US6457152B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Device and method for testing a device through resolution of data into atomic operations
Assignee: Synopsys Inc
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Filing: 1998-10-16
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Granted: 2002-09-24
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Expires: 2018-10-16
Abstract
Abstract A method of testing a device includes monitoring an output of the device, wherein the output is generated by the device in response to an applied test command; and resolving the output into atomic operations, wherein the atomic operations are substantially the smallest constituent operations which are substantially independent of the device. The method is used to provide a simple, comprehensive test environment that effectively tests 1394a and 1394-1995 designs, for example, in Verilog. The test environment contains rules which completely characterize the behavior of different 1394 bus protocols as defined by the IEEE specifications. The test environment provides portability between different devices under test and between different protocols, automated closed-loop reconciliation of test commands and protocol requirements, topology independence, and out-of-order execution of instructions or relative sequencing. The test environment further allows failure injection, and separate and independent design of the device and a test system.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel Noah Paley
- 👤 Mark William Knecht
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 04:47
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L43/00; H04L43/50; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L69/00; H04L69/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of testing a device, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring at least one output of the device, wherein the at least one output is generated by the device in response to an applied test command; and resolving the at least one output into atomic operations, wherein the atomic operations are substantially the smallest constituent operations which are substantially independent of the device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of testing a device, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring at least one output of the device, wherein the at least one output is generated by the device in response to an applied test command; and resolving the at least one output into atomic operations, wherein the atomic operations are substantially the smallest constituent operations which are substantially independent of the device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: reconciling the atomic operations of the at least one monitored output against at least one rule governing a protocol; reconciling the atomic operations of the at least one monitored output against the applied test command; and recording the results of the test command reconciling step; and recording the results of the protocol reconciling step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of: simulating the effect of at least one additional device on the device being tested, wherein the at least one additional device interfaces with the device being tested, and wherein a bus equivalent model is used to simulate the bus interactions between the at least one additional device and the device being tested such that it is not necessary to simulate the functional operation of the at least one additional device.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of testing a device, the method comprising the step of: applying a test command to the device by breaking the test command into its atomic operations, wherein the atomic operations are substantially the smallest constituent operations which are substantially independent of the device; and applying the atomic operations to the device, wherein a generator rules section comprising rules for the protocol and for the device and for the test command is utilized to apply the atomic operations to the device.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of testing a device, the method comprising the step of: applying a test command to the device by breaking the test command into its atomic operations, wherein the atomic operations are substantially the smallest constituent operations which are substantially independent of the device; and applying the atomic operations to the device, wherein a generator rules section comprising rules for the protocol and for the device and for the test command is utilized to apply the atomic operations to the device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the atomic operations can be applied to the device at relative times which are not fixed but are stipulated with regard to a second action, wherein the second action comprises an atomic operation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 4 , further comprising the steps of: monitoring at least one output of the device, wherein the at least one output is generated by the device in response to the applied atomic operations of the test command; resolving the at least one output into atomic operations; reconciling the atomic operations of the at least one monitored output against the protocol rules; reconciling the atomic operations of the at least one monitored output against the test command; and recording the results of the two reconciling steps.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the test command comprises a failure which is purposely applied to the device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the atomic operations can be applied to the device at relative times which are not fixed but are stipulated with regard to a second action, wherein the second action comprises an atomic operation.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of reconciling at least one monitored output of a device as part of a test of the device, wherein a test command has been applied to the device and the at least one output has been resolved into atomic operations, wherein the atomic operations are substantially the smallest constituent operations which are substantially independent of the device, the method comprising the steps of: reconciling the atomic operations of the at least one monitored output against at least one rule governing a protocol; and recording the results of the protocol reconciling step.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of reconciling at least one monitored output of a device as part of a test of the device, wherein a test command has been applied to the device and the at least one output has been resolved into atomic operations, wherein the atomic operations are substantially the smallest constituent operations which are substantially independent of the device, the method comprising the steps of: reconciling the atomic operations of the at least one monitored output against at least one rule governing a protocol; and recording the results of the protocol reconciling step.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising the steps of: reconciling the atomic operations of the at least one monitored output against the test command; and recording the results of the test command reconciling step.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein: the step of reconciling the atomic operations against the protocol rules comprises using a first monitor rules section, wherein the first monitor rules section comprises rules for the protocol; and the step of reconciling the atomic operations against the test command comprises using a second monitor rules section, wherein the second monitor rules section comprises rules for the test command.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the first monitor rules section comprises the second monitor rules section.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of testing a device, the method comprising the step of: resolving at least one output from the device into atomic operations; utilizing a monitor rules section, which includes output protocol rules for a protocol and output device rules for the device, for monitoring the at least one output from the device by reconciling the atomic operations of the at least one monitored output against the protocol rules, wherein the output protocol rules and the output device rules relate to outputs from the device.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of testing a device, the method comprising the step of: resolving at least one output from the device into atomic operations; utilizing a monitor rules section, which includes output protocol rules for a protocol and output device rules for the device, for monitoring the at least one output from the device by reconciling the atomic operations of the at least one monitored output against the protocol rules, wherein the output protocol rules and the output device rules relate to outputs from the device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising the step of: utilizing a generator rules section for generating inputs to the device, wherein the generator rules section comprises input protocol rules for the protocol and input device rules for the device, and wherein the input protocol rules and the input device rules relate to inputs to the device.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
