Method and system for environmental sensing and control within a computer system
US6308289A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 1, 1998 |
| Grant date | Oct 23, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 1, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F1/30
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In accordance with the method and system of the present invention, a local processor utilizes registers arranged in a fault/mask/cache fashion for environmental control and sensing within a data processing system. The local processor continuously reads input data from a variety of environmental sensors in order to determine if a threshold level has been reached and a fault condition exists. Cache registers allow the local processor to store/pass detailed sensor information to system firmware within system processor(s). The local processor sets a fault bit within a fault register designed to cause an interrupt to the system level firmware if any of its bits are non-zero, indicating that a fault condition has occurred. A mask register is designed to allow the interaction of both the local processor and system processor(s) when an interrupt is being serviced and help keeps track of which interrupts are being serviced and which are yet to be serviced in the case of multiple interrupt sources. The system firmware will service the interrupt and set the mask bit. The action will signal the local processor that the system has acknowledged the interrupt and will take the appropriate action.…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.