Patent Application
20130007356
1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is data processing, or, more specifically, methods, apparatus, and products for assigning a classification to a dual in-line memory module (DIMM).
2. Description of Related Art
Dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs) may come in many different sizes, types, ranks, and have any number of variations of organization of memory chips on the DIMM. A system may require an inserted DIMM pair to be comprised of compatible DIMMs. For example, a system may not allow a DIMM pair that includes incompatible ranks, such as a pairing of a 2 GB dual rank DIMM and a 2 GB single rank DIMM. In order to ensure that a DIMM pair is comprised of compatible DIMMs, an administrator of the system may compare the DIMM information corresponding to each DIMM in the pair to determine if the DIMM information matches. Typically, DIMM information is located on a very small font on a sticker that may be removed, and thus is not easy to identify compatible DIMMs.
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for assigning a classification to a dual in-line memory module (DIMM) are provided. Embodiments include determining, by a modifier, a classification of a DIMM; and providing a visual indication of the determined classification of the DIMM, including modifying, by the modifier, a top edge of a printed circuit board of the DIMM.
A method of comparing assigned classifications of at least two dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs) is provided. Embodiments include stacking a first DIMM on a second DIMM such that a modified edge of a printed circuit board of the first DIMM is aligned with a modified edge of a printed circuit board of the second DIMM, the modified edge of the first DIMM providing a visual indication of a classification of the first DIMM and the modified edge of the second DIMM providing a visual indication of a classification of the second DIMM; and determining whether the modified edge of the first DIMM matches the modified edge of the second DIMM; if the modified edge of the first DIMM does not match the modified edge of the second DIMM, determining that the classification of the first DIMM is different than the classification of the second DIMM; and if the modified edge of the first DIMM matches the modified edge of the second DIMM, determining that the classification of the first DIMM is the same as the classification of the second DIMM.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular descriptions of exemplary embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers generally represent like parts of exemplary embodiments of the invention.
Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for assigning a classification to a dual in-line memory module (DIMM) in accordance with the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, beginning with
Both the unmodified DIMM (102) and the modified DIMM (110) of
In the example of
The modification computer (152) of
As part of the processing of modifying a DIMM, the modification computer (152) may act as a design computer that modifies a design of the DIMM. That is, modifying a DIMM may include modifying PCB design information corresponding to a DIMM, physically cutting out sections of PCB in a DIMM, or some combination thereof. The PCB design information may include physical positioning information of a packaged semiconductor device of the PCB. The modification computer (152) may be configured to transform the PCB design information to generate a data file, such as a GERBER file with data that includes new physical positioning information of the PCB, as well as layout of electrical connections such as traces and vias. The new physical positioning information may indicate the notches (109) that are removed from the DIMM (102). That is, the modification computer (152) may generate a new PCB design to create the modified DIMM (110) illustrated in
Assigning a classification to a dual in-line memory module in accordance with the present invention is generally implemented with computers, that is, with automated computing machinery. In the system of
Stored in RAM (168) is a modifier (202) which includes computer program instructions for assigning a classification to a dual in-line memory module (DIMM). The computer program instruction of the modifier (202) are capable, when executed, of causing the computer (152) to carry out the steps of: determining, by a modifier, a classification of a DIMM; and providing a visual indication of the determined classification of the DIMM, including modifying, by the modifier, a top edge of a printed circuit board of the DIMM. As explained above, modifying a DIMM may include modifying PCB design information corresponding to a DIMM, physically cutting out sections of PCB in a DIMM, or some combination thereof.
Also stored in RAM (168) is an operating system (154). Operating systems useful assigning a classification to a dual in-line memory module (DIMM) according to embodiments of the present invention include UNIX™, Linux™, Microsoft XP™, AIX™, IBM's i5/OS™, and others as will occur to those of skill in the art. The operating system (154) and the modifier (202) in the example of
The modification computer (152) of
The example modification computer (152) of
The exemplary modification computer (152) of
For further explanation,
In the example of
The method of
For further explanation,
The method of
If the modified edge of the first DIMM does not match the modified edge of the second DIMM, the method
If the modified edge of the first DIMM matches the modified edge of the second DIMM, the method of
In a particular embodiment, different sections of notches along the top edge of the modified DIMM may correspond with different classifications. For example, one section of notches may indicate a type of the DIMM and a second section of notches may be reserved for indicating a rank of the DIMM. Therefore, an administrator attempting to find a compatible DIMM pair may inspect particular sections relevant to compatibility. For example, if a system requires a DIMM pair to have matching rank and type, the administrator may inspect both the rank section of notches and the type section of notches to determine if both sections of a candidate pair of DIMMs substantially match. As another example, if a system only requires a DIMM pair to have matching rank, then the administrator may quickly identify whether the rank sections match without inspecting or regarding as to whether the notches of the type of sections are substantially matched. This tactile inspection of the DIMMs by the administrator may be advantageously performed without the need of powering the DIMM on, reading English, impairment of sight or low-level light. Therefore, an administrator with a visual impairment may be able to perform this inspection.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described largely in the context of a fully functional computer system for assigning a classification to a dual in-line memory module (DIMM). Readers of skill in the art will recognize, however, that the present invention also may be embodied in a computer program product disposed upon computer readable storage media for use with any suitable data processing system. Such computer readable storage media may be any storage medium for machine-readable information, including magnetic media, optical media, or other suitable media. Examples of such media include magnetic disks in hard drives or diskettes, compact disks for optical drives, magnetic tape, and others as will occur to those of skill in the art. Persons skilled in the art will immediately recognize that any computer system having suitable programming means will be capable of executing the steps of the method of the invention as embodied in a computer program product. Persons skilled in the art will recognize also that, although some of the exemplary embodiments described in this specification are oriented to software installed and executing on computer hardware, nevertheless, alternative embodiments implemented as firmware or as hardware are well within the scope of the present invention.
As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.
Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.
Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).
Aspects of the present invention are described above with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
It will be understood from the foregoing description that modifications and changes may be made in various embodiments of the present invention without departing from its true spirit. The descriptions in this specification are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is limited only by the language of the following claims.
