Remote Diagnostic Mechanism for Network Interface Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity of data processing systems has made it difficult to diagnose and correct errors, especially catastrophic errors that render devices partially inoperable, requiring an improved method for error detection and correction.
Innovation Solution
A system and method where a network interface device detects errors in a data processing system, sends a help request over a network, and receives diagnostic and error correction routines from a remote diagnostic device, allowing for remote diagnosis and correction of errors, even in cases where the data processor is unable to execute these functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If data processing systems employ multiple processors and specialized hardware to increase functionality, then the system capabilities improve, but the difficulty in diagnosing errors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a remote diagnostic device as an intermediary that receives help requests from the data processing system and sends diagnostic routines back to execute remotely. This mediator approach allows complex error diagnosis in multi-processor systems without requiring physical presence or direct access to the complex internal components, thus resolving the contradiction between system versatility and error diagnosis difficulty
Solution Approach 2:
The diagnostic process is segmented into distinct phases: error detection by the data processing system, help request transmission, diagnostic routine delivery from remote device, routine execution, and result reporting. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, managing the complexity of diagnosing errors in versatile multi-processor systems
2Reliability
If catastrophic errors render the data processing device partially inoperable, then system reliability deteriorates, but the ability to execute diagnostic routines locally is lost
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the affected data processing system execute diagnostic routines locally (which fails when catastrophic errors occur), the patent inverts the approach by having a remote diagnostic device send routines to be executed by the affected system's remaining operational components. This allows diagnostic execution even when local capabilities are compromised, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The affected data processing system, despite catastrophic errors, retains enough operational capability to receive and execute diagnostic routines sent from the remote device. The system serves itself diagnostically through its remaining functional components, eliminating the need for external physical intervention while working around its impaired state
3Ease of repair
If on-site visits are required for error correction, then service quality improves, but service cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service error correction by automatically receiving diagnostic routines from remote devices, executing them locally, and reporting results. This automated self-diagnosis and self-correction process maintains high service quality through comprehensive diagnostics while eliminating the need for physical on-site visits, thus reducing service costs significantly
Data Source
AI summary
A method for diagnosing and correcting errors at a data processing system is disclosed includes detecting at a first device of the system, such as a network interface device, an error at a second device of the system, such as a data processor. In response to detecting the error, the first device communicates a help request via a network. In response to the help request, the first device receives diagnostic and error correction routines from a remote system. The first device executes the routines and provides information to the remote system to diagnose and correct errors at the second device.