Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Digital data processing system initialization or configuration
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-21
2001-07-31
Butler, Dennis M. (Department: 2182)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Digital data processing system initialization or configuration
C713S002000, C713S300000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269444
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to computer systems and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for switching a computer between operational states.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Individual computers are commonly connected together in networks. The network connections facilitate communications between the individual computers and also allow processing tasks to be distributed to the individual computers. Various other processing devices may be connected in a network along with one or more computers. For example, a network may connect several individual computers, communications devices, environmental systems, and security systems. As the term is used in this disclosure, a “network” shall comprise any arrangement of processing devices in which the individual devices or systems are adapted to communicate with each other. A network may include individual computers, such as individual personal computers for example, along with other devices which include a processor.
A network requires a management system for managing communications between the individual devices included in the network and for managing processes distributed throughout the network. A network management system may also manage software associated with the individual devices or systems included in the network. In order to manage the network, the network management system may require constant access to the individual devices or systems which are included in the network. This access allows the network management system to perform functions on the individual devices or systems. Thus, the individual devices included in the network preferably remain in an operational state at all times, ready to process instructions from the network management system.
Although individual devices included in a network may be required to remain in an operational state at all times, leaving individual network devices continuously in a fully operational state can raise certain operational problems. Leaving all network devices operational and fully powered may result in unnecessary wear on certain components of the individual devices or systems. Also, leaving each device in a fully operational state is wasteful in terms of energy usage. Although some computer systems may include components which may be powered down or placed in a standby state by software instruction, these systems commonly place various components in a standby state only after a predetermined period of non-use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of invention to provide a switching apparatus and method for switching an individual device or system between a fully operational state and a standby operational state which does not interfere with network management operations.
The apparatus according to the invention includes a switch which may be operated alternatively to reset the system or place the individual system in a standby state. Activating the switch when the system is in a normal operational state initiates an interrupt signal which causes the system to go into the desired standby state. Activating the switch when the system is already in the standby state results in a system reset which places the system once again in the normal operational state. The preferred standby state preferably simulates an “off” condition in which the system is powered down but remains operational and ready to receive network management instructions.
In the preferred form of the invention, the switch comprises a manually operated switching device and may be activated to provide a switching input for both a system reset arrangement and an interrupt arrangement. The apparatus also includes a reset disable arrangement. The reset disable arrangement maintains the system reset arrangement in a disabled condition in response to a disable input, and maintains the system reset arrangement in an enabled condition when the disable input is removed. In the disabled condition, the system reset arrangement is unresponsive to the switching input and therefore cannot reset the system in response to a switching input. However, in the enabled condition, the system reset arrangement responds to a switching signal to produce a system reset output which results in a reset of the processor included in the individual computer system.
When the computer system according to the invention performs a system reset, the computer system preferably defaults to a condition in which the reset arrangement is enabled, then the processor included in the computer system executes a software instruction which causes the disable input to be applied to the reset disable arrangement. Thus, in normal operation the system reset arrangement is disabled and will not respond to a switching input to initiate another reset. However, in this normal operational state, the interrupt arrangement responds to a switching input by producing an interrupt output. An interrupt controller receives this interrupt output and issues an instruction preferably causing the system processor to power down various components and place the individual system in the standby state. The individual system remains operational in this standby state and ready to receive network management instructions. The instruction dictated by the interrupt output signal also causes the processor to remove the disable input from the reset disable arrangement, and thereby places the system reset arrangement in the enabled condition. When the switch is next activated, the switching arrangement according to the invention initiates a system reset which returns the system to the normal, fully operational state.
The switching arrangement according to the invention allows an operator to place their individual network computer system or other network system or device in a simulated “off” or standby operational state. In this standby state, the system remains operational and ready to accept network communications, or to return to the fully operational state when the switch is activated again.
These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, considered along with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5303390 (1994-04-01), Little
patent: 5398333 (1995-03-01), Schieve et al.
patent: 5598573 (1997-01-01), Hall et al.
patent: 5864702 (1999-01-01), Walsh et al.
Aguilar Maximino
Brewer James A.
Gorrell, Jr. John William
Gupta Sanjay
Stafford James Michael
Butler Dennis M.
Culbertson Russell D.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Salys Casimer K.
Shaffer & Culbertson,LLP
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