Real-time multiprocessing computer infrastructure for automated testing

• US 6,330,587 B1
• Filed: 12/21/1998
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Opolsky, Norman Hiam, Schultz, John Raymond, Tedone, Damian J., Tascillo, Mark Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, KHANH Q
• Application Number:
  US09/216,759
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/201, 709/220, 709/222, 709/224, 370/92, 370/93, 370/85.6, 364/200, 364/580
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/00 Testing of engines

Abstract

A system and method for powertrain testing of a powertrain under load using a computer network includes a plurality of computer nodes for monitoring and adjustably controlling the powertrain and applied load for acquiring powertrain data relating to powertrain performance. A shared memory is connected to the plurality of computer nodes for receiving in real time the powertrain data generated by each of the plurality of computer nodes. An integrating computer node is connected to the shared memory for receiving in real time powertrain data and is arranged to send different commands to the plurality of computer nodes as part of a powertrain testing process. Further, the present invention allows for the powertrain testing of a powertrain in deterministic real time to develop the powertrain, as well as create a powertrain calibration.

Claims

1. A computer network for testing of a powertrain under load comprising:

a plurality of computer nodes for monitoring and adjustably controlling the powertrain and the load for acquiring powertrain performance data generated by the powertrain;

a shared memory connected to said plurality of computer nodes for receiving in real time the data acquired by each of the plurality of nodes, the shared memory having a configurable memory area; and

an integrating computer node connected to the shared memory for retrieving in real time all of the data stored in the shared memory, and for sending commands to the shared memory to control the operation of the plurality of computer nodes, wherein the integrating computer node is responsive to computer executable instructions to integrate in real time all of the data stored in the shared memory, and computer executable instructions in the form of a tester program for conducting powertrain testing, wherein the integrating computer node is further responsive to computer executable instructions in the form of;

a tester process;

an application program interface for allowing the tester program to interact with the tester process; and

a shared memory driver, wherein the tester process is arranged to facilitate use of the shared memory by the tester program.

2. The computer network of claim 1 wherein the tester program further comprises:

a node self-descriptor file which describes a monitoring, control and acquiring powertrain performance data capability of each of the plurality of computer nodes;

a test description file which describes the powertrain testing to be conducted; and

an error log file for receiving powertrain testing errors.

3. The computer network of claim 1 wherein the tester process comprises an output data structure which describes the configuration of the memory area of the shared memory.

4. The computer network of claim 1 wherein the tester process comprises a tester initialization routine for initializing the integrating computer node.

5. The computer network of claim 1 wherein the tester process comprises a node initialization routine for initializing the plurality of computer nodes.

6. The computer network of claim 1 wherein the tester process comprises a run test routine for running a powertrain test.

7. The computer network of claim 1 wherein the tester process comprises a receive command routine for receiving and processing a powertrain command.

8. The computer network of claim 1 wherein the tester process comprises a setpoint monitor routine for enabling the plurality of computer nodes to monitor a powertrain setpoint.

9. A method for powertrain testing of a powertrain under load comprising:

monitoring and adjustably controlling a powertrain and the load for acquiring powertrain data generated by a plurality of computer nodes connected to the powertrain;

receiving in real time the data acquired by each of the plurality of computer nodes connected to a shared memory; and

retrieving in real time all of the data stored in the shared memory, and sending commands to the shared memory to control the operation of the plurality of computer nodes, wherein the data stored in the shared memory is integrated in real time and a report is generated based on the integrated data, and the monitoring and adjustably controlling the powertrain and the load further comprises;

retrieving a node self-descriptor file which describes a monitoring, control and acquiring powertrain data capability of each the plurality of computer nodes;

retrieving a test description file which describes the powertrain testing to be conducted; and

retrieving an error log file for receiving powertrain testing errors.