CA1257707A - Terminal system configuration tracing method and apparatus - Google Patents
Terminal system configuration tracing method and apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1257707A CA1257707A CA000510143A CA510143A CA1257707A CA 1257707 A CA1257707 A CA 1257707A CA 000510143 A CA000510143 A CA 000510143A CA 510143 A CA510143 A CA 510143A CA 1257707 A CA1257707 A CA 1257707A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- card
- wrap
- cards
- ids
- terminal
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F11/00—Error detection; Error correction; Monitoring
- G06F11/22—Detection or location of defective computer hardware by testing during standby operation or during idle time, e.g. start-up testing
- G06F11/2289—Detection or location of defective computer hardware by testing during standby operation or during idle time, e.g. start-up testing by configuration test
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F11/00—Error detection; Error correction; Monitoring
- G06F11/30—Monitoring
- G06F11/3051—Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the configuration of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring the presence of processing resources, peripherals, I/O links, software programs
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F12/00—Accessing, addressing or allocating within memory systems or architectures
- G06F12/02—Addressing or allocation; Relocation
- G06F12/06—Addressing a physical block of locations, e.g. base addressing, module addressing, memory dedication
- G06F12/0646—Configuration or reconfiguration
- G06F12/0653—Configuration or reconfiguration with centralised address assignment
Abstract
Abstract A terminal controller system is described wherein several feature cards are plugged into slots on a board, and I/O signal cables are connected between cards and/or remote multiplexors or terminals. A special purpose card identification (ID) bus is driven by the feature cards and received by an ID adapter. The ID adapter has one select line running to each of the slots on the board. The ID
adapter enables the select lines one at a time, whereby the selected feature cards drive their IDs onto the ID bus. A
processor records the slot population by ID and also can analyze the IDs to determine if a valid configuration exists. The processor then performs a wrap test on each of its ports. This test alters the ID which it wraps and by comparison with the IDs recorded originally, this enables the processor to logically establish the physical link to particular cards connected to the ports.
adapter enables the select lines one at a time, whereby the selected feature cards drive their IDs onto the ID bus. A
processor records the slot population by ID and also can analyze the IDs to determine if a valid configuration exists. The processor then performs a wrap test on each of its ports. This test alters the ID which it wraps and by comparison with the IDs recorded originally, this enables the processor to logically establish the physical link to particular cards connected to the ports.
Description
~5~7()7 TERMINAL SYSTEM CONFIGURATION TRACING METHOD AND APPARATUS
Backqround of the InvPntion Field of The Invention:
This invention relates to data terminals svstems and more particularly to a`multi-tier multiplex svstem having means to aid in set-up bv the user, including means for the system to analyze its own architectural configuration and means for the u~ser to detect and identify faultv part.s.
Prior Art:
Methods to detect module population in a data processing system fo~ various purposes are well-known.
~xample.s are seen wherein memorv modules of various sizes are queried for assigning addresses in a svstem address space. Other arrangements are known for identifving and testing individual modules in a sy~stem. Frequently these modules are in the form of ~ards plugged into sockets of a buss svstem, and in some cases, the user has the option of plugging various cards into socket~s of the ~svstem more or less at random.
It is al~so well-known to perform wraD tests on transmission lines wherebv, the problem solved bv the test method, is relativelv simpl~, e.g. the question of whether there is a working device at the other end of the transmission line.
There exists a need to perform svstem analvsis in more complex multi-terminal svs~ems. Such svstems may include a ~5~7~
1OCG1 or remote host processor, a terminal cluster control processor, and terminal de~ices connected directly to the latter or through fan-out devices which themselves may be native or remote to the cluster control processor. Various conlrol and transmission protocols may exist in correspondirg tiers in such a system or even in the same tier, and so systems self-analysis and test becomes a complex problem.
Summary of the Invention:
In accordance with the invention, in a terminal controller system, one processor card and several feature cards are plugged into slots on a board, and I/O signal cables are connected between cards and/or remote multiplexors or terminals. A special purpose card identification (ID) bus is driven by the feature cards and received by the ID
adapter of ~he processor. The ID adapter has one select line runnins to each of the slots on the board. The ID
adapter enables each select lines one at a time, whereby each selected feature card drives its ID onto the ID bus. The processor records the slot population by ID and also can analyze the IDs to determine if a valid configuration e~ists. The processor then performs a wrap test or. each of its ports which may be connected to a feature card. This test alters the ID of the card which it wraps and by comparis~n ~ith the IDs recorded originally, this enables the processor ~microcode operated controiler) to logically establish the physical link to particular cards connected to the ports.
~ ccording to other a~pects of the invention ~here is provided a method of tracing connections in a distributed terminal system which comprises:
Providing a card slot query system and interrogating the card slots in sequence; receiving identifiers from cards ~5~7~)7 in said card 510ts; recording in a slot table the association of identity of card identifiers with slots;
wher~in the cards are connected in an unknown manner to ports of a central unit; and thP method furthe~ comprises sending a wrap-around command from the ports in sequence;
altering the identifi~r of each card in r~spon~e to the wrap-around command; reporting the altered identifiers in response to a reinitiation of interrogating step; comparing the aitered identifiers to those recorded in said table, and associating the cards thus identified with the port which gave rise to their association.
