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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
First Claim
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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.

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