Pulse or digital communications – Testing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-25
2001-07-31
Chin, Stephen (Department: 2734)
Pulse or digital communications
Testing
C702S120000, C702S121000, C702S122000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269114
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the monitoring, more particularly, to a monitor having an interface which is hardwired and interposed between first and second digital equipments that exchanges the digital information therebetween and the monitor routes the digital information to means for capturing, recording, and analyzing the routed digital signals.
An increasing complexity of computerized systems has created a need for a concomitant developmental engineering evaluation equipment for monitoring computer interfaces, such as the interfaces found in military installations that employ a Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS) protocol. The NTDS protocol comprises a parallel transmission technique conforming to military specifications, such as military standard, input/output interfaces, standard digital data, Navy systems, MIL-Standard-1397C, herein incorporated by reference and which defines and describes the parameters of the Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS) interfaces which are of particular importance to the present invention. Systems which meet the requirements of military specifications are known and one such system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,583 which is herein incorporated by reference.
A monitoring activity may be conducted for such practices as verifying proper computer control of a sensor, developing algorithms for data processing, verifying system performance, and other tasks related to computerized system development, acceptance, or improvement. The physical parameters of the environment in which the monitoring activity is conducted, especially for NTDS interfaces, varies from a relatively benign laboratory setting to the more severe shipborne embedded installations. Similarly, the range of cost factors that accompanies the monitoring activity varies from the relatively inexpensive laboratory testing to the expensive and critical data collection missions aboard a Navy vessel.
The monitoring activity typically involves routing digital data under consideration to means for capturing, recording and analyzing the digital data, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,896 which is herein incorporated by reference. This capturing, recording and analyzing means is commonly referred to as an instrumentation system, which terminology is used herein.
Various attempts to provide equipment for monitoring the activity for a NTDS interface have been made, but each suffered a shortcoming with respect to disturbing the interface or computerized system under the test. One such attempt involved a so-called “three-way cable tap” which involved the installing of cabling between first digital equipment (generally referred to as a source), second digital equipment (generally referred to as a destination), and the instrumentation system. This technique yielded a common interface between the source, destination and instrumentation systems. Experience has shown that the lack of ground isolation between the source and destination equipment and instrumentation system can disrupt the interface under test. For example, electrical noise undesirably created in the instrumentation system can disadvantageously find its way onto the common interface, and, then, into the source and destination equipment. Other problems with this approach involve distortion of the controlled impedance of the signal carrying conductors of the NTDS interface created by the impedance loading effects of the instrumentation system on the NTDS interface.
Another attempt to provide for the monitoring activity for the NTDS interface does not involve any hardwired interface between the involved equipment, but rather is handled by providing a dedicated output channel of the computerized equipment being monitored and analyzed. The dedicated channel provides associated output digital information directly to the instrumentation system. This approach eliminates the grounding and impedance loading problems, but is expensive in that it consumes a data channel of the computerized equipment being analyzed. It is desired that means be provided for routing the data being exchanged over a digital interface between first and second digital equipments to an instrumentation system without causing any impedance loading or ground problems, or any data distortion, while at the same time not consuming a dedicated data channel of either of first or second digital equipment under analysis.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a monitor interposed between first and second digital equipments and routing the information exchanged between the first and second digital equipments to an instrumentation system, without causing any disruption of the digital data and without causing any undesired loading of the instrumentation system onto the interface between the first and second digital equipment.
The monitor is interposed between the first and second digital equipments that communicate with each other by digital signals respectively carried by first and second connectors each comprised of conductors. The digital signals is defined and controlled by a first protocol, preferably a NTDS protocol. The monitor comprises joining means, an input stage and an output stage. The joining means has direct-current conductivity to each of the conductors of the first and second connectors so as to form a hardwired interface between the monitor and the first and second digital equipments. The input stage has receiving means connected to the joining means and utilizing logic levels compatible with the first protocol. The receiving means provides output signals. The output stage has optoelectronic devices that receive the output signals of the receiving means and provides output signals serving as the output signals of the monitor.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a monitor interposed between first and second digital equipments for routing the digital signals being exchanged between the first and second digital equipments to an instrumentation system.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a monitor that does not disturb the system being monitored in function, operation or performance.
It is another object of the present invention to provide for a monitor that allows data to be collected which are true representations of the actual computerized system performance being monitored, while at the same time does not compromise the operation of the computerized system being monitored.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a monitor that ensures for maximum reliability with respect to continued operation of the computerized system being monitored.
Further still, it is an object of the present invention to provide for a monitor that when encountering any failing condition does not affect the operation of the computerized system being monitored.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings therein.
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Bechtel, Esq. James B.
Chin Stephen
Ghayour Mohammad
McMahon, Esq. John P.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
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