Communication interface system for locally analyzing computers

Abstract

A communication interface system including a computer and a handheld device that communicate with each other via respective communication ports. The computer communication port is a serial port or an infrared transceivers conveniently located on the front bezel of the computer. In serial embodiments, the computer executes the appropriate driver and interface applications to enable transfer of information to the handheld device. In infrared embodiments, the computer includes a microcontroller, an I 2 C bus and memory, where the microcontroller implements infrared communication protocol. Alternatively, the computer may further include a management processor that either replaces or cooperates with the microcontroller. Auxiliary power may enable handheld communications when the computer is shut down. The handheld device interfaces with the computer communication port to retrieve and display the status information. The handheld device effectively replaces external LCD health status hardware that typically consumes valuable space on the front bezel of the computer. The handheld device may further replace traditional input/output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a monitor, a disk drive, etc. For example, the handheld device may be utilized to monitor and control boot up operations of the computer, such as displaying boot up information or otherwise executing setup or, diagnostic routines.

1 . A computer status information retrieval system, comprising: 
 a computer with a communication port, the computer executing a health program that provides status information associated with operation of the computer;    a handheld device with a communication port configured to communicate with the computer via the computer communication port; and    the handheld device interfacing with the computer communication port to retrieve and display the status information.    
     
     
         2 . The computer status information retrieval system of  claim 1 , the computer in a headless configuration, further comprising: 
 the computer communication port located on a front bezel of the computer; and    the handheld device replacing LCD hardware to retrieve status information.    
     
     
         3 . The computer status information retrieval system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the communication port of the computer comprising a serial port;    the handheld communication port comprising a serial port; and    a serial cable coupled between the serial ports of the handheld device and the computer.    
     
     
         4 . The computer status information retrieval system of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a docking cradle with a serial connector coupled to the serial cable, the docking cradle receiving the handheld device to enable serial communications with the computer.    
     
     
         5 . The computer status information retrieval system of  claim 1 , the status information including any of naming information, system hardware information and event information.  
     
     
         6 . The computer status information retrieval system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the computer communication port comprising an infrared transceiver;    the handheld communication port comprising an infrared transceiver;    an I/O bus; and    a microcontroller coupled to the I/O bus and the computer infrared transceiver.    
     
     
         7 . The computer status information retrieval system of  claim 6 , the I/O bus comprising an I 2 C bus.  
     
     
         8 . The computer status information retrieval system of  claim 6 , the microcontroller implementing an IrDA stack.  
     
     
         9 . The computer status information retrieval system of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a memory coupled to the microcontroller.    
     
     
         10 . The computer status information retrieval system of  claim 9 , the microcontroller storing information from the infrared transceiver and the I/O bus into the memory.  
     
     
         11 . The computer status information retrieval system of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 the microcontroller, the computer infrared transceiver and the memory receiving auxiliary power that provides power when the computer is powered down; and    the handheld device retrieving information from the memory while the computer is powered down.    
     
     
         12 . The computer status information retrieval system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the health program capable of controlling operational parameters of the computer; and    the handheld device having operational control of the computer via the health program.    
     
     
         13 . The computer status information retrieval system of  claim 1 , the computer coupled to a network and operating as a server computer, further comprising: 
 network management software executing on the computer that monitors management information and that controls parameters associated with the network; and    the handheld device having control of management of the network via the network management software.    
     
     
         14 . The computer status information retrieval system of  claim 1 , the handheld device including a browser and a display, to browse and display the status information.  
     
     
         15 . A computer diagnostic system, comprising: 
 a computer with a communication port;    an I/O system that enables communication via the communication port during power up self test (POST) of the computer; and    a handheld device with a communication port configured to communicate with the computer via the computer communication port, the handheld device interfacing with the computer during POST.    
     
     
         16 . The computer diagnostic system of  claim 15 , the I/O system comprising: 
 a system ROM including I/O code to enable communications with the handheld device when executed; and    a processor that executes the I/O code during POST upon power up of the computer.    
     
     
         17 . The computer diagnostic system of  claim 16 , the I/O code enabling the handheld device to emulate at least one I/O device.  
     
     
         18 . The computer diagnostic system of  claim 17 , the at least one I/O device including any one or more of a keyboard, a mouse, a disk drive and a monitor.  
     
     
         19 . The computer diagnostic system of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 the communication port of the computer comprising a serial port;    the handheld communication port comprising a serial port; and    a serial cable coupled between the serial ports of the handheld device and the computer.    
     
     
         20 . The computer diagnostic system of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 the computer communication port comprising an infrared transceiver;    the handheld communication port comprising an infrared transceiver;    an I/O bus;    a microcontroller coupled to the I/O bus and the computer infrared transceiver; and    a memory coupled to the microcontroller.    
     
     
         21 . The computer diagnostic system of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 the microcontroller, the computer infrared transceiver and the memory receiving auxiliary power that provides power when the computer is powered down; and    the handheld device retrieving information from the memory while the computer is powered down.    
     
     
         22 . A computer interface system for a computer, comprising: 
 a CPU;    a peripheral bus coupled to the CPU;    a management processor coupled to the peripheral bus; and    an infrared transceiver coupled to the management processor;    the management processor enabling an external device to emulate any one or more of a keyboard, a mouse, a disk drive and a monitor via the infrared transceiver.    
     
     
         23 . The computer interface system of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 the management processor decoding video cycles on the peripheral bus, converting the video cycles to a video stream and sending the video stream via the infrared transceiver for display by the external device.    
     
     
         24 . The computer interface system of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 a memory coupled to the management processor; and    the management processor storing status information of the computer into the memory.    
     
     
         25 . The computer interface system of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 the management processor implementing an IrDA stack.    
     
     
         26 . The computer interface system of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 an I/O bus coupled to the management processor; and    a microcontroller coupled to the I/O bus and the infrared transceiver;    the microcontroller implementing an IrDA stack and enabling communications with the external device via the infrared transceiver.    
     
     
         27 . The computer interface system of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 a first memory coupled to the management processor;    an I/O bus coupled to the management processor;    a microcontroller coupled to the I/O bus and the infrared transceiver; and    a second memory coupled to the microcontroller.    
     
     
         28 . The computer interface system of  claim 27 , the computer providing an auxiliary power signal, further comprising: 
 the management processor, the first and second memories, the microcontroller and the infrared transceiver coupled to the auxiliary power signal.    
     
     
         29 . The computer interface system of  claim 22 , the computer in a headless configuration, further comprising: 
 the infrared transceiver located on a front bezel of the computer; and    a handheld device, including an infrared transceiver, that communicates with the computer via the computer infrared transceiver.