Multi-purpose network diagnostic modules
First Claim
1. A software configurable network diagnostic module suitable for implementing a plurality of different network diagnostic functions, the software configurable network diagnostic module comprising:
- a bus interface configured to exchange data with a computer system bus;
one or more programmable logic modules, each programmable logic module configured to process bit files that cause the programmable logic module and at least one communicatively coupled port to interoperate to implement one of the plurality of different network diagnostic functions, each programmable logic module including a clock configured to coordinate the transfer of data between the programmable logic module and the at least one communicatively coupled port;
one or more ports, each port communicatively coupled to one of the one or more programmable logic modules, each port being network connectable to a network; and
a control module communicatively coupled to the bus interface and communicatively coupled to each of the one or more programmable logic modules, the control module configured to coordinate the transfer of data between the bus interface and the one or more programmable logic modules.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides for flexibly configurable network diagnostic modules that can implement any of a plurality of network diagnostic functions. A network diagnostic module receives an indication that a selected network diagnostic function (e.g., network analyzer, jammer, generator, bit error rate tester, etc.) is to be implemented. The network diagnostic module receives a bit file with instructions or data for implementing the selected network diagnostic function at one or more ports. The network diagnostic module identifies a programmable logic module (e.g., a Field-Programmable Gate Array (“FPGA”)) that controls the one or ports. The network diagnostic module loads a portion of the bit file at the identified programmable logic module to cause the programmable logic module and the one or more ports to interoperate to implement the selected network diagnostic function. A plurality of network diagnostic modules can be included in a common computer system chassis.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A software configurable network diagnostic module suitable for implementing a plurality of different network diagnostic functions, the software configurable network diagnostic module comprising:
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a bus interface configured to exchange data with a computer system bus;
one or more programmable logic modules, each programmable logic module configured to process bit files that cause the programmable logic module and at least one communicatively coupled port to interoperate to implement one of the plurality of different network diagnostic functions, each programmable logic module including a clock configured to coordinate the transfer of data between the programmable logic module and the at least one communicatively coupled port;
one or more ports, each port communicatively coupled to one of the one or more programmable logic modules, each port being network connectable to a network; and
a control module communicatively coupled to the bus interface and communicatively coupled to each of the one or more programmable logic modules, the control module configured to coordinate the transfer of data between the bus interface and the one or more programmable logic modules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A chassis computer system suitable for housing one or more software configurable network diagnostic modules, the chassis computer system comprising:
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one or more bus interface receptacles, each bus interface receptacle configured to receive a bus interface portion of a network diagnostic module, each bus interface receptacle communicatively coupled to a computer system bus;
a mass storage interface communicatively coupled to the computer system bus, the mass storage interface configured to transfer collected network diagnostic data to a mass storage device;
a trigger input port communicatively coupled to the computer system bus, the trigger input port configured to receive trigger signals indicating the occurrence of an event;
a trigger output port communicatively coupled to the computer system bus, the trigger output port configured to send trigger signals indicating the occurrence of an event;
at least one interconnect port communicatively coupled to the computer system bus, the at least one interconnect port configured to exchange network diagnostic control signals with one or more other chassis computer systems; and
a remote access port communicatively coupled to the computer system bus, the remote access port configured to provide a remote computer system with an interface to resources of the chassis computer system. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. In a computer system that is network connectable to a network, the computer system including a network diagnostic module that is configured to perform a current network diagnostic function, a method for configuring the network diagnostic module to perform a selected network diagnostic function, the method comprising the acts of:
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receiving an indication that the network diagnostic module is to be configured to perform the selected network diagnostic function;
receiving a bit file for implementing the selected network diagnostic function at one or more ports, the one or more ports interfacing with the network;
identifying a programmable logic module that controls the one or more ports; and
loading at least a portion of the received bit file at the identified programmable logic module to cause the one or more ports to be configured to perform the selected network diagnostic function. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A computer program product for use in a computer system that is network connectable to a network, the computer system including a network diagnostic module that is configured to perform a current network diagnostic function, the computer program product for implementing a method for configuring the network diagnostic module to perform a selected network diagnostic function, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the computer system to perform the following:
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receive an indication that the network diagnostic module is to be configured to perform the selected network diagnostic function;
receive a bit file for implementing the selected network diagnostic function at one or more ports, the one or more points interfacing with the network;
identify a programmable logic module that controls the one or more ports; and
load the at least a portion of the received bit file at the identified programmable logic module so as to cause the one or more ports to be configured to perform the selected network diagnostic function. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. A network diagnostic module configured to:
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receive a bit file, the bit file including instructions or data for implementing a selected network diagnostic function at one or more ports, the selected network diagnostic function selected from among a plurality of different network diagnostic functions that can be implemented at the network diagnostic modules, the one or more points interfacing with a network;
identify a programmable logic module that controls the one or more ports; and
load the included instructions or data at the identified programmable logic module to cause the programmable logic module and the one or more ports to interoperate to implement the selected network diagnostic function.
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Specification