Real time signal analysis of a remote block data storage device
First Claim
1. A method for diagnosing a remote block data storage device having a data storage medium, a host interface port and a programmable controller with associated platform firmware and associated diagnostic firmware, the method comprising:
- connecting a client computer and a server computer to a computer network;
connecting the data storage device to the server computer via the host interface port;
connecting a data acquisition device to the data storage device and to the server computer;
using the server computer to transmit a first command to the data storage device to cause the controller to execute the platform firmware;
using the client computer to transmit a second command to the data acquisition device to capture a waveform signal from the data storage device which characterizes operation of the platform firmware in response to the first command; and
transmitting the waveform signal across the computer network to the client computer.
7 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for remote data acquisition from a block data storage device having a data storage medium, a host interface port, a serial communication (COM) port and a programmable controller with associated platform firmware and associated diagnostic firmware. A client computer and a server computer are connected to a computer network (such as the Internet), and the data storage device is connected to the server computer via the host interface port. A data acquisition device such as a disk drive analyzer having digital oscilloscope capabilities is connected to the server computer and the data storage device. Requests from the client computer are transmitted via the network to result in a first command to the data storage device to execute the platform firmware and a second command to capture a waveform signal from the data storage device. The waveform signal is transmitted real time for display by the client computer.
23 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for diagnosing a remote block data storage device having a data storage medium, a host interface port and a programmable controller with associated platform firmware and associated diagnostic firmware, the method comprising:
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connecting a client computer and a server computer to a computer network;
connecting the data storage device to the server computer via the host interface port;
connecting a data acquisition device to the data storage device and to the server computer;
using the server computer to transmit a first command to the data storage device to cause the controller to execute the platform firmware;
using the client computer to transmit a second command to the data acquisition device to capture a waveform signal from the data storage device which characterizes operation of the platform firmware in response to the first command; and
transmitting the waveform signal across the computer network to the client computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for remote data acquisition, comprising:
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a client computer and a server computer interconnected through a computer network;
a block data storage device having a host interface port in communication with the server computer, a data storage medium and a programmable controller with associated platform firmware to control transfer of data between the data storage medium and the server computer;
a data acquisition device connected to at least one test node of the data storage device and connected to an interface port of the server computer, and control software loaded into a memory of the server computer and configured to, upon execution, transmit a first command to the controller to execute the platform firmware, to transmit a second command to the data acquisition device to capture a waveform signal from the data storage device which characterizes operation of the platform firmware in response to the first command, and transmit the waveform signal across the computer network to the client computer, wherein the first and second commands are issued in response to requests initiating from the client computer. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification