Diagnostic system for remote computers

• US 4,823,343 A
• Filed: 03/07/1988
• Issued: 04/18/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Takahashi, Etsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baker, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US07/165,166
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 371/15, 371/25, 371/16, 371/20, 324/73 R, 324/73 AT, 364/200 MS File
• US Class Current: 714/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test

Abstract

A diagnostic system comprises a plurlity of remote computers connected to a switched telephone network to which a diagnostic center and an adminstrator'"'"'s station are also connected. The diagnostic center includes a data processor for preparing a diagnostic file for each of the remote computers and storing it into a first memory. Each diagnostic file contains a remote computer'"'"'s identification, a remote computer'"'"'s telephone number, diagnostic commands, expectation values and an administrator'"'"'s telephone number. The center transfers files from the first memory to a second memory and sequentially recalls data in each file in the second memory. The center first sends dialing information to the network according to the recalled computer'"'"'s telephone number to establish a first path to a computer identified by the recalled identification and then sends out test signals according to the recalled diagnostic commands to the identified computer to detect responses from it. If there is a match between each response and each recalled expectation value, the first path is released and a new path is established to the next remote computer. If there is a mismatch, the first path is released and a second path is established to the administrator'"'"'s station and contents of the mismatch and the recalled identification are sent to the administrator'"'"'s station to notify abnormalities.

Claims

1. A diagnostic system comprising:

a switched telephone network;

a plurality of remote computers connected to said switched telephone network;

an administrator'"'"'s station connected to said switched telephone network; and

a diagnostic center connected to said switched telephone network, said diagnostic center comprising;

a first memory;

means for preparing diagnostic files respectively for said remote computers and storing said files into said file memory, each of said diagnostic files including a diagnostic command, an expectation value, a remote computer'"'"'s identification, a remote computer'"'"'s telephone number and an administrator'"'"'s telephone number;

a second memory;

means for transferring the diagnostic files from said first memory to said second memory, addressing one of the diagnostic files in said second memory to recall data contained in the addressed file, sending dialing information to said network according to the recalled remote computer'"'"'s telephone number to cause the network to establish a first path from said center to the remote computer identified by the recalled remote computer'"'"'s identification, applying a test signal to said first path according to said recalled diagnostic command to detect a response from said identified remote computer, detecting a mismatch between said response and the recalled expectation value and releasing said first path and sending dialing information to said network according to the recalled administrator'"'"'s telephone number to cause the network to establish a second path from said center to said administrator'"'"'s station; and

means for transmitting contents of said mismatch and said recalled remote computer'"'"'s identification to said administrator'"'"'s station through said second path.

2. A diagnostic system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said administrator'"'"'s station is a telephone set and said transmitting means comprises a voice synthesizer for converting contents of said mismatch into a vocal output and transmitting the vocal output to said administrator'"'"'s telephone set.

3. A method for diagnosing a plurality of remote computers connected to a switched telephone network to which an administrator'"'"'s station is also connected comprising:

(a) preparing a plurality of diagnostic files each including a diagnostic command, an expectation value, a remote computer'"'"'s identification, a remote computer'"'"'s telephone number and an administrator'"'"'s telephone number and storing said diagnostic files into a first memory;

(b) transferring said diagnostic files from said first memory to a second memory;

(c) addressing one of said diagnostic files in said second memory to recall data contained in the addressed file;

(d) sending dialing information to said network according to the recalled remote computer'"'"'s telephone number to cause the network to establish a first path to the remote computer identified by said recalled identification;

(e) applying a test signal according to the recalled diagnostic command to said first path to detect a response from the identified remote computer and detecting whether there is a match or a mismatch between said response and the recalled expectation value;

(f) if said match is detected, releasing said first connection and repeating the steps (c) to (e);

(g) if said mismatch is detected, releasing said first path and sending dialing information to said network according to the recalled administrator'"'"'s telephone number to cause the network to establish a second path to said administrator'"'"'s station; and

(h) transmitting contents of said mismatch and said recalled remote computer'"'"'s identification to said administrator'"'"'s station through said second path.