Electronic apparatus having improved diagnostic interface

• US 7,356,738 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2005
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Owhadi, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): PUENTE, EMERSON C
• Application Number:
  US11/146,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20050240832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 714/14, 714/46, 379/93.31
• US Class Current: 714/46
• 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 11/2294 by remote test

Abstract

Electronic apparatus, such as a personal computer, is described comprising main operative functionality and a power provisioning system for powering the apparatus from an external power source, the power provisioning system comprising:—a main power supply output for energizing the main operative functionality of the apparatus when said power provisioning system is connected to said external power source, and a standby power source for energizing a subset of the components of the apparatus when said main power supply output is not energized, the apparatus further comprising a self contained subsystem including a memory for storing at least one parameter reflecting an internal state of the apparatus, said self contained subsystem being powered by said standby power source and including an encoder for encoding the parameters in an output signal and a transducer for generating a wireless transmission from the output signal, which transmission can be detected in the vicinity of the apparatus, so as to enable the parameter to be received and decoded.

Claims

1. Electronic apparatus comprising

a subsystem powered by a standby power source and

a memory for storing at least one parameter reflecting an internal state of a main operative functionality,

said subsystem including

an encoder for encoding the at least one parameter in an output signal and

a transducer for generating from the output signal a sound including in-band encoded signals, which sound can be detected in the vicinity of the apparatus, so as to enable the at least one parameter to be received and decoded,

wherein the subsystem is connected to a power button and includes a timer arranged to time actuation of the power button, the subsystem being responsive to actuation of the power button for a certain time to initiate a transmission of the output signal.