Patent ID: 7873861

Claim:
A computer program on a recordable-type computer readable medium for testing connections in a multi-tier bus system containing bus controllers (x,y), the computer program comprising: first instructions on controller ( 1 , 1 ) for sending a first message to controller ( 1 , 2 ), controller ( 1 , 3 ), . . . controller ( 1 ,n); second instructions on controller ( 1 , 2 ), controller ( 1 , 3 ), . . . controller ( 1 ,n) for forwarding said first message to a controller on another node, each of which contains third instructions to forward said first message to other controllers on its respective node; fourth instructions on each controller that receives said first message for sending a first acknowledgement message, wherein each controller that forwarded said first message to another controller contains fifth instructions for waiting for said first acknowledgement of receipt from said another controller and for sending a cumulative acknowledgement; sixth instructions for, if controller ( 1 , 1 ) receives respective cumulative acknowledgements from controllers ( 1 , 2 ), ( 1 , 3 ), . . . ( 1 ,n) within an expected time limit, sending a total-cumulative acknowledgement message; wherein x, y, m, and n are integers, x designates a node, y designates a controller within the node, m is the number of nodes within the system, and n is the number of bus controllers in a node.