APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TROUBLESHOOTING A COMPUTER SYSTEM

• US 20090012674A1
• Filed: 07/02/2007
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Judd, Tom D., McGuffin, Thomas F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,908,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test

Abstract

An apparatus for troubleshooting a computer system of a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus includes a controller for controlling an aspect of operation of the vehicle with at least one process. The apparatus also includes a diagnostic system configured to monitor the at least one process and configured to obtain diagnostic data regarding the at least one process. Additionally, the apparatus includes a wireless device coupled to the diagnostic system and configured to connect to an Internet Protocol (IP) based network, and configured to transmit the diagnostic data over the network.

Claims

1. An apparatus for troubleshooting a computer system of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a controller, the controller controlling an aspect of operation of the vehicle with at least one process;

a diagnostic system configured to monitor the at least one process and configured to obtain software diagnostic data regarding the at least one process; and

a wireless device coupled to the diagnostic system and configured to connect to a network, and configured to transmit the software diagnostic data over the network.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is configured to connect to an IP based network.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a memory device configured to store the data obtained from the monitoring process.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the memory device and the wireless device are on one module.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is for troubleshooting a computer system of an aircraft.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is configured to receive information over the network.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the software diagnostic data is software code obtained from a source code trace.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is configured to transmit data automatically when the wireless device is within range of a device for reception of the software diagnostic data.

7. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the diagnostic system is further configured to run at least one test, the at least one test configured to analyze the at least one process;

and

wherein the wireless device is configured to receive commands controlling the operation of the at least one test.

10. A method for troubleshooting a computer system of a vehicle, the method comprising:

monitoring a process of a controller, the controller controlling an aspect of operation of a vehicle;

obtaining software diagnostic data regarding the process; and

transmitting the software diagnostic data to a remote computer over a network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein transmitting further comprises transmitting the software diagnostic data automatically as soon as a wireless transmitter is within range of a wireless device for reception of the software diagnostic data.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein transmitting further comprises transmitting the software diagnostic data over an IP based network.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the software diagnostic data is software code obtained from a source code trace.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a command controlling the operation of a test, the test configured to obtain software diagnostic data regarding the process.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a command for configuring the controller.

16. An apparatus for accumulating information pertaining to a computer for use in diagnostic evaluation, the apparatus comprising:

a computer having an operating system controlling at least one process;

a memory coupled to the computer, the memory containing stored program instructions executable by the computer, the instructions comprising;

monitoring the at least one process; and

obtaining software diagnostic data regarding the at least one process; and

a wireless device coupled to the memory and configured to connect to an network, and configured to transmit the software diagnostic data over the network.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the system is further configured to run at least one test, the test configured to analyze the at least one process;

and

wherein the wireless device is configured to receive commands controlling the operation of the at least one test.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the wireless device is configured to connect to an IP based network.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the wireless device is configured to transmit data automatically when the wireless device is within range of a device for reception of the software diagnostic data.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the computer is on a vehicle.