Communication link testing
US10678721B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 2, 2017 |
| Grant date | Jun 9, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 14, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2213/0026
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A smart add-in card can be leveraged to perform testing on a host server computer. The add-in card can include an embedded processor and memory. Tests can be downloaded to the add-in card to test analog features of a communication bus between the host server computer (motherboard) and the add-in card. In a particular example, a PCIe communication bus couples the motherboard to the add-in card and the tests can test a connection or communication link negotiated between the add-in card and another device using the PCIe communication bus. The tests can be developed to test errors that are typically difficult to test without the use of special hardware. However, the smart add-in card can be a simple Network Interface Card (NIC) that resides on the host server computer during normal operation and is used for communication other than error testing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.