US6067407A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remote diagnosis of network device over a local area network
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1995-06-30
•
Granted: 2000-05-23
•
Expires: 2015-06-30
Abstract
Abstract Dump and debug utilities which provide mechanisms, for a network user from his or her workstation which is connected to a local area network, to remotely examine and control software executing on an interface board connected elsewhere to the network. The dump and debug facilities allow a network user to locate accessible interface boards and to issue dump and debug commands by which dump/debug network packets are constructed, and transmitted over the LAN to the interface board. Thereafter, the dump and debug utilities receive dump/debug packets generated by the interface board in response to the workstation packet, decode the packet, and display the results to the user. At the interface board side, the dump/debug packets received from the network workstation are intercepted by the data link layer of the board's interrupt handler, and are processed in an interrupt-disabled state whereby appropriate dump and debug capabilities can be carried out even if the interface board is otherwise non-operational.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert D. Wadsworth
- 👤 William C. Russell
- 👤 Jefferson F. Talbott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:43
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/22; G06F11/2294
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A network device that interfaces between a local area network (LAN) and a network peripheral, comprising: a protocol stack which extends from a physical network layer, through an interrupt-driven data link layer, to an application layer which services the network peripheral, the data link layer including a software module which is triggered by receipt of a packet from a remote user over the local area network containing a unique dump/debug packet header and a data portion, thereby placing the network device into an interrupt-disabled state, which interprets dump/debug commands stored in the data portion of the packet, and which in the interrupt-disabled state executes the dump/debug commands, and wherein the network device maintains the interrupt-disabled state until a command to resume execution is received from a remote user over the local area network and executed by the network device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A network device that interfaces between a local area network (LAN) and a network peripheral, comprising: a protocol stack which extends from a physical network layer, through an interrupt-driven data link layer, to an application layer which services the network peripheral, the data link layer including a software module which is triggered by receipt of a packet from a remote user over the local area network containing a unique dump/debug packet header and a data portion, thereby placing the network device into an interrupt-disabled state, which interprets dump/debug commands stored in the data portion of the packet, and which in the interrupt-disabled state executes the dump/debug commands, and wherein the network device maintains the interrupt-disabled state until a command to resume execution is received from a remote user over the local area network and executed by the network device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A network device according to claim 1, wherein the software module in said data link layer sends a response packet confirming that dump/debug command execution has been completed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A network device according to claim 1, wherein the dump/debug commands include commands to dump some or all of the contents of a memory on the network device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A network device according to claim 1, wherein the dump/debug commands include commands to store data from the packet to specific locations of a memory on the network device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A network device according to claim 1, wherein the execution of the dump/debug command causes the network device to suspend the execution of currently executing software in the application layer until a dump/debug command to resume execution is received and executed by the network device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A network device according to claim 1, wherein the execution of the dump/debug command causes the application layer to defer the processing of all incoming data packets received during the execution of the dump/debug command until a dump/debug command to resume execution is received and executed by the network device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
A network device according to claim 1, wherein the execution of the dump/debug command causes the data link layer to ignore the processing of all subsequent incoming dump/debug commands from a different source received during the execution of the dump/debug command until a dump/debug command to resume execution is received and executed by the network device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A network device according to claim 1, wherein the dump/debug command to resume execution includes commands to instruct the network device to quit the interrupt-disabled state and resume normal operations so as to allow for the dump/debug command from a different source to be processed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
180 words
A network device that interfaces between a local area network (LAN) and a network peripheral, comprising: a protocol stack which extends from a physical network layer, through an interrupt-driven data link layer, to an application layer which services the network peripheral, the data link layer including a software module which is triggered by receipt of a packet from a remote user over the local area network containing a unique dump/debug packet header and a data portion, thereby placing the network device into an interrupt-disabled state, which interprets dump/debug commands stored in the data portion of the packet, and which in the interrupt-disabled state executes the dump/debug commands, wherein the network device maintains the interrupt-disabled state until a command to resume execution is received from a remote user over the local area network and executed by the network device, wherein the dump/debug commands include commands to store data from the packet to specific locations of a memory on the network device, and wherein storage of predetermined pieces of data causes the network device to enter into a debug mode of operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
