Parallel testing of a controller area network bus cable

• US 10,205,486 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2017
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Barajas Gonzalez, Emmanuel, Harrington, Shaun E., Rawlins, Benjamin K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Shawkat M
• Application Number:
  US15/629,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20170288730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 324 51, 324 66, 324 67, 324539, 324542, 324628, 370242, 375219, 375257, 375354, 702 60, 702 89, 702116, 702183, 710104, 714 45, 714 35, 714 38, 714 45, 717106
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/58 Testing of lines, cables or conductors testing of electric windings G01R31/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/00 Monitoring; Testing of line transmission systems H04B3/46; arrangements for monitoring or testing transmission systems employing electromagnetic waves other than radio waves H04B10/07
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/46 Monitoring; Testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

A computer program product according to one embodiment includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, the program instructions executable by a processing system to cause the processing system to perform a method that includes sending a data testing signal through a data lead of a cable via a first interface, sending a power signal through a power lead of the cable via the first interface, receiving and analyzing the data testing signal from the data lead of the cable via a second interface, and receiving and analyzing the power signal passing through the power lead of the cable via the second interface.

Claims

1. A computer program product, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, the program instructions executable by a processing system to cause the processing system to perform a method comprising:

sending, by the processing system, a data testing signal through a data lead of a cable via a first interface;

sending, by the processing system, a power signal through a power lead of the cable via the first interface;

receiving and analyzing, by the processing system, the data testing signal from the data lead of the cable via a second interface; and

receiving and analyzing, by the processing system, the power signal passing through the power lead of the cable via the second interface.

2. The computer program product as recited in claim 1, wherein the data testing signal and the power signal are sent concurrently.

3. The computer program product as recited in claim 1, wherein both an integrity and a quality of the data testing signal is determined.

4. The computer program product as recited in claim 1, wherein the processing system is integrated with a second system that uses the cable.

5. The computer program product as recited in claim 4, wherein the second system is an automated tape storage library.

6. The computer program product as recited in claim 1, wherein a voltage of the data testing signal is less than a voltage of the power signal.

7. The computer program product as recited in claim 1, wherein the data testing signal is an alternating current (AC) data testing signal.

8. The computer program product as recited in claim 1, wherein the power signal is an alternating current (AC) power signal.

9. The computer program product as recited in claim 1, wherein the data testing signal is an alternating current (AC) data testing signal and the power signal is an AC power signal.

10. A system, comprising:

a control circuit coupled to a first interface for coupling to a cable;

a robotic accessor coupled to a second interface for coupling to the cable, the robotic accessor being configured to transport data storage media from a storage slot, a slot cell, or a storage slot and a slot cell, to a drive;

a first portion of a testing system coupled to the control circuit, the first portion being configured to send a data testing signal through a data lead of the cable via the first interface, the first portion being configured to send a power signal through a power lead of the cable via the first interface; and

a second portion of the testing system on the robotic accessor, the second portion being configured to receive and analyze the data testing signal from the data lead of the cable via the second interface, the second portion being configured to receive and analyze the power signal passing through the power lead of the cable via the second interface.

11. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the first portion is configured to send the data testing signal and the power signal concurrently.

12. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the second portion is configured to determine both an integrity and a quality of the data testing signal.

13. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the second portion is configured to compare data extracted from the data testing signal to data sent by the first portion.

14. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the second portion is configured to compare an impedance of the power lead, or derivative thereof, to a value and output a result of the comparing.

15. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the first and second portion are configured to perform data testing, power testing, or data testing and power testing, at least two times in sequence.

16. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the robotic accessor is configured to transport tape cartridges.

17. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving and analyzing a data testing signal from a data lead of a cable via an interface; and

receiving and analyzing a power signal passing through a power lead of the cable via the interface,

wherein the receiving and analyzing the data testing signal is performed concurrently with the receiving and analyzing the power signal.

18. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 17, wherein both an integrity and a quality of the data testing signal is determined.

19. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 17, wherein a voltage of the data testing signal is less than a voltage of the power signal.

20. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 17, wherein the data testing signal is an alternating current (AC) data testing signal, or the power signal is an AC power signal, or the data testing signal is an AC data testing signal and the power signal is an AC power signal.