Operating status indication method and system

• US 6,930,605 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2003
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Original Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Chih-Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent A.
• Application Number:
  US10/704,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20050099313A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 713/2, 714/48, 714/49, 714/57, 714/10, 714/45, 714/23, 714/34, 714/55
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction

Abstract

An operating status indication method and system is proposed for use with an embedded operating system. The indication system is linked with and controlled by the operating system. The indication system includes an indication device, a driving module, and a signal control module. When the operating system is functioning properly, the signal control module sends a control signal to the driving module, for allowing the driving module to drive the indication device to output a particular signal, such that users can be informed of the normal operating status of the operating system by the particular signal.

Claims

1. An operating status indication system linked with an embedded operating system, comprising:

an indication device for outputting a particular signal to inform users the embedded operating system is operating normally;

a driving module for driving the indication device to output the particular signal; and

a signal control module controlled by the embedded operating system, the signal control module outputting a control signal to the driving module when the embedded operating system is operating normally so as to allow the driving module to drive the indication device to output the particular signal, and the signal control module stopping outputting the control signal when the embedded operating system is operating abnormally, such that the driving module fails to drive the indication device to output the particular signal, and the users know the abnormal operating status of the embedded operating system.

2. The operating status indication system of claim 1, wherein the indication device comprises at least one indicator light.

3. The operating status indication system of claim 2, wherein under the normal operating status of the operating system, the signal control module periodically detects an on/off status of the indicator light and sends out the control signal to the driving module to allow the driving module to drive the indicator light to switch the on/off status thereof, and when the operating system is operating abnormally, the signal control module fails to send the control signal, such that the driving module fails to drive the indicator light, making the indicator light stay in a fixed on or off status.

4. An operating status indication method for use with an operating status indication system linked with an embedded operating system, the operating status indication system having at least one indication device to inform users of an operating status of the embedded operating system, the method comprising the steps of:

having a signal control module of the operating status indication system, which is controlled by the embedded operating system, output a control signal to a driving module of the operating status indication system when the operating system is operating normally; and

having the driving module drive the indication device to output a particular signal to inform the users of the normal operating status of the operating system.

5. The operating status indication method of claim 4, wherein the indication device comprises at least one indicator light.

6. The operating status indication method of claim 5, wherein under the normal operating status of the operating system, the signal control module periodically detects an on/off status of the indicator light and sends out the control signal to the driving module to allow the driving module to drive the indicator light to switch the on/off status thereof, and when the operating system is operating abnormally, the signal control module fails to send the control signal, such that the driving module fails to drive the indicator light, making the indicator light stay in a fixed on or off status.

7. An operating status indication system linked with an embedded operating system, comprising:

an indication device for outputting a particular signal to inform users the embedded operating system is operating abnormally;

a driving module for driving the indication device to output the particular signal; and

a signal control module controlled by the embedded operating system, the signal control module outputting a prohibiting signal to prohibit the driving module from driving the indication device when the embedded operating system is operating normally, and the signal control module stopping outputting the prohibiting signal when the embedded operating system is operating abnormally, so as to allow the driving module to drive the indication device to output the particular signal and inform the users of the abnormal operating status of the embedded operating system.

8. The operating status indication system of claim 7, wherein the indication device comprises at least one audio device.

9. The operating status indication system of claim 8, wherein under the normal operating status of the operating system, the signal control module continually sends out the prohibiting signal to prohibit the driving module from driving the audio device to sound, and when the operating system is operating abnormally, the signal control module stops sending the prohibiting signal, allowing the audio device to be driven by the driving module and sound.