Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Clock – pulse – or timing signal generation or analysis – Counting – scheduling – or event timing
Utility Patent
1998-10-13
2001-01-02
Heckler, Thomas M. (Department: 2787)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Clock, pulse, or timing signal generation or analysis
Counting, scheduling, or event timing
C702S178000
Utility Patent
active
06170064
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a device displaying a total amount of time that the device has been in use, and more particularly a computer displaying a total amount of time that the computer has been in use and a method for displaying that total amount of time.
2. Related Art
Computer systems are information handling systems that are utilized by many individuals and businesses today. A computer system can be defined as a microcomputer that includes a central processing unit (CPU), a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, a display monitor, a keyboard, a mouse or other input device such as a trackball, a floppy diskette drive, a compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM) drive, a modem, a hard disk storage device, and a printer. Typically, a computer system's main board, which is a printed circuit board known as a motherboard, is used to electrically connect these components together.
The central processing unit is often described as a microprocessor. The microprocessor is an electronic component having internal logic circuitry handling most, if not all, the data processing in the computer system. The internal logic circuitry of microprocessors is typically divided into three functional parts known as the input/output (I/O) unit, the control unit, and the arithmetic-logic unit (ALU). These three functional parts interact together and determine the power and performance of the microprocessor. The combination of the control unit and the arithmetic-logic unit is sometimes referred to as the central processing unit. At other times the combination of the input/output unit, the control unit, and the arithmetic-logic unit is referred to as the central processing unit.
Computer systems include a basic input output system (BIOS) which is an especially important program stored in read only memory (ROM). The basic input output system (BIOS) tests a computer every time the computer is powered on. The basic input output system (BIOS) can allocate a computer system's resources automatically, making adjustments needed to accommodate new hardware. Also, the basic input output system (BIOS) governs how system board components interact.
A distance covered of a car is known by an odometer for testing a distance covered. Therefore, oil, tires, and other features and devices are replaced in accordance with the distance covered indicated by odometer.
In a computer, the date of making computer can be known, but the quantity of time during which a computer has been in use cannot be known. Therefore, when a durability and a mean time between failure (MTBF) of computer is tested, there is an inconvenience that a total using time can be known by checking the time from power-on to breakdown or error of computer. Furthermore, in a used computer, its time-in-use cannot be known from the above method, therefore, its available time cannot be predicted.
Exemplars of recent efforts in the art include U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,294 for Method and Apparatus for Battery-power Management Using Load-compensation Monitoring of Battery Discharge issued to Fakruddin et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,167 for an Odometer Data Computing Apparatus issued to Price et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,252 for a Computer Monitor Power-saving Device issued to Huang, U.S. Pat. No. 5,784,627 for an Integrated Timer for Power Management and Watchdog Functions issued to MacDonald, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,768,602 for a Sleep Mode Controller for Power Management issued to Dhuey.
While these recent efforts provide advantages, I note that they fail to adequately address how a total time-in-use of a computer system can be conveniently and efficiently stored, updated, and displayed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a computer displaying a total quantity of time corresponding to the time-in-use of the computer, thereby allowing a predicting of the remaining available time of use for the computer prior to failure of the computer.
Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of displaying a time-in-use of a computer.
A computer displaying a time-in-use of a computer having features of the present invention comprises a storing part, a central processing unit, and a displaying part. The storing part has a control program and a time-storing field. The central processing unit (CPU) updates time data indicating the total using time of computer stored in the storing part per a predetermined time and outputs a control signal of making the updated data displayed, in accordance with the control program of the storing part. The displaying part displays a time corresponding to the time date stored in the storing part in accordance with the control signal of the central process unit.
A method displaying a time-in-use (or a using time) of a computer having features of the present invention comprises a step of displaying a time data representing information of a total using time of computer, a step of checking time per a predetermined time, a step of updating and storing the time data, and a step of displaying the updated time data.
To achieve these and other objects in accordance with the principles of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the present invention provides a computer apparatus displaying a total amount of time the computer apparatus has been in use, comprising: a storage unit storing a control program and storing time data, said time data corresponding to a total quantity of time said computer apparatus has been in use; a central processing unit outputting an update signal in accordance with said control program to update said time data stored in said storage unit, and said central processing unit outputting a control signal in accordance with said control program to display said time data, said central processing unit being coupled to said storage unit; and a display unit displaying said time data in accordance with said control signal, said display unit being coupled to said central processing unit.
To achieve these and other objects in accordance with the principles of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the present invention provides a computer apparatus displaying a total amount of time the computer apparatus has been in use, comprising: a storage unit storing a control program and storing time data, said time data corresponding to a total quantity of time said computer apparatus has been in use; a central processing unit outputting a display signal to display said time data when a user's command signal is received, said central processing unit outputting an update signal in accordance with said control program to update said time data stored in said storage unit when said computer apparatus is powered off; and a display unit displaying said time data in accordance with said control signal, said display unit being coupled to said central processing unit.
To achieve these and other objects in accordance with the principles of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the present invention provides a method displaying a total amount of time a computer apparatus has been in use, comprising the steps of: displaying total time data, wherein said total time data corresponds to a total quantity of time said computer apparatus has been in use; determining new time data in accordance with a predetermined time period, wherein said computer apparatus has been in use during said predetermined time period; updating said total time data and storing updated total time data; and when said step of updating has been performed, displaying said updated total time data.
To achieve these and other objects in accordance with the principles of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the present invention provides a method displaying a total amount of time a computer apparatus has been in use, comprising the steps of: storing a starting time when a computer apparatus is first powered on; subtracting said starting time from a normal ending time of said computer appar
Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
Heckler Thomas M.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
LandOfFree
Computer and a method for displaying the time of using system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Computer and a method for displaying the time of using system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Computer and a method for displaying the time of using system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2460872