| Method of, apparatus and graphical user interface for automatic diagnostics -> Monitor Keywords |
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Method of, apparatus and graphical user interface for automatic diagnosticsRelated Patent Categories: Error Detection/correction And Fault Detection/recovery, Data Processing System Error Or Fault Handling, Reliability And Availability, Error Detection Or Notification, Error Forwarding And Presentation (e.g., Operator Console, Error Display)Method of, apparatus and graphical user interface for automatic diagnostics description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070245175, Method of, apparatus and graphical user interface for automatic diagnostics. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e) of the co-pending U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/451,234 filed on Feb. 28, 2003 and entitled "CLIE DOCTOR." The provisional application Ser. No. 60/451,234 filed on Feb. 28, 2003 and entitled "CLIE DOCTOR," is also hereby incorporated by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to the field of electronics diagnostics. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of hardware and software diagnostics of electronic devices such as personal digital assistants. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The proliferation of electronic devices, specifically handheld electronic devices, places a new importance on thorough, precise and accurate diagnostic systems to detect hardware and software problems. Oftentimes, electronic devices that are believed to have defects are returned by retailers to manufacturer service centers at the manufacturer's expense without having any real problem at all. High volumes of such returns can obviously cost a manufacturer a significant amount of money. [0004] Current diagnostic systems utilized by the retailer's personnel usually include a technician using a paper based flow chart to manually diagnose problems with returned electronic devices. Oftentimes, these flow charts are difficult to follow, imprecise and not thorough in the terms of the number of test items available. Compounding the problem is the high turnover rate of technicians employed by the retailers of electronic devices. Furthermore, current diagnostic systems are not automatic nor interactive. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] The present invention includes a method, apparatus and graphical user interface (GUI) that allows a simple, precise, thorough, automatic and interactive diagnostic system for electronic devices. The present invention fully automates every test item, as a memory device including the diagnostic test items is inserted into the electronic device and is configured to automatically begin the diagnostic method. The present invention allows for interactive diagnostic analysis and a user is able to automatically repair many of the defects detected by the diagnostic method. [0006] In one aspect of the present invention, a method of automatically diagnosing software and hardware defects in an electronic device comprises inserting a removable memory into the electronic device, the removable memory including an application, executing the application automatically upon insertion of the removable memory into the electronic device, completing a set of test features included in the application and generating a log file including a set of results corresponding to the set of test features, wherein completion of the set of test features is confirmed automatically by the application. The method further comprises setting a hold button to an off position, wherein the hold button is set to the off position before the removable memory is inserted into the electronic device. The method further comprises performing a hard reset on the electronic device, wherein the hard reset is performed before the hold button is set to the off position. The set of test features includes a set of basic OS features including a set of OS button tests. The set of OS button tests include one or more of a power button test, a datebook button test, an address button test, an up button test, a down button test, a to do button test and a memo button test. The set of test features includes a set of device features including one or more of a charging test, a light test, wherein the light test includes a backlight test and a brightness test, a soft reset test, an LCD test, a digitizer test, an IR beaming test, a device specific buttons test and a jog dial test. The device specific buttons test includes one or more of a hold button test, a capture button test, a record button test, a home button test and a graffiti button test. The jog dial test includes one or more of a jog up test, ajog down test, ajog press test and a back test. The set of test features includes a set of advanced device features including one or more of a memory stick test, wherein the memory stick test includes a memory stick detect test, a memory stick write test and a memory stick read test, a RAM test, a sound test, wherein the sound test includes a system sound test, a FM speaker test and a headphone test and a hotsync test. The set of results includes a main test listing, a sub-test listing and a test result listing for each of the set of test features. The method further comprises interfacing a user and the electronic device with a graphical user interface, wherein the user manually confirms completion of one or more of the set of test features. [0007] In another aspect of the present invention, a diagnostic system for automatically diagnosing software and hardware defects in an electronic device comprises means for inserting a removable memory into the electronic device, the removable memory including an application, means for executing the application automatically upon insertion of the removable memory into the electronic device, means for completing a set of test features included in the application and means for generating a log file including a set of results corresponding to the set of test features, wherein completion of the set of test features is confirmed automatically by the application. The system further comprises means for setting a hold button to an off position, wherein the hold button is set to the off position before the removable memory is inserted into the electronic device. The system further comprises means for performing a hard reset on the electronic device, wherein the hard reset is performed before the hold button is set to the off position. The set of test features includes a set of basic OS features including a set of OS button tests. The set of OS button tests include one or more of a power button test, a datebook button test, an address button test, an up button test, a down button test, a to do button test and a memo button test. The set of test features includes a set of device features including one or more of a charging test, a light test, wherein the light test includes a backlight test and a brightness test, a soft reset test, an LCD test, a digitizer test, an IR beaming test, a device specific buttons test and a jog dial test. The device specific buttons test includes one or more of a hold button test, a capture button test, a record button test, a home button test and a graffiti button test. The jog dial test includes one or more of a jog up test, a jog down test, a jog press test and a back test. The set of test features includes a set of advanced device features including one or more of a memory stick test, wherein the memory stick test includes a memory stick detect test, a memory stick write test and a memory stick read test, a RAM test, a sound test, wherein the sound test includes a system sound test, a FM speaker test and a headphone test and a hotsync test. The set of results includes a main test listing, a sub-test listing and a test result listing for each of the set of test features. The system further comprises interfacing a user and the electronic device with a graphical user interface, wherein the user manually confirms completion of one or more of the set of test features. [0008] In yet another aspect of the present invention, a diagnostic system for automatically diagnosing software and hardware defects comprises a removable memory including an application, an electronic device configured to receive the removable memory, wherein the application is automatically executed and a set