Method, system, and apparatus for providing and utilizing server-side entry points for use in diagnostics on-demand services

• US 7,334,166 B1
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Megatrends Incorporated
• Original Assignee: American Megatrends Incorporated
• Inventors: Rhea, Paul Anthony, Righi, Stefano
• Primary Examiner(s): CHU, GABRIEL L
• Application Number:
  US10/675,174
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 714/46, 714/47, 714/48
• US Class Current: 714/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus enabling the use of server-side entry points when providing diagnostics on-demand services are provided. A request is received at a client computer to perform a diagnostic. In response to the request, an entry point is called on a server computer to retrieve a configuration file identifying one or more additional entry points. One of the entry points identified in the configuration file may be called to obtain authorization to download a diagnostics module to perform the requested diagnostic. Another entry point may be provided at the server computer for actually downloading the requested module. An additional entry point may also be called for obtaining a data file containing instructions regarding the installation of the diagnostics module and other configuration data. Another entry point may be utilized to obtain authorization to execute the diagnostics module and to perform the requested diagnostic. Another entry point provided at the server computer may be called with the results of the execution of the diagnostics module. If an error condition occurs, another entry point may be called to report the error condition.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing server-side entry points in providing diagnostics on-demand, the method comprising:

receiving a request to perform a diagnostic on a client computer;

in response to the request, calling an entry point provided at a server computer for performing functions related to executing a diagnostic, the called entry point operative to provide a configuration file identifying to the client computer one or more additional entry points at the server computer;

calling a one of the entry points identified in the configuration file to retrieve a data file from the server computer, the data file identifying to the client computer at least one diagnostics module available to the client computer;

receiving the data file from the server computer;

displaying a list of the at least one diagnostics module available to the client computer identified by the data file;

in response to receiving a selection of one of the at least one available diagnostics module from the list, calling a one of the entry points identified in the configuration file to obtain authorization to download the selected one of the at least one available diagnostics module for testing a single hardware component of the client computer;

in response to receiving the authorization to download the selected one of the at least one available diagnostics module, calling a one of the entry points identified in the configuration file to download the selected one of the at least one available diagnostics module; and

installing the selected one of the at least one available diagnostics module once it has been downloaded.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calling a one of the entry points identified in the configuration file to obtain authorization to start execution of the selected one of the at least one available diagnostics module; and

executing the selected one of the at least one available diagnostics module in response to receiving the authorization to start execution of the selected one of the at least one available diagnostics module.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining whether the execution of the selected one of the at least one available diagnostics module has completed or has been cancelled; and

in response to determining that the execution of the selected one of the at least one available diagnostics module has completed or has been cancelled, calling a one of the entry points identified in the configuration file with results of the execution of the selected one of the at least one available diagnostics module.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining whether an error has occurred; and

in response to determining that an error has occurred, calling a one of the entry points identified in the configuration file with an error code corresponding to the error that occurred.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data file contains installation instructions for the selected one of the at least one available diagnostics module, and wherein installing the selected one of the at least one available diagnostics module comprises installing the selected one of the at least one available diagnostics module according to the installation instructions.

6. Computer storage media having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of claim 1.

7. A computer-controlled apparatus capable of performing the method of claim 1.

8. An apparatus for use in providing diagnostics on-demand, the apparatus comprising:

a server computer configured to;

provide one or more entry points for use by a client computer when performing diagnostics on-demand, a one of the one or more entry points providing a diagnostic control component to the client computer, the diagnostic control component operative to request from the server computer a configuration file;

receive a request at the one of the one or more entry points for providing the diagnostic control component;

in response to the request provide the diagnostic control component to the client computer;

receive a request from the diagnostic control component executing on the client computer for the configuration file; and

in response to the request from the diagnostic control component, provide the configuration file from the server computer to the client computer, the configuration file identifying to the client computer each of the other entry points.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the entry points comprise network addresses provided by the server computer and wherein a one of the entry points identified in the configuration file comprises a network address at which a data file may be retrieved, the data file identifying and providing instructions for installing one or more diagnostics modules on a client computer.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a one of the entry points identified in the configuration file comprises a network address at which authorization may be obtained from the server computer to download one or more files.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a one of the entry points identified in the configuration file comprises a network address at which the one or more files may be downloaded.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a one of the entry points identified in the configuration file comprises a network address at which authorization may be requested to start a diagnostic test.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a one of the entry points identified in the configuration file comprises a network address that may be called to notify the server computer that a diagnostic test has completed.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a one of the entry points identified in the configuration file comprises a network address that may be called to display an error message relating to the performance of the diagnostic test.

15. A method for utilizing server-side entry points in providing diagnostics on-demand, the method comprising:

providing an entry point at a server computer for a client computer to retrieve a diagnostic control component from the server computer, the diagnostic control component operative to request from the server computer a configuration file;

receiving a request at the entry point for providing the diagnostic control component;

in response to the request, providing the diagnostic control component to the client computer;

receiving a request from the diagnostic control component executing on the client computer for the configuration file; and

in response to the request from the diagnostic control component, providing the configuration file from the server computer to the client computer, the configuration file operative to identify to the client computer one or more additional entry points at the server computer for use in providing diagnostics on-demand.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing an entry point at the server computer for authorizing the download of one or more diagnostics modules; and

receiving a request at the entry point for authorization and, in response to the request, determining whether the request is authorized and, if so, authorizing the download.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing an entry point at the server computer for downloading one or more diagnostics modules; and

receiving a request for a diagnostics module at the entry point for downloading modules and, in response to the request, authorizing the request and transmitting the requested diagnostics module if authorized.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing an entry point at a server computer for retrieving a data file containing instructions for installing a downloaded diagnostics module; and

receiving a request at the entry point for providing the data file, and returning the data file in response to the request, wherein the data file is dynamically generated based on the client computer prior to being transmitted to the client computer.

19. Computer storage media having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of claim 15.

20. A computer-controlled apparatus capable of performing the method of claim 15.