Real time usage indicator for a processor system

• US 4,677,580 A
• Filed: 09/24/1984
• Issued: 06/30/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AG Communication Systems Corp. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: GTE Communication Systems Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Saluski, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lall, Parshotam S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dixon, Joseph L.
• Application Number:
  US06/653,251
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 364/569, 364/200, 364/900, 368/120, 377/19, 377/20, 179/2 TC, 179/7.1 R, 116/202, 340/309.15, 340/715
• US Class Current: 702/186
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 10/00 Apparatus for measuring unknown time intervals by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/325 by lamps or LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3419 by assessing time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3466 Performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/805 Real-time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/865 Monitoring of software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/04 using counting means or digital clocks

Abstract

This invention is a device which permits the percentage of real time consumed by software tasks of a telecommunications switching system or other process controller to be measured and displayed on a percentage meter. The relative percentages of different real time tasks are displayed by the relative intensities of particular lamps mounted on a control panel of a meter. Non-standard, user defined, software tasks may be selected for display on the meter. Software tasks which over-shoot a predetermined amount of time provide an indication of this by lighting one of a number of different lamps. Each of these lamps measures a predetermined amount of over-shoot time.

Claims

1. In a processing system, a real time usage indicator comprising:

means for setting being operated in response to said processor system to set each of a plurality of status bits of a status display data word representing internal processor system events;

display means for indicating being operated in response to said processor system and said means for setting to transmit said status display data word including said plurality of status bits;

means for storing connected to said processing system and being operated to store said status display data word including a value of one of said status bits being a trigger signal;

means for timing connected between said display means and means for storing, said means for timing being operated in response to the duration of said trigger signal to produce a first output signal, a second output signal or a third output signal, corresponding to first, second and third time durations in excess of first predefined time period;

said display means being operated in response to said first output signal, said second output signal and said third output signal to provide visual indication of the occurrence of said first, second and third output signals for a predefined duration of time;

means for resetting being operated in response to said processor system to reset each of said plurality of status bits of said status display data word; and

said display means being further operated in response to said means for resetting to provide visual indication of a non-occurrence of said first, said second and said third output signals.

2. A real time usage indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for storing includes first gating means connected to a processor of said processor system, via an address bus, a data bus, and input/outputs leads, said second gating means operated to produce first and second latching signals.

3. A real time usage indicator as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means for storing further includes latching means connected to said first gating means, said latching being operated in response to said first and second latching signals to store said status bits.

4. A real time usage indicator as claimed in claim 3, wherein said latching means includes a plurality of 4-bit latching devices, a first of said plurality of said latching devices being operated in response to said first latching signal and a second of said plurality of said latching devices being operated in response to said second latching signal.

5. A real time usage indicator as claimed in claim 3, said means for timing including:

first clock means connected to said latching means and being operated to generate a first pulse; and

second clock means serially connected to said first clock means and connected to said display means, said second clock means being operated in response to first pulse to generate a seond pulse corresponding to said first time duration in excess of said first time duration in excess of said first predefined time.

6. A real time usage indicator as claimed in claim 5, said display means including:

first LED means for providing visual indication; and

third clock means serially connected to said first clock means and connected between said second clock means and said second clock means, said third clock means being operated in response to said second pulse to produce a third pulse for activating said first LED means for said second predefined time.

7. A real time usage indicator as claimed in claim 6, said means for timing further including fourth clock means connected between said second clock means and said display means, said fourth clock means being operated in response to said second clock means to generate a fourth pulse corresponding to said second time duration in excess of said first predefined time.

8. A real time usage indicator as claimed in claim 7, said display means further including:

second LED means for providing visual indication; and

fifth clock means connected to said first clock means and connected between said fourth clock means and said second LED means, said fifth clock means being operated in response to said fourth pulse for activating said second LED means for said second predefined time.

9. A real time usage indicator as claimed in claim 8, said means for timing further including sixth clock means connected between said fourth clock means and said display means, said sixth clock means being operated in response to said fourth pulse to generate a sixth pulse corresponding to said third time duration in excess of said first predefined time.

10. A real time usage indicator as claimed in claim 9, said display means further including:

third LED means for providing a visual indication; and

seventh clock means connected to said second clock means and connected between said sixth clock means and said third LED means, said seventh clock means being operated in response to said sixth pulse to produce a seventh pulse for activating said third LED means for said second predefined time.

11. A real time usage indicator as claimed 10, wherein said first clock means includes a first monostable multivibrator having a clock input connected to said latching means and a Q'"'"' output.

12. A real time usage indicator as claimed in claim 11, said second clock means includes a second monostable multivibrator having a clock input connected to said Q'"'"' output of said first multivibrator and a Q output.

13. A real time usage indicator as claimed in claim 12, said second clock means further includes a third monostable multivibrator having a clock input connected to said Q output of said second multivibrator and having a Q output.

14. A real time usage indicator, as claimed in claim 13, said fourth clock means includes a fourth monostable multivibrator having a clock input connected to said Q output of said second multivibrator and a Q output.

15. A real time usage indicator as claimed in claim 14, said sixth clock means includes a fifth monostable multivibrator having a clock input connected to said Q output of said fourth multivibrator and having a Q output.

16. A real time usage indicator as claimed in claim 15, said third clock means includes a sixth monostable multivibrator having a clock input connected to said Q'"'"' output of said first multivibrator and to said Q output of said third multivibrator.

17. A real time usage indicator as claimed in claim 16, said fifth clock means includes a seventh monostable multivibrator having a clock input connected to said Q'"'"' output of said first multivibrator and to said Q output of said fourth multivibrator.

18. A real time usage indicator as claimed in claim 17, said seventh clock means includes an eighth monostable multivibrator connected to said Q output of said second multivibrator and to said Q output of said sixth multivibrator.