port each switch is connected to;
- broadcasting information from the computer including the Mac Address;
- storing the broadcast information in a database;
- repeating a broadcast for each computer to remove previously broadcast information;
- and
- storing updated information from the repeat broadcast in the database.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.