Remote chassis monitoring system

• US 7,865,764 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2003
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rackmaster Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rackmaster Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Jester, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): McCarthy; Christopher S
• Application Number:
  US10/658,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20080082867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,674 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 714/47.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning

Abstract

In a system for monitoring remote computing stations, each remote station includes an array of detectors and a controller configured to receive the detector signals. The controller causes a condition information generator to generate condition records including multiple condition information entries, each entry corresponding to one of the detector outputs. A monitoring station is adapted to send cues to the remote stations, and each station responds to a cue by presenting its condition record as a web page for retrieval by the monitoring station. The monitoring station sends the cues to stations in a sequence controlled by a user of the monitoring station, or alternatively, in a rapid and repeated sequence according to a station selection program written in Java or another universal language. The program generates interlocked instruction sets designed to recognize, as an error, a failure to connect with a remote station. The system incorporates a comparator function for matching each condition information entry with an acceptance standard, and generating a fault indication if the entry fails to satisfy the standard.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring computer component performance at a plurality of computing stations remote from a monitoring station, independent of the operating systems of the monitored computing stations, wherein each computing station includes a primary processor and a chassis housing the primary processor;

said system including;

a plurality of detector arrays, each of the arrays located at a different one of a plurality of computing stations, each detector array including at least one detector adapted to continuously sense a computer component performance at the associated computing station and generate a detector signal indicating the then currently sensed performance;

a plurality of controllers, each of the controllers located at an associated one of the computing stations and operatively coupled to the associated detector array to receive the detector signal from each detector of the associated array and generate a computer component performance signal corresponding to each received detector signal;

a plurality of performance information generators, each performance information generator located at an associated one of the computing stations, coupled to receive each associated performance signal, and adapted to generate performance information including a performance information entry based on each received performance signal;

a computing station memory at each computing station adapted to receive the associated current performance information, including a first memory sector for storing address information identifying the associated computing station, and a second memory sector for continuously storing the associated current performance information;

wherein each performance information generator further is adapted to present an immediately retrievable current performance record including the address information and the current performance information for retrieval by a monitoring station, in response to receipt of a cue from the monitoring station;

a monitoring station remote from the computing stations and communicatively coupled to the computing stations, including a monitoring station processor, a selection component for individually selecting different ones of the computing stations, a monitoring component for generating cues and sending the cues to the selected computing stations, and an image generator adapted to generate visible images of the current performance records presented in response to the cues and retrieved by the monitoring station;

wherein the monitoring component comprises computer software in the form of a monitoring program resident in the monitoring station processor, adapted to generate and send cues in accordance with selection input from the selection component;

wherein the monitoring station further includes a memory segment for storing computing station address information comprising a list of addresses identifying the computing stations, and said selection component comprises computer software in the form of a selection program operatively associated with the monitoring program and the first memory segment to select the computing stations from the list of addresses;

the selection program and the monitoring program operate in the background, transparent to a user of the monitoring station processor; and

the monitoring station processor is adapted to generate a warning in response to receipt of a performance record including a fault indication.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the monitoring station further includes a video display terminal coupled to the monitoring station processor for displaying images of performance records, and

the warning includes a visible image at the video display terminal.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the monitoring station processor further is adapted to generate the warning in response to a failure to retrieve a performance record from one of the computing stations pursuant to a predetermined threshold after sending a cue to said one computing station.

4. A system for monitoring computer component performance at a plurality of computing stations remote from a monitoring station, independent of the operating systems of the monitored computing stations, wherein each computing station includes a primary processor and a chassis housing the primary processor;

said system including;

a plurality of detector arrays, each of the arrays located at a different one of a plurality of computing stations, each detector array including at least one detector adapted to continuously sense a computer component performance at the associated computing station and generate a detector signal indicating the then currently sensed performance;

a plurality of controllers, each of the controllers located at an associated one of the computing stations and operatively coupled to the associated detector array to receive the detector signal from each detector of the associated array and generate a computer component performance signal corresponding to each received detector signal;

