Patent ID: 6769078
Filing Date: 2004-07-27
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of determining the source of a fault within a bus, the method comprising:monitoring a bus; dividing the bus into a plurality of serial segments using a plurality of bus switching devices by separating each segment of the bus from a next segment in a serial order using one of said plurality of bus switching devices, each one of said plurality of serial segments being preceded in said serial order by one of said plurality of bus switching devices; each one of said plurality of serial segments and all devices which may be coupled to each one of said plurality of serial segments being isolated from said bus using one of said plurality of bus switching devices which precedes each one of said plurality of serial segments when said one of said plurality of bus switching devices is turned off; each one of said plurality of bus switching devices being capable of physically connecting or disconnecting all devices and all bus segments that are downstream in said serial order from said one of said plurality of bus switching devices; responsive to determining that a fault has occurred on the bus, resetting each switch included in each one of said plurality of bus switching devices on the bus; turning on a first switch included in a first one of said plurality of bus switching devices connected to a bus driver; and determining whether the fault is encountered.