Apparatus And Method For Performing Failure Diagnostic Testing of Electronic Equipment
First Claim
1. A method for performing testing of an electronic device comprising:
- (a) commanding the execution of prescribed functional tests of components contained in the device;
(b) collecting testing data generated by functional tests; and
(c) responding to the generated testing data for identifying potentially faulty components;
wherein the method is by a software program operating automatically when started by an operator.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for automated diagnostic testing of an electronic device assembly so that functional testing, collection of test results, diagnosis for identifying potentially failed components in the device assembly is a software controlled automated process. In one embodiment of the present invention, a component-level block diagram is coupled to the controllable devices in the device assembly so that an operator can set up and conduct the functional testing of the device assembly. The diagram is also updated with the generated test data for displaying to the user potentially failed components and other information for helping the user to diagnose and to troubleshoot the situation.
23 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for performing testing of an electronic device comprising:
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(a) commanding the execution of prescribed functional tests of components contained in the device; (b) collecting testing data generated by functional tests; and (c) responding to the generated testing data for identifying potentially faulty components; wherein the method is by a software program operating automatically when started by an operator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for performing diagnostic testing of an electronic device wherein the device includes a plurality of components and a plurality of test paths linking groups of the components via selectable latches, the device further including at least one testing program operable for conducting prescribed functional tests of the groups via the test paths;
- the testing program operable for generating testing data;
the selectable latches being selected as required for enabling the testing program to conduct the prescribed functional tests of the groups, the apparatus comprising;an inventory model for identifying the components that are tested by and the latches used by the prescribed functional tests; a graphical component-level block diagram of the device for displaying the selectable latches, the components of the groups and the corresponding test paths used when the functional tests are being conducted; a component-level diagnostic agent for responding to the testing data and for identifying which of the components are potentially faulty as a result of failing at least one of the functional tests; and a test executive being coupled to the device, the testing program, the inventory model, the component-level block diagram and the diagnostic agent;
the test executive being so constructed and arranged that when an operator selects a test start command, the test executive starts the prescribed functional tests of the groups and the diagnostic agent operates for receiving testing data;wherein the block diagram is updated so that any components identified as being potentially faulty are displayed as potentially faulty in the block diagram. - View Dependent Claims (20)
- the testing program operable for generating testing data;
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21. A method for troubleshooting an electronic device wherein the device includes controllable elements, the method comprising:
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executing prescribed tests of groups of the elements for identifying potentially faulty elements; collecting testing data generated by the tests; forming a block diagram of the device; coupling the block diagram to the controllable elements for communications to and from the controllable elements; displaying the controllable elements in the block diagram; and responding to the generated testing data for displaying generated testing data. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification