Computer system having an instruction interception and substitution circuit
US6212651A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 3, 1996 |
| Grant date | Apr 3, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 3, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F11/2284
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Disclosed are a system and method for providing fault isolation in a computer system including a central processing unit ("CPU") capable of issuing a signal to a memory to retrieve a requested instruction from the memory when the CPU is booted. The disclosed invention comprises an interception and substitution circuit, coupled to the CPU, capable of intercepting the signal and providing an alternative diagnostics instruction to the CPU in lieu of the requested instruction, the alternative diagnostics instruction providing an indication of proper functioning of the computer system when executed by the CPU. The circuit allows a user to determine whether the CPU and components proximate the CPU are functioning, even when a fault renders conventional, embedded power-on self-test routines non-functional.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.