of test features is automatically completed upon insertion of the removable memory into the electronic device, and further wherein the set of test features are included in the application and a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to display the set of test features and a set of test results, wherein completion of the set of test features is confirmed automatically by the application. The system further comprises a hold button, wherein the hold button is set to an off position before the removable memory is inserted into the electronic device. The system further comprises a hard reset button, wherein the hard reset button is activated before the hold button is set to the off position. The set of test features includes a set of basic OS features including a set of OS button tests. The set of OS button tests include one or more of a power button test, a datebook button test, an address button test, an up button test, a down button test, a to do button test and a memo button test. The set of test features includes a set of device features including one or more of a charging test, a light test, wherein the light test includes a backlight test and a brightness test, a soft reset test, an LCD test, a digitizer test, an IR beaming test, a device specific buttons test and a jog dial test. The device specific buttons test includes one or more of a hold button test, a capture button test, a record button test, a home button test and a graffiti button test. The jog dial test includes one or more of a jog up test, a jog down test, a jog press test and a back test. The set of test features includes a set of advanced device features including one or more of a memory stick test, wherein the memory stick test includes a memory stick detect test, a memory stick write test and a memory stick read test, a RAM test, a sound test, wherein the sound test includes a system sound test, a FM speaker test and a headphone test and a hotsync test. The set of results includes a main test listing, a sub-test listing and a test result listing for each of the set of test features. The user manually confirms completion of one or more of the set of test features. [0009] In still another aspect of the present invention, a personal digital assistant for self diagnosing software and hardware defects comprises a memory slot configured to receive a removable memory, wherein the removable memory includes an application, further wherein the application is automatically executed and a set of test features is automatically completed upon insertion of the removable memory into the memory slot of the personal digital assistant, and further wherein the set of test features are included in the application and a graphical user interface configured to display the set of test features and a set of test results, wherein completion of the set of test features is confirmed automatically by the application. The graphical user interface displays the set of test features, and further wherein the set of test features include a set of main test features and a set of sub-test features. The set of main test features are displayed on a main test display of the graphical user interface, and further wherein the main test feature that is currently active is highlighted. The graphical user interface further includes a toggle button configured to hide the main test display. The set of sub-test features are displayed on a sub-test display of the graphical user interface, and further wherein the sub-test feature that is currently active is highlighted. The graphical user interface displays the set of results in a summary display, wherein the set of test results include a main test listing, a sub-test listing and a test result listing for each of the set of test features. The system further comprises an instruction display and a confirmation prompt, the confirmation prompt configured to enable a user to confirm the completion of any of the set of test features. The system further comprises at least one test button configured to enable the user to control the set of test features. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a graphical representation of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [0011] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of two modules according to the present invention. [0012] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of a method of diagnostic testing according to the present invention. [0013] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary summary table according to the present invention. [0014] FIGS. 5a-5c illustrate a graphical user interface according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS [0015] Embodiments of the present invention include a method of, apparatus and graphical user interface for performing automatic and interactive diagnostics and repair on an electronic device. Referring to FIG. 1, the diagnostic apparatus 100 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted. The diagnostic apparatus 100 of the preferred embodiment includes an electronic device 110 and removable memory 120. A personal digital assistant (PDA) is depicted in FIG. 1 as the electronic device 110. While a PDA is depicted here in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, alternative embodiments may utilize any electronic device 110 capable of housing removable memory 120 and supporting a graphical user interface (GUI) on a viewing screen 140. Additionally, the preferred embodiment contemplates the removable memory 120 as a Memory Stick.RTM. device such as those developed by Sony Corporation. The use of such removable memory 120 in the preferred embodiment of course depends on the compatibility of such removable memory 120 with the electronic device 110. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, alternatively, any removable memory which is compatible to the PDA being tested can be utilized. [0016] Still referring to FIG. 1, the electronic device 110 of the diagnostic apparatus 100 receives the removable memory 120 in a memory slot 130. The diagnostic method is stored electronically on the removable memory 120, and when the removable memory is inserted into the memory slot 130, the diagnostic method is automatically started and displayed on a GUI on the viewing screen 140. The details of the method and the GUI will be discussed in greater detail later in this document. The user of this method and diagnostic apparatus 100 can interact with the diagnostic method using control buttons 150 and by touching the viewing screen 140 if the electronic device 110 is equipped with a touch sensitive viewing screen 140, as is contemplated in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The user of this diagnostic apparatus 100 will follow the automatic prompts provided by the diagnostic method as it completes diagnosing and repairing various problems that may occur with the electronic device 110. [0017] Referring now to FIG. 2, the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a design architecture 200 that is divided into a GUI module 210 and a features module 220. The GUI module 210 includes the GUI 215 that graphically interfaces the features 225 that are included in the diagnostic method with a user. The GUI module 210 does this by building a list of actions to be performed according to the features module 220, iterates the list and performs the tests. Again, the specific operation of the GUI 215 as it relates to the user interface will be described later in this document. [0018] Referring back to FIG. 2, the features module 220 preferably implements three types of features 225 into the diagnostic method. These features include basic operating system (OS) features 230, device specific features 240 and device specific advanced features 250. The basic OS features 230 preferably include test items that test the functionality of the general operating systems of the electronic device 110. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, where the electronic device 110 is a PDA, these basic OS features include such things as functionality of the power, Datebook, Address To Do and Memo buttons. Of course, this list is exemplary as any and all basic OS features 230 may be included in this group of test items. Continue reading about Method of, apparatus and graphical user interface for automatic diagnostics... 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