Computer monitoring apparatus and a method of controlling the same

• US 6,003,145 A
• Filed: 05/06/1997
• Issued: 12/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Hong, Bum-Ryong
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Andy
• Application Number:
  US08/852,071
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 395/183.19, 395/185.09, 395/184.01, 395/182.03, 395/183.15, 395/183.22, 395/182.02, 395/185.04, 395/185.01, 395/200, 395/200.3 , 395/200.54, 395/568, 395/595, 395/183.09, 340/172.5, 340/825.06, 364/468.15, 364/550
• US Class Current: 714/47.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/32 with visual or acoustical indication of the functioning of the machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/348 Circuit details, i.e. tracer hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/349 for interfaces, buses

Abstract

A computer monitoring apparatus for use with a computer system having a plurality of components interconnected by a system bus is provided to display system information related to the components and data information being transferred through the system bus, and comprises a controller for generating an operation inhibiting signal and a plurality of control signals in accordance with a function selection signal of a key input section, a buffer for temporally storing the system and data information, and a display section for displaying the system and data information on a screen thereof.

Claims

1. A computer monitoring apparatus, comprising:

a controller generating an operation inhibiting signal and a plurality of control signals controlling overall functions of a computer monitoring apparatus connectable to a computer system having a plurality of components interconnected by a system bus for transferring information between said components;

a clock generator generating a clock signal in response to said control signals and inhibiting said generation of said clock signal in response to said operation inhibiting signal;

a buffer temporally storing system information related to said components and data information being transferred through said system bus by means of said controller;

an address generator receiving said clock signal from said clock generator and generating an address signal;

a memory responsive to said control signals from said controller, storing said system information from said buffer means in accordance with said address signal; and

a display section displaying said system and said data information on a video screen, wherein said buffer means comprises a first buffer responsive to an enable signal of said control signals from said controller, storing said data information on said system bus in synchronism with said clock signal, and a second buffer storing said system information from said system bus.

2. A computer monitoring apparatus, comprising:

a controller generating an operation inhibiting signal and a plurality of control signals controlling overall functions of a computer monitoring apparatus connectable to a computer system having a plurality of components interconnected by a system bus for transferring information between said components;

a clock generator generating a clock signal in response to said control signals and inhibiting said generation of said clock signal in response to said operation inhibiting signal;

a buffer temporally storing system information related to said components and data information being transferred through said system bus by means of said controller;

an address generator receiving said clock signal from said clock generator and generating an address signal;

a memory responsive to said control signals from said controller, storing said system information from said buffer in accordance with said address signal; and

a display section displaying said system and said data information on a video screen. said clock generator comprises an OR gate circuit receiving first and second control signal of said control signals, a first AND gate circuit receiving an output of said OR gate circuit and third, fourth and fifth controls signals of said control signals, an inverter receiving an output of said first AND gate circuit, a second AND gate circuit an output of said inverter and said operation inhibiting signal from said controller, and a third AND gate circuit receiving an output of said second AND gate circuit and a main clock signal from said system bus.

3. A method of controlling a computer monitoring apparatus, comprising:

providing an input section comprised of a plurality of keys, generating a function selection signal necessary for monitoring, a controller generating an operation inhibiting signal and a plurality of control signals required for controlling overall functions of the computer monitoring apparatus, a clock generator generating a clock signal in response to said control signals and inhibiting occurrence of said clock signal in response to said operation inhibiting signal, a buffer temporally storing system information related to a plurality of components which are interconnected by a system bus of a computer system and data information being transferred through said system bus by means of said controller, an address generator receiving said clock signal from said clock generator and generating an address signal by means of said controller, a memory responsive to said control signals from said controller, storing said system information from said buffer means in accordance with said address signal, and a display section displaying said system and said data information on a screen thereof;

initializing said computer monitoring apparatus;

storing said system information from said computer system;

displaying said system information on said display section;

determining whether a key entry necessary for monitoring is inputted by an operator;

displaying, when said key entry is entered by an operator, the latest monitoring results on said display section;

determining whether a key entry for selecting a function is entered; and

performing, when said key entry is entered, a function control program corresponding to said selected key entry, said step of performing said function control program comprised of scrolling a screen in a direction when said key entry for selecting a function corresponds to a screen scroll signal, displaying a menu when said key entry for selecting a function corresponds to a menu display signal, and performing a function corresponding to said menu in accordance with said menu selecting key entry.

4. The method of said computer monitoring apparatus according to claim 3, said step of initializing said apparatus comprises resetting said memory and said address generator, and starting a monitoring operation of said apparatus.

5. The method of said computer monitoring apparatus according to claim 3, said step of displaying said latest monitoring result comprises inhibiting said monitoring operation, compiling information stored in said memory, and displaying the compiled information.

6. The method of said computer monitoring apparatus according to claim 3, said step of performing said function corresponding to said menu comprises recovering a presently monitoring screen when said presently monitoring screen may be selected, initializing said apparatus when said apparatus is selected, and resetting said computer system when said computer system is selected to be reset.