a plurality of performance information generators, each performance information generator located at an associated one of the computing stations, coupled to receive each associated performance signal, and adapted to generate performance information including a performance information entry based on each received performance signal;

a computing station memory at each computing station adapted to receive the associated current performance information, including a first memory sector for storing address information identifying the associated computing station, and a second memory sector for continuously storing the associated current performance information;

wherein each performance information generator further is adapted to present an immediately retrievable current performance record including the address information and the current performance information for retrieval by a monitoring station, in response to receipt of a cue from the monitoring station;

a monitoring station remote from the computing stations and communicatively coupled to the computing stations, including a monitoring station processor, a selection component for individually selecting different ones of the computing stations, a monitoring component for generating cues and sending the cues to the selected computing stations, and an image generator adapted to generate visible images of the current performance records presented in response to the cues and retrieved by the monitoring station;

an evaluation component for determining, with respect to each of the performance entries, the presence of a fault;

each of the detector arrays includes a plurality of detectors for detecting different performances, and the performance information generated by each performance information generator includes a plurality of performance information entries individually relating to the different performances;

the monitoring station further includes a first memory segment for storing the performance records presented in response to the cues and retrieved by the monitoring station, and a second memory segment for storing acceptance standards individually associated with detected performances; and

the evaluation component includes a monitoring station comparator coupled to the first and second memory segments, adapted to individually compare the acceptance standards and the performance information entries, and to generate a fault indication responsive to each failure of a performance information entry to satisfy the corresponding acceptance standard.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein:

the image generator is operably associated with the comparator and thereby adapted to selectively incorporate in said visible images only the performance information entries that include fault indications.

6. A system for monitoring computer component performance at a plurality of computing stations remote from a monitoring station, independent of the operating systems of the monitored computing stations, wherein each computing station includes a primary processor and a chassis housing the primary processor;

said system including;

a plurality of detector arrays, each of the arrays located at a different one of a plurality of computing stations, each detector array including at least one detector adapted to continuously sense a computer component performance at the associated computing station and generate a detector signal indicating the then currently sensed performance;

a plurality of controllers, each of the controllers located at an associated one of the computing stations and operatively coupled to the associated detector array to receive the detector signal from each detector of the associated array and generate a computer component performance signal corresponding to each received detector signal;

a plurality of performance information generators, each performance information generator located at an associated one of the computing stations, coupled to receive each associated performance signal, and adapted to generate performance information including

a performance information entry based on each received performance signal;

a computing station memory at each computing station adapted to receive the associated current performance information, including a first memory sector for storing address information identifying the associated computing station, and a second memory sector for continuously storing the associated current performance information;

wherein each performance information generator further is adapted to present an immediately retrievable current performance record including the address information and the current performance information for retrieval by a monitoring station, in response to receipt of a cue from the monitoring station;

a monitoring station remote from the computing stations and communicatively coupled to the computing stations, including a monitoring station processor, a selection component for individually selecting different ones of the computing stations, a monitoring component for generating cues and sending the cues to the selected computing stations, and an image generator adapted to generate visible images of the current performance records presented in response to the cues and retrieved by the monitoring station; and

each performance information generator comprises a web engine adapted to present the performance record as a web page at the associated computing station.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein:

each web engine comprises a computer program resident in a data storage environment near the associated controller.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein:

each of the performance information generators comprises a computer program resident in a data storage environment near the associated controller, and the first sector of each computer station memory is resident in said data storage environment.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein:

the selection component, the monitoring component and the image generator comprise computer programs resident in the monitoring station processor, and the monitoring station memory includes a plurality of registers resident in the monitoring station processor.

10. A system for monitoring computer component performance at a plurality of computing stations remote from a monitoring station, independent of the operating systems of the monitored computing stations, wherein each computing station includes a primary processor and a chassis housing the primary processor;

said system including;

a plurality of detector arrays, each of the arrays located at a different one of a plurality of computing stations, each detector array including at least one detector adapted to continuously sense a computer component performance at the associated computing station and generate a detector signal indicating the then currently sensed performance;

a plurality of controllers, each of the controllers located at an associated one of the computing stations and operatively coupled to the associated detector array to receive the detector signal from each detector of the associated array and generate a computer component performance signal corresponding to each received detector signal;

a plurality of performance information generators, each performance information generator located at an associated one of the computing stations, coupled to receive each associated performance signal, and adapted to generate performance information including a performance information entry based on each received performance signal;

a computing station memory at each computing station adapted to receive the associated current performance information, including a first memory sector for storing address information identifying the associated computing station, and a second memory sector for continuously storing the associated current performance information;

wherein each performance information generator further is adapted to present an immediately retrievable current performance record including the address information and the current performance information for retrieval by a monitoring station, in response to receipt of a cue from the monitoring station;

a monitoring station remote from the computing stations and communicatively coupled to the computing stations, including a monitoring station processor, a selection component for individually selecting different ones of the computing stations, a monitoring component for generating cues and sending the cues to the selected computing stations, and an image generator adapted to generate visible images of the current performance records presented in response to the cues and retrieved by the monitoring station;

the selection component comprises a web browser.

11. A system for monitoring computer component performance at a plurality of computing stations remote from a monitoring station, independent of the operating systems of the monitored computing stations, wherein each computing station includes a primary processor and a chassis housing the primary processor;

said system including;

a plurality of detector arrays, each of the arrays located at a different one of a plurality of computing stations, each detector array including at least one detector adapted to continuously sense a computer component performance at the associated computing station and generate a detector signal indicating the then currently sensed performance;

a plurality of controllers, each of the controllers located at an associated one of the computing stations and operatively coupled to the associated detector array to receive the detector signal from each detector of the associated array and generate a computer component performance signal corresponding to each received detector signal;

a plurality of performance information generators, each performance information generator located at an associated one of the computing stations, coupled to receive each associated performance signal, and adapted to generate performance information including a performance information entry based on each received performance signal;

a computing station memory at each computing station adapted to receive the associated current performance information, including a first memory sector for storing address information identifying the associated computing station, and a second memory sector for continuously storing the associated current performance information;

wherein each performance information generator further is adapted to present an immediately retrievable current performance record including the address information and the current performance information for retrieval by a monitoring station, in response to receipt of a cue from the monitoring station;

a monitoring station remote from the computing stations and communicatively coupled to the computing stations, including a monitoring station processor, a selection component for individually selecting different ones of the computing stations, a monitoring component for generating cues and sending the cues to the selected computing stations, and an image generator adapted to generate visible images of the current performance records presented in response to the cues and retrieved by the monitoring station;

the selection component comprises computer software in the form of a selection program resident in the associated monitoring station processor; and

the selection program is written in a universal language and normally operates transparently to a user of the monitoring station processor.

12. A system for monitoring computer component performance at a plurality of computing stations remote from a monitoring station, independent of the operating systems of the monitored computing stations, wherein each computing station includes a primary processor and a chassis housing the primary processor;

said system including;

a plurality of detector arrays, each of the arrays located at a different one of a plurality of computing stations, each detector array including at least one detector adapted to continuously sense a computer component performance at the associated computing station and generate a detector signal indicating the then currently sensed performance;

a plurality of controllers, each of the controllers located at an associated one of the computing stations and operatively coupled to the associated detector array to receive the detector signal from each detector of the associated array and generate a computer component performance signal corresponding to each received detector signal;

a plurality of performance information generators, each performance information generator located at an associated one of the computing stations, coupled to receive each associated performance signal, and adapted to generate performance information including a performance information entry based on each received performance signal;

a computing station memory at each computing station adapted to receive the associated current performance information, including a first memory sector for storing address information identifying the associated computing station, and a second memory sector for continuously storing the associated current performance information;

wherein each performance information generator further is adapted to present an immediately retrievable current performance record including the address information and the current performance information for retrieval by a monitoring station, in response to receipt of a cue from the monitoring station;

a monitoring station remote from the computing stations and communicatively coupled to the computing stations, including a monitoring station processor, a selection component for individually selecting different ones of the computing stations, a monitoring component for generating cues and sending the cues to the selected computing stations, and an image generator adapted to generate visible images of the current performance records presented in response to the cues and retrieved by the monitoring station;

a set of primary data transmission pathways adapted to accommodate transmission of working data and operating programs between the monitoring station and the computing stations; and

a set of secondary data transmission pathways adapted to accommodate transmission of performance monitoring data including the cues and performance records between the monitoring station and the computing stations.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein:

the primary data transmission pathways include a first carrier frequency bandwidth to accommodate wireless transmissions of working data and operating programs, and the secondary data transmission pathways include a second carrier frequency bandwidth to accommodate wireless transmissions of the performance monitoring data.

14. The system for monitoring computer component performance of claim 12 wherein each performance information generator comprises a web engine adapted to present the performance record as a web page at the associated computing station.

15. The system for monitoring computer component performance of claim 12 wherein the selection component comprises a web browser.

16. In a network of computing stations, a monitoring station for tracking in real time current computer component performances at the other computing stations in the network, independent of the operating systems of the monitored computing stations, said monitoring station including:

a monitoring station processor;

a selector for determining a set of remote computing stations to be monitored from a monitoring station that includes the monitoring station processor,

a monitoring component operably associated with the selector and adapted to send cues in a sequence to the selected remote computing stations, thereby to cause a performance information generator located at each selected computing station to generate a performance record including computing station address information and computer component performance information indicating at least one currently sensed performance at the computing station, and to present the current performance record for retrieval by the monitoring station, said monitoring component being further adapted to retrieve the current performance records presented by the computing stations; and

a monitoring station memory including a first memory segment for storing a list of addresses individually identifying the remote computing stations;

wherein the monitoring station processor is adapted to generate a warning in response to receiving a computer component current performance record with a fault indication; and

wherein the monitoring component and the selector are configured to operate transparently to a user of the monitoring station processor until said processor generates a warning.

17. The monitoring station of claim 16 further including:

an image generator associated with the monitoring station memory, for generating visible images of the retrieved performance records, and a video display terminal operably coupled to the image generator and adapted to display the visible images, wherein the warning includes a visible image at the video display terminal.

18. The monitoring station of claim 17 wherein:

each of the performance records includes a plurality of performance information entries relating to different performances sensed at the associated remote computing station, and the monitoring station incorporates an evaluation component for determining the presence of a fault with respect to each of the performance information entries.

19. The monitoring station of claim 18 wherein:

the monitoring station memory includes a second memory segment for storing retrieved performance records, and a third memory segment for storing acceptance standards individually associated with the detected performances; and

the evaluation component includes a monitoring station comparator coupled to the second and third memory segments, adapted to individually compare the acceptance standards and the performance information entries, and to generate a fault indication responsive to each failure of a performance information entry to satisfy the corresponding acceptance standard.

20. The monitoring station of claim 19 wherein:

the image generator is operably associated with the comparator and thereby adapted to selectively incorporate in said visible images only the performance information entries that include fault indications.

21. The monitoring station of claim 17 wherein:

the selector, the monitoring component and the image generator comprise computer programs resident in the monitoring station processor, and the monitoring station memory includes a plurality of registers resident in the monitoring station processor.

22. The monitoring station of claim 21 wherein:

the selector and the monitoring component are written in a universal language.

23. The monitoring station of claim 16 wherein:

the monitoring component is adapted to send the cues in multiple repetitions of said sequence, and the monitoring station includes a second memory segment adapted to continuously store the current performance records retrieved by the monitoring component to thereby contain the current performance records related to a most current repetition of the sequence.

24. The monitoring station of claim 16 wherein:

the monitoring component comprises computer software in the form of a monitoring program resident in the monitoring station processor, adapted to generate and send the cues in accordance with input from the selection component.

25. The monitoring station of claim 24 wherein:

the selector comprises an operator-controlled device linked to the monitoring station processor and configured to allow a system user to control said input.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein:

the selector comprises computer software in the form of a selection program operably associated with the monitoring program and the first memory segment.

27. The monitoring station of claim 16 wherein:

each of the performance records retrieved from one of the remote computing stations includes a plurality of performance information entries relating to different performances at the remote computing station.

28. The monitoring station of claim 16 wherein:

the monitoring station processor further is adapted to generate the warning in response to a failure to retrieve a performance record from one of the computing stations pursuant to a predetermined threshold after sending a cue to said one computing station.

29. A real time self monitoring computing station, including:

a primary processor disposed at a computing station;

a detector array at the computing station, including at least one detector adapted to continuously sense a current computer component performance at the computing station and generate a detector signal indicating the sensed performance;

a controller coupled to receive the detector signal from each detector of the array, and adapted to generate a computer component performance signal corresponding to each detector signal;

a performance information generator coupled to receive each performance signal and adapted to generate performance information including a performance information entry based on each received performance signal;

a memory at the computing station including a first memory sector for storing address information identifying the computing station, a second memory sector for dynamically storing the then current performance information, and a third memory sector for storing an acceptance standard corresponding to each performance information entry;

a comparator coupled to the second and third memory sectors, adapted to compare each the then performance information entry with its corresponding acceptance standard and generate a fault indication responsive to each failure of a performance information entry to satisfy the corresponding acceptance standard;

wherein the performance information generator further is adapted to present a performance record including the address information and the performance information for retrieval by a remote monitoring station, independent of the operating system of the monitored computing station, in response to receiving a cue from the monitoring station;

the detector array includes a plurality of detectors for detecting different performances, and the performance information includes a plurality of performance information entries individually related to the different performances;

the performance information generator is operably coupled with the comparator and thereby is adapted to selectively incorporate in the performance record only the performance information entries that include fault indications.

30. A real time self monitoring computing station, including:

a primary processor disposed at a computing station;

a detector array at the computing station, including at least one detector adapted to continuously sense a current computer component performance at the computing station and generate a detector signal indicating the sensed performance;

a controller coupled to receive the detector signal from each detector of the array, and adapted to generate a computer component performance signal corresponding to each detector signal;

a performance information generator coupled to receive each performance signal and adapted to generate performance information including a performance information entry based on each received performance signal;

a memory at the computing station including a first memory sector for storing address information identifying the computing station, a second memory sector for dynamically storing the then current performance information, and a third memory sector for storing an acceptance standard corresponding to each performance information entry;

a comparator coupled to the second and third memory sectors, adapted to compare each the then performance information entry with its corresponding acceptance standard and generate a fault indication responsive to each failure of a performance information entry to satisfy the corresponding acceptance standard;

wherein the performance information generator further is adapted to present a performance record including the address information and the performance information for retrieval by a remote monitoring station, independent of the operating system of the monitored computing station, in response to receiving a cue from the monitoring station; and

the performance information generator comprises a web engine adapted to present the performance record as a web page at the computing station.

31. The computing station of claim 30 wherein:

the web engine comprises a computer program contained in a data storage environment near the controller.

32. A process for monitoring in real time current computer component performances at a plurality of remote computing stations, independent of the operating systems of the monitored computing stations, including:

providing a detector array at each of a plurality of remote computing stations, and using each detector of each array to continuously sense a current computer component performance at the associated station;

using a controller at each station to receive a detector signal from each detector of the associated array, and to generate a performance signal corresponding to each detector signal;

generating performance information at each computer station including a performance information entry corresponding to each performance signal;

assembling the performance information at each station, along with address information identifying that station, into a performance record associated with that station;

sending a cuing signal from a monitoring computer to each of the remote computing stations;

responsive to receiving the cuing signal at each remote station, presenting the current performance record associated with that station for retrieval by the monitoring computer;

using the monitoring computer to retrieve the presented current performance records;

entering a list of the remote computing stations into the monitoring computer,

entering a list of remote computing stations into the monitoring computer;

causing the computer to send the cuing signals in a sequence to the remote computing stations on the list;

using a computer program resident in the monitoring computer to cause multiple repetitions of said sequence; and

using the computer program includes generating a pair of interlocked instruction sets, each pair being uniquely and independently associated with a different one of the remote computing stations, wherein a first instruction set of each'"'"' said pair is directed to establishing a connection with the associated remote station to provide the cuing signal to that station, and a second instruction set of each said pair is directed to setting a threshold for establishing the connection, and generating a failure indication if the connection is not established pursuant to the threshold.

