Method and apparatus for audible error code detection and identification

• US 7,295,882 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kelaher, Daniel Paul, Meserth, Timothy Andreas, Champion, David Frederick, Lawrence, Bradley Michael, Schultz, Kevin Laverne, Nay, David Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Sinh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Flanders; Andrew C
• Application Number:
  US10/185,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20040002782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,965 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94, 714/100, 714/1, 714/5, 714/7, 714/9, 704/235, 340/825.19, 340/692, 340/566, 715/501.1, 397197-199, 381/59, 381/58, 381/86
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0706 the processing taking place on a specific hardware platform or in a specific software environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0769 Readable error formats, e.g. cross-platform generic formats, human understandable formats

Abstract

The invention describes a method and apparatus for audible error code detection and identification. The method and apparatus allow an operator, user, or customer to automatically identify an error condition within an electronic device, such as a workstation computer or network server. The apparatus is configured to output an error message without the need for paper or electronic copies of manufacturer error code lookup tables, except as contained within the apparatus itself, thus simplifying the error detection and identification process. Additionally, the method and apparatus allow an operator to select various output modes so that the apparatus may report either a representation of the generated error code or a representation of the corresponding error condition.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detection and identification of an audible error code, the apparatus comprising:

a signal detection module configured to detect and receive the audible error code when audibly communicated from an electronic device, wherein the signal detection module is not in electrical communication with the electronic device; and

an output module configured to convey an error message corresponding to the audible error code to an operator, the error message comprising an audible voice and visual text providing real-time maintenance and equipment troubleshooting hyperlinks.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a signal conversion module configured to convert the received audible error code to a set of signal detection parameters using a fast Fourier transform.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a signal comparison module configured to compare the set of signal detection parameters to values within an error code signature table and to provide a matching error code index.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising an error message lookup module configured to use the error code index to access an error message lookup table and provide a corresponding set of error message parameters.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an input module configured to receive an input command from an operator.

6. The input module of claim 5, further comprising input selectors configured to allow the operator to select a plurality of configuration settings of the apparatus comprising an electronic device type to facilitate detection, a language mode, an output mode, and identification of the audible error code.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an updateable non-volatile memory.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an error code signature table containing error code signatures for audible error codes corresponding to an electronic device.

9. The apparatus claim 1, further comprising an error message lookup table including a set of known error messages for an electronic device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an output indicator configured to convey a representation of the error message to an operator.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the output indicator is a visual screen capable of displaying text messages.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the output indicator is an audible signal generator.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a communications port for connection to and interface with an external computerized device.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller to process a communications signal between a set of internal modules.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a signal receiver to receive the audible error code.

16. An apparatus for detection and identification of an audible error code, the apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to process a communications signal between a set of internal modules;

a signal detection module configured to detect and receive the audible error code when audibly communicated from an electronic device, wherein the signal detection module is not in electrical communication with the electronic device;

an input module configured to allow an operator to select a plurality of configuration settings of the apparatus using an input selector;

an updateable non-volatile memory containing an error code signature table and an error message lookup table;

a signal conversion module configured to convert the received audible error code to a set of signal detection parameters using a fast Fourier transform;

an output module configured to convey a representation of an error message to an operator via an output indicator, the error message comprising an audible voice and visual text providing real-time maintenance and equipment troubleshooting hyperlinks; and

a communications port for connection to and interface with an external computerized device.

17. An audible error code detection and identification system, the system comprising:

an electronic device having an audible error code generator capable of producing an audible error code; and

an audible error code detection and identification apparatus not in electrical communication with the electronic device, configured to receive the audible error code when audibly communicated, convert the received audible error code to a set of signal detection parameters using a fast Fourier transform, compare the set of signal detection parameters to values within an error code signature table and to provide a matching error code index, use the error code index to access an error message lookup table and provide a corresponding set of error message parameters, and convey a corresponding error message to an operator, the error message operator, the error message comprising an audible voice and visual text providing real-time maintenance and equipment troubleshooting hyperlinks.

18. A method for detection and identification of an audible error code, the method comprising:

receiving an audible error code when audibly communicated, wherein the audible error code encodes error data information for an electronic device, wherein the signal detection module is not in electrical communication with the electronic device;

using the signal detection parameters to search an error code signature table and provide an error code index;

using the error code index to search an error message lookup table and provide a set of error message parameters; and

conveying an error message corresponding to the audible error code to an operator, the error message comprising an audible voice and visual text providing real-time maintenance and equipment troubleshooting hyperlinks.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising selecting a plurality of configuration settings, including an electronic device type to facilitate detection, a language mode, an output mode, and identification of the audible error code.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising converting the audible error code to a set of signal detection parameters.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising using an error code index to search an error message lookup table and provide a set of error message parameters.

22. A method for detection and identification of an audible error code, the method comprising:

selecting a plurality of configuration settings, including an electronic device type;

receiving an audible error code when audibly communicated;

converting the audible error code to a set of signal detection parameters;

using the signal detection parameters to search an error code signature table and provide an error code index;

using the error code index to search an error message lookup table and provide a set of error message parameters; and

conveying a representation of an identified error condition to an operator via an output indicator, the representation comprising an audible voice and visual text providing real-time maintenance and equipment troubleshooting hyperlinks.

23. An apparatus for detection and identification of an audible error code, the apparatus comprising:

means for selecting a plurality of configuration settings, including an electronic device type;

means for receiving the audible error code when audibly communicated;

means for converting the audible error code to a set of signal detection parameters;

means for using the signal detection parameters to search an error code signature table and provide an error code index;

means for using the error code index to access an error message lookup table and provide a set of error message parameters;

means for conveying a representation of an identified error condition to an operator via an output indicator, the representation comprising an audible voice and visual text providing real-time maintenance and equipment troubleshooting hyperlinks;

means for connecting to and interfacing with an external computerized device; and

means for receiving a lookup table update signal.