Patent · US Active

Device activity triggered device diagnostics

US8112674B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
5References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 1, 2009
Grant dateFeb 7, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 17, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F11/2736
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A diagnostic control methodology provides reduced disruption of device operation when performing diagnostics on devices within a computer system. A diagnostic application notifies a device driver that controls a particular device that diagnostics should be performed during a period of low activity on the device. In response to receiving the notification, the device driver waits for a time of low activity and either notifies the application to unload the device driver and load a diagnostic device driver, or enters a diagnostic mode directly if such operation is supported by the functional device driver. A timeout duration can be specified, and may be set by the notification, so that the diagnostics will be performed within the timeout period even if a time of low activity has not occurred by the expiration of the timeout.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.