Serial Port Data Collector for Server Fault Diagnosis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing computing devices, particularly servers, face disruptions and data loss due to failures, which are challenging to recover from due to the impact of power faults on system controllers, necessitating effective monitoring and fault diagnosis solutions.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that involve a data collector connected to a system controller's serial port, preconfigured to automatically send system messages, allowing for independent data storage and wireless transmission to a field receiver for analysis, enabling fault identification and recovery without relying on the computing device's power or network connectivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If system messages are stored on a network connected loghost, then data can be retrieved for fault diagnosis, but the system requires network connectivity and administrator credentials which may not be available during power faults

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefault diagnosis capabilityVSAvoidsystem configuration requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the system message storage function from the network-connected loghost and places it directly on a portable computing device that connects to the serial port. This removes the dependency on network infrastructure and administrator credentials, allowing fault diagnosis to proceed independently during power faults.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The portable computing device acts as an intermediary between the system controller and the fault diagnosis process. It receives system messages directly from the serial port and stores them locally, serving as a bridge that eliminates the need for network-based storage and retrieval mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If a console logger displays system messages, then users can view messages in real-time, but messages scroll off-screen and are lost before users can capture them for analysis

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem message retentionVSAvoidmessage capture process

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The portable computing device creates a digital copy of the system messages displayed on the console logger. Instead of requiring users to manually capture scrolling messages, the device automatically receives and stores copies of all system messages via the serial port connection, preventing information loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system is preconfigured to automatically send system messages to the portable computing device before faults occur. This preliminary action ensures that all relevant system messages are already captured and stored in memory when a fault happens, eliminating the need for real-time manual capture during critical events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the system controller is integrated into the server, then it can control server components, but it is affected by power faults and cannot provide system messages during failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem message availability during faultsVSAvoidindependence from computing device

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the system message storage function from the system controller itself. The portable computing device connects to the serial port and independently stores system messages, creating a separate storage mechanism that remains functional even when the system controller is affected by power faults.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the storage location parameter from internal system controller memory to external portable device memory. This parameter change enables system messages to be preserved in an independent location that is not affected by power faults impacting the system controller.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If physical cables are used to transfer data from the serial port, then reliable connection is established, but data transfer requires physical connection and is less flexible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer flexibilityVSAvoidconnection stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical cable connection system with a wireless communication system. The portable computing device receives system messages and transmits them wirelessly to remote devices, eliminating the need for physical cables while maintaining reliable data transfer through wireless protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS7877646B2Method and system for monitoring a computing device

Publication Date: 2011.01.25 ORACLE AMERICAN INC

AI summary

In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method for monitoring a computing device, that includes receiving, by a data collector, a plurality of system messages from a system controller, wherein the data collector is wired to a serial port component of the system controller, wherein the system controller is factory preconfigured to automatically send the plurality of system messages via the serial port when the data collector is connected to the serial port, wherein the computing device comprises the system controller, and wherein the data collector is independent of the computing device. The method further includes storing data from the plurality of system messages on the data collector, receiving, by the data collector, a data transmit request, and wirelessly transmitting, by the data collector, the data to a field receiver.