System and method for reporting detected errors in a computer system

• US 6,772,376 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2000
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Teshome, Abeye, Merkin, Cynthia M, Caffey, Stuart D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUNCAN, MARC M
• Application Number:
  US09/705,104
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 714/48, 714/57, 714/26, 714/27, 714/46, 709/223, 379/9.03, 379/9.04
• US Class Current: 714/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0748 in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault remote testing G06F11/2294
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0769 Readable error formats, e.g. cross-platform generic formats, human understandable formats
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test

Abstract

A method and system for reporting detected errors in a computer system. The computer system includes a processor, communication device, and subsystems. The communication device preferably includes a preprogrammed reporting address associated with a technical support center. When an error is detected within the system, an error specific message is generated. The communication device then sends the error message to the preprogrammed address. The technical support center, resident at the preprogrammed address receives the error message and is able to more effectively respond to the detected error message.

Claims

1. A computer system for reporting detected errors to an external location, comprising:

a processor;

a BIOS associated with the processor operable to detect at least one computer system error;

a communication device operably coupled to the processor and having at least one programmable reporting address;

the communication device operable to transmit at least one detected error message associated with a computer system error detected by the BIOS to the programmable reporting address, the detected error message transmitted in Platform Event Trap format; and

the at least one programmable reporting address including a preprogrammed reporting address.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one programmable reporting address further includes at least one user defined address.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a network interface card.

4. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising the preprogrammed reporting address in TCP/IP format.

5. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising the preprogrammed reporting address associated with a technical support center.

6. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising the communication device operable to receive a detected error message.

7. The computer system of claim 1 wherein:

the communication device further comprises at least two programmable reporting addresses; and

communication device operable to transmit selected error messages to at least one of the at least two programmable reporting addresses.

8. A communication device for reporting errors detected within a computer system, comprising:

the communication device having a plurality of reporting addresses;

the plurality of reporting addresses including a preprogrammed reporting address associated with a technical support center; and

the communication device operable to transmit at least one detected error message to the preprogrammed reporting address, the detected error message transmitted in Platform Event Trap format, the at least one error message associated with a computer system error detected by a BIOS.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising the plurality of reporting addresses including a user configurable reporting address.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the communication device comprises a network interface card.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising the preprogrammed reporting address in TCP/IP format.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising the preprogrammed reporting address programmed during manufacture.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising the communication device operable to automatically transmit error messages to the preprogrammed reporting address.

14. A method for reporting errors within a computer system, comprising:

providing a communication device within the computer system;

preprogramming at least one reporting address in the communication device;

detecting at least one computer system error with a BIOS;

receiving a detected error message from the BIOS; and

transmitting the error message with the communication device to the at least one preprogrammed reporting address, the detected error message transmitted in Platform Event Trap format.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising maintaining the communication device with at least one preprogrammed reporting address associated with a technical support center.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the technical support center associated with an original equipment manufacturer.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising maintaining a network interface card having at least one preprogrammed reporting address and at least one user configurable reporting address.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising programming the preprogrammed reporting address in the communication device during computer system manufacture.