Method for remotely diagnosing devices

• US 7,370,236 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2002
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Clanget, Ulrich, Szucs, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): PUENTE, EMERSON C
• Application Number:
  US10/303,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20030140279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,989 Days
• Field of Search: 714/4, 714/38, 714/25, 709/223, 709/224
• US Class Current: 714/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test

Abstract

A method for diagnosing devices via a remote testing device (1) which is connectable to devices (3₁ to 3₄) to be diagnosed via a communication network (2) is proposed, wherein said diagnosing is performed by exchanging diagnostics information between said remote-testing device (1) and said devices (3₁ to 3₄) to be tested via said communication network (2). Said process of exchanging diagnostics information is at least partially done by using a communication protocol being based on XML-scripts which include said diagnostics information. The advantage of this method is a lean and platform-independent way of diagnosing devices, which enables to avoid unnecessary efforts and costs.

Claims

1. A method for diagnosing devices, which are connected in a user'"'"'s network, via a remote testing device which is connectable to devices to be diagnosed via a communication network, comprising:

performing diagnosing by exchanging diagnostics information between said remote testing device and said devices to be tested via said communication network, wherein said diagnostics information is included within XML-scripts being exchanged between said remote testing device and said devices to be tested, wherein said XML-scripts constitute XML-language extensions;

requesting from the remote testing device a topology of said user'"'"'s network with said diagnostics information;

transmitting said topology to said remote testing device within said diagnostics information; and

transmitting a status change of the topology of said user'"'"'s network within said diagnostics information to said remote testing device, in case that a device has been added to said user'"'"'s network or removed from said user'"'"'s network.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a list of devices, which are connected in said user'"'"'s network within said diagnostics information to said remote testing device.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting said topology by representing said devices as nodes of a graph and connections between devices as edges between nodes.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a network technology, by which said devices are connected in said user'"'"'s network within said diagnostics information to said remote testing device.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

requesting the actual topology of said user'"'"'s network by said remote testing device after receiving said status change and transmitting the actual topology to said remote testing device.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

providing diagnosing means within the devices; and

implementing self-tests into the diagnosing means for diagnosing the devices and executing said diagnostics self-tests based on said received diagnostics information.

7. A computer readable medium including computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method according to claim 1.

8. A remote testing device being connectable to devices, which are connected in a user'"'"'s network, to be diagnosed via a communication network, said remote-testing device comprising:

communication means for sending or receiving diagnostics information to or from said devices to be diagnosed,

wherein said communication means includes an XML-client-module having functionality to send or receive XML-scripts constituting XML-language extensions, said XML-scripts including said diagnostics information, and said diagnostics information includes a topology of said user'"'"'s network requested by said remote testing device, and

said remote testing device is configured to receive said diagnostics information after a status change of the topology of said user'"'"'s network has been received by said remote testing device, and said remote testing device is configured to request an actual topology of said user'"'"'s network.

9. A remote testing device according to claim 8, wherein said remote testing device is configured to receive said diagnostics information including a transmitted topology of said user'"'"'s network.

10. The remote testing device according to claim 8, further comprising:

diagnosing means for executing already implemented diagnostics self-tests based on said received diagnostics information.

11. A device being connectable to a remote testing device via a communication network, said device comprising:

communication means for sending or receiving diagnostics information to or from said remote testing device, wherein said communication means comprises an XML server-module having functionality to send or receive send XML-scripts constituting XML-language extensions, said XML-scripts including said diagnostics information; and

a server application configured to transmit a network topology of a user'"'"'s network, which comprises said device and connected other devices to said remote testing device, within said diagnostics information,

wherein said server application is configured to transmit a status change of the topology of said user'"'"'s network within said diagnostics information to said remote testing device, in case that a device has been added to said user'"'"'s network or removed from said user'"'"'s network.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein said server application is configured to transmit a list of devices that are connected in said user'"'"'s network to said remote testing device within said diagnostics information.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein said server application is configured to transmit said topology by representing said devices as nodes of a graph and connections between devices as edges between nodes.

14. The device according to claim 11, wherein said server application is configured to transmit a network technology, by which said devices are connected in said user'"'"'s network within said diagnostics information to said remote testing device.

15. The device according to claim 11, further comprising:

diagnosing means with implemented self-tests, which are executed based on said received diagnostics information.

16. A system for remotely diagnosing devices connected in a user'"'"'s network via a communication network, comprising:

a remote testing device including,

first communication means for sending or receiving diagnostics information to or from said devices to be diagnosed,

wherein said first communication means includes an XML-client-module having functionality to send or receive XML-scripts constituting XML-language extensions, said XML-scripts including said diagnostics information, and said diagnostics information includes a topology of said user'"'"'s network requested by said remote testing device, and

said remote testing device is configured to receive said diagnostics information after a status change of the topology of said user'"'"'s network has been received by said remote testing device, and said remote testing device is configured to request an actual topology of said user'"'"'s network; and

at least one device to be diagnosed including,

second communication means for sending or receiving diagnostics information to or from said remote testing device, wherein said second communication means comprises an XML server-module having functionality to send or receive XML-scripts constituting XML-language extensions, said XML-scripts including said diagnostics information; and

a server application configured to transmit the topology of the user'"'"'s network, which comprises said device and connected other devices to said remote testing device, within said diagnostics information,

wherein said server application is configured to transmit the status change of the topology of said user'"'"'s network within said diagnostics information to said remote testing device, in case that a device has been added to said user'"'"'s network or removed from said user'"'"'s network,

wherein said remote testing device and said at least one device to be diagnosed are respectively connected via said communication network.