180 words
A network device that interfaces between a local area network (LAN) and a network peripheral, comprising: a protocol stack which extends from a physical network layer, through an interrupt-driven data link layer, to an application layer which services the network peripheral, the data link layer including a software module which is triggered by receipt of a packet from a remote user over the local area network containing a unique dump/debug packet header and a data portion, thereby placing the network device into an interrupt-disabled state, which interprets dump/debug commands stored in the data portion of the packet, and which in the interrupt-disabled state executes the dump/debug commands, wherein the network device maintains the interrupt-disabled state until a command to resume execution is received from a remote user over the local area network and executed by the network device, wherein the dump/debug commands include commands to store data from the packet to specific locations of a memory on the network device, and wherein storage of predetermined pieces of data causes the network device to enter into a debug mode of operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A network device according to claim 9, wherein storage of the predetermined piece of data causes a subsequent break-in into a debug mode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A network device according to claim 9, wherein the software module in the data link layer sends a response packet confirming that dump/debug command execution has been completed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A network device according to claim 9, wherein the dump/debug commands include commands to dump some or all of the contents of a memory on the network device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A network device according to claim 9, wherein the execution of the dump/debug command causes the network device to suspend the execution of all currently executing software in the application layer until a dump/debug command to resume execution is received and executed by the network device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
A network device according to claim 9, wherein the execution of the dump/debug command causes the application layer to defer the processing of all incoming data packets received during the execution of the dump/debug command until a dump/debug command to resume execution is received and executed by the network device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
A network device according to claim 9, wherein the execution of the dump/debug commands causes the data link layer to ignore the processing of subsequent incoming dump/debug commands from a different source received during the execution of the dump/debug command until a dump/debug command to resume execution is received and executed by the network device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
A network device according to claim 9, wherein the dump/debug command to resume execution include commands to instruct the network device to quit the interrupt-disabled state and resume normal operations so as to allow for the dump/debug command from a different source to be processed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
157 words
A computer-executable utility on a workstation of a local area network (LAN) to which is connected an interface board for a network peripheral, the computer-executable utility comprising: a user interface for accepting user-originated dump/debug commands; process steps to construct a dump/debug network packet containing at least one dump/debug command, in accordance with one of the user-originated commands; process steps to send the dump/debug packet across the LAN to the interface board, the dump/debug packet including a sequence number; process steps to receive a response dump/debug packet originating from the interface board via the LAN, the response dump/debug packet including a sequence number; process steps to verify the response dump/debug packet by comparing the sequence number of the dump/debug packet to the sequence number of the response dump/debug packet; and process steps to display to the user dump/debug results which are based on the response dump/debug packet in a case that the response dump/debug packet has been verified.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
157 words
A computer-executable utility on a workstation of a local area network (LAN) to which is connected an interface board for a network peripheral, the computer-executable utility comprising: a user interface for accepting user-originated dump/debug commands; process steps to construct a dump/debug network packet containing at least one dump/debug command, in accordance with one of the user-originated commands; process steps to send the dump/debug packet across the LAN to the interface board, the dump/debug packet including a sequence number; process steps to receive a response dump/debug packet originating from the interface board via the LAN, the response dump/debug packet including a sequence number; process steps to verify the response dump/debug packet by comparing the sequence number of the dump/debug packet to the sequence number of the response dump/debug packet; and process steps to display to the user dump/debug results which are based on the response dump/debug packet in a case that the response dump/debug packet has been verified.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer-executable utility according to claim 17, further comprising process steps to re-send dump/debug packets in a case that the response dump/debug packet is not verified.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
161 words
