Method and apparatus for obtaining diagnostic data for a device attached to a computer system
US7069479B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 7, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jun 27, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 23, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F11/3636
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A peripheral device (which is preferably a disk drive) can automatically collect trace data upon detecting certain error conditions. The peripheral device has the ability to selectively alter the range of state data collected in a trace depending on the error type. Preferably, the device includes a programmable processor executing a control program. A set of trace switches, each enabling a corresponding set of trace points, can be independently set by the control program. An error trace identification table identifies, for each error type, a corresponding set of trace switches. If an error is encountered, the trace switches corresponding to the error type are determined from the table, and the switches are set accordingly. In another invention aspect, a set of trap switches in the device can be set to trap on the occurrence of a specific error type, thereby supporting a more detailed error analysis.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.