EP0413133A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Service processor tester
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1990-07-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-07-11
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus automatically generates test programs to test a service processor associated with a computer. The apparatus comprises a knowledge base for mapping screens generated by the service processor, which screens are arranged in a hierarchical manner and comprise menu screens which access other screens lower in the hierarchy and end point screens which represent memory of the computer serviced by the service processor. The apparatus also includes a user interface for selecting at least one screen generated by the service processor, which screen identifies a branch of screens lower in the hierarchy for testing. A program generator is coupled to the user interface and the knowledge base, and identifies from the knowledge base the screens in the branch. The program generator also generates a program to direct the service processor to call up the screens in the branch, and test the pathing between the screens by comparing the map provided by the memory to the screens actually called up by the service processor. To reduce the testing time, the program generator can select a fraction of the paths in the branch for testing. The program generator also writes a program to direct the service processor to exercise the end point screens to determine if the service processor is able to write data into the memory of the computer.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy Glenn Evans
- 👤 Mark William Gould
- 👤 Timothy John Mcnamara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 02:47
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/22; G06F11/2257
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
Apparatus for testing a service processor associated with a computer, said apparatus comprising: memory means for mapping a hierarchy of screens displayed by the service processor, said screens of said service processor comprising menu screens which access other screens lower in the hierarchy; and program generating means, coupled to said memory means, for identifying from said memory means screens in said hierarchy and generating a program to (a) direct said service processor to call-up said screens and (b) test the pathing between said screens by comparing the map provided by said memory means to the screens called-up by said service processor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus for testing a service processor associated with a computer, said apparatus comprising: memory means for mapping a hierarchy of screens displayed by the service processor, said screens of said service processor comprising menu screens which access other screens lower in the hierarchy; and program generating means, coupled to said memory means, for identifying from said memory means screens in said hierarchy and generating a program to (a) direct said service processor to call-up said screens and (b) test the pathing between said screens by comparing the map provided by said memory means to the screens called-up by said service processor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising user interface means for selecting at least one screen displayed by said service processor, which screen identifies a group of screens in one or more paths for testing; and wherein said program generating means is coupled to said user interface means to test the pathing between screens of said group.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said program generating means includes means for selecting some but not all of the paths between said screens for testing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said screens of said service processor further comprise end point screens which represent memory of the computer serviced by said service processor; and said program generating means includes means for selecting some but not all of memory fields within the end point screens, and generating a program to exercise the selected fields to test the ability of said service processor to write into said fields in actual memory in said computer and read from said memory fields in the computer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the selected fields of said memory screens are selected at least in part randomly; and said user interface means includes means for determining the fraction of fields for testing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said program generating means includes means for exercising a greater fraction of memory boundary fields than memory fields within the interior of said memory.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said paths are selected pseudo randomly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 further comprising user interface means for selecting a seed to base said pseudo-ramdom selection of paths, whereby selection of said seed identifies the same paths for testing; and means for recreating a test program by re-entering said seed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said user interface means includes means for specifying the fraction of paths for testing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said memory means is knowledge based and comprises a set of rules/facts for each menu screen, said set defining the screens which are accessed by said menu screen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said program generating means includes means for identifying a path, based on the map within said memory means, between two screens selected via said user interface means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said group is a branch of screens in the hierarchy, and the identifying screen identifies a top screen in the branch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said program generating means includes means for writing a program to test the ability of said service processor to allocate memory in said computer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 further comprising means, coupled to said program generating means, for automatically directing said program generating means to generate additional programs to select some different paths between said screens for testing, said additional programs being run continuously after the first said program until either a manual shut-off or a timed shut off.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
94 words
A data storage medium containing a computer program, said program comprising: a map of screens, said screens being generated by a service processor when said service processor is working properly, said map indicating which screens serve as menus to access other screens lower in a hierarchy; and means, coupled to said map, for directing said service processor to call-up screens in said hierarchy according to at least one path of screens in said hierarchy and compare the pathing of the called-up screens to the map to determine if the service processor is working properly.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
94 words
A data storage medium containing a computer program, said program comprising: a map of screens, said screens being generated by a service processor when said service processor is working properly, said map indicating which screens serve as menus to access other screens lower in a hierarchy; and means, coupled to said map, for directing said service processor to call-up screens in said hierarchy according to at least one path of screens in said hierarchy and compare the pathing of the called-up screens to the map to determine if the service processor is working properly.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
