Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Input/output data processing – Peripheral monitoring
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-05
2002-09-24
Gaffin, Jeffrey (Department: 2782)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Input/output data processing
Peripheral monitoring
C710S008000, C710S013000, C710S100000, C340S870030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06457071
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
Often, when connecting equipment together in the field of information systems, it is necessary to connect cables having connectors to other connectors or to a board having a large number of pins to enable proper communication along the cables from one device to another. It is also necessary to connect power cables between different devices within the information system. One example of such a connection is between a computer peripheral and a main or host computer, such as a personal computer.
A problem encountered when making such connections is that of ensuring that the connector leading from a peripheral component is connected properly to the opposing connector, or to the pins on a board to which connection is sought. Possible errors in effecting such a connection include, failure to make conductive contact, error in linear placement of the peripheral's connector so as to be off by a row, by a pin, having the connector rotated a half turn from its proper position, or a combination of these errors. A variety of peripheral components including those having I.D.E. (Integrated Drive Electronics) interfaces and connectors may be subject to such connection problems.
Typically, in the prior art, once a system is powered up with an improperly connected component, the main system, such as a personal computer, will not work because the main computer bus has been corrupted. Computer owners may be tempted to begin dismantling their equipment to look for the problem, or call a customer support line to seek resolution of the problem, both of which are time consuming approaches. Further, the user may well not know whether the connection of the peripheral is the cause of the computer malfunction since the computer as a whole is not working. Repeated unsuccessful attempts to connect cables may result in damage to the computer or to a peripheral component in the form of broken connection pins, improper connections of power supplies to ground, and improper connections of high voltage levels to delicate circuits.
One prior art approach to dealing with possible unsuccessful connection of computer equipment is to prepare diagrams for customer use to show how each connector is to be attached. The diagram may leave open the possibility of the connector being attached in a position reversed from its proper position without it being obvious in comparison to a view shown on the diagram. Further, this approach can only provide guidance to the user prior to connection. Once a faulty connection is made the diagram offers no assistance in correcting the connection.
Another approach to preventing incorrect connection is to use a colored coating on a portion of cable insulation leading up to a connector. A problem here is that, while the color identification may aid the user in correctly identifying a particular pin on the connector, the part to which the connector will be attached, such as a motherboard, may not have color identification to match that on the connector. As with other prior art methods, this approach only helps the user prior to making the connection.
Yet another prior art approach to dealing with the problem of incorrect peripheral to host connection involves physically keying a connector such that it fits into its intended position more readily in one position and orientation than any other. A problem with this approach is that, often, a keyed connector can be inserted incorrectly by applying force. As with the other prior art approaches discussed, this approach can only help the user make the connection correctly in the first place. If the user misses the queue provided by the keying on the connector, and believes the connection to have been properly made, the keying is of no use in guiding the user in identifying the source of a subsequent computer malfunction.
In all the approaches discussed above, a computer malfunction resulting from an improper connection of a peripheral device, including devices with IDE interfaces, and a main computer system, will likely lead to considerable expenditure of time to find and resolve the error, a need to call a customer support line which may be quite costly, and possibly to a user meddling with parts of the computer system which have not malfunctioned, potentially causing further problems.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a system and method for correcting improper connections between computers and peripheral devices in a time and cost effective manner.
There is a further need in the art for a system and method for enabling computer users to correct incorrect peripheral connections in a self-sufficient manner, that is, without the need to contact a customer support line.
There is a still further need in the art for a system and method for specifically identifying how a peripheral has been improperly connected to a computer after connection has been made.
There is a still further need in the art for a system and method which will provide information to enable a user to correct an incorrect connection between a computer and peripheral device after the connection has been made.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects, features and technical advantages are achieved by a system and method which allows signals to be sent along the communication lines between the computer and peripheral device thereby enabling the computer and/or peripheral device to determine whether there is an error in the connection between the two, and if such error exists, to identify the nature of the error and the required corrective action. The host and/or peripheral device may also check for the presence and location of conductive lines with specific hardware electrical characteristics, such as connection to ground, to determine the placement of the connector in relation to the desired correct position.
In a preferred embodiment, after connection is made between a peripheral device and a host computer, software running on the host computer transmits identifying signals along at least one conductive line of the host-peripheral connection, with specific signals being associated with specific pins and specific wires attached to said pins. The peripheral device acts to monitor the signals coming in on the various communication lines to determine whether the signals detected on the various communication lines are located where they are expected or not.
If the signals coming into the peripheral device are correctly located, the peripheral communicates this fact back to the host which can then appropriately communicate this fact to a user. If the signals coming into the peripheral are incorrectly located, the peripheral device compares the location at which the signals are found to the location known to be correct for the various signals, and thereby determines the actual location of the connector in relation to its desired location. For example, assuming that the pins along one side of a inline connector are numbered so as to skip numbers, such as 1, 3, 5, etc., if the signals expected on lines 3, 5, and 7, appeared on lines 5, 7, and 9, respectively, the peripheral device would determine that the connector was misplaced by one pin location along the length of the connector. In a similar manner, the peripheral device would determine if the connector was misplaced by a row and/or column, reversed, or combinations thereof.
After determining the relative location error, if any, of the connector at the host location, the peripheral device would determine the required corrective action to place the connector in the right place, and communicate this information to the user. Communication of the connection status from the peripheral device to the user may be accomplished directly though the use of a display device (such as an LCD or a plurality of LEDs) attached directly to the peripheral device (such as a hard drive or CD-ROM), or communicated to the host computer which in turn would display the error and correction information to the user.
In an alternative preferred embodiment, the signals used to identify the correctness of the connection between the compu
Thorland Miles
Wahl Mark A
Hewlett--Packard Company
Perveen Rehana
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