Computer watchdog timer
First Claim
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1. A watchdog timer for a computer having a central processing unit and a peripheral controller comprising:
- a. a watchdog program, executing on a micro-code program on said peripheral controller, which periodically interrupts and sends a watchdog check command to said central processing unit of said computer; and
b. a watchdog interrupt service routine, executing on said central processing unit of said computer, which responds to said interrupt and said watchdog check command with a predefined response;
wherein said peripheral controller and watchdog program can reset said computer if said predefined response is not received from said watchdog interrupt service routine executing on said central processing unit of said computer.
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Abstract
A watchdog timer for a computer with a CPU and a peripheral controller. The watchdog timer includes a program in the peripheral controller and a corresponding program in the peripheral interrupt service routine of the CPU. When the watchdog timer function is enabled, the peripheral controller will interrupt the CPU periodically and check the response from the CPU. If the CPU is not responding, or wrong data is returned from the CPU, the peripheral controller will generate a reset signal to reset the CPU and reboot the system.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A watchdog timer for a computer having a central processing unit and a peripheral controller comprising:
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a. a watchdog program, executing on a micro-code program on said peripheral controller, which periodically interrupts and sends a watchdog check command to said central processing unit of said computer; and b. a watchdog interrupt service routine, executing on said central processing unit of said computer, which responds to said interrupt and said watchdog check command with a predefined response; wherein said peripheral controller and watchdog program can reset said computer if said predefined response is not received from said watchdog interrupt service routine executing on said central processing unit of said computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification