Automated diagnostic service

• US 7,865,781 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2008
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LOT Network Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kern, Eric R., Fox, Thomas J., Queen, Charles C., Schreiber, Celia A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Guyton; Philip
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mehrmanesh; Elmira
• Application Number:
  US12/020,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20080184271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 714/25, 714/27, 714/37, 714/38, 714/44, 702/183, 702/188
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

A method of providing diagnostic service for a data processing system includes retrieving product data identifying a data processing element in response to an alert generated by the element. The retrieved product data is forwarded to a networked diagnostic site. A diagnostic package is retrieved, the diagnostic package including diagnostic code appropriate for the alerting element. The diagnostic package is forwarded to the data processing system. The diagnostic code is then installed and executed to perform diagnostic testing of the element. Results generated during execution of the diagnostic code may then be used to take machine initiated corrective action. After the results have been generated, the diagnostic software is uninstalled from the data processing system.

Claims

1. A data processing system employing automated diagnostic servicing, the data processing system comprising a computer processor, a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, the computer memory having disposed within it computer code means, the data processing system further comprising:

a diagnostic site including computer code means for responding to receipt of identification information by generating a diagnostic package including diagnostic code for a data processing element corresponding to the identification information and further including code means for forwarding the diagnostic package to a sender of the identification information; and

a management server configured to receive an alert from an element of the data processing system, the alert including the identification information indicating the data processing element generating the alert and, in response thereto, to send the identification information to the diagnostic site via a network and further configured to respond to receipt of the diagnostic package from the diagnostic site by installing and executing the diagnostic code.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic code is further enabled to package results generated during execution of the diagnostic code into a results alert and to send the results alert to the management server of the data processing system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the management server is enabled to use results generated during execution of the diagnostic code to take corrective action.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the management server is enabled to uninstall the diagnostic code after executing it.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic site is further characterized as a diagnostic site on an external network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic site is further characterized as a local replica of a diagnostic site on an external network.