Other objec~s feature~ and advantages will be apparent from the specification as a whole, including the drawings and claims.
Brief Description of the Drawings:
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a terminal sy~t~m embodving the invention.
Fig. 2 depicts a terminal cluster controller forming part of the system of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows diagrammaticall~ a remote terminal multiplexor unit for connecting a number of terminals in the sy~stem of Fig. 1 and including a wrap test capabilitv.
Fig. 4 shows a card identifier svst~m forming a part of the controller of Fig. ~ and operable to ascertain th~
identitv and slot location of card~ or modules therein.
Fig. S depicts a module versus slot table built hy the processor of the controller of Fig. 2 utilizing ~he slot querv svstem of Fig. 4.
7'~07 Fig. 6 shows, schematicallv, circuit means on a card or modules responsive to a wrap command to alter the ID of the module Fig. 7 shows an address assignment table correlatin~
ports of the device cluster ada2ter of Fig. 2 with various terminal addresses in the svstem.
Fig. 8 shows the relationship of Figs. 8A, 8~, 8C and 8D which together form a flow diag am illu~strative of the port, module, and terminal address assignment method of the invention.
Detailed Desc iption The svstem of Fig. 1 includes an intelligent controller lO including a micro-processor 12 and native read onlv storage for its control. The controller 10 has a m~morv bus 14 connecting to a RAM storage 16 having sufficient volume for the needs O r the svstem. Also included is a memorv mapped I/O DMA bus 18 connected via an adapter 20 and a driver receiver 22 to a host channel.
The controller lO also has an I/O bus 24 for supporting the terminals connected to it as well as for providing one of the routes 2fi of communication to an op~rator control panel ~8 which is utilized in accordance with the invention as will be described. The I/O bus 24 connects to a number of units such as an adapter 30 for a modem 32 conn~ctin~ to a remote host. -.
. . .
However, the principl~ adapter connected to the T /0 bus 24 is a d~vice cluster adapter 38 havin~, in the illustrated embodiment four port.s 40, 42, 44, and 46. Two of the port.s, 40, 42 are connected to respective terminal multiplex ~daptex.s 48, 50 via respective coaxial cables 52, 54, and .
7~)7 each of the terminal multi~lex adapters 48, 50 supports a plurality, in Ihe example shown 8, of terminals such as a keykoard display work station 56, a printer 58, and so on.
I~hereas the data flow on t;~e I/0 bus 24 is in parallel, the communication from the device cluster adapter 38 to the terminal multiplex adapters 48 and 50 and thence to the various terminals 56, 58 connected thereto is by serial coax lines. Another of the device cluster adapter ports 44 is shown connected via coaxia; cable 60 to a remote ran-out unit 62 which, like the terminal multiplex adapters 48 and 50 can also support a plurality of devices such as the work station indicated at 64. Still another port 46 of the device cluster adapter 38 connects to a single unit such as a printer 66 via coax 68.
Fig. 2 shows an equip~ent cabinet 80 which houses the elements of system outlined in Fig. 1 by the dot dash line 82. A cover panel has been removed to expose these parts which include terminal multiplex adapters 48 nd 50 and the device cluster adapter 38 as pluggable modules, the latter of which is shown partly withdrawn. Each of the modules plugs into a corresponding socket, but these are user installable parts and may be plugged into any of several sockets, it being a feature of the invention to include means to determine what mocules have been plugged and which sockets they have been plu~ged into. As seen in the drawing, the various cables 52, 54, 60, 68, although draped in an orderly manner, can be intermixed in such fashion that tracing visually would be time consuming, and it is a : ~
further feature of the in~ention to provide means to determine which ports of the device cluster adapter 38 are connected to which local and remote units and, indeed the character of those units.
As shown in Fig. 3, the single coax connection 60 can be used between the device cluster adapter 38 of the con-troller 10 , ~;~S~7~7 and the remote fcn-out box o2 for a number of data terminal devices, such as keyboard displays, one of which is indicated at 64, and/or printers. The controller inserts a terminal device address on each outbound message which it transmits via the common coax 60. The fan-out box 62 receives the messages from the coax 60 and distributes them to the addressed terminal devices. In the-described system all tra~fic from the terminals to the controller is in direct response to a poll or other command received from the controller and intended for that terminal, and so it is not necessary to provide a terminal identification on such response.
To test the fan-out box 62, it is desirable to be able to send a test message (including a terminal address header) out to the fan-out box and have the fan-out box return it as if it were a response from a terminal. The device cluster adapter 38 inserts a device address preceding the normal message to the device and the fan-out box is provided which strips the address, decodes the address, selects the proper fan-out port, and, in normal use, relays the normal message to the correct terminal device.
Fig. 3 shows, schematically, how this can be done and also how a wrap test can be accomplished. The device cluster adapter 38 inserts a sync bit SBl, device address ADDR and parity bit Pl into shift register means 83 ahead of the usual sync bit SB2, co~mand byte and parity bit P2 destined for the device. The coax driver/receiver 8~
inserts line quiescence bi~s and a starting code waveform.
Then SBl, ADDR and P1 are shifted out of the register 83 onto the coax line 85 in that order. At the remote fan-out box this signal is received from the coax by a line control module LCMl, and SBl and the device address are stored. In the simple example shown, this storage is in a shift register 85 and the propagation of the SBl to the end of register 85 is used as a signal to mark the end of the added bits which are .
.
~57~707 to be stripped from the message before the remainder is sent on to the addressed device and also used, via inverter 86, to decondition AND gate 87, thereby blocking further input from LCM1 to register 85. At the same time, the SP1 signal enables another AND gate 88 by which the remaining portions of the message are routed through an 8-bit delay in the message during which the device address ADDR is used to set up the message routing. For this purpose, the address portion in the address shift register is gated to a decode circuit which, in turn, conditions a single gate (1 out of 8) in the coax leading to the selected device.
In order to provide the desired wrap test, an arrangement ~s provided which allows the controller to send a diagnostic wrap command to the fan-out box which, in turn, holds and re-transmits the data portion of the transmission back to the controller. This is done by:
(l) Changing the con~roller's Driver/Receiver to insert a wrap mode bit alo,.g with the device address.
Backqround of the InvPntion Field of The Invention:
This invention relates to data terminals svstems and more particularly to a`multi-tier multiplex svstem having means to aid in set-up bv the user, including means for the system to analyze its own architectural configuration and means for the u~ser to detect and identify faultv part.s.
Prior Art:
Methods to detect module population in a data processing system fo~ various purposes are well-known.
~xample.s are seen wherein memorv modules of various sizes are queried for assigning addresses in a svstem address space. Other arrangements are known for identifving and testing individual modules in a sy~stem. Frequently these modules are in the form of ~ards plugged into sockets of a buss svstem, and in some cases, the user has the option of plugging various cards into socket~s of the ~svstem more or less at random.
It is al~so well-known to perform wraD tests on transmission lines wherebv, the problem solved bv the test method, is relativelv simpl~, e.g. the question of whether there is a working device at the other end of the transmission line.
There exists a need to perform svstem analvsis in more complex multi-terminal svs~ems. Such svstems may include a ~5~7~
1OCG1 or remote host processor, a terminal cluster control processor, and terminal de~ices connected directly to the latter or through fan-out devices which themselves may be native or remote to the cluster control processor. Various conlrol and transmission protocols may exist in correspondirg tiers in such a system or even in the same tier, and so systems self-analysis and test becomes a complex problem.
Summary of the Invention:
In accordance with the invention, in a terminal controller system, one processor card and several feature cards are plugged into slots on a board, and I/O signal cables are connected between cards and/or remote multiplexors or terminals. A special purpose card identification (ID) bus is driven by the feature cards and received by the ID
adapter of ~he processor. The ID adapter has one select line runnins to each of the slots on the board. The ID
adapter enables each select lines one at a time, whereby each selected feature card drives its ID onto the ID bus. The processor records the slot population by ID and also can analyze the IDs to determine if a valid configuration e~ists. The processor then performs a wrap test or. each of its ports which may be connected to a feature card. This test alters the ID of the card which it wraps and by comparis~n ~ith the IDs recorded originally, this enables the processor ~microcode operated controiler) to logically establish the physical link to particular cards connected to the ports.
~ ccording to other a~pects of the invention ~here is provided a method of tracing connections in a distributed terminal system which comprises:
Providing a card slot query system and interrogating the card slots in sequence; receiving identifiers from cards ~5~7~)7 in said card 510ts; recording in a slot table the association of identity of card identifiers with slots;
wher~in the cards are connected in an unknown manner to ports of a central unit; and thP method furthe~ comprises sending a wrap-around command from the ports in sequence;
altering the identifi~r of each card in r~spon~e to the wrap-around command; reporting the altered identifiers in response to a reinitiation of interrogating step; comparing the aitered identifiers to those recorded in said table, and associating the cards thus identified with the port which gave rise to their association.
Other objec~s feature~ and advantages will be apparent from the specification as a whole, including the drawings and claims.
Brief Description of the Drawings:
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a terminal sy~t~m embodving the invention.
Fig. 2 depicts a terminal cluster controller forming part of the system of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows diagrammaticall~ a remote terminal multiplexor unit for connecting a number of terminals in the sy~stem of Fig. 1 and including a wrap test capabilitv.
Fig. 4 shows a card identifier svst~m forming a part of the controller of Fig. ~ and operable to ascertain th~
identitv and slot location of card~ or modules therein.
Fig. S depicts a module versus slot table built hy the processor of the controller of Fig. 2 utilizing ~he slot querv svstem of Fig. 4.
7'~07 Fig. 6 shows, schematicallv, circuit means on a card or modules responsive to a wrap command to alter the ID of the module Fig. 7 shows an address assignment table correlatin~
ports of the device cluster ada2ter of Fig. 2 with various terminal addresses in the svstem.
Fig. 8 shows the relationship of Figs. 8A, 8~, 8C and 8D which together form a flow diag am illu~strative of the port, module, and terminal address assignment method of the invention.
