Method and apparatus for locating and displaying a defective component in a data processing system during a system startup using location and progress codes associated with the component
First Claim
1. A method for locating a defective component in a data processing system during system startup, said method comprising:
- assigning each component within said data processing system a respective location code;
associating a progress code with each function being loaded from or executed in a component;
supplying power to components of said data processing system;
initializing components of the data processing system to establish a configuration;
displaying a location code of a component on a display panel during said initialization; and
in response to a system hang, retaining the location code displayed on said display panel to facilitate locating a defective component.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for locating a defective component in a data processing system during system startup is disclosed. Each component within the data processing system is assigned a location code. Then, a progress code is associated with a location code and a function being loaded to, tested, or executed in a component. After supplying power to the data processing system, the components of the data processing system are initialized and tested to establish a configuration. During the initialization and testing, a location code of a component and a corresponding progress code are displayed on a display panel. In response to a system hang, a defective component can be identified utilizing the location code and the progress code displayed on the display panel.
35 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for locating a defective component in a data processing system during system startup, said method comprising:
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assigning each component within said data processing system a respective location code;
associating a progress code with each function being loaded from or executed in a component;
supplying power to components of said data processing system;
initializing components of the data processing system to establish a configuration;
displaying a location code of a component on a display panel during said initialization; and
in response to a system hang, retaining the location code displayed on said display panel to facilitate locating a defective component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An apparatus for locating a defective component in a data processing system during system startup, said apparatus comprising:
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means for assigning each component within said data processing system a respective location code;
means for associating a progress code with each function being loaded from or executed in a component;
means for supplying power to components of said data processing system;
means for initializing components of the data processing system to establish a configuration;
a display panel for displaying a location code of a component during said initialization; and
means for retaining the location code displayed on said display panel to facilitate locating a defective component, in response to a system hang. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A computer program product residing on a computer usable medium for locating a defective component in a data processing system during system startup, said computer program product comprising:
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program code means for assigning each component within said data processing system a respective location code;
program code means for associating a progress code with each function being loaded from or executed in a component;
program code means for supplying power to components of said data processing system;
program code means for initializing components of the data processing system to establish a configuration;
program code means for displaying the location code of a component on a display panel during said initialization; and
program code means for retaining a location code displayed on said display panel to facilitate locating a defective component, in response to a system hang. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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Specification