A data storage medium as set forth in claim 15 wherein said screens include end point screens which represent memory in a computer serviced by said service processor, and said computer program further comprises means for directing said service processor to exercise said end point screens of said service processor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A data storage medium as set forth in claim 16 wherein the end point screen exercise means directs said service processor to exercise some but not all of memory fields within said end point screen.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
A data storage medium as set forth in claim 17 wherein said computer program further comprises means for directing said service processor to exercise a greater fraction of memory boundary fields than memory interior fields within said end point screen.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
152 words
Apparatus for testing a service processor in a computer, said apparatus comprising: memory means for representing screens, including first, second and third screens generated by the service processor and hierarchical relationships between said screens indicating which screens serve as menus to select other screens lower in the hierarchy, said screens representing aspects of a computer serviced by said service processor, said first screen serving as a menu to select either said second screen or said third screen which are lower in the hierarchy; first generator means, coupled to said memory means, for reading the representation of said first screen from said memory means, and generating a program to command said service processor to call up said second screen and compare the screen actually called up by said service processor in response to said command to said second screen obtained from said memory means to determine if said service processor is working properly.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
152 words
Apparatus for testing a service processor in a computer, said apparatus comprising: memory means for representing screens, including first, second and third screens generated by the service processor and hierarchical relationships between said screens indicating which screens serve as menus to select other screens lower in the hierarchy, said screens representing aspects of a computer serviced by said service processor, said first screen serving as a menu to select either said second screen or said third screen which are lower in the hierarchy; first generator means, coupled to said memory means, for reading the representation of said first screen from said memory means, and generating a program to command said service processor to call up said second screen and compare the screen actually called up by said service processor in response to said command to said second screen obtained from said memory means to determine if said service processor is working properly.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
198 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 further comprising: second generator means, coupled to said memory means, for identifying screens in a multiplicity of paths beginning with said first screen and leading to a different level in the hierarchy, a first one of said paths including said first screen, said third screen, and a fourth screen accessed by said third screen; and wherein said first generator means is also coupled to said second generator means and includes means for reading the representation of screens in said first path beginning with said first screen, generating a program to direct said service processor to call up said third screen and compare the screen actually called up by said service processor in response to said command to said third screen obtained from said memory means to determine if said service processor is working properly, and reading the representation of said third screen, and generating a program to command said service processor to call up said fourth screen and compare the screen actually called up by said service processor in response to said command to said fourth screen obtained from said memory means to determine if said service processor is working properly.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
126 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 further comprising: second generator means, coupled to said memory means, for identifying sets of screens, each set including at least two screens one of which providing menu access to the other screen; and wherein said first generator means is also coupled to said second generator means and includes means for reading the representation of screens in said sets beginning with said one screen in each set and generating a computer program to direct said service processor to call up said other screen in said set and compare the screen actually called up by said service processor in response to said command to said other screen obtained from said memory means to determine if said service processor is working properly.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said memory means comprises a knowledge base of an expert system in which rules/facts of said knowledge base define said screens and the hierarchical relationships between said screens.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus for testing a service processor associated with a computer, said apparatus comprising: memory means for mapping a hierarchy of screens displayed by the service processor, said screens of said service processor comprising menu screens which access other menu screens and end point screens lower in the hierarchy; and program generating means, coupled to said memory means, for identifying from said memory means said end point screens in said hierarchy and generating a program to exercise said end point screens.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus for testing a service processor associated with a computer, said apparatus comprising: memory means for mapping a hierarchy of screens displayed by the service processor, said screens of said service processor comprising menu screens which access other menu screens and end point screens lower in the hierarchy; and program generating means, coupled to said memory means, for identifying from said memory means said end point screens in said hierarchy and generating a program to exercise said end point screens.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 further comprising user interface means for selecting at least one screen displayed by said service processor, which screen identifies a branch of screens in said hierarchy; and wherein said program generating means is coupled to said user interface means to generate a program to exercise the end point screens of said branch.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 24 wherein said program generating means includes means for selecting a fraction less than one of said end end point screens of said branch for testing.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 wherein said end point screens represent memory of the computer serviced by said service processor; and said program generating means includes means for selecting a fraction less than one of memory fields within said end point screens, and generating a program to exercise the selected fields to test the ability of said service processor to write into said fields in actual memory in said computer and read from said memory fields in the computer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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