Patent Application
20130013962
1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to signal analysis systems and methods, and particularly to a computing device, a storage medium, and a method for analyzing integrality of a serial attached small computer system interface (SCSI) signal (hereinafter “SAS signal”) transmitted from an SAS interface of an electronic device.
2. Description of related art
Serial attached SCSI (SAS) interfaces are used in electronic devices to connect a storage device (e.g., a SATA hard disk drive) to a processor included in the electronic devices. The SATA hard disk drive may generate SAS signals when data is exchanged between the SATA hard disk drive and the processor, and then the SAS signals are transmitted to the processor through the SAS interface. Usually, the SAS signal may be measured to evaluate whether the SAS interface is workable. However, such test operation may be performed by manpower, and thus a lot of manual work is required to test integrality of the SAS signal. The efficiency and accuracy of the test operation cannot be ensured.
The present disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of examples and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.
In one embodiment, the computing device 1 electronically connects to an electronic device 2 through a component object mode (COM) port, and connects to a signal measuring device 3 through a first general purpose interface bus (GPIB). The electronic device 2 electronically connects to the signal measuring device 3 through a second GPIB. In the embodiment, the electronic device 2 may be a computer or a data processing device that includes an SAS interface 20, which is used to transmit one or more SAS signals to the computing device 1 through the COM port. The signal measuring device 3 may be an oscilloscope that is used to measure a plurality of test parameters from a SAS signal transmitted from the SAS interface 20.
The SAS signal analysis system 10 obtains the SAS signals transmitted from the SAS interface 20, measures one or more test parameters of the SAS signals, and analyzes integrality of the SAS signal to determine one of the test parameters as a driving parameter of the SAS interface 20. In one embodiment, the test parameters may include a phase value, a jitter value, a period value, a frequency value, a rising time and a falling time of each of the SAS signals.
In one embodiment, the storage system 12 may be an internal storage system, such as a random access memory (RAM) for temporary storage of information, and/or a read only memory (ROM) for permanent storage of information. In some embodiments, the storage system 12 may also be an external storage system, such as an external hard disk, a storage card, or a data storage medium.
In one embodiment, the SAS signal analysis system 10 includes a parameter setting module 101, a signal measuring module 102, and a signal analysis module 103. The modules 101-103 may comprise computerized instructions in the form of one or more programs that are stored in the storage system 12 and executed by the at least one processor 11. In the present disclosure, the word “module,” as used herein, refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a program language. In one embodiment, the program language may be Java, C, or assembly. One or more software instructions in the modules may be embedded in firmware, such as an EPROM. The modules described herein may be implemented as either software and/or hardware modules and may be stored in any type of non-transitory computer-readable medium or other storage device. Some non-limiting examples of non-transitory computer-readable medium include CDs, DVDs, flash memory, and hard disk drives.
The parameter setting module 101 sets a group of test parameters for evaluating integrality of a SAS signal, and predefines a standard value for each of the test parameters. As mentioned above, the test parameters may include a phase value, a jitter value, a period value, a frequency value, a rising time and a falling time of each of the SAS signals. The parameter setting module 101 further sets an intensity grade of the SAS signal and a total number (denoted as “X”) of times for testing the integrality of the SAS signal. In one embodiment, the intensity grade of the SAS signal includes a phase grade, a jitter grade, and a signal emphasis grade of the SAS signal. If each grade is defined as a grade range from one grade to five grades, the total number may be set as X=5*5*5=125 times. If each grade is defined as a grade range from one grade to seven grades, the total number may be set as X=7*7*7=343 times.
The signal measuring module 102 adjusts the intensity grade of the SAS signal through the SAS interface 20 of the electronic device 2, and measures an actual value of each of the test parameters of the SAS signal using the signal measuring device 3. In one embodiment, the signal measuring module 102 enhances the SAS signal by increasing the intensity grade of the SAS signal, and weakens the SAS signal by decreasing the intensity grade of the SAS signal.
The signal measuring module 102 further records the actual values of the test parameters into a predefined file, such as an EXECL format file, and stores the predefined file into the storage system 12. The signal measuring module 102 increases a test number (denoted as “Y”) by one when the test parameters of the SAS are measured, i.e., Y=Y+1, and determines whether the test number is equal to the total number.
The signal analysis module 103 analyzes the integrality of the SAS signal to find an optimal SAS signal by comparing the actual value with the standard value of each of the test parameters when the test number is equal to the total number. In the embodiment, the optimal SAS signal has a minimum jitter value or a minimum phase value. The signal analysis module 103 further determines an intensity grade of the optimal SAS signal as a driving parameter of the SAS interface 20, generates an analysis report of the SAS signal according to the test parameters of the SAS signal, and stores the analysis report of the SAS signal into the storage system 12.
In block S21, the test operator electronically connects the computing device 1 to the electronic device 2 through a COM port, and connects to the signal measuring device 3 through a first GPIB, and connects the electronic device 2 to the signal measuring device 3 through a second GPIB.
In block S22, the parameter setting module 101 sets a group of test parameters for evaluating integrality of a SAS signal transmitted from the SAS interface 20, predefines a standard value for each of the test parameters. In one embodiment, the test parameters may include a phase value, a jitter value, a period value, a frequency value, a rising time and a falling time of the SAS signal.
In block S23, the parameter setting module 101 sets an intensity grade of the SAS signal and a total number (denoted as “X”) for testing the integrality of the SAS signal. In one embodiment, the intensity grade of the SAS signal includes a phase grade, a jitter grade, and a signal emphasis grade of the SAS signal. If each grade is defined as a grade range from one grade to five grades, the total number may be set as X=5*5*5=125 times. If each grade is defined as a grade range from one grade to seven grades, the total number may be set as X=7*7*7=343 times.
In block S24, the signal measuring module 102 adjusts the intensity grade of the SAS signal through the SAS interface 20 of the electronic device 2. In one embodiment, the signal measuring module 102 enhances the SAS signal by increasing the intensity grade of the SAS signal, and weakens the SAS signal by decreasing the intensity grade of the SAS signal.
In block S25, the signal measuring module 102 measures an actual value of each of the test parameters of the SAS signal using the signal measuring device 3.
In block S26, the signal measuring module 102 records the actual value of the test parameters of the SAS signal in a predefined file, such as an EXECL format file, and stores the predefined file into the storage system 12.
In block S27, the signal measuring module 102 increases a test number (denoted as “Y”) by one when the test parameters of the SAS are measured, i.e., Y=Y+1, and determines whether the test number is equal to the total number. If the test number is equal to the total number, block S28 is implemented. Otherwise, if the test number is not equal to the total number, block S24 is repeated.
In block S28, the signal analysis module 103 analyzes the integrality of the SAS signal to find an optimal SAS signal by comparing the actual value with the standard value of each of the test parameters when the test number is equal to the total number. In the embodiment, the optimal SAS signal has a minimum jitter value or a minimum phase value.
In block S28, the signal analysis module 103 determines an intensity grade of the optimal SAS signal as a driving parameter of the SAS interface 20, generates an analysis report of the SAS signal according to the test parameters of the SAS signal, and stores the analysis report of the SAS signal into the storage system 12.
Although certain disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure have been specifically described, the present disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100123769 | Jul 2011 | TW | national |
