IP Library Granted Patent US 11,239,920
Granted Patent B2
US 11,239,920 · App. 17/184,314 · Granted Feb 1, 2022

Diagnostic module, monitoring method, and storage medium

Inventors: Yuta Saito (Tokyo, JP); Shinichi Kasahara (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
H04B10/40H04B10/0799H04B10/5165
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,239,920
App. No.
17/184,314
Granted
Feb 1, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A microcomputer 202 is coupled to a SFP module 101 via control signal lines 112 to 114 . The microcomputer 202 monitors control signals transmitted on the control signal lines 112 to 114 , and acquires, based on the result of monitoring, the condition of the SFP module 101 from a ROM 151 at a timing when a protocol chip 102 is not accessing the SFP module 101.

Claims (46)

1. A diagnostic module for diagnosing a communication module that includes an optical transmitter and receiver including a memory that stores condition information indicating a condition of the optical transmitter and receiver and configured to perform optical communication, and a protocol chip coupled to the optical transmitter and receiver via control signal lines to control the optical communication by the optical transmitter and receiver,

the diagnostic module comprising a management unit coupled to the optical transmitter and receiver via the control signal lines,

the management unit is configured to monitor control signals transmitted on the control signal lines, and acquire, based on a result of monitoring, the condition information from the memory of the optical transmitter and receiver at a timing when the protocol chip is not accessing the optical transmitter and receiver,

wherein the management unit is configured to periodically execute check processing of checking sideband signals of the control signals twice at a predetermined time interval, and determine, when states of the sideband signals are the same, that the protocol chip is not accessing the optical transmitter and receiver to acquire the condition information.

2. The diagnostic module according to claim 1 , wherein the management unit is configured to set the time interval depending on type of the protocol chip.

3. The diagnostic module according to claim 1 , wherein the management unit is configured to determine a polling interval after which next check processing is executed, based on the acquired condition information.

4. The diagnostic module according to claim 3 , wherein the management unit is configured to execute the next check processing at a predetermined polling interval without acquiring the condition information when states of the control signals are different.

5. A diagnostic module for diagnosing a communication module that includes an optical transmitter and receiver including a memory that stores condition information indicating a condition of the optical transmitter and receiver and configured to perform optical communication, and a protocol chip coupled to the optical transmitter and receiver via control signal lines to control the optical communication by the optical transmitter and receiver,

the diagnostic module comprising a management unit coupled to the optical transmitter and receiver via the control signal lines,

the management unit is configured to monitor control signals transmitted on the control signal lines, and acquire, based on a result of monitoring, the condition information from the memory of the optical transmitter and receiver at a timing when the protocol chip is not accessing the optical transmitter and receiver,

wherein

the control signals include switching signals for switching optical output of the optical transmitter and receiver on and off, and

the management unit is configured to

output a second switching signal independent of a first switching signal that is a switching signal transmitted by the protocol chip to the optical transmitter and receiver, and

control the optical output of the optical transmitter and receiver by a logical operation of the first switching signal and the second switching signal.

6. The diagnostic module according to claim 5 , wherein the optical transmitter and receiver is an SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) module configured to perform optical communication in accordance with SFP standard.

7. A monitoring method performed by a diagnostic module for diagnosing a communication module that includes an optical transmitter and receiver including a memory that stores condition information indicating an condition of the optical transmitter and receiver and configured to perform optical communication, and a protocol chip coupled to the optical transmitter and receiver via control signal lines to control the optical communication by the optical transmitter and receiver, the monitoring method comprising:

monitoring control signals transmitted on the control signal lines;

acquiring, based on a result of monitoring, the condition information from the memory of the optical transmitter and receiver at a timing when the protocol chip is not accessing the memory of the optical transmitter and receiver;

periodically executing check processing of checking sideband signals of the control signals twice at a predetermined time interval; and

determining, when states of the sideband signals are the same, that the protocol chip is not accessing the optical transmitter and receiver to acquire the condition information.

