Remotely controllable switch and testing methods using same

• US 7,783,799 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Megatrends International, LLC
• Original Assignee: American Megatrends Incorporated
• Inventors: Sivertsen, Clas Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai; Henry W. H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Snyder; Steven G
• Application Number:
  US11/513,635
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 710/8, 710/14, 710/51, 710/62, 710/67, 710/73, 710/305, 713/1, 713/2, 345/156, 345/168
• US Class Current: 710/62
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence

Abstract

Apparatus, methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for remotely controlling the connection between a host computer and a multitude of connected devices. One apparatus described herein includes a multiplexer that has a host port for connection to a host computer, device ports for connection to the devices, and control lines. The multiplexer is operative to connect a device port to the host port based upon the status of the control lines. The apparatus further includes a controller connected to the multiplexer. The controller has an input interface and is operative to receive control data on the input interface that identifies a device port on the apparatus that should be connected to the host port. In response to receiving such control data, the controller is operative to place signals on the control lines that cause the multiplexer to connect the identified device port to the host port. The device port that is connected to the host port can be remotely selected by transmitting the appropriate data to the input interface of the controller.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a remotely controllable connection between a host computer and one of a multitude of connected devices, the apparatus comprising:

a multiplexer having a host port for connection to the host computer, two or more device ports for connection to the devices, and one or more control lines, the multiplexer operative to connect one of the device ports to the host port based upon the status of the control lines while others of the device ports remain unconnected to the host port;

a controller connected to the control lines of the multiplexer, the controller having a serial communications interface and being operative to receive control data on the serial communications interface from a test computer, the control data identifying a device port that should be connected to the host port, and the controller being further operative to place signals on the control lines for selecting the identified device port in response to receiving the control data on the serial communications interface;

a first converter connected to the serial communications interface, the first converter operative to receive the control data as USB data on a universal serial bus (USB) connection, to convert the received USB data to a format compatible with the serial communications interface, and to transmit the received USB data to the controller via the serial communications interface;

a second converter connected to the serial communications interface, the second converter operative to receive the control data as LAN data on a local area network (LAN) connection, to convert the received LAN data to a format compatible with the serial communications interface, and to transmit the received LAN data to the controller via the serial communications interface; and

a RS-232 transceiver connected to the serial communications interface, the transceiver operative to receive the control data as RS-232 data on an RS-232 connection, to convert the received RS-232 data to a format compatible with the serial communications interface, and to transmit the received RS-232 data to the controller via the serial communications interface;

wherein, a first instruction is transmitted from a test control computer to the host computer, the first instruction operative to cause the host computer to perform a first test utilizing the first connected device, wherein the first connected device comprises a first mass storage device, and wherein performing the first test utilizing the connected device comprises performing an initial program load (IPL) for the host computer utilizing a first operating system (OS) stored on the first mass storage device and performing a first test of the host computer during or after the IPL of the first OS.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first converter, the second converter, and the transceiver are connected to the serial communications interface of the controller by a single AND gate.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus further comprises one or more mechanical switches connected to the controller, and wherein the controller is further operative to place a first signal on the control lines for selecting a previous device in response to detecting a first selection of one or more of the mechanical switches, to place a second signal on the control lines for selecting a next device in response to detecting a second selection of one or more of the mechanical switches, and to power off in response to detecting a third selection of one or more of the mechanical switches.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the host port comprises a USB port, the device ports comprise USB ports, and wherein the multiplexer is operative to pass USB signals between the host port and one of the device ports selected based upon the status of the control lines.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a field effect transistor (FET) corresponding to each device port, and wherein the controller is operative to cause a FET to deliver power to the selected device port.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a light emitting diode (LED) associated with each device port, and wherein the controller is operative to cause the LED corresponding to the selected device port to be illuminated.

7. A method for automated testing, the method comprising:

transmitting a port select signal from a test control computer to a remotely controllable switch, the port select signal operative to cause the switch to create a connection between a first device of a plurality of devices connected to the switch and a host computer; and

transmitting a first instruction from the test control computer to the host computer, the first instruction operative to cause the host computer to perform a first test utilizing the first connected device, wherein the first connected device comprises a first mass storage device, and wherein performing the first test utilizing the connected device comprises performing an initial program load (IPL) for the host computer utilizing a first operating system (OS) stored on the first mass storage device and performing a first test of the host computer during or after the IPL of the first OS;

transmitting a second port select signal from the test control computer to the switch, the second port select signal operative to cause the switch to create a connection between a second device of the plurality of devices connected to the switch and the host computer; and

transmitting a second instruction from the test control computer to the host computer, the second instruction operative to cause the host computer to perform a second test utilizing the second connected device, wherein the second connected device comprises a second mass storage device, and wherein performing the second test utilizing the second connected device comprises performing an initial program load (IPL) for the host computer utilizing a second operating system (OS) stored on the second mass storage device and performing a second test of the host computer during or after the IPL of the second OS.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first connected device further comprises a first peripheral device, and wherein performing a test utilizing the first connected device further comprises performing a test of the first peripheral device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second connected device comprises a second peripheral device, and wherein performing a second test utilizing the second connected device comprises performing a test of the second peripheral device.

10. An apparatus for providing a remotely controllable connection between a host computer and one of a multitude of connected devices, the apparatus comprising:

a first multiplexer having a host port for connection to the host computer, two or more ports for connection to two or more second multiplexers, and one or more first control lines;

two or more second multiplexers, each of the second multiplexers having a port connected to the first multiplexer, two or more device ports for connection to the devices, and one or more second control lines;

a controller connected to the first control lines of the first multiplexer and the second control lines of the second multiplexers, the controller having an input interface and being operative to receive control data on the input interface from a test computer, the control data identifying a device port on a one of the second multiplexers that should be connected to the host port on the first multiplexer, and to place signals on the control lines that cause the first and second multiplexers to connect the identified device port to the host port in response to receiving the control data on the input interface;

a first converter connected to the input interface, the first converter operative to receive the control data as USB data on a universal serial bus (USB) connection, to convert the received USB data to a format compatible with the input interface, and to transmit the received USB data to the controller via the input interface;

a second converter connected to the input interface, the second converter operative to receive the control data as LAN data on a local area network (LAN) connection, to convert the received LAN data to a format compatible with the input interface, and to transmit the received LAN data to the controller via the input interface; and

a RS-232 transceiver connected to the input interface, the transceiver operative to receive the control data as RS-232 data on an RS-232 connection, to convert the received RS-232 data to a format compatible with the input interface, and to transmit the received RS-232 data to the controller via the input interface;

wherein, a first instruction is transmitted from a test control computer to the host computer, the first instruction operative to cause the host computer to perform a first test utilizing the first connected device, wherein the first connected device comprises a first mass storage device, and wherein performing the first test utilizing the connected device comprises performing an initial program load (IPL) for the host computer utilizing a first operating system (OS) stored on the first mass storage device and performing a first test of the host computer during or after the IPL of the first OS.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of field effect transistors (FET), each FET corresponding to a device port; and

a light emitting diode (LED) associated with each device port, and wherein the controller is operative to cause one of the plurality of FETs to deliver power to the selected device port and to cause the LED corresponding to the selected device port to be illuminated.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the host port comprises a USB port, the device ports comprise USB ports, and wherein the apparatus is operative to pass USB signals between the host port and one of the device ports selected based upon the status of the control lines.