Method and apparatus for wirelessly testing field-replaceable units (FRUs)

• US 7,561,875 B1
• Filed: 05/07/2004
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Eberle, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US10/840,849
• Time in Patent Office: 1,894 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455423-425, 455/67.11, 455/14, 455 901- 902, 4555561-5562, 455/557, 455/67.14, 707/100, 702/34, 702/118, 702183-185, 702 57- 65, 702/108, 702117-122
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates wirelessly identifying and testing field-replaceable units within a computer system. The system includes a field-replaceable unit (FRU) within the computer system and a storage device located on the FRU. Data on the storage device contains an identifier for the FRU. A wireless transceiver coupled to the storage device is configured to receive a request directed to the FRU and, in response to the request, to transmit the identifier for the FRU.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wirelessly identifying and testing field-replaceable units within a computer system, comprising:

a field-replaceable unit (FRU) within the computer system;

a storage device located on the FRU, which contains an identifier for the FRU;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the storage device, wherein the wireless transceiver is located on the FRU, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to receive a request directed to the FRU and, in response to the request, to transmit the identifier for the FRU; and

at least one physical sensor coupled to the wireless transceiver, wherein the at least one physical sensor is located on the FRU, and wherein the at least one physical sensor is configured to monitor temperature, voltage, or current for the FRU.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is additionally configured to transmit data associated with the FRU.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage device includes a serial electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein data on the storage device contains error logs for the FRU.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one physical sensor creates a log of the monitored parameter within the storage device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver initiates a wireless transfer when the at least one physical sensor measures a data reading that exceeds a given range.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage device and wireless transceiver receive power from a power source for the FRU.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage device and wireless transceiver receive power from a battery, which is separate from the power source for the FRU.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage device and wireless transceiver receive power from a radio frequency signal received by the wireless transceiver.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a joint test action group (JTAG) interface coupled to the wireless transceiver configured to test the FRU under control of signals received by the wireless transceiver.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein data within the storage device is updated using the transceiver.

12. A computer system for wirelessly identifying and testing field-replaceable units within the computer system, comprising:

a plurality of field-replaceable units, wherein a field-replaceable unit (FRU) of the plurality of field-replaceable units includes;

a storage device located on the FRU, which contains an identifier for the FRU;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the storage device, wherein the wireless transceiver is located on the FRU, wherein the wireless communication is configured to receive a request directed to the FRU and, in response to the request, to transmit the identifier for the FRU; and

at least one physical sensor coupled to the wireless transceiver, wherein the at least one physical sensor is located on the FRU, and wherein the at least one physical sensor is configured to monitor temperature, voltage, or current for the FRU.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the wireless transceiver is additionally configured to transmit data associated with the FRU.

14. The computer system of claim 12, wherein data on the storage device contains error logs for the FRU.

15. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the storage device includes a serial electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory.

16. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the at least one physical sensor creates a log of the monitored parameter within the storage device.

17. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the wireless transceiver initiates a wireless transfer when the at least one physical sensor measures a data reading that exceeds a given range.

18. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the storage device and wireless transceiver receive power from a power source for the FRU.

19. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the storage device and wireless transceiver receive power from a battery, which is separate from the power source for the FRU.

20. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the storage device and wireless transceiver receive power from a radio frequency signal received by the wireless transceiver.

21. The computer system of claim 12, further comprising a joint test action group (JTAG) interface coupled to the wireless transceiver configured to test the FRU under control of signals received by the wireless transceiver.

22. A method for wirelessly identifying and testing field-replaceable units within a computer system, comprising:

receiving a command at a wireless transceiver coupled to a field-replaceable computer unit (FRU) to transmit an identifier for the FRU, wherein the wireless transceiver is located on the FRU;

recovering the identifier for the FRU from a storage device located on the FRU; and

transmitting the identifier from the wireless transceiver, whereby the identifier can be received by the external device; and

monitoring temperature, voltage, or current for the FRU using an at least one physical sensor coupled to the wireless transceiver, wherein the at least one physical sensor is located on the FRU.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising creating a log of the monitored parameter within the storage device.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising testing the FRU under control of signals received by the wireless transceiver using a joint test action group (JTAG) interface coupled to the wireless transceiver.