Apparatus for monitoring tests run on a personal computer

• US 6,098,182 A
• Filed: 12/19/1997
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micro Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Cowan, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): An, Meng-Ai T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITMORE, STACY
• Application Number:
  US08/994,372
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 714/100, 714/1-57, 714/763
• US Class Current: 714/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0757 by exceeding a time limit, i.e. time-out, e.g. watchdogs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2268 Logging of test results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/273 Tester hardware, i.e. output processing circuits G06F11/263 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/325 by lamps or LED's

Abstract

A personal computer monitoring device includes a reporting device and a processing unit. The reporting device is adapted to take a fail action responsive to a first signal. The processing unit is adapted to receive the first signal from an under test personal computer and to send the first signal to the reporting device when the processing unit does not receive a new result signal from the under test computer system during a preselected time period. One illustrative use of the monitoring device is during the assembly and pre-sale testing of personal computers.

Claims

1. A personal computer monitoring device for monitoring an under test personal computer, comprising:

a reporting device adapted to receive a fail or a pass signal, said reporting device adapted to take a fail action responsive to a fail signal; and

a processing unit adapted to send the fail signal to said reporting device when one of the following two conditions occur;

a result signal is not received within a preselected time period from the under test personal computer, or the result signal received from the under test personal computer running does not alter for the preselected time period;

wherein said reporting device is adapted to control a portion of an assembly line or operate a portion of a conveyor system.

2. The personal computer monitoring device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said reporting device is further adapted to take a pass action responsive to a pass signal, said processing unit adapted to send said pass signal responsive to receiving a test completed successfully signal from the under test personal computer.

3. The personal computer monitoring device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said personal computer monitoring device comprises a monitoring personal computer.

4. The personal computer monitoring device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said monitoring personal computer includes an I/O port adapted to communicate with said under test personal computer.

5. The personal computer monitoring device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said monitoring personal computer is adapted to send one or more status inquiry signals to said under test personal computer, wherein the under test personal computer is adapted to send said new result signal in response to the one or more status inquiry signals.

6. The personal computer monitoring device as set forth in claim 4, further comprising an external line having first and second ends, said second end connecting to the I/O port and said first end connecting to a port of said under test personal computer.

7. The personal computer monitoring device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said personal computer monitoring device comprises a server, the server capable of substantially simultaneously monitoring at least two remote under test personal computers.

8. The personal computer monitoring device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said processing unit includes:

a first logic circuit adapted to send said fail signal to said reporting device when said first logic circuit is enabled and is not receiving said new result signal; and

a timing unit capable of enabling said first logic circuit when said new result signal is not received during said preselected time period.

9. The personal computer monitoring device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said reporting device includes first and second light emitting diodes, said first light emitting diode adapted to emit light in response to said fail signal and said second light emitting diode adapted to emit light in response to said pass signal.

10. An apparatus for monitoring internal tests on one or more remote personal computers, each of said one or more remote personal computers having a write program for periodically writing result signals that the internal test is failed, passed or continuing to a port thereof, said apparatus comprising:

a processing unit at least capable of sending a fail signal when one of the following two conditions occur;

a result signal is not received within sa preselected time period from the remote personal computer running said internal test, or the result signal received from the remote personal computer running said internal test does not alter for the preselected time period; and

a reporting device at least capable of taking a fail action responsive to said fail signal;

wherein said action is selected from a group consisting of lighting light emitting diodes, forming images on a cathode ray screen, controlling a portion of an assembly line, and operating a portion of a conveyor system.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said reporting device includes at least two light emitting diodes, a first of said light emitting diodes adapted to light responsive to a pass signal and a second of said light emitting diodes adapted to light responsive to said fail signal.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said processing unit is part of a monitoring computer.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said monitoring computer stores a second program, said second program adapted to send a pass signal to said reporting device, said pass signal responsive to a result signal indicating the test has passed from a first of the one or more remote personal computers, said reporting device taking a pass action responsive to said pass signal.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein said second program further comprises instructions adapted to send said fail signal to said reporting device when another of said result signals from another of the one or more remote personal computers is not received within the time period of the preselected lengths, said time period of preselected length starting at least receipt of one of said result signals.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said monitoring computer has a second program, said second program comprising instructions for:

sending at least one status inquiry signal to one of said remote personal computers; and

sending the fail signal when none of the result signals is received during the time period of preselected length, said time period of preselected length starting when one of said inquiry signals was last sent.

16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said processing unit includes a logic circuit, said logic circuit adapted to send said fail signal when said processing unit does not receive any of said result signals during any of said time periods.

17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, further comprising a plurality of external lines having first and second ends, said second ends adapted to connect to the monitoring apparatus and each of said first ends adapted to connect to one of said remote personal computers.

18. An apparatus for monitoring an internal test on a remote personal computer, comprising:

a reporting device adapted to receive one or more result signals, wherein the one or more signals indicate a fail, pass, or a continuing state, said reporting device adapted to take an action responsive to receiving a fail signal; and

means for processing capable of sending the fail signal to said reporting device when a result signal is not received within a preselected time period from the remote personal computer running said internal test, or the result signal is received from the remote personal computer does not alter for the preselected time period;

wherein said action is selected from a group consisting of lighting light emitting diodes, forming images on a cathode ray screen, controlling a portion of an assembly line, and operating a portion of a conveyor system.

19. The apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein said means for processing is further adapted to periodically send an inquiry signal to said remote personal computer.