Method, system, and apparatus for providing a single diagnostics module on-demand

• US 6,988,055 B1
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Issued: 01/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Megatrends International, LLC
• Original Assignee: American Megatrends Incorporated
• Inventors: Rhea, Paul Anthony, Righi, Stefano
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bryan
• Application Number:
  US10/675,483
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 702/182, 702/185, 702/186, 702/119, 702/122, 714/25, 714/27, 717/171, 717/172, 717/173, 706/49, 706/60
• US Class Current: 702/186
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/006 Identification G06F11/2289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus are provided for retrieving and executing one or more diagnostics modules together capable of testing a single hardware component within a computer system in direct response to a user request. A request is received to perform a diagnostics test on the component. In response to the request, one or more diagnostics modules necessary to test the component are identified. Once the modules have been identified, the modules are retrieved from a remote server computer and installed at the computer system upon which they are to be executed. The modules are then executed, thereby testing the single hardware component. The retrieved diagnostics modules may contain only program code necessary to test the identified component.

Claims

1. A method for retrieving and executing one or more diagnostics modules together operative to test a single hardware component within a computer system, the method comprising:

receiving a request to perform a diagnostics test on the hardware component;

retrieving from a remote server computer a data file containing data identifying one or more diagnostics modules necessary to test the hardware component, the data file further comprising data encoding instructions for installing the one or more diagnostics modules on the computer system;

identifying the one or more diagnostics modules necessary to test the hardware component based on the contents of the data file;

retrieving the one or more diagnostics modules from a remote server computer, comprising retrieving one or more diagnostics modules containing program code for testing only the hardware component;

installing the one or more diagnostics modules on the computer system; and

executing the one or more diagnostics modules on the computer system to test the hardware component.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein installing the one or more diagnostics modules on the computer system comprises installing the one or more diagnostics modules according to the instructions contained in the data file.

3. A system for executing a diagnostics module for testing a single component of a client computer system, comprising:

a client computer operative to receive a user request to perform a diagnostic on the component, to identify a diagnostics module necessary to test the component based on the contents of a data file, to retrieve the diagnostics module operative to test the component from a server computer in response to the request, to transmit to the server computer a request for authorization to execute the diagnostics module prior to execution, and to execute the diagnostics module to test for a failure or potential failure of the component,

wherein the server computer is operative to store and to transmit to the client computer a data file containing data identifying the one or more diagnostics modules necessary to test the hardware component, to store the diagnostics module necessary to test the hardware component, to transmit to the client computer a configuration file identifying entry points at the server computer for retrieving the diagnostics module and for requesting authorization to execute the diagnostics module, to receive requests from the client computer for the diagnostics module, to transmit the diagnostics module to the client computer in response to a request, and to determine whether execution of the diagnostics module is authorized and to provide a response to the client computer either authorizing or prohibiting the execution of the diagnostics module.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the client computer is further operative to retrieve the diagnostics module and to request authorization to execute the diagnostics module utilizing the entry points identified in the configuration file.