33. A process for monitoring in real time current computer component performances at a plurality of remote computing stations, independent of the operating systems of the monitored computing stations, including:

providing a detector array at each of a plurality of remote computing stations, and using each detector of each array to continuously sense a current computer component performance at the associated station;

using a controller at each station to receive a detector signal from each detector of the associated array, and to generate a performance signal corresponding to each detector signal;

generating performance information at each computer station including a performance information entry corresponding to each performance signal;

assembling the performance information at each station, along with address information identifying that station, into a performance record associated with that station;

sending a cuing signal from a monitoring computer to each of the remote computing stations;

responsive to receiving the cuing signal at each remote station, presenting the current performance record associated with that station for retrieval by the monitoring computer;

using the monitoring computer to retrieve the presented current performance records;

wherein each detector array includes a plurality of detectors, whereby the performance information associated with each remote computing station includes a plurality of performance information entries;

maintaining a list of acceptance standards associated with each remote computing station, comparing the acceptance standards with the associated performance information entries in a one-to-one correspondence, and generating a fault indication responsive to each failure of a performance information entry to satisfy the associated acceptance standard; and

comparing the acceptance standards with the associated performance information entries is performed at the monitoring computer.

34. A process for monitoring in real time current computer component performances at a plurality of remote computing stations, independent of the operating systems of the monitored computing stations, including:

providing a detector array at each of a plurality of remote computing stations, and using each detector of each array to continuously sense a current computer component performance at the associated station;

using a controller at each station to receive a detector signal from each detector of the associated array, and to generate a performance signal corresponding to each detector signal;

generating performance information at each computer station including a performance information entry corresponding to each performance signal;

assembling the performance information at each station, along with address information identifying that station, into a performance record associated with that station;

sending a cuing signal from a monitoring computer to each of the remote computing stations;

responsive to receiving the cuing signal at each remote station, presenting the current performance record associated with that station for retrieval by the monitoring computer;

using the monitoring computer to retrieve the presented current performance records;

wherein each detector array includes a plurality of detectors, whereby the performance information associated with each remote computing station includes a plurality of performance information entries;

maintaining a list of acceptance standards associated with each remote computing station, comparing the acceptance standards with the associated performance information entries in a one-to-one correspondence, and generating a fault indication responsive to each failure of a performance information entry to satisfy the associated acceptance standard;

generating visible images of the retrieved performance records;

selectively generating, with respect to each retrieved performance record, visible images of only the performance information entries that include fault indications.

35. A process for monitoring in real time current computer component performances at a plurality of remote computing stations, independent of the operating systems of the monitored computing stations, including:

providing a detector array at each of a plurality of remote computing stations, and using each detector of each array to continuously sense a current computer component performance at the associated station;

using a controller at each station to receive a detector signal from each detector of the associated array, and to generate a performance signal corresponding to each detector signal;

generating performance information at each computer station including a performance information entry corresponding to each performance signal;

assembling the performance information at each station, along with address information identifying that station, into a performance record associated with that station;

sending a cuing signal from a monitoring computer to each of the remote computing stations;

responsive to receiving the cuing signal at each remote station, presenting the current performance record associated with that station for retrieval by the monitoring computer;

using the monitoring computer to retrieve the presented current performance records; and

generating a fault indication at the monitoring computer in response to a failure to retrieve a performance record from one of the remote computing stations pursuant to a predetermined threshold after sending a cuing signal to said one remote computing station.