Technique for determining maximum physical memory present in a system and for detecting attempts to access nonexistent memory
US4787060A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 24, 1986 |
| Grant date | Nov 22, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 24, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F12/0684
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for determining the maximum amount of physical memory present in a data processing system that can be configured to have one or more memory modules where the memory modules may be one of several types having different amounts of memory locations. By having signals indicating the presence of a memory module and the module type directly available with minimal intervening logic, a diagnostic process can accurately determine the amount of memory present in the system and reduce the possibility of a failed memory module going undetected. A method is also descibed using these memory module present and module type signals for detecting an attempt by either the central processor or an input/output controller to access a memory location that is not physically present within the data processing system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.