Detailed Desc iption The svstem of Fig. 1 includes an intelligent controller lO including a micro-processor 12 and native read onlv storage for its control. The controller 10 has a m~morv bus 14 connecting to a RAM storage 16 having sufficient volume for the needs O r the svstem. Also included is a memorv mapped I/O DMA bus 18 connected via an adapter 20 and a driver receiver 22 to a host channel.
The controller lO also has an I/O bus 24 for supporting the terminals connected to it as well as for providing one of the routes 2fi of communication to an op~rator control panel ~8 which is utilized in accordance with the invention as will be described. The I/O bus 24 connects to a number of units such as an adapter 30 for a modem 32 conn~ctin~ to a remote host. -.
. . .
However, the principl~ adapter connected to the T /0 bus 24 is a d~vice cluster adapter 38 havin~, in the illustrated embodiment four port.s 40, 42, 44, and 46. Two of the port.s, 40, 42 are connected to respective terminal multiplex ~daptex.s 48, 50 via respective coaxial cables 52, 54, and .
7~)7 each of the terminal multi~lex adapters 48, 50 supports a plurality, in Ihe example shown 8, of terminals such as a keykoard display work station 56, a printer 58, and so on.
I~hereas the data flow on t;~e I/0 bus 24 is in parallel, the communication from the device cluster adapter 38 to the terminal multiplex adapters 48 and 50 and thence to the various terminals 56, 58 connected thereto is by serial coax lines. Another of the device cluster adapter ports 44 is shown connected via coaxia; cable 60 to a remote ran-out unit 62 which, like the terminal multiplex adapters 48 and 50 can also support a plurality of devices such as the work station indicated at 64. Still another port 46 of the device cluster adapter 38 connects to a single unit such as a printer 66 via coax 68.
Fig. 2 shows an equip~ent cabinet 80 which houses the elements of system outlined in Fig. 1 by the dot dash line 82. A cover panel has been removed to expose these parts which include terminal multiplex adapters 48 nd 50 and the device cluster adapter 38 as pluggable modules, the latter of which is shown partly withdrawn. Each of the modules plugs into a corresponding socket, but these are user installable parts and may be plugged into any of several sockets, it being a feature of the invention to include means to determine what mocules have been plugged and which sockets they have been plu~ged into. As seen in the drawing, the various cables 52, 54, 60, 68, although draped in an orderly manner, can be intermixed in such fashion that tracing visually would be time consuming, and it is a : ~
further feature of the in~ention to provide means to determine which ports of the device cluster adapter 38 are connected to which local and remote units and, indeed the character of those units.
As shown in Fig. 3, the single coax connection 60 can be used between the device cluster adapter 38 of the con-troller 10 , ~;~S~7~7 and the remote fcn-out box o2 for a number of data terminal devices, such as keyboard displays, one of which is indicated at 64, and/or printers. The controller inserts a terminal device address on each outbound message which it transmits via the common coax 60. The fan-out box 62 receives the messages from the coax 60 and distributes them to the addressed terminal devices. In the-described system all tra~fic from the terminals to the controller is in direct response to a poll or other command received from the controller and intended for that terminal, and so it is not necessary to provide a terminal identification on such response.
To test the fan-out box 62, it is desirable to be able to send a test message (including a terminal address header) out to the fan-out box and have the fan-out box return it as if it were a response from a terminal. The device cluster adapter 38 inserts a device address preceding the normal message to the device and the fan-out box is provided which strips the address, decodes the address, selects the proper fan-out port, and, in normal use, relays the normal message to the correct terminal device.
Fig. 3 shows, schematically, how this can be done and also how a wrap test can be accomplished. The device cluster adapter 38 inserts a sync bit SBl, device address ADDR and parity bit Pl into shift register means 83 ahead of the usual sync bit SB2, co~mand byte and parity bit P2 destined for the device. The coax driver/receiver 8~
inserts line quiescence bi~s and a starting code waveform.
Then SBl, ADDR and P1 are shifted out of the register 83 onto the coax line 85 in that order. At the remote fan-out box this signal is received from the coax by a line control module LCMl, and SBl and the device address are stored. In the simple example shown, this storage is in a shift register 85 and the propagation of the SBl to the end of register 85 is used as a signal to mark the end of the added bits which are .
.
~57~707 to be stripped from the message before the remainder is sent on to the addressed device and also used, via inverter 86, to decondition AND gate 87, thereby blocking further input from LCM1 to register 85. At the same time, the SP1 signal enables another AND gate 88 by which the remaining portions of the message are routed through an 8-bit delay in the message during which the device address ADDR is used to set up the message routing. For this purpose, the address portion in the address shift register is gated to a decode circuit which, in turn, conditions a single gate (1 out of 8) in the coax leading to the selected device.
In order to provide the desired wrap test, an arrangement ~s provided which allows the controller to send a diagnostic wrap command to the fan-out box which, in turn, holds and re-transmits the data portion of the transmission back to the controller. This is done by:
(l) Changing the con~roller's Driver/Receiver to insert a wrap mode bit alo,.g with the device address.
(2) Adding the logic to the fan-out box which will decode wrap mode, store the outbound transmission, and senc the stored transmission back through the fan-out box to the controller.
The wrap bit W is the last bit of the address .ield stored in the fan-out box register 85. When S31 is detected, it conditions AND circuit 89. The other two inputs ~o ~ D
89 are the wrap bit and the output on line 90. Thus, the output from shift register DLY is re-transmitted back to coax 60 "response" signal instead of being fed to the addressed device.
Fig. 4 is a skeletal drawing showing the ca_ds or modules 48, 50 and 38 in their respective sockets by which they connected to the I/O bus 24 and identifier (ID) bus ~7~07 106. To simplify -the drawing, the coaxial cables are omitted from this view. ~11 the socke-ts not need be populated;
and unpopulated one is shown at 108. Nor do they have to be populated in a particular order. However, each socket 100, 102, 104, 108 has an individual interrogation line 110, 112, ll~, 116 connected to the processor 10 (Fig. 1) by which the processor 10 can query the cards or modules 48, 50, 38, and so on in the respective sockets one at a time, forcing the module to place its ID on the bus ID bus 106. Thus the processor 10 can build a table of slot versus ID number as shown in Fig. 5. In that figure, decimal numbers which correspond to the parts in Fig. 4 are shown although it will be understood that the IDs are binary numbers such as 8 bit bytes. These ID numbers can be altered in accordance with another feature of the invention as will be described.
When a wrap test as described with reference to Fig. 3 is performed from one of the ports in the device cluster adapter 38 which is connected to a terminal multiplex adapter 48 or 50, the wrap bit logic ~n the card fcrces a change of a bit in its ID register. When the cards are again polled by their corresponding interrogation lines 110, 112 it is found that one of the IDs no longer is the same as it was initially. This is represented schematically in Fig. 5 by a second ID column in the table wherein the ID
number 50 has been changed to 51. This means that the card plugged into socket 102 is the one which is connected to the device cluster adapter port which issued the wrap command.
If no change had occurred in any ID, it would mean that the port issuing the wrap command was not connected to a func-tioning terminal multiplex adapter. If the wrap command was returned but without having caused such an ID change, it would mean that it had wrapped a remote fan--out unit such as the unit 62 of Fig. 1. If it were not returned at all it would mean that the port was connected to a single unit such 7~()7 as the printer 66 in Fig. 1 ?r not connected to anv runctioning ~nit. ~he latter cor,dition can be tested ;7V a ~oll to the t~rminal which, if ti~e termina1 were present, should be an.swered ~y an appro~riate m~.ssage such as explaint?d for example in U.S. Patent ~4,~71,479.
Additionally, the wrap test o,: the terminal ~ulti~lex adapter ~hich resul.ed in the. ch~r.qe of th~ ID from 50 to 51 ~s shown in the table of Fig. 5 associates the port 42 with tAe c~rd in ~ocket 102 and the original ID of that card bec~use it is known that the port 42 is the one rrom which the wrap te.st signal was issued. If it had bet?n the port 40, ~hPn that would be the port which is associated with .socket 102 bv a cable connet.~tion thereto and so on.
It .should be understood that the logic on the cards 48, S0 can be variouslv implemented for. the purpose of carrving out the functions of the above described. A simple exa~ple is seen in Fig. 6 ~herein a wrap command from bu.s ~4, ,_ommunicated by adapter 38 and coa~ 52, is decoded at 120 to sPt a latchin~ inverter 12, to chanqe one bit of th~ output of the ID register 118 fed to the bu.c 106 upon interrogation via line 110. This latch 12~ is re.set bv anv non-w~ap -ommand on the connected coax. Of course, the logic could be o- anv kind appropriate to th~? technology of the card and ~oes not per se form any part of the invention.
Fig. 7 illust~ates still another feature of the invention. Bv performing ~rap tests as aforedescribed, it is possible to build the table shown in Fig. 7 in which it ha~ been determined that port 40 being connected to a TMA
~hould be assign~d eight addresses, 0-7. The next port 42 ~lso having bee.n found to be colln~cted to a T~ could be assigned the next group of addresses 8-lS. The ~ort 44 having bet-n found to be connectecl to a single device ~ould be given a single address 16 and p~rt 46 havina been found 7'7~
to b~ attached to a remote fan-out box would be assigned eight addresses 17-24.
The various described functions with the exception of some hardware functions in the wrap test as above described are most easilv carried out by micro-code resident in the processor 10. This micro-code can be loaded into the proce~ssor via a diskette drive 126 as seen in Fig. 2. Fig.
8 show~s a flow diagram of the operation of the system under th~ control of such code, utilizing the facilities L0 aforedescribed.
It will be seen that the method and apparatus of the invention provides a facile means wherebv the system can not onlv diagnose itself but present to the user information as to specific elements which may require replacement. This in~ormation can be presented via an indicator devic~ 128 on th~ operato~ panel ~8, Fig. 1 or via anv suitable display connected to the processor 10. The info~mation presented could, for example, direct the user to the exact failing card in term~s of its slot number and tvpe for svstem maintenance purposes or it could show the address assignment configuration table, etc. The ways in which this information could be made available are manv and sinc~ it is developed bv operation of the svstem itself it can be presented with minimum effort on the part of thP user.
In addition to the use in combination with the t~sting of the port connections of the device cluster adapter 38, the slot/module ID means and method of the invention can be used throughout the svstem, for example to identify memory oard~s in RAM 16. Thus, although certain operations hav~
been discussed in detail, aspects of the invention can have other employments within the spirit of the inventlon ~nd the scope of the appended claims.
The wrap bit W is the last bit of the address .ield stored in the fan-out box register 85. When S31 is detected, it conditions AND circuit 89. The other two inputs ~o ~ D
89 are the wrap bit and the output on line 90. Thus, the output from shift register DLY is re-transmitted back to coax 60 "response" signal instead of being fed to the addressed device.
Fig. 4 is a skeletal drawing showing the ca_ds or modules 48, 50 and 38 in their respective sockets by which they connected to the I/O bus 24 and identifier (ID) bus ~7~07 106. To simplify -the drawing, the coaxial cables are omitted from this view. ~11 the socke-ts not need be populated;
and unpopulated one is shown at 108. Nor do they have to be populated in a particular order. However, each socket 100, 102, 104, 108 has an individual interrogation line 110, 112, ll~, 116 connected to the processor 10 (Fig. 1) by which the processor 10 can query the cards or modules 48, 50, 38, and so on in the respective sockets one at a time, forcing the module to place its ID on the bus ID bus 106. Thus the processor 10 can build a table of slot versus ID number as shown in Fig. 5. In that figure, decimal numbers which correspond to the parts in Fig. 4 are shown although it will be understood that the IDs are binary numbers such as 8 bit bytes. These ID numbers can be altered in accordance with another feature of the invention as will be described.
When a wrap test as described with reference to Fig. 3 is performed from one of the ports in the device cluster adapter 38 which is connected to a terminal multiplex adapter 48 or 50, the wrap bit logic ~n the card fcrces a change of a bit in its ID register. When the cards are again polled by their corresponding interrogation lines 110, 112 it is found that one of the IDs no longer is the same as it was initially. This is represented schematically in Fig. 5 by a second ID column in the table wherein the ID
number 50 has been changed to 51. This means that the card plugged into socket 102 is the one which is connected to the device cluster adapter port which issued the wrap command.
If no change had occurred in any ID, it would mean that the port issuing the wrap command was not connected to a func-tioning terminal multiplex adapter. If the wrap command was returned but without having caused such an ID change, it would mean that it had wrapped a remote fan--out unit such as the unit 62 of Fig. 1. If it were not returned at all it would mean that the port was connected to a single unit such 7~()7 as the printer 66 in Fig. 1 ?r not connected to anv runctioning ~nit. ~he latter cor,dition can be tested ;7V a ~oll to the t~rminal which, if ti~e termina1 were present, should be an.swered ~y an appro~riate m~.ssage such as explaint?d for example in U.S. Patent ~4,~71,479.
Additionally, the wrap test o,: the terminal ~ulti~lex adapter ~hich resul.ed in the. ch~r.qe of th~ ID from 50 to 51 ~s shown in the table of Fig. 5 associates the port 42 with tAe c~rd in ~ocket 102 and the original ID of that card bec~use it is known that the port 42 is the one rrom which the wrap te.st signal was issued. If it had bet?n the port 40, ~hPn that would be the port which is associated with .socket 102 bv a cable connet.~tion thereto and so on.
It .should be understood that the logic on the cards 48, S0 can be variouslv implemented for. the purpose of carrving out the functions of the above described. A simple exa~ple is seen in Fig. 6 ~herein a wrap command from bu.s ~4, ,_ommunicated by adapter 38 and coa~ 52, is decoded at 120 to sPt a latchin~ inverter 12, to chanqe one bit of th~ output of the ID register 118 fed to the bu.c 106 upon interrogation via line 110. This latch 12~ is re.set bv anv non-w~ap -ommand on the connected coax. Of course, the logic could be o- anv kind appropriate to th~? technology of the card and ~oes not per se form any part of the invention.
Fig. 7 illust~ates still another feature of the invention. Bv performing ~rap tests as aforedescribed, it is possible to build the table shown in Fig. 7 in which it ha~ been determined that port 40 being connected to a TMA
~hould be assign~d eight addresses, 0-7. The next port 42 ~lso having bee.n found to be colln~cted to a T~ could be assigned the next group of addresses 8-lS. The ~ort 44 having bet-n found to be connectecl to a single device ~ould be given a single address 16 and p~rt 46 havina been found 7'7~
to b~ attached to a remote fan-out box would be assigned eight addresses 17-24.
The various described functions with the exception of some hardware functions in the wrap test as above described are most easilv carried out by micro-code resident in the processor 10. This micro-code can be loaded into the proce~ssor via a diskette drive 126 as seen in Fig. 2. Fig.
8 show~s a flow diagram of the operation of the system under th~ control of such code, utilizing the facilities L0 aforedescribed.
It will be seen that the method and apparatus of the invention provides a facile means wherebv the system can not onlv diagnose itself but present to the user information as to specific elements which may require replacement. This in~ormation can be presented via an indicator devic~ 128 on th~ operato~ panel ~8, Fig. 1 or via anv suitable display connected to the processor 10. The info~mation presented could, for example, direct the user to the exact failing card in term~s of its slot number and tvpe for svstem maintenance purposes or it could show the address assignment configuration table, etc. The ways in which this information could be made available are manv and sinc~ it is developed bv operation of the svstem itself it can be presented with minimum effort on the part of thP user.
In addition to the use in combination with the t~sting of the port connections of the device cluster adapter 38, the slot/module ID means and method of the invention can be used throughout the svstem, for example to identify memory oard~s in RAM 16. Thus, although certain operations hav~
been discussed in detail, aspects of the invention can have other employments within the spirit of the inventlon ~nd the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (4)
1. The method of tracing connectors in a distributed terminal system, which method comprises:
(a) providing a card slot query system and employing said system to interrogate card slots terminal system in sequence;
(b) receiving card identifier data (IDs) from cards in said card slots;
(c) recording in a slot table association of identity of card IDs with slots wherein (d) said cards are connected in an unknown manner to ports of a central unit; and said method further comprises (e) sending a wrap-around command from said ports in sequence;
(f) altering the ID of each card in response to said wrap-around command;
(g) reporting said altered IDs in response to a reinitiation of step (a) and;
(h) comparing the altered IDs to those recorded in said table, and (i) associating the cards thus identified with the port which gave rise to their identification.
(a) providing a card slot query system and employing said system to interrogate card slots terminal system in sequence;
(b) receiving card identifier data (IDs) from cards in said card slots;
(c) recording in a slot table association of identity of card IDs with slots wherein (d) said cards are connected in an unknown manner to ports of a central unit; and said method further comprises (e) sending a wrap-around command from said ports in sequence;
(f) altering the ID of each card in response to said wrap-around command;
(g) reporting said altered IDs in response to a reinitiation of step (a) and;
(h) comparing the altered IDs to those recorded in said table, and (i) associating the cards thus identified with the port which gave rise to their identification.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said wrap-around command is sent via an individual serial bit communication cable to each card.
.
.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said command includes a wrap bit but is otherwise like a command to a terminal.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising after step (i) assigning terminal addresses to ports in the system according to whether or not said wrap-around command from a given port results in the change of a card ID.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US740,094 | 1985-06-03 | ||
| US06/740,094 US4760553A (en) | 1985-06-03 | 1985-06-03 | Terminal system configuration tracing method and apparatus |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1257707A true CA1257707A (en) | 1989-07-18 |
Family
ID=24975011
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000510143A Expired CA1257707A (en) | 1985-06-03 | 1986-05-28 | Terminal system configuration tracing method and apparatus |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4760553A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0204507B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH0664532B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1257707A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3689241T2 (en) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4875158A (en) * | 1985-08-14 | 1989-10-17 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Method for requesting service by a device which generates a service request signal successively until it is serviced |
| US4910655A (en) * | 1985-08-14 | 1990-03-20 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Apparatus for transferring signals and data under the control of a host computer |
| US4912627A (en) * | 1985-08-14 | 1990-03-27 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Method for storing a second number as a command address of a first peripheral device and a third number as a command address of a second peripheral device |
| US4918598A (en) * | 1985-08-14 | 1990-04-17 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Method for selectively activating and deactivating devices having same first address and different extended addresses |
| JPS63109531A (en) * | 1986-10-28 | 1988-05-14 | Nec Corp | Card recognition system |
| US5038320A (en) * | 1987-03-13 | 1991-08-06 | International Business Machines Corp. | Computer system with automatic initialization of pluggable option cards |
| JPS63268004A (en) * | 1987-04-24 | 1988-11-04 | Koyo Denshi Kogyo Kk | Programmable controller |
| US4980850A (en) * | 1987-05-14 | 1990-12-25 | Digital Equipment Corporation | Automatic sizing memory system with multiplexed configuration signals at memory modules |
| US4862355A (en) * | 1987-08-13 | 1989-08-29 | Digital Equipment Corporation | System permitting peripheral interchangeability during system operation |
| AU611919B2 (en) * | 1987-09-17 | 1991-06-27 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Apparatus and method for tracking and identifying printed circuit assemblies |
