Remote entry diagnostic and verification procedure apparatus for a data processing unit

• US 3,916,177 A
• Filed: 12/10/1973
• Issued: 10/28/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald James Greenwald
• Original Assignee: Donald James Greenwald
• Inventors: Greenwald, Donald James
• Primary Examiner(s): Atkinson, Charles E.
• Application Number:
  US05/423,023
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 235/153AK,153AE 340/146.1BE,172.5
• US Class Current: 714/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2736 using a dedicated service processor for test

Abstract

Apparatus for verification of the operation and for diagnosing a fault condition in a data processing unit from a remote entry site. A communication channel allows data to be exchanged between the remote entry site and the data processing unit. The data processing unit contains two subsystems with associated control apparatus and error condition detection apparatus. In addition, the control apparatus of each subsystem can manipulate the apparatus of the other subsystem and has access to a plurality of registers in the both subsystems. One subsystem can be used to test the apparatus of the other subsystem, under control of input data from the remote entry site, and the result of the testing can be transferred for analysis to the remote entry site. The verification and diagnostic procedure can be performed from the remote entry site or extended procedures can be used to supplement internal programs via the communications channel.

Claims

1. In combination with a data processing unit having at least two subsystems and a remote signal generating device, apparatus for remote controlling of the operation of a one of said two subsystems by another of said two subsystems, including:

a first control store circuit included within a first subsystem comprising;

a first control store memory for storing a first group of signals, a first control circuit coupled to said first control store memory for controlling storage and extraction of said first group of signals, and a first subcommand generator for controlling operation of said first subsystem in response to said first group of signals;

a second control store circuit included within a second subsystem comprising;

a second control store memory for storing a second group of signals, a second control circuit coupled to said second control store memory for controlling storage and extraction of said second group of signals, and a second subcommand generator for controlling operation of said second subsystem in response to said second group of signals;

first means coupling said first control store memory to said second subcommand generator, said first group of signals applied to said second subcommand generator in response to a first command signal for controlling operation of said second subsystem;

second means coupling said second control store memory to said first subcommand generator, said second group of signals applied to said first subcommand generator in response to a second command signal for controlling operation of said first subsystem; and

means for exchanging data with said remote device coupled to said first and said second control store circuits.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including:

a maintenance interface unit coupled to said first and said second control store circuits for manually controlling operation of said first and said second subsystem.

3. In combination with a data processing unit having at least two subsystems, apparatus for verifying the operation of and for localizing errors in said data processing unit from a remote site comprising:

a data bus for transmitting electrical signals;

a first control store network included within a first subsystem for controlling the operation of said first subsystem, said first control store network coupled to said data bus;

a second control store network included within a second subsystem for controlling the operation of said second subsystem, said second control store network coupled to said data bus;

a control bus for transmitting command and control signals coupled to said first and said second control store networks, said first control store network controlling said second subsystem in response to a first command signal, said second control store network controlling said first subsystem in response to a second command signal;

a first integrity check network for identification of error conditions in said first subsystem, said first integrity check network coupled to said data bus;

a second integrity check network for identification of error conditions in said second subsystem, said second integrity network coupled to said data bus;

a plurality of registers coupled to said data bus, said registers receiving signals from and applying signals to said first and said second control store networks in response to appropriate control signals, said plurality of registers locating a fault condition in response to operation of said first and said second subsystems under control of said first and said second control store networks; and

a communication channel coupled to said first and said second control store networks and to said data bus, said communication channel for receiving signals controlling said first and said second control store networks, said communication channel transmitting signals from said first and Said second integrity check networks and said plurality of registers.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further including a maintenance interface unit coupled to said first and said second control store networks for manually entering data into said first and said second control store networks.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further including a diagnostic display panel coupled to said first and said second integrity check network for identifying a malfunctioning unit causing a detected error condition.

6. In combination with a data processing unit having at least two subsystems, apparatus for verifying the operation of and for localizing errors in said data processing unit from a remote site, comprising:

a first control circuit included within a first subsystem, for controlling the operation of said first subsystem;

a second control circuit included within a second subsystem, for controlling the operation of said second subsystem;

means for coupling said second control circuit and said first control circuit, said second control circuit controlling the operation of said first subsystem in response to a first command signal, said first control circuit controlling the operation of said second subsystem in response to a second command signal;

first means for detection of a result of the controlled operation of said first subsystem;

second means for detection of a result of the controlled operation of said second subsystem;

a data bus coupled to said first control circuit, said second control circuit, said first detection means and said second detection means, said data bus exchanging data signals between said control circuits and said first and second detection means; and

means for exchanging signals with said remote site, said exchange means coupled to said data bus, to said first and said second detection means and to said first and said second control circuits.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further including a direct register associated with said first and said second subsystem, each of said direct registers coupled to said data bus, said direct register being a main adder operand register, said register providing a main transfer of data between said first and said second subsystems.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further including means for manually entering data into said first and said second control circuit.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further including a diagnostic display panel coupled to said first and said detection means, said diagnostic display panel identifying malfunctioning unit when said results of the operation of said first and said second subsystem is an error condition.