SCALABLE TEST PLATFORM

• US 20140207404A1
• Filed: 01/24/2013
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xcerra Corporation (COHU Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: LTX-Credence Corporation (COHU Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fritzsche, William A., Alton, Timothy, Currin, Jeffery D., Poffenberger, Russell Elliott, Davis, Michael Gordon
• Granted Patent: US 9,336,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/123
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/263 Generation of test inputs, e.g. test vectors, patterns or sequences ; with adaptation of the tested hardware for testability with external testers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3664 Environments for testing or debugging software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/08 Registering or indicating the production of the machine either with or without registering working or idle time

Abstract

A method, computer program product, and computing system for, upon the occurrence of a computer-related event, comparing code utilized by one or more subsystems included within a scalable test platform to code available from a remote location. If the code available from the remote location is newer than the code utilized by one or more subsystems, the code available from the remote location is obtained, thus defining newer code. The code utilized by one or more subsystems is updated with the newer code.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

upon the occurrence of a computer-related event, comparing code utilized by one or more subsystems included within a scalable test platform to code available from a remote location;

if the code available from the remote location is newer than the code utilized by one or more subsystems, obtaining the code available from the remote location, thus defining newer code; and

updating the code utilized by one or more subsystems with the newer code.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the computer-related event includes the occurrence of a booting procedure.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the computer-related event includes the occurrence of an update procedure.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the newer code includes a firmware update for the one or more subsystems.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the newer code includes a driver update for the one or more subsystems.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein obtaining the code available from the remote location includes obtaining the code from a remote website via the internet.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the scalable test platform includes:

a PCIe-based event fabric;

one or more CPU subsystems coupled to the PCIe-based event fabric and configured to execute an automated test process; and

one or more instrument subsystems coupled to the PCIe-based event fabric and configured to interface one or more devices under test.

8. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

upon the occurrence of a computer-related event, comparing code utilized by one or more subsystems included within a scalable test platform to code available from a remote location;

if the code available from the remote location is newer than the code utilized by one or more subsystems, obtaining the code available from the remote location, thus defining newer code; and

updating the code utilized by one or more subsystems with the newer code.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the computer-related event includes the occurrence of a booting procedure.

10. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the computer-related event includes the occurrence of an update procedure.

11. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the newer code includes a firmware update for the one or more subsystems.

12. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the newer code includes a driver update for the one or more subsystems.

13. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein obtaining the code available from the remote location includes obtaining the code from a remote website via the internet.

14. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the scalable test platform includes:

a PCIe-based event fabric;

one or more CPU subsystems coupled to the PCIe-based event fabric and configured to execute an automated test process; and

one or more instrument subsystems coupled to the PCIe-based event fabric and configured to interface one or more devices under test.

15. A computing system including at least one processor and at least one memory architecture coupled with the at least one processor, wherein the computing system is configured to perform operations comprising:

upon the occurrence of a computer-related event, comparing code utilized by one or more subsystems included within a scalable test platform to code available from a remote location;

if the code available from the remote location is newer than the code utilized by one or more subsystems, obtaining the code available from the remote location, thus defining newer code; and

updating the code utilized by one or more subsystems with the newer code.

16. The computing system of claim 15 wherein the computer-related event includes the occurrence of a booting procedure.

17. The computing system of claim 15 wherein the computer-related event includes the occurrence of an update procedure.

18. The computing system of claim 15 wherein the newer code includes a firmware update for the one or more subsystems.

19. The computing system of claim 15 wherein the newer code includes a driver update for the one or more subsystems.

20. The computing system of claim 15 wherein obtaining the code available from the remote location includes obtaining the code from a remote website via the internet.

21. The computing system of claim 15 wherein the scalable test platform includes:

a PCIe-based event fabric;

one or more CPU subsystems coupled to the PCIe-based event fabric and configured to execute an automated test process; and

one or more instrument subsystems coupled to the PCIe-based event fabric and configured to interface one or more devices under test.