8. A non-temporary tangible computer-readable storage medium that stores a program causing a computer for diagnosing a communication module, the communication module including an optical transmitter and receiver including a memory that records condition information indicating an condition of the optical transmitter and receiver and configured to perform optical communication; and a protocol chip coupled to the optical transmitter and receiver via control signal lines to control the optical communication by the optical transmitter and receiver, the program causing the computer to:

monitor control signals transmitted on the control signal lines; and

acquire, based on a result of monitoring, the condition information from the memory of the optical transmitter and receiver at a timing when the protocol chip is not accessing the memory of the optical transmitter and receiver;

periodically execute check processing of checking sideband signals of the control signals twice at a predetermined time interval; and

determine, when states of the sideband signals are the same, that the protocol chip is not accessing the optical transmitter and receiver to acquire the condition information.

9. The non-temporary tangible computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8 , wherein the program further causes the computer to set the time interval depending on type of the protocol chip.

10. The non-temporary tangible computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8 , wherein the program further causes the computer to determine a polling interval after which next check processing is executed, based on the acquired condition information.

11. The non-temporary tangible computer-readable storage medium according to claim 10 , wherein the program further causes the computer to execute the next check processing at a predetermined polling interval without acquiring the condition information when states of the control signals are different.

12. A non-temporary tangible computer-readable storage medium that stores a program causing a computer for diagnosing a communication module, the communication module including an optical transmitter and receiver including a memory that records condition information indicating an condition of the optical transmitter and receiver and configured to perform optical communication; and a protocol chip coupled to the optical transmitter and receiver via control signal lines to control the optical communication by the optical transmitter and receiver, the program causing the computer to:

monitor control signals transmitted on the control signal lines, wherein the control signals include switching signals for switching optical output of the optical transmitter and receiver on and off;

acquire, based on a result of monitoring, the condition information from the memory of the optical transmitter and receiver at a timing when the protocol chip is not accessing the memory of the optical transmitter and receiver;

output a second switching signal independent of a first switching signal that is a switching signal transmitted by the protocol chip to the optical transmitter and receiver; and

control the optical output of the optical transmitter and receiver by a logical operation of the first switching signal and the second switching signal.

13. The non-temporary tangible computer-readable storage medium according to claim 12 , wherein the optical transmitter and receiver is an SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) module configured to perform optical communication in accordance with SFP standard.

14. The monitoring method according to claim 7 , further comprising setting the time interval depending on type of the protocol chip.

15. The monitoring method according to claim 7 , further comprising determining a polling interval after which next check processing is executed, based on the acquired condition information.

16. The monitoring method according to claim 15 , further comprising executing the next check processing at a predetermined polling interval without acquiring the condition information when states of the control signals are different.

17. The monitoring method according to claim 7 , wherein the optical transmitter and receiver is an SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) module configured to perform optical communication in accordance with SFP standard.

18. A monitoring method performed by a diagnostic module for diagnosing a communication module that includes an optical transmitter and receiver including a memory that stores condition information indicating an condition of the optical transmitter and receiver and configured to perform optical communication, and a protocol chip coupled to the optical transmitter and receiver via control signal lines to control the optical communication by the optical transmitter and receiver, the monitoring method comprising:

monitoring control signals transmitted on the control signal lines, wherein the control signals include switching signals for switching optical output of the optical transmitter and receiver on and off;

acquiring, based on a result of monitoring, the condition information from the memory of the optical transmitter and receiver at a timing when the protocol chip is not accessing the memory of the optical transmitter and receiver;

outputting a second switching signal independent of a first switching signal that is a switching signal transmitted by the protocol chip to the optical transmitter and receiver; and

controlling the optical output of the optical transmitter and receiver by a logical operation of the first switching signal and the second switching signal.

19. The monitoring method according to claim 18 , wherein the optical transmitter and receiver is an SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) module configured to perform optical communication in accordance with SFP standard.

20. The diagnostic module according to claim 1 , wherein the optical transmitter and receiver is an SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) module configured to perform optical communication in accordance with SFP standard.

Assignments (2)
COMPANY SPLIT Recorded Aug 20, 2024
From: HITACHI, LTD.
To: HITACHI VANTARA, LTD.
Reel/Frame 069518/0761 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2021
From: SAITO, YUTA; KASAHARA, SHINICHI
To: HITACHI, LTD.
Reel/Frame 055396/0670 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2020-092315 · May 27, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210376930A1 · Dec 2, 2021