Field replaceable unit (FRU) identification system tool

• US 7,168,007 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2003
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Mohan, Krishna, Gilstrap, Raymond J., Weiss, Steven E., Jumper, Gregory S., Weiny, Ira K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Baderman; Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): BONURA, TIMOTHY M
• Application Number:
  US10/413,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20040078634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• Field of Search: 714/27, 714/37, 714/47
• US Class Current: 714/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A method includes interfacing with a field replaceable unit (FRU) having a memory device configured to store a FRUID image including at least status data. The status data is extracted from the memory device. Repair information associated with a repair of the field replaceable unit is received. The repair information is stored in the memory device. A system includes a field replaceable unit (FRU) and a FRU tool. The FRU includes a memory device configured to store a FRUID image including at least status data. The FRU tool is configured to interface with the FRU, extract the status data from the memory device, receive repair information associated with a repair of the field replaceable unit, and store the repair information in the memory device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

interfacing with a field replaceable unit (FRU) having a memory device configured to store a FRUID image including at least status data and wherein the FRUID image includes data having a field duration;

extracting the status data from the memory device;

receiving repair information associated with a repair of the FRU;

resetting at least a portion of the data having the field duration; and

storing the FRUID image including the data reset and further including the repair information in the memory device of the FRU.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the FRUID image further includes error data, and the method further comprises retrieving the error data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

extracting the FRUID image from the memory device; and

transferring the extracted FRUID image to an image repository prior to storing the repair information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

extracting the FRUID image from the memory device; and

transferring the extracted FRUID image to an image repository after storing the repair information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a fault condition with the FRUID image;

requesting an archived FRUID image from an image repository;

receiving the archived FRUID image; and

storing the archived FRUID image in the memory device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein resetting the data further comprises resetting at least one of installation data, power data temperature data, error data, status data, and customer data included in the FRUID image.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein resetting the data further comprises clearing at least a portion of the data having the field duration.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein resetting the data further comprises resetting at least a portion of the data having the field duration to a default value.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising aggregating at least a portion of the data having the field duration in a cumulative record included in the FRUID image prior to resetting the data having the field duration.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein aggregating the portion of the data further comprising aggregating power data included in the FRUID image.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein aggregating the portion of the data further comprising aggregating temperature data included in the FRUID image.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising transferring the FRUID image including the data reset to an image repository.

13. A system comprising:

a field replaceable unit (FRU) including a memory device configured to store a FRUID image including at least status data; and

a FRU tool configured to interface with the FRU, extract the status data from the memory device, receive repair information associated with a repair of the field replaceable unit, and store the repair information in the memory device, wherein the FRUID image includes data having a field duration, and the FRU tool is further configured to reset the data having the field duration and store the FRUID image including the data reset in the memory device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the FRUID image further includes error data, and the FRU tool is further configured to retrieve the error data.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the FRU tool is further configured to extract the FRUID image from the memory device and transfer the extracted FRUID image to an image repository prior to storing the repair information.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the FRU tool is further configured to extract the FRUID image from the memory device and transfer the extracted FRUID image to an image repository after storing the repair information.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the FRU tool is further configured to identify a fault condition with the FRUID image, request an archived FRUID image from an image repository, receive the archived FRUID image, and store the archived FRUID image in the memory device.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the FRU tool is further configured to reset at least one of installation data, power data temperature data, error data, status data, and customer data included in the FRUID image.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the FRU tool is further configured to clear at least a portion of the data having the field duration.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the FRU tool is further configured to reset at least a portion of the data having the field duration to a default value.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the FRU tool is further configured to aggregate at least a portion of the data having the field duration in a cumulative record included in the FRUID image prior to resetting the data having the field duration.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the FRU tool is further configured to aggregate power data included in the FRUID image.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the FRU tool is further configured to aggregate temperature data included in the FRUID image.

24. The system of claim 13, wherein the FRU tool is further configured to transfer the FRUID image including the data reset to an image repository.