Permanent failure monitoring in complex systems
First Claim
1. An automated test equipment system for testing a system with a plurality of subsystems, wherein:
- the plurality of subsystems include one or more monitoring points for monitoring and manifesting certain parameters of the respective subsystem;
a plurality of diagnosis modules, each diagnosis module operationally independent of other of said diagnosis modules so as to remain operative in the event of a malfunction thereof, said diagnosis modules further coupled so as to enable communications therebetween at least upon an occurrence of an event;
each one of the one or more monitoring points connected with a respective diagnosis module to enable each said respective diagnosis module to substantially permanently monitor the respective monitoring point for said parameters manifested thereby; and
an evaluation unit connected with each respective diagnosis module for receiving information therefrom about each respective monitoring point, and for evaluating the received information in order to draw conclusions about parameters and properties within the system.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Described is a system with a plurality of subsystems, wherein at least one of the plurality of subsystems comprises one or more monitoring points relevant and representative for certain parameters of the respective subsystem, each one of the one or more monitoring points is connected with a respective diagnosis module for substantially permanently monitoring the respective monitoring point, and an evaluation unit is connected with each respective diagnosis module for receiving information therefrom about each respective monitoring point, and for evaluating the received information in order to draw conclusions about parameters and properties within the system. The system is preferably used in an automated test equipment system.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. An automated test equipment system for testing a system with a plurality of subsystems, wherein:
-
the plurality of subsystems include one or more monitoring points for monitoring and manifesting certain parameters of the respective subsystem;
a plurality of diagnosis modules, each diagnosis module operationally independent of other of said diagnosis modules so as to remain operative in the event of a malfunction thereof, said diagnosis modules further coupled so as to enable communications therebetween at least upon an occurrence of an event;
each one of the one or more monitoring points connected with a respective diagnosis module to enable each said respective diagnosis module to substantially permanently monitor the respective monitoring point for said parameters manifested thereby; and
an evaluation unit connected with each respective diagnosis module for receiving information therefrom about each respective monitoring point, and for evaluating the received information in order to draw conclusions about parameters and properties within the system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method for discovering failures in a system with a plurality of subsystems, wherein at least one of the plurality of subsystems comprises one or more monitoring points for monitoring and manifesting certain parameters of the respective subsystems, a plurality of diagnosis modules, each diagnosis module operationally independent of other of said diagnosis modules so as to remain operative in the event of a malfunction thereof, said diagnosis modules further coupled so as to enable communications therebetween at least upon an occurrence of an event, and an evaluation unit connected with each respective diagnosis module;
- the method comprising the steps of;
operating said diagnosis modules to substantially permanently monitor the respective monitoring points for parameters manifested thereby;
receiving information from each respective diagnosis module about each respective monitoring point, and controlling the evaluation unit with a software program that is executed substantially permanently and in parallel to other running programs or tasks within the system so as to enable evaluation of the received information in order to draw conclusions about parameters and properties within the system. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
periodically dispatching signals from each respective diagnosis module that indicate that the respective diagnosis module is alive and functional; and
monitoring said dispatched signals at least one of said evaluation unit or said diagnosis modules.
- the method comprising the steps of;
-
12. An automated test equipment system for testing a system with a plurality of subsystems, wherein:
-
the plurality of subsystems include one or more monitoring points for monitoring and manifesting certain parameters of the respective subsystem;
a plurality of diagnosis modules, each diagnosis module operationally independent of other of said diagnosis modules so as to remain operative in the event of a malfunction thereof, said diagnosis modules further coupled so as to enable communications therebetween, and wherein said diagnosis modules periodically dispatch signals, monitored by at least one of said evaluation unit or said diagnosis modules, that indicate that the respective diagnosis modules are alive and functional;
each one of the one or more monitoring points connected with a respective diagnosis module to enable each said respective diagnosis module to substantially permanently monitor the respective monitoring point for said parameters manifested thereby; and
an evaluation unit connected with each respective diagnosis module for receiving information therefrom about each respective monitoring point, and for evaluating the received information in order to draw conclusions about parameters and properties within the system.
-
Specification