A computer-executable utility on a workstation of a local area network (LAN) to which is connected an interface board for a network peripheral, comprising: a user interface for accepting user-originated dump/debug commands; process steps to construct a dump/debug network packet containing at least one dump/debug command, in accordance with one of the user-originated commands; process steps to send the dump/debug packet across the LAN to the interface board, the dump/debug packet including a sequence number; process steps to receive a response dump/debug packet originating from the interface board via the LAN; process steps to verify the response dump/debug packet by comparing the sequence number of the dump/debug packet to the sequence number of the response dump/debug packet; and process steps to display to the user dump/debug results which are based on the response dump/debug packet in a case that the response dump/debug packet has been verified; wherein the sequence number of the dump/debug packet is incremented from a preceding dump/debug packet.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
161 words
A computer-executable utility on a workstation of a local area network (LAN) to which is connected an interface board for a network peripheral, comprising: a user interface for accepting user-originated dump/debug commands; process steps to construct a dump/debug network packet containing at least one dump/debug command, in accordance with one of the user-originated commands; process steps to send the dump/debug packet across the LAN to the interface board, the dump/debug packet including a sequence number; process steps to receive a response dump/debug packet originating from the interface board via the LAN; process steps to verify the response dump/debug packet by comparing the sequence number of the dump/debug packet to the sequence number of the response dump/debug packet; and process steps to display to the user dump/debug results which are based on the response dump/debug packet in a case that the response dump/debug packet has been verified; wherein the sequence number of the dump/debug packet is incremented from a preceding dump/debug packet.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer-executable utility according to claim 19, further comprising process steps to re-send dump/debug packets in a case that the response dump/debug packet is not verified.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
167 words
A network device that interfaces between a local area network (LAN) and a network peripheral, comprising: a protocol stack which extends from a physical network layer, through an interrupt-driven data link layer, to an application layer which services the network peripheral, the data link layer including a software module which is triggered by a unique dump/debug packet header, which interprets dump/debug commands stored in the data portion of the packet, and which in the interrupt-disabled state executes the dump/debug commands, wherein the network device maintains the interrupt-disabled state until a command to resume execution is received and executed by the network device, and wherein the dump/debug commands include commands to open and close a connection to a particular network workstation so as to recognize dump/debug packets from the network workstation only, to transmit data from a memory on the network device to the LAN, to store data from a packet in a memory on the network device, and to suspend and resume execution of the software module.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
167 words
A network device that interfaces between a local area network (LAN) and a network peripheral, comprising: a protocol stack which extends from a physical network layer, through an interrupt-driven data link layer, to an application layer which services the network peripheral, the data link layer including a software module which is triggered by a unique dump/debug packet header, which interprets dump/debug commands stored in the data portion of the packet, and which in the interrupt-disabled state executes the dump/debug commands, wherein the network device maintains the interrupt-disabled state until a command to resume execution is received and executed by the network device, and wherein the dump/debug commands include commands to open and close a connection to a particular network workstation so as to recognize dump/debug packets from the network workstation only, to transmit data from a memory on the network device to the LAN, to store data from a packet in a memory on the network device, and to suspend and resume execution of the software module.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
189 words
A network device that interfaces between a local area network (LAN) and a network peripheral, comprising: a protocol stack which extends from a physical network layer, through an interrupt-driven data link layer, to an application layer which services the network peripheral, the data link layer including a software module which is triggered by a unique dump/debug packet header, which interprets dump/debug commands stored in the data portion of the packet, and which in the interrupt-disabled state executes the dump/debug commands, wherein the network device maintains the interrupt-disabled state until a command to resume execution is received and executed by the network device, wherein the dump/debug commands include commands to open and close a connection to a particular network workstation so as to recognize dump/debug packets from the network workstation only, to transmit data from a memory on the network device to the LAN, to store data from a packet to specific locations of a memory on the network device, and to suspend and resume execution of the software module, and wherein storage of predetermined pieces of data causes the network device to enter into a debug mode of operation.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
189 words
A network device that interfaces between a local area network (LAN) and a network peripheral, comprising: a protocol stack which extends from a physical network layer, through an interrupt-driven data link layer, to an application layer which services the network peripheral, the data link layer including a software module which is triggered by a unique dump/debug packet header, which interprets dump/debug commands stored in the data portion of the packet, and which in the interrupt-disabled state executes the dump/debug commands, wherein the network device maintains the interrupt-disabled state until a command to resume execution is received and executed by the network device, wherein the dump/debug commands include commands to open and close a connection to a particular network workstation so as to recognize dump/debug packets from the network workstation only, to transmit data from a memory on the network device to the LAN, to store data from a packet to specific locations of a memory on the network device, and to suspend and resume execution of the software module, and wherein storage of predetermined pieces of data causes the network device to enter into a debug mode of operation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