70 words
A system for testing a device, the system comprising: a first subsystem for monitoring at least one output of the device, wherein the at least one output is generated by the device in response to an applied test command; and a second subsystem for resolving the at least one output into atomic operations, wherein the atomic operations are substantially the smallest constituent operations which are substantially independent of the device.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
70 words
A system for testing a device, the system comprising: a first subsystem for monitoring at least one output of the device, wherein the at least one output is generated by the device in response to an applied test command; and a second subsystem for resolving the at least one output into atomic operations, wherein the atomic operations are substantially the smallest constituent operations which are substantially independent of the device.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
79 words
A system for testing a device, the system comprising: a first subsystem for breaking a test command into its atomic operations, wherein the atomic operations are substantially the smallest constituent operations which are substantially independent of the device; and a second subsystem for applying the atomic operations to the device, wherein a generator rules section comprising rules for the protocol and for the device and for the test command is utilized to apply the atomic operations to the device.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
79 words
A system for testing a device, the system comprising: a first subsystem for breaking a test command into its atomic operations, wherein the atomic operations are substantially the smallest constituent operations which are substantially independent of the device; and a second subsystem for applying the atomic operations to the device, wherein a generator rules section comprising rules for the protocol and for the device and for the test command is utilized to apply the atomic operations to the device.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
97 words
A system for reconciling at least one monitored output of a device as part of a test of the device, wherein a test command has been applied to the device and the at least one output has been resolved into atomic operations, wherein the atomic operations are substantially the smallest constituent operations which are substantially independent of the device, the system comprising: a first subsystem for reconciling the atomic operations of the at least one monitored output against at least one rule governing a protocol; and a second subsystem for recording a result of the protocol reconciliation.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
97 words
A system for reconciling at least one monitored output of a device as part of a test of the device, wherein a test command has been applied to the device and the at least one output has been resolved into atomic operations, wherein the atomic operations are substantially the smallest constituent operations which are substantially independent of the device, the system comprising: a first subsystem for reconciling the atomic operations of the at least one monitored output against at least one rule governing a protocol; and a second subsystem for recording a result of the protocol reconciliation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
84 words
A computer program product for testing a device, comprising: a computer-readable signal-bearing medium; first computer readable program code in the medium for monitoring at least one output of the device, wherein the at least one output is generated by the device in response to an applied test command; and second computer readable program code in the medium for resolving the at least one output into atomic operations, wherein the atomic operations are substantially the smallest constituent operations which are substantially independent of the device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
84 words
A computer program product for testing a device, comprising: a computer-readable signal-bearing medium; first computer readable program code in the medium for monitoring at least one output of the device, wherein the at least one output is generated by the device in response to an applied test command; and second computer readable program code in the medium for resolving the at least one output into atomic operations, wherein the atomic operations are substantially the smallest constituent operations which are substantially independent of the device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
103 words
A computer program product for testing a device by applying a test command to the device, the computer program product comprising: a computer-readable signal-bearing medium; first computer-readable program code in the medium for breaking the test command into its atomic operations, wherein the atomic operations are substantially the smallest constituent operations which are substantially independent of the device; and second computer-readable program code in the medium for applying the atomic operations to the device, wherein a generator rules section comprising rules for the protocol and for the device and for the test command is utilized to apply the atomic operations to the device.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
103 words
A computer program product for testing a device by applying a test command to the device, the computer program product comprising: a computer-readable signal-bearing medium; first computer-readable program code in the medium for breaking the test command into its atomic operations, wherein the atomic operations are substantially the smallest constituent operations which are substantially independent of the device; and second computer-readable program code in the medium for applying the atomic operations to the device, wherein a generator rules section comprising rules for the protocol and for the device and for the test command is utilized to apply the atomic operations to the device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
114 words
A computer program product for causing a reconciling of at least one monitored output of a device as part of a test of the device, wherein a test command has been applied to the device and the at least one output has been resolved into atomic operations, wherein the atomic operations are substantially the smallest constituent operations which are substantially independent of the device, comprising: a computer-readable signal-bearing medium; first computer readable program code in the medium for reconciling the atomic operations of the at least one monitored output against at least one rule governing a protocol; and second computer readable program code in the medium for recording a result of the protocol reconciliation.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
114 words
A computer program product for causing a reconciling of at least one monitored output of a device as part of a test of the device, wherein a test command has been applied to the device and the at least one output has been resolved into atomic operations, wherein the atomic operations are substantially the smallest constituent operations which are substantially independent of the device, comprising: a computer-readable signal-bearing medium; first computer readable program code in the medium for reconciling the atomic operations of the at least one monitored output against at least one rule governing a protocol; and second computer readable program code in the medium for recording a result of the protocol reconciliation.
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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) | 2005-09-23 | 2006-03-25 | 2006-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-23 | 2010-03-25 | 2010-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-09-23 | 2014-03-25 | 2014-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |