Independent remote computer maintenance device

• US 6,651,190 B1
• Filed: 03/14/2000
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Symbion Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: A Worley, C Worley
• Inventors: Worley, Allan L., Worley, Christian B.
• Primary Examiner(s): BADERMAN, SCOTT T
• Application Number:
  US09/525,776
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• Field of Search: 714/27, 714/57, 714/31, 714/46, 714/43, 714/4, 709/223, 709/224
• US Class Current: 714/43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0709 in a distributed system consisting of a plurality of standalone computer nodes, e.g. clusters, client-server systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0748 in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault remote testing G06F11/2294
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications

Abstract

A remote maintenance device for monitoring and controlling a host computer and its operating system. The device is fully independent of the host computer'"'"'s hardware and peripherals (including local power, network, and telephony) and fully independent of the host operating system. The remote maintenance device uses a wireless modem (GSM) or wireless IP (packet) interface to provide commands from a remote technician to the remote maintenance device. The wireless communication link also transfers data to a remote technician who can then diagnose problems. The host computer may be reset and the power toggled on and off without affecting the maintenance-device'"'"'s operation because of an onboard battery. The maintenance devices accesses the host'"'"'s operating system and BIOS via serial ports, I2C, ethernet, and similar communication connections. Host system monitoring includes connecting to and capturing the temperature sensing, fan speeds, voltage sensors, serial port I/O for low-level text and IP access to the BIOS, operating system and boot logs, keyboard/video capture and control, LAN access for testing local connectivity, secondary “back door” IP access, and other peripherals. This device is totally unaffected by failure of the CPU, motherboard, power supply, physical room power, UPS power availability, and the network. In addition, the maintenance device interfaces with, but is not affected by, I/O cards, external network switches and hubs, and local physical Internet or telephony lines, and various adapter cards. Separate operating software is used to operate the independent maintenance device which separates it from software corruption on the host computer.

Claims

1. A remote maintenance computing device for monitoring a host computer'"'"'s hardware and software, comprising:

a) a plurality of communication interfaces connected to the host computer;

b) a microprocessor coupled to the communication interfaces to monitor the host computer and associated peripherals;

c) a wireless communication connection coupled to the microprocessor to transmit data regarding a present state of the host computer'"'"'s hardware and software;

d) an independent power source wired to the microprocessor and wireless communication connection, wherein the independent power source is independent from the host computer; and

e) a remote computer to receive the data transmitted by the wireless communication connection and to transmit commands to the microprocessor through the wireless communication connection.

2. The device as in claim 1, wherein the wireless communication connection is a cellular modem.

3. The device as in claim 1, wherein the wireless communication connection is an Internet Protocol packet broadcasting device.

4. The device as in claim 1, wherein the wireless communication connection is a satellite link.

5. The device as in claim 1, wherein the independent power source is a battery.

6. The device as in claim 5, wherein the battery which is recharged by the host computer.

7. The device as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication interfaces further comprises a serial input and output port for low-level text access to the basic input and output functions of the host computer.

8. The device as in claim 7, wherein the plurality of communication interfaces further comprises emergency management ports and system maintenance busses which monitor temperature, motherboard voltage and fan speed of the host computer.

9. The device as in claim 7, wherein the plurality of communication interfaces further comprises toggle interfaces with motherboard jumpers.

10. The device as in claim 7, wherein the plurality of communication interfaces further comprises keyboard emulation.

11. The device as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication interfaces further comprises an independent serial Internet Protocol connection.

12. The device as in claim 1, further comprising a network connection attached to the microprocessor to allow for testing of a network that is connected to the host computer.

13. The device as in claim 12, wherein the network can be a local area network and a wide area network.

14. The device as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication interfaces further comprise a video capture interface, coupled to the microprocessor, to collect data regarding the host computer.

15. The device as in claim 1, wherein the remote computer further includes a serial console emulation device to enable command line maintenance.

16. The device as in claim 15, wherein the remote computer further includes a graphical interface to graphically view the host computer'"'"'s hardware and software status.

17. The device as in claim 1, wherein the remote computer further includes a web browser interface to the microprocessor.

18. The device as in claim 1, wherein the independent power source is fuel cell.

19. A remote maintenance computing device for monitoring computer hardware and software, comprising:

a) a host computer having hardware, basic input and output systems, and an operating system;

b) a plurality of communication interfaces, connected to the host computer and network devices;

c) an independent microprocessor, coupled to the communication interfaces, designed to monitor the status of the hardware and operating system and provide remote commands to the host computer;

d) a wireless communication connection, coupled to the microprocessor, configured to transmit data from the microprocessor regarding a present state of the host computer'"'"'s hardware and software;

e) an independent power source wired, to the microprocessor and wireless communication connection, wherein the independent power source is independent from the host computer; and

f) a receiver to receive and display the data transmitted by the wireless communication connection and to transmit commands to the microprocessor through the wireless communication connection.

20. A method for remotely maintaining computer hardware and software in a host computer system, comprising the steps of:

a) providing an independent, self contained diagnostic processor having a wireless communication connection and a power source, wherein the power source is independent from the host computer;

b) coupling the diagnostic processor to the host computer to receive data about a present state of hardware or software;

c) transmitting the data through a wireless communication connection to a remote computer that displays the data; and

d) sending commands from the remote computer back to the diagnostic processor to analyze and control the host computer.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of repeating steps c) and d) until a problem in the host computer has been corrected.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein step (c) further comprises the step of logging into the diagnostic processor from the remote computer using a serial IP connection.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein step (c) further comprises the step logging into the diagnostic processor from the remote computer using a terminal shell.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein step (c) of sending commands further comprises the step of sending a reset command if the system has failed.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein step (c) further comprises the step of sending a power down and restart command if the system has failed.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein step (d) further comprises the step of transmitting the data through a cellular modem connection.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein step (d) further comprises the step of transmitting the data through a satellite IP packet connection.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein step (d) further comprises the step of transmitting the data through a cellular Internet Protocol connection to the diagnostic processor.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein step (b) further comprises the step of coupling the diagnostic processor to the host computer'"'"'s video output.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein step (b) further comprises the step of coupling the diagnostic processor to the host computer'"'"'s serial basic input and output system (BIOS).

31. The method of claim 20, wherein step (b) further comprises the step of coupling the diagnostic processor to the host computer'"'"'s temperature, power, and heat sensors.