Method, system, and product for hierarchical encoding of field replaceable unit service indicators

• US 20050160314A1
• Filed: 01/13/2004
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Fahr, Gerald J., Ahrens, George Henry Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,234,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/325 by lamps or LED's

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product are disclosed for hierarchically encoding indicators used to identify an instance of a device. Multiple nodes are included. Each node includes an implemented instance of a device. Multiple hierarchical indicators and multiple identity indicators are provided. Each one of the hierarchical indicators is associated with a different one of the nodes. Each one of the identity indicators is associated with a different one of the devices. One of the hierarchical indicators and one of the identity indicators are used for identifying an instance of one of the devices.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for hierarchically encoding indicators that are used to identify an instance of a device, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of nodes, each one of said plurality of nodes including an implemented instance of a plurality of devices;

associating each one of a plurality of hierarchical indicators with a different one of said plurality of nodes;

associating each one of a plurality of identity indicators with a different one of said plurality of devices; and

utilizing one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and one of said plurality of identity indicators for identifying an instance of said plurality of devices.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and one of said plurality of identity indicators for identifying a physical location of said instance.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

said plurality of devices being a plurality of field replaceable units (FRUs).

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining that an instance of one of said plurality of devices needs to be identified;

determining one of said plurality of nodes within which said instance is located;

identifying one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators that is associated with said determined one of said plurality of nodes;

identifying one of said plurality of identity indicators that is associated with said determined one of said plurality of devices; and

utilizing said identified one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and said identified one of said plurality of identity indicators to identify said instance.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

said step of utilizing said identified one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and said identified one of said plurality of identity indicators to identify said instance further including activating said identified one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and said identified one of said plurality of identity indicators.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

activating said identified one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and said identified one of said plurality of identity indicators while all remaining ones of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and said plurality of identity indicators remain deactivated.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

each one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and each one of said plurality of identity indicators being an LED.

8. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

each one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and each one of said plurality of identity indicators being an LED;

identifying a first LED that is associated with said determined one of said plurality of nodes;

identifying a second LED that is associated with said determined one of said plurality of devices; and

said step of utilizing said identified one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and said identified one of said plurality of identity indicators to identify said instance further including turning said first and second LEDs on.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

deactivating said identified one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and said identified one of said plurality of identity indicators to identify said instance further including turning said first and second LEDs off.

10. A data processing system for hierarchically encoding indicators that are used to identify an instance of a device, said system comprising:

a plurality of nodes, each one of said plurality of nodes including an implemented instance of a plurality of devices;

each one of a plurality of hierarchical indicators being associated with a different one of said plurality of nodes;

each one of a plurality of identity indicators being associated with a different one of said plurality of devices; and

one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and one of said plurality of identity indicators being utilized for identifying an instance of said plurality of devices.

11. The system according to claim 10, further comprising:

one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and one of said plurality of identity indicators being utilized for identifying a physical location of said instance.

12. The system according to claim 10, further comprising:

said plurality of devices being a plurality of field replaceable units (FRUs).

13. The system according to claim 10, further comprising:

an instance of one of said plurality of devices that needs to be identified;

said system including a CPU executing code for determining one of said plurality of nodes within which said instance is located;

said CPU executing code for identifying one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators that is associated with said determined one of said plurality of nodes;

said CPU executing code for identifying one of said plurality of identity indicators that is associated with said one of said plurality of devices; and

said CPU executing code for utilizing said identified one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and said identified one of said plurality of identity indicators to identify said instance.

14. The system according to claim 13, further comprising:

said CPU executing code for activating said identified one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and said identified one of said plurality of identity indicators.

15. The system according to claim 14, further comprising:

said CPU executing code for simultaneously activating said identified one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and said identified one of said plurality of identity indicators while all remaining ones of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and said plurality of identity indicators remain deactivated.

16. The system according to claim 14, further comprising:

each one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and each one of said plurality of identity indicators being an LED.

17. The system according to claim 13, further comprising:

each one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and each one of said plurality of identity indicators being an LED;

said CPU executing code for identifying a first LED that is associated with said determined one of said plurality of nodes;

said CPU executing code for identifying a second LED that is associated with said determined one of said plurality of devices; and

said CPU executing code for turning said first and second LEDs on.

18. The system according to claim 13, further comprising:

said CPU executing code for deactivating said identified one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and said identified one of said plurality of identity indicators to identify said instance further including turning said first and second LEDs off.

19. A computer program product for hierarchically encoding indicators that are used to identify an instance of a device, said product comprising:

instruction means for providing a plurality of nodes, each one of said plurality of nodes including an implemented instance of a plurality of devices;

instruction means for associating each one of a plurality of hierarchical indicators with a different one of said plurality of nodes;

instruction means for associating each one of a plurality of identity indicators with a different one of said plurality of devices; and

instruction means for utilizing one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and one of said plurality of identity indicators for identifying an instance of said plurality of devices.

20. The product according to claim 19, further comprising:

instruction means for utilizing one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and one of said plurality of identity indicators for identifying a physical location of said instance.

21. The product according to claim 19, further comprising:

said plurality of devices being a plurality of field replaceable units (FRUs).

22. The product according to claim 19, further comprising:

instruction means for determining that an instance of one of said plurality of devices needs to be identified;

instruction means for determining one of said plurality of nodes within which said instance is located;

instruction means for identifying one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators that is associated with said determined one of said plurality of nodes;

instruction means for identifying one of said plurality of identity indicators that is associated with said determined one of said plurality of devices; and

instruction means for utilizing said identified one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and said identified one of said plurality of identity indicators to identify said instance.

23. The product according to claim 22, further comprising:

said instruction means for utilizing said identified one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and said identified one of said plurality of identity indicators to identify said instance further including instruction means for activating said identified one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and said identified one of said plurality of identity indicators.

24. The product according to claim 23, further comprising:

instruction means for activating said identified one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and said identified one of said plurality of identity indicators while all remaining ones of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and said plurality of identity indicators remain deactivated.

25. The product according to claim 23, further comprising:

each one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and each one of said plurality of identity indicators being an LED.

26. The product according to claim 22, further comprising:

each one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and each one of said plurality of identity indicators being an LED;

instruction means for identifying a first LED that is associated with said determined one of said plurality of nodes;

instruction means for identifying a second LED that is associated with said determined one of said plurality of devices; and

said instruction means for utilizing said identified one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and said identified one of said plurality of identity indicators to identify said instance further including instruction means for turning said first and second LEDs on.

27. The product according to claim 22, further comprising:

instruction means for deactivating said identified one of said plurality of hierarchical indicators and said identified one of said plurality of identity indicators to identify said instance further including turning said first and second LEDs off.