Techniques for testing an electronic system using in-line signal distortion
AssigneeEMC Corporation
InventorsEdward Iaciofano, Thomas Laviolette
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A technique for testing an electronic system (e.g., a computer system) involves intercepting an initial signal of the electronic system, modifying the initial signal with a distortion to form a distorted signal, and introducing the distorted signal into the electronic system in place of the initial signal. The technique further involves obtaining, from the electronic system, a result having one of (i) a first value indicating that the electronic system handled the distorted signal in a normal operating mode, and (ii) a second value indicating that the electronic system handled the distorted signal in an error handling mode which is different than the normal operating mode.
Claims22
A method for testing an electronic system, the method comprising:
- intercepting an initial signal of the electronic system;
- modifying the initial signal with a distortion to form a distorted signal;
- introducing the distorted signal into the electronic system in place of the initial signal;
- and
- obtaining, from the electronic system, a result having one of (i) a first value indicating that the electronic system handled the distorted signal in a normal operating mode, and (ii) a second value indicating that the electronic system handled the distorted signal in an error handling mode which is different than the normal operating mode;
- wherein the electronic system is a computer system;
- wherein intercepting the initial signal includes:
- receiving, as the initial signal, a serial data stream which is generated dynamically by the computer system in response to computerized operations performed by individual devices of the computer system;
- and
- wherein receiving the serial data stream includes:
- obtaining, as the serial data stream, a non-static, real-time electrical signal en route from a first device of the computer system toward a second device of the computer system.
An apparatus for testing an electronic system, comprising:
- an input stage which is configured to intercept an initial signal of the electronic system;
- a control stage coupled to the input stage, the control stage being configured to modify the initial signal with a distortion to form a distorted signal;
- and
- an output stage coupled to the control stage, the output stage being configured to introduce the distorted signal into the electronic system in place of the initial signal, the control stage enabling a user to select characteristics of the distortion and obtain, from the electronic system, a result having one of (i) a first value indicating that the electronic system handled the distorted signal in a normal operating mode, and (ii) a second value indicating that the electronic system handled the distorted signal in an error handling mode which is different than the normal operating mode;
- wherein the electronic system is a computer system, and wherein the input stage includes:
- an input analog buffer circuit configured to (i) receive, as the initial signal, a dynamically-generated, real-time differential pair signal in response to computerized operations performed by individual devices of the computer system, and (ii) preserve any pre-existing distortions in the dynamically-generated, real-time differential pair signal.
An apparatus for testing a computer system, comprising:
- an input stage which is configured to intercept an initial signal of the computer system;
- an output stage which is configured to introduce a distorted signal into the computer system in place of the initial signal;
- and
- means, coupled to the input stage and the output stage, for modifying the initial signal with a distortion to form the distorted signal, the means for modifying including means for enabling a user to select characteristics of the distortion to obtain, from the computer system, a result having one of (i) a first value indicating that the computer system handled the distorted signal in a normal operating mode, and (ii) a second value indicating that the computer system handled the distorted signal in an error handling mode which is different than the normal operating mode;
- wherein the electronic system is a computer system, and wherein the input stage includes:
- an input analog buffer circuit configured to (i) receive, as the initial signal, a dynamically-generated, real-time differential pair signal in response to computerized operations performed by individual devices of the computer system, and (ii) preserve any pre-existing distortions in the dynamically-generated, real-time differential pair signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.