179 words
A network workstation connected to a local area network (LAN), for requesting and receiving dump/debug information from an interface board which interfaces a network peripheral to the LAN, comprising: a user interface for accepting user-originated dump/debug commands; a memory which stores executable process steps; and a processor which executes the process steps stored in the memory (1) to construct a dump/debug network packet containing a unique dump/debug identification header and at least one dump/debug command, in accordance with one of the user-originated commands, (2) to send the dump/debug packet across the LAN to the interface board, the dump/debug packet including a sequence number, (3) to receive a response dump/debug packet originating from the interface board via the LAN, the response dump/debug packet including a sequence number, (4) to verify the response dump/debug packet by comparing the sequence number of the dump/debug packet to the sequence number of the response dump/debug packet, and (5) to display to the user dump/debug results which are based on the response dump/debug packet in a case that the response dump/debug packet has been verified.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
179 words
A network workstation connected to a local area network (LAN), for requesting and receiving dump/debug information from an interface board which interfaces a network peripheral to the LAN, comprising: a user interface for accepting user-originated dump/debug commands; a memory which stores executable process steps; and a processor which executes the process steps stored in the memory (1) to construct a dump/debug network packet containing a unique dump/debug identification header and at least one dump/debug command, in accordance with one of the user-originated commands, (2) to send the dump/debug packet across the LAN to the interface board, the dump/debug packet including a sequence number, (3) to receive a response dump/debug packet originating from the interface board via the LAN, the response dump/debug packet including a sequence number, (4) to verify the response dump/debug packet by comparing the sequence number of the dump/debug packet to the sequence number of the response dump/debug packet, and (5) to display to the user dump/debug results which are based on the response dump/debug packet in a case that the response dump/debug packet has been verified.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
A network workstation according to claim 23, wherein the sequence number of the dump/debug packet is incremented from a preceding dump/debug packet.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
A network workstation according to claim 23, wherein the processor executes process steps to re-send dump/debug packets in a case that the response dump/debug packet is not verified.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of requesting and receiving dump/debug information in a workstation connected to a local area network (LAN) to which is connected an interface board which interfaces a network peripheral to the LAN, the method comprising the steps of: constructing a dump/debug network packet in accordance with one of a plurality of user-originated commands entered on the network workstation, the dump/debug network packet containing a unique dump/debug identification header and at least one dump/debug command; sending the dump/debug packet across the LAN to the interface board, the dump/debug packet including a sequence number; receiving, via the LAN, a response dump/debug packet originating from the interface board, the response dump/debug packet including a sequence number; verifying the response dump/debug packet by comparing the sequence number of the dump/debug packet to the sequence number of the response dump/debug packet; and displaying to the user dump/debug results which are based on the response dump/debug packet in a case that the response dump/debug packet has been verified.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of requesting and receiving dump/debug information in a workstation connected to a local area network (LAN) to which is connected an interface board which interfaces a network peripheral to the LAN, the method comprising the steps of: constructing a dump/debug network packet in accordance with one of a plurality of user-originated commands entered on the network workstation, the dump/debug network packet containing a unique dump/debug identification header and at least one dump/debug command; sending the dump/debug packet across the LAN to the interface board, the dump/debug packet including a sequence number; receiving, via the LAN, a response dump/debug packet originating from the interface board, the response dump/debug packet including a sequence number; verifying the response dump/debug packet by comparing the sequence number of the dump/debug packet to the sequence number of the response dump/debug packet; and displaying to the user dump/debug results which are based on the response dump/debug packet in a case that the response dump/debug packet has been verified.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 26, wherein the sequence number for the dump/debug packet is incremented from a preceding dump/debug packet.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of re-sending dump/debug packets in a case that the response dump/debug packet is not verified.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
192 words
A computer-readable medium which stores computer-executable process steps, the computer-executable process steps to request and receive dump/debug information in a workstation connected to a local area network (LAN) to which is connected an interface board which interfaces a network peripheral to the LAN, the computer-executable process steps comprising: a constructing step to construct a dump/debug network packet in accordance with one of a plurality of user-originated commands entered on the network workstation, the dump/debug network packet containing a unique dump/debug identification header and at least one dump/debug command; a sending step to send the dump/debug packet across the LAN to the interface board, the dump/debug packet including a sequence number; a receiving step to receive, via the LAN, a response dump/debug packet originating from the interface board, the response dump/debug packet including a sequence number; a verifying step to verify the response dump/debug packet by comparing the sequence number of the dump/debug packet to the sequence number of the response dump/debug packet; and a displaying step to display to the user dump/debug results which are based on the response dump/debug packet in a case that the response dump/debug packet has been verified.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
