Non-invasive, low cost method and apparatus for the transmission, display and detection of internal computer status

• US 7,319,404 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2004
• Issued: 01/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Sturges, Stephen S., Inman, Brad
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mehmood; Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US10/881,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20060016384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 340/635, 340/539.1, 340850-999, 340/641, 340/653, 340/679, 340/654, 340/531, 714 1-824, 713 1-601, 700/27
• US Class Current: 340/635
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/326 for error or online/offline status
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

Abstract

A method and apparatus for permitting diagnostics in a PC is described. Signals, imperceptible to a user, are transmitted through the LED used to indicate on/off power status. A small hand-held device may be used for detecting and interpreting the signals and to provide a visual indication to the user of a particular problem.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a computer comprising;

an indicator light, visible to a user, indicating power status of the computer;

a converter for converting a parallel digital signal to a serial digital signal, coupled to the indicator light, the converter providing the serial signal causing the indicator light to blink at a rate that is not perceivable to the user; and

a selector circuit for selecting predetermined parallel digital signals which represent BIOS power-up self-test (POST) code data for the computer, coupled to the converter; and

a hand-held device comprising;

a light sensing receiver which detects the blinking of the indicator light; and

a processor coupled to the light sensing receiver for converting the serial digital signal, which represents BIOS POST code data, into a human perceivable form.

2. The system defined by claim 1, wherein the hand-held device includes a plurality of lights coupled to the processor for providing the user with the human perceivable form of the serial digital signal.

3. The system defined by claim 1, wherein the hand-held device includes a display.

4. The system defined by claim 1, wherein the converter providing the serial digital signal, provides a signal having a plurality of bits, some of which have a longer period than others to enable detection of a packet boundary.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator light indicates an “

on”

or “

off”

power status for the computer.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator light indicates an “

on”

, “

off”

or standby power status for the computer.

7. The system defined by claim 4, wherein the serial digital signal is provided in bursts.