Maintenance port system incorporating software development package

Claim 1

A maintenance port system for use with a test system having a test computer, system test bus means, and test sets having automatic panels associated with digital apparatus to be tested, the system test bus means being normally coupled between the test computer and a plurality of panels; said maintenance port system comprising a software development package and a maintenance unit having port means for input/output coupling to a terminal, and interface means for coupling via a test bus to one panel to be tested, the test bus being the same as the system test bus means but not coupled to the test computer, said terminal having display means and a keyboard; said maintenance unit further comprising a microprocessor, a root memory comprising read-only memory means, a user memory comprising programmable read-only memory means, a ram memory comprising random-access memory means, socket means for the user memory, an internal bus coupled between the microprocessor and each of said memories, and address means including decode means and a multiconductor address line coupled between the microprocessor, each of said memories, said port means, and said interface means; said root memory having stored therein software comprising terminal communications routines, command interpretation and execution routines, standard parameter format routines, parameter input/output drivers, error information, help and list commands, and parameter select and modification routines; wherein said software development package contains programs that allow a user to generate user microcode from panel parameter information, the package being tailored to the root memory software, so that all addressing and formatting of panel parameters is resolved and the microcode generated is transparent to the user, such that when the user inputs parameter name, signature and desired text to the package, the resulting output is an object code file that when entered onto a blank programmable read-only memory device creates said user memory, which is then inserted into said socket means; wherein said user memory contains parameter commands and signatures necessary to control the automatic panel, so that the user memory inserted into the socket means configures the maintenance port specifically for the automatic panel for which it was designed, the user memory having stored therein a unique command table containing parameter names, unique text for describing panel parameters, small command modules that call proper root memory formats for selected parameter, and parameter signatures used by root memory software; and which permits a user to call up and modify panel parameters via said terminal.