192 words
A computer-readable medium which stores computer-executable process steps, the computer-executable process steps to request and receive dump/debug information in a workstation connected to a local area network (LAN) to which is connected an interface board which interfaces a network peripheral to the LAN, the computer-executable process steps comprising: a constructing step to construct a dump/debug network packet in accordance with one of a plurality of user-originated commands entered on the network workstation, the dump/debug network packet containing a unique dump/debug identification header and at least one dump/debug command; a sending step to send the dump/debug packet across the LAN to the interface board, the dump/debug packet including a sequence number; a receiving step to receive, via the LAN, a response dump/debug packet originating from the interface board, the response dump/debug packet including a sequence number; a verifying step to verify the response dump/debug packet by comparing the sequence number of the dump/debug packet to the sequence number of the response dump/debug packet; and a displaying step to display to the user dump/debug results which are based on the response dump/debug packet in a case that the response dump/debug packet has been verified.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
A computer-readable medium according to claim 29, wherein the sequence number for the dump/debug packet is incremented from a preceding dump/debug packet.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer-readable medium according to claim 29, further comprising a step to re-send dump/debug packets in a case that the response dump/debug packet is not verified.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
115 words
A network device that interfaces between a local area network (LAN) and a network peripheral, comprising: a protocol stack which extends from a physical network layer, through an interrupt-driven data link layer, to an application layer which services the network peripheral, the data link layer including a software module which is triggered by a unique dump/debug packet header, which interprets dump/debug commands stored in the data portion of the packet, and which in the interrupt-disabled state executes the dump/debug commands, wherein the network device maintains the interrupt-disabled state until a command to resume execution is received and executed by the network device, and wherein the dump/debug commands are executed exclusively in the data link layer.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
115 words
A network device that interfaces between a local area network (LAN) and a network peripheral, comprising: a protocol stack which extends from a physical network layer, through an interrupt-driven data link layer, to an application layer which services the network peripheral, the data link layer including a software module which is triggered by a unique dump/debug packet header, which interprets dump/debug commands stored in the data portion of the packet, and which in the interrupt-disabled state executes the dump/debug commands, wherein the network device maintains the interrupt-disabled state until a command to resume execution is received and executed by the network device, and wherein the dump/debug commands are executed exclusively in the data link layer.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
156 words
A network device that interfaces between a local area network (LAN) and a network peripheral, comprising: a protocol stack which extends from a physical network layer, through an interrupt-driven data link layer, to an application layer which services the network peripheral, the data link layer including a software module which is triggered by a unique dump/debug packet header, which interprets dump/debug commands stored in the data portion of the packet, and which in the interrupt-disabled state executes the dump/debug commands, wherein the network device maintains the interrupt-disabled state until a command to resume execution is received and executed by the network device, wherein the dump/debug commands include commands to store data from the packet to specific locations of a memory on the network device, wherein storage of predetermined pieces of data causes the network device to enter into a debug mode of operation, and wherein the dump/debug commands are executed exclusively in the data link layer.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
156 words
A network device that interfaces between a local area network (LAN) and a network peripheral, comprising: a protocol stack which extends from a physical network layer, through an interrupt-driven data link layer, to an application layer which services the network peripheral, the data link layer including a software module which is triggered by a unique dump/debug packet header, which interprets dump/debug commands stored in the data portion of the packet, and which in the interrupt-disabled state executes the dump/debug commands, wherein the network device maintains the interrupt-disabled state until a command to resume execution is received and executed by the network device, wherein the dump/debug commands include commands to store data from the packet to specific locations of a memory on the network device, wherein storage of predetermined pieces of data causes the network device to enter into a debug mode of operation, and wherein the dump/debug commands are executed exclusively in the data link layer.
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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) | 2003-05-23 | 2003-11-22 | 2004-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-23 | 2007-11-22 | 2008-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-23 | 2011-11-22 | 2012-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |