Diagnostic clearing house
AssigneeSun Microsystems, Inc.
InventorsPhilip J. Mikal, Mou-Sheng Cheng, Stephen YiPing Chou
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A diagnostic clearing house comprises a tool repository to store a plurality of diagnostic tools. A communication vehicle allows a plurality of diagnostic tool users to exchange diagnostic information. A management system manages access to and content of the tool repository and the communication vehicle and manages distribution of diagnostic tools from the tool repository to an end user. The diagnostic clearing house may be web-based.
Claims22
A diagnostic clearing house, comprising:
- a tool repository to store a plurality of diagnostic tools;
- a communication vehicle to allow a plurality of diagnostic tool users to exchange diagnostic information;
- and
- a management system to manage access to and content of the tool repository and the communication vehicle and to manage distribution of diagnostic tools from the tool repository to an end user;
- wherein the plurality of diagnostic tools comprise a diagnostic tool designed for testing computer hardware components.
A method of using a diagnostic clearing house, comprising:
- locating a diagnostic tool by searching a tool repository;
- distributing the diagnostic tool to a user from the tool repository;
- and
- exchanging diagnostic information concerning the diagnostic tool between a plurality of users;
- wherein the diagnostic tool is designed for testing computer hardware components.
A method of submitting and posting a diagnostic tool in a diagnostic clearing house, comprising:
- submitting the diagnostic tool by the tool owner to the diagnostic clearing house;
- adding the diagnostic tool to a pending queue;
- using an administrator to remove the diagnostic tool from the pending queue and send the diagnostic tool to a diagnostic council;
- approving the diagnostic tool by the diagnostic council;
- assigning the diagnostic tool a unique id;
- storing the diagnostic tool in a tool repository based on the unique id;
- classifying the diagnostic tool;
- associating the diagnostic tool by links with related diagnostic tools in the tool repository;
- and
- posting the diagnostic tool on the diagnostic clearing house;
- wherein the diagnostic tool is designed for testing computer hardware components.
A method of exchanging diagnostic information between a plurality of diagnostic tool users in a diagnostic clearing house, comprising:
- adding diagnostic information from a diagnostic tool user to a pending queue;
- removing the diagnostic information from the pending queue by an administrator;
- sending the diagnostic information to a diagnostic reviewer by the administrator;
- approving the diagnostic information by the diagnostic reviewer;
- and
- posting the diagnostic information on the diagnostic clearing house;
- wherein the diagnostic tool is designed for testing computer hardware components.
A computer system for a diagnostic clearing house, comprising:
- a storage element comprising a relational database;
- a plurality of diagnostic tools stored in the relational database;
- a processor for distributing a plurality of diagnostic tools from the relational database in the storage element;
- and
- a communication vehicle stored in the relational database in the storage element for allowing a plurality of users to exchange diagnostic information;
- wherein the diagnostic tool is designed for testing computer hardware components.
A diagnostic clearing house, comprising:
- means for accessing a diagnostic tool by searching a tool repository;
- means for distributing the diagnostic tool to a user from the tool repository;
- means for exchanging diagnostic information between a plurality of users;
- means for submitting the diagnostic tool to the tool repository;
- and
- means for posting the diagnostic tool on the diagnostic clearing house;
- wherein the diagnostic tool is designed for testing computer hardware components.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.