Diagnostic clearing house

• US 6,687,652 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2001
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Mikal, Philip J., Cheng, Mou-Sheng, Chou, Stephen YiPing
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bhat, Aditya
• Application Number:
  US09/814,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20020138234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 702/183, 701/29, 705/400
• US Class Current: 702/183
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination

Abstract

A diagnostic clearing house comprises a tool repository to store a plurality of diagnostic tools. A communication vehicle allows a plurality of diagnostic tool users to exchange diagnostic information. A management system manages access to and content of the tool repository and the communication vehicle and manages distribution of diagnostic tools from the tool repository to an end user. The diagnostic clearing house may be web-based.

Claims

1. A diagnostic clearing house, comprising:

a tool repository to store a plurality of diagnostic tools;

a communication vehicle to allow a plurality of diagnostic tool users to exchange diagnostic information; and

a management system to manage access to and content of the tool repository and the communication vehicle and to manage distribution of diagnostic tools from the tool repository to an end user;

wherein the plurality of diagnostic tools comprise a diagnostic tool designed for testing computer hardware components.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic clearing house is web-based.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tool repository is a relational database.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distribution of diagnostic tools is by computer download.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic information comprises reviews of diagnostic tools.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic information comprises suggestions of additional classification categories.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic information comprises electronic bulletin board discussions.

8. A method of using a diagnostic clearing house, comprising:

locating a diagnostic tool by searching a tool repository;

distributing the diagnostic tool to a user from the tool repository; and

exchanging diagnostic information concerning the diagnostic tool between a plurality of users;

wherein the diagnostic tool is designed for testing computer hardware components.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

submitting the diagnostic tool to the tool repository.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the diagnostic clearing house is web-based.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the tool repository is a relational database.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein distributing the diagnostic tool is by computer download.

13. A method of submitting and posting a diagnostic tool in a diagnostic clearing house, comprising:

submitting the diagnostic tool by the tool owner to the diagnostic clearing house;

adding the diagnostic tool to a pending queue;

using an administrator to remove the diagnostic tool from the pending queue and send the diagnostic tool to a diagnostic council;

approving the diagnostic tool by the diagnostic council;

assigning the diagnostic tool a unique id;

storing the diagnostic tool in a tool repository based on the unique id;

classifying the diagnostic tool;

associating the diagnostic tool by links with related diagnostic tools in the tool repository; and

posting the diagnostic tool on the diagnostic clearing house;

wherein the diagnostic tool is designed for testing computer hardware components.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

setting a review flag as true.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the diagnostic clearing house is web-based.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the tool repository comprises a relational database.

17. A method of exchanging diagnostic information between a plurality of diagnostic tool users in a diagnostic clearing house, comprising:

adding diagnostic information from a diagnostic tool user to a pending queue;

removing the diagnostic information from the pending queue by an administrator;

sending the diagnostic information to a diagnostic reviewer by the administrator;

approving the diagnostic information by the diagnostic reviewer; and

posting the diagnostic information on the diagnostic clearing house;

wherein the diagnostic tool is designed for testing computer hardware components.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the diagnostic clearing house is web-based.

19. A computer system for a diagnostic clearing house, comprising:

a storage element comprising a relational database;

a plurality of diagnostic tools stored in the relational database;

a processor for distributing a plurality of diagnostic tools from the relational database in the storage element; and

a communication vehicle stored in the relational database in the storage element for allowing a plurality of users to exchange diagnostic information;

wherein the diagnostic tool is designed for testing computer hardware components.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

a computer monitor adapted to display the diagnostic clearing house.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the diagnostic clearing house is web-based.

22. A diagnostic clearing house, comprising:

means for accessing a diagnostic tool by searching a tool repository;

means for distributing the diagnostic tool to a user from the tool repository;

means for exchanging diagnostic information between a plurality of users;

means for submitting the diagnostic tool to the tool repository; and

means for posting the diagnostic tool on the diagnostic clearing house;

wherein the diagnostic tool is designed for testing computer hardware components.