Apparatus and method for tracking and identifying printed circuit assemblies

• US 5,051,895 A
• Filed: 09/22/1989
• Issued: 09/24/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Rogers, Donald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lall, Parshotam S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRANS, VINCENT N
• Application Number:
  US07/412,542
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 364/488, 364/200, 364/900, 364/132, 340/825.25, 340/825.50, 340/825.52, 340/825.06, 340/825.07, 340/825.22
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/006 Identification G06F11/2289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2289 by configuration test

Abstract

A method and apparatus for tracking and identifying printed circuit assemblies is presented. Information about each printed circuit assembly (PCA), including the current revision level of the PCA is stored within a non-volatile random access memory (RAM) within each PCA. The stored information may be accessed by a user through a dedicated bus and hardware designed for this task. Additionally, through the dedicated bus and hardware, the user may update the information within the printed circuit assembly.

Claims

1. In a computer system which includes a plurality of printed circuit assemblies, an apparatus for allowing the electronic storage and retrieving of service information about each printed circuit assembly facilitating the tracking and identification of the plurality of printed circuit assemblies by service agents, the apparatus comprising:

non-volatile random access memory within each printed circuit assembly, each non-volatile random access memory storing service information about a printed circuit assembly within which the non-volatile random access memory resides; and

,

retrieval and storage means, coupled to each printed circuit assembly, for electronically retrieving service information from each non-volatile random access memory within a printed circuit assembly and making the service information available to the service agents, and for enabling the service agents to electronically change the service information stored in the non-volatile random access memory without physically accessing the printed circuit assembly, wherein the retrieval and storage means comprises a bus coupled to each printed circuit assembly and wholly dedicated to the electronic storage and assembly of information about each printed circuit assembly, and wherein a first printed circuit assembly from the plurality of printed circuit assemblies controls all data transactions which occur on the bus.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein upon booting up the computing system, the first printed circuit assembly secures the service information from each non-volatile random access memory within a printed circuit assembly and stores the information within the first printed circuit assembly whereby the service agents may access the service information quickly.