Wireless server diagnostic system and method

• US 6,895,532 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2001
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Valtrus Innovations Limited (f/k/a Dolya Holdco 9 Limited) (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Raynham, Michael B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Baderman, Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): Damiano, Anne L.
• Application Number:
  US09/848,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20020166084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 714/25, 714/37, 714/46, 714/48, 709/224, 370/912, 370/913
• US Class Current: 714/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0709 in a distributed system consisting of a plurality of standalone computer nodes, e.g. clusters, client-server systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0748 in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault remote testing G06F11/2294
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test

Abstract

A wireless diagnostic system for diagnosing a problem with at least one server includes a portable diagnostic tool. The portable diagnostic tool includes a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver. The portable diagnostic tool is configured to transmit requests with the tool'"'"'s wireless transmitter. A wireless communication subsystem is coupled to a first server. The wireless communication subsystem includes a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver. The wireless communication subsystem is configured to receive a transmitted request from the portable diagnostic tool with the subsystem'"'"'s wireless receiver. The wireless communication subsystem is configured to transmit service information with the subsystem'"'"'s wireless transmitter in response to a received request. The portable diagnostic tool is configured to receive the service information with the tool'"'"'s wireless receiver.

Claims

1. A portable server diagnostic tool comprising:

a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting a request to a first plurality of servers;

a wireless receiver for wirelessly receiving service information that is wirelessly transmitted by at least one server in the first plurality of servers, wherein the service information includes system status information for the at least one server; and

a display screen for displaying diagnostic information based at least in part on the received service information,

wherein the displayed information includes at least one image of a portion of the at least one server.

2. The portable server diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the tool is configured to wirelessly communicate with a support server to obtain service support information from the support server.

3. The portable server diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the tool is configured to wirelessly communicate with a support server to transmit repair information to the support server.

4. The portable server diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the displayed diagnostic information includes error information representing at least one error experienced by the at least one server.

5. The portable server diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the tool is configured to display repair suggestion information on the display screen based at least in part on the received service information.

6. The portable server diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the tool is configured to be attached to a server in the first plurality of servers.

7. A wireless diagnostic system for diagnosing a problem with at least one server comprising:

a portable diagnostic tool including a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver, the portable diagnostic tool configured to transmit requests with the tool'"'"'s wireless transmitter;

a wireless communication subsystem coupled to a first server, the wireless communication subsystem including a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver, the wireless communication subsystem configured to receive a transmitted request from the portable diagnostic tool with the subsystem'"'"'s wireless receiver, the wireless communication subsystem configured to transmit service information with the subsystem'"'"'s wireless transmitter in response to a received request, the portable diagnostic tool configured to receive the service information with the tool'"'"'s wireless receiver; and

wherein the portable diagnostic tool includes a display screen, and wherein the portable diagnostic tool is configured to display information on the display screen based at least in part on the service information received from the first server, the displayed information including at least one image of a portion of the first server.

8. A wireless diagnostic system for diagnosing a problem with at least one server comprising:

a portable diagnostic tool including a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver, the portable diagnostic tool configured to transmit requests to the server with the tool'"'"'s wireless transmitter;

a wireless communication subsystem coupled to a first server, the wireless communication subsystem including a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver, the wireless communication subsystem configured to receive a transmitted request from the portable diagnostic tool with the subsystem'"'"'s wireless receiver, the wireless communication subsystem configured to transmit service information with the subsystem'"'"'s wireless transmitter in response to a received request, the portable diagnostic tool configured to receive the service information with the tool'"'"'s wireless receiver; and

wherein the portable diagnostic tool is configured to play voice files, the voice files including repair description information for the server.

9. A wireless diagnostic system for diagnosing a problem with at least one server comprising:

a portable diagnostic tool including a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver, the portable diagnostic tool configured to transmit requests with the tool'"'"'s wireless transmitter;

a wireless communication subsystem implemented in or attached directly to a first server, the wireless communication subsystem including a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver, the wireless communication subsystem configured to receive a transmitted request directly from the portable diagnostic tool with the subsystem'"'"'s wireless receiver, the wireless communication subsystem configured to transmit service information with the subsystem'"'"'s wireless transmitter in response to a received request, the portable diagnostic tool configured to receive the service information with the tool'"'"'s wireless receiver; and

wherein the portable diagnostic tool is configured to transmit a request for an identification response with the tool'"'"'s wireless transmitter, the wireless communication subsystem configured to receive the transmitted request for an identification response from the portable diagnostic tool with the subsystem'"'"'s wireless receiver, the first server configured to generate an identification response in response to receiving the request for an identification response.

10. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 9, wherein the identification response is an audible signal.

11. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 9, wherein the identification response is a visual indication.

12. A method of identifying a problem with at least one server comprising:

wirelessly transmitting a request with a portable diagnostic tool;

providing a wireless communication subsystem implemented in or attached directly to a first server;

receiving the transmitted request from the portable diagnostic tool with the wireless communication subsystem;

wirelessly transmitting service information with the wireless communication subsystem in response to a received request;

receiving the service information with the portable diagnostic tool;

providing a second wireless communication subsystem implemented in or attached directly to a second server;

receiving a transmitted request from the portable diagnostic tool with the second wireless communication subsystem;

wirelessly transmitting service information with the second wireless communication subsystem in response to a received request; and

receiving the service information with the portable diagnostic tool.