| US5148389A (en) * | 1988-04-05 | 1992-09-15 | Convergent Technologies, Inc. | Modular expansion bus configuration |
| US5257387A (en) * | 1988-09-09 | 1993-10-26 | Compaq Computer Corporation | Computer implemented method and apparatus for dynamic and automatic configuration of a computer system and circuit boards including computer resource allocation conflict resolution |
| US5161102A (en) * | 1988-09-09 | 1992-11-03 | Compaq Computer Corporation | Computer interface for the configuration of computer system and circuit boards |
| US5121500A (en) * | 1988-12-30 | 1992-06-09 | International Business Machines Corporation | Preliminary polling for identification and location of removable/replaceable computer components prior to power-up |
| US5301303A (en) * | 1990-04-23 | 1994-04-05 | Chipcom Corporation | Communication system concentrator configurable to different access methods |
| JP2547654B2 (en) * | 1990-06-29 | 1996-10-23 | 三洋電機株式会社 | Data processing device |
| EP0472814B1 (en) * | 1990-08-31 | 1996-12-18 | International Business Machines Corporation | Channel paths in a computer I/O system |
| US5367640A (en) * | 1991-04-30 | 1994-11-22 | Hewlett-Packard Company | System for configuring an input/output board in a computer |
| GB2260003B (en) * | 1991-09-28 | 1995-06-14 | Motorola Israel Ltd | Option board identification |
| US5261115A (en) * | 1991-10-22 | 1993-11-09 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Multi-board system with shift board selection |
| US5333285A (en) * | 1991-11-21 | 1994-07-26 | International Business Machines Corporation | System crash detect and automatic reset mechanism for processor cards |
| CA2092486C (en) * | 1992-05-11 | 1999-05-11 | Vincent Ferri | Automatic slot identification and address decoding system |
| US5517646A (en) * | 1994-04-25 | 1996-05-14 | Compaq Computer Corp. | Expansion device configuration system having two configuration modes which uses automatic expansion configuration sequence during first mode and configures the device individually during second mode |
| US5574948A (en) * | 1994-08-25 | 1996-11-12 | United Microelectronics Corp. | Method for separating jumpless add-on cards having identical I/O port onto different I/O ports by using comparison technique based on the card numbers |
| US6216186B1 (en) | 1998-06-15 | 2001-04-10 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Modular computer system including compatibility evaluation logic |
| FR2807531B1 (en) * | 2000-04-06 | 2003-09-19 | Renault | METHOD FOR CHECKING THE CONSISTENCY OF A SET OF INTEGRATED ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS |
| US6820149B2 (en) * | 2002-01-11 | 2004-11-16 | International Business Machines Corporation | Method, system, and program for testing a bus interface |
| US6968416B2 (en) * | 2002-02-15 | 2005-11-22 | International Business Machines Corporation | Method, system, and program for processing transaction requests during a pendency of a delayed read request in a system including a bus, a target device and devices capable of accessing the target device over the bus |
| US7228364B2 (en) * | 2004-06-24 | 2007-06-05 | Dell Products L.P. | System and method of SCSI and SAS hardware validation |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US488299A (en) | 1892-12-20 | Induction apparatus | ||
| US4025906A (en) * | 1975-12-22 | 1977-05-24 | Honeywell Information Systems, Inc. | Apparatus for identifying the type of devices coupled to a data processing system controller |
| US4103338A (en) * | 1977-02-28 | 1978-07-25 | Xerox Corporation | Self-diagnostic method and apparatus for disk drive |
| US4266294A (en) * | 1977-08-30 | 1981-05-05 | Xerox Corporation | Copy reproduction machine with controller self check system |
| US4271479A (en) * | 1977-10-20 | 1981-06-02 | International Business Machines Corporation | Display terminal with modularly attachable features |
| JPS5473531A (en) * | 1977-11-24 | 1979-06-12 | Hitachi Ltd | Unit selecting equipment |
| JPS5853771B2 (en) * | 1978-10-20 | 1983-12-01 | 株式会社日立製作所 | How to initialize a terminal control device in a distributed control system |
| US4298935A (en) * | 1979-10-05 | 1981-11-03 | Honeywell Information Systems Inc. | Interface circuit for coupling an automated maintenance system to a CPU |
| JPS5697123A (en) * | 1979-12-29 | 1981-08-05 | Fujitsu Ltd | Terminal control device |
| US4442502A (en) * | 1981-03-30 | 1984-04-10 | Datapoint Corporation | Digital information switching system |
| US4410984A (en) * | 1981-04-03 | 1983-10-18 | Honeywell Information Systems Inc. | Diagnostic testing of the data path in a microprogrammed data processor |
| US4556953A (en) * | 1982-02-24 | 1985-12-03 | Caprio A Ronald | Interchangeable interface circuitry arrangements for use with a data processing system |
| US4514806A (en) * | 1982-09-30 | 1985-04-30 | Honeywell Information Systems Inc. | High speed link controller wraparound test logic |
| JPS59226919A (en) * | 1983-06-09 | 1984-12-20 | Fuji Electric Co Ltd | Operation system of information processing system |
| US4563736A (en) * | 1983-06-29 | 1986-01-07 | Honeywell Information Systems Inc. | Memory architecture for facilitating optimum replaceable unit (ORU) detection and diagnosis |
-
1985
- 1985-06-03 US US06/740,094 patent/US4760553A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1986
- 1986-03-18 JP JP61058465A patent/JPH0664532B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1986-05-28 CA CA000510143A patent/CA1257707A/en not_active Expired
- 1986-05-28 DE DE86304062T patent/DE3689241T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1986-05-28 EP EP86304062A patent/EP0204507B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0204507A2 (en) | 1986-12-10 |
| JPH0664532B2 (en) | 1994-08-22 |
| JPS61279930A (en) | 1986-12-10 |
| EP0204507A3 (en) | 1989-11-15 |
| US4760553A (en) | 1988-07-26 |
| EP0204507B1 (en) | 1993-11-03 |
| DE3689241D1 (en) | 1993-12-09 |
| DE3689241T2 (en) | 1994-05-11 |
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