US3928830A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Diagnostic system for field replaceable units
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1974-09-19
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Granted: 1975-12-23
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Expires: 1994-09-19
Abstract
Abstract The data processing system shown herein incorporates a diagnostic system that monitors functional units within the system. Further, in the event of a failure in the operation of the system, as for example a data error, the system checks its monitors for an indication of an out-of-tolerance condition or a failure in a module or field replaceable unit inside a functional unit. The out-of-tolerance sensors latch up a display that shows which field replaceable units are out of tolerance. The display is latched until manually reset by a field engineer maintaining the system. The system also logs out-of-tolerance conditions and failure conditions in conjunction with automated system recovery attempts so that a field engineer when servicing the system, will have a history with which to diagnose the system. Further, the system also has the capability in managing itself to deactivate a functional unit when the failure sensors indicate a field replaceable unit in the functional unit has failed.
Inventors
- 👤 Lester Ralph Bellamy
- 👤 Kenneth Legrand Hotaling
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 18:29
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/0703; G06F11/0766; G06F11/0787; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/28; G06F11/0706; G06F11/0721; G06F11/0727; G06F11/0751; G06F11/079; G06F11/30; G06F11/32; G06F11/324; G06F11/325; G06F11/326
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
Module status reporting apparatus for assisting diagnosis of the operative condition of modules in functional units in a data processing system, said apparatus comprising: early warning sensing means connected to the modules in the functional units for sensing degradation in the operation of a module; failure sensing means connected to the modules in the functional units for sensing failure in the operation of a module; scanning means initiated by the data processing means and connected to said failure sensing means for scanning said failure sensing means; early warning reporting means connected to said early warning sensing means for reporting early warning status of functional unit back to the data processing system; failure address reporting means connected to said scanning means and said failure sensing means for reporting to the data processing system addresses of failed modules in the functional units.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
Module status reporting apparatus for assisting diagnosis of the operative condition of modules in functional units in a data processing system, said apparatus comprising: early warning sensing means connected to the modules in the functional units for sensing degradation in the operation of a module; failure sensing means connected to the modules in the functional units for sensing failure in the operation of a module; scanning means initiated by the data processing means and connected to said failure sensing means for scanning said failure sensing means; early warning reporting means connected to said early warning sensing means for reporting early warning status of functional unit back to the data processing system; failure address reporting means connected to said scanning means and said failure sensing means for reporting to the data processing system addresses of failed modules in the functional units.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said early warning sensing means comprises: a plurality of comparing means each comparing means for comparing the signal in a module to a reference range chosen such that if the signal departs from the range, said comparing means will indicate the module is degrading although the module may still be operative.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
85 words
The apparatus of claim 2 and in addition: a plurality of display means with each display means connected to one of said comparing means for displaying the indication that the module connected to the comparing means has a signal outside the reference range; time out means connected to each of said display means for controlling each display means so that each display means will not be operative to display out-of-reference range conditions shorter in duration than the time out interval of said time out means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said early warning sensing means and said failure sensing means are connected only to modules that supply power to the functional units.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
190 words
In a storage system having a plurality of storage units, each storage unit having a read/write unit with a read/write controller and said system further having a processor for maintaining reliability of the system by compensating for operative failures by said storage units, apparatus for reporting the failure and status of modules in said storage units whereby the internal degradation of the system becomes visible, said reporting apparatus comprising: first means connected to each of said storage units for sensing that signals on modules in the storage unit are out of tolerance; second means connected to each of said storage units for sensing that modules in the storage unit have failed; display means connected to said first sensing means for permanently displaying an indication of a signal out of tolerance until said display is manually reset; scanning means connected to the processor for addressing each of said second sensing means when said scanning means is initiated by the processor; module failure reporting means connected to said scanning means and said second sensing means for reporting to the processor the address of any module failure sensed by said second sensing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
190 words
In a storage system having a plurality of storage units, each storage unit having a read/write unit with a read/write controller and said system further having a processor for maintaining reliability of the system by compensating for operative failures by said storage units, apparatus for reporting the failure and status of modules in said storage units whereby the internal degradation of the system becomes visible, said reporting apparatus comprising: first means connected to each of said storage units for sensing that signals on modules in the storage unit are out of tolerance; second means connected to each of said storage units for sensing that modules in the storage unit have failed; display means connected to said first sensing means for permanently displaying an indication of a signal out of tolerance until said display is manually reset; scanning means connected to the processor for addressing each of said second sensing means when said scanning means is initiated by the processor; module failure reporting means connected to said scanning means and said second sensing means for reporting to the processor the address of any module failure sensed by said second sensing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the tolerance range of said first sensing means is chosen to provide an early warning of degradation in each module.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said first and second sensing means are connected only to modules which supply power to the storage units.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-22 | 1979-06-23 | 1979-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-22 | 1983-06-23 | 1983-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-22 | 1987-06-23 | 1987-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |