IMPLICATING MULTIPLE POSSIBLE PROBLEMATIC COMPONENTS WITHIN A COMPUTER SYSTEM USING INDICATOR LIGHT DIAGNOSTICS
First Claim
1. A method for diagnosing faulty components within a computer system that utilizes indicator lights with components in the computer system to indicate possible failures, the method comprising:
- detecting an error within the computer system;
determining at least two components within the computer system that are possible sources for the detected error; and
activating each of the indicator lights associated with the at least two components, wherein each activated indicator light generates a visual pattern representative of the likelihood that a component is the source for the detected error, wherein the visual pattern comprises a pattern that ranges from a pattern that indicates a high likelihood of being the source for the detected error to a pattern that indicates a lower likelihood of being the source for the detected error.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer system is provided that utilizes a plurality of indicator lights associated with components within the computer system. In this computer system, BIOS logic is configured to detect errors within the system and determine causes for the errors. A service processor, in communication with the BIOS logic, is configured to activate at least two indicator lights from the plurality of indicator lights to indicate possible sources for the detected errors. The service processor activates the at least two indicator lights to generate a visual pattern representative of the likelihood that a component within the computer system is the source for the detected error. The visual pattern comprises a pattern that ranges from a pattern that indicates a high likelihood of being the source for the detected error to a pattern that indicates a lower likelihood of being the source for the detected error.
47 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for diagnosing faulty components within a computer system that utilizes indicator lights with components in the computer system to indicate possible failures, the method comprising:
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detecting an error within the computer system; determining at least two components within the computer system that are possible sources for the detected error; and activating each of the indicator lights associated with the at least two components, wherein each activated indicator light generates a visual pattern representative of the likelihood that a component is the source for the detected error, wherein the visual pattern comprises a pattern that ranges from a pattern that indicates a high likelihood of being the source for the detected error to a pattern that indicates a lower likelihood of being the source for the detected error. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A computer system, comprising:
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a plurality of indicator lights associated with components within the computer system; BIOS logic configured to detect errors within the computer system and determine causes for the errors; and a service processor, in communication with the BIOS logic, configured to activate at least two indicator lights from the plurality of indicator lights to indicate possible sources for the detected errors, wherein the service processor activates the at least two indicator lights to generate a visual pattern representative of the likelihood that a component within the computer system is the source for the detected error, wherein the visual pattern comprises a pattern that ranges from a pattern that indicates a high likelihood of being the source for the detected error to a pattern that indicates a lower likelihood of being the source for the detected error. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer-readable medium storing computer instructions for diagnosing faulty components within a computer system that utilizes indicator lights with components in the computer system to indicate possible failures, the computer instructions comprising:
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detecting an error within the computer system; determining at least two components within the computer system that are possible sources for the detected error; and activating each of the indicator lights associated with the at least two components, wherein each activated indicator light generates a visual pattern representative of the likelihood that a component is the source for the detected error, wherein the visual pattern comprises a pattern that ranges from a pattern that indicates a high likelihood of being the source for the detected error to a pattern that indicates a lower likelihood of being the source for the detected error, wherein the visual pattern comprises a steady on pattern, a fast blinking pattern and a slow blinking pattern, wherein the steady on pattern is indicative of a high likelihood that a component is the source for the detected error, the fast blinking pattern is indicative of a medium likelihood that a component is the source for the detected error and the slow blinking pattern is indicative of a lower likelihood that a component is the source for the detected error.
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Specification