Method for monitoring tests run on a personal computer

• US 7,065,682 B1
• Filed: 12/19/1997
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micro Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Cowan, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): An, Meng-Ai T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dzung C
• Application Number:
  US08/994,788
• Time in Patent Office: 3,105 Days
• Field of Search: 712/1, 714/25, 714/47, 714/50, 714/51, 714/53, 714/55, 714/724, 714/742, 714/46, 714/703
• US Class Current: 714/55
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3476 Data logging G06F11/14, G06F11/2205 take precedence

Abstract

The invention comprises, in various embodiments, a method for monitoring an internal test on a remote computer. The method includes reading a line from the remote computer with a processing unit. The line is capable of sending at least one result signal for the test. The method includes sending a fail signal from the processing unit to a reporting device when none of the new result signals are read during any time period of a preselected length.

Claims

1. A method of testing a remote computer comprising:

reading a line from said remote computer by a processing unit, said line capable of sending at least one result signal of the testing;

sending a fail signal from a logic device of said processing unit to a reporting device when no new result signal is read during any time period of a preselected length, wherein a timing clock is connected to the logic device; and

taking a fail action in an assembly line in connection with the remote computer in response to the fail signal, wherein said fail action includes controlling operation of a conveyor system.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

sending a pass signal to said reporting device when said logic device reads said result signal for test passed; and

wherein sending said fail signal to said reporting device is also done when said logic device reads said result signal for test failed.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the act of sending a pass signal to said reporting device when said processing unit reads said result signal for test passed.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3, further comprising taking a pass action with said reporting device responsive to receiving said pass signal and taking a fail act with said reporting device responsive to receiving said fail signal.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein said pass and fail actions belong to the group consisting of lighting light emitting diodes, forming images on a cathode ray screen, controlling a portion of an assembly line, and controlling a portion of a conveyor system.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising sending at least one inquiry signal from said processing unit to said remote computer, and wherein said result signal for test continuing is only sent from said remote computer to said line in response to one of said inquiry signals.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein said result signals are only sent to said line in response to said act of sending one of said inquiry signals.

8. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein said act of sending said inquiry signal orders the act of sending one of said result signals from said remote computer.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the act of writing said result signals to said line with a write program located in a memory of said remote computer.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9, further comprising at least one act of sending an inquiry from said processing unit to said remote computer and wherein said act of writing by said write program is responsive said act of sending said inquiry signal.

11. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said write program has instructions for doing said write act periodically.

12. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said acts of reading and sending are performed by a monitoring computer, said monitoring computer having a first program in a memory thereof for performing said acts of reading and sending.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12, further comprising a second act of reading at least one memory address of said remote computer containing status data on said test and an act of writing said result signal responsive to said second act of reading, said second act of reading and said act of writing being controlled by a write program in a memory of said remote computer.

14. A method of testing a computer system during assembly, comprising:

receiving, by a logic device of a processing unit, an indication of a result of an internal test performed in the computer system, wherein a timing clock is connected to the logic device;

sending a fail indication from the processing unit to a reporting device when a result indication is not received from the computer system within a predetermined time period; and

taking a fail action in an assembly line in connection with the computer system in response to the fail indication, wherein said fail action includes controlling operation of a conveyor system.