Power on timer for a personal computer system

Details Power on timer for a personal computer system Power on timer for a personal computer system

1995-03-30

1996-09-17

Heckler, Thomas M.

G06F 114, G06F 1134

Patent

active

055577849

ABSTRACT:
This disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for measuring the amount of time a personal computer system is powered on. A power on time (POT) routine is performed at a power on of the computer system. This routine sets up a timer to count the number of pre-selected time units (selected by a user) the system is powered on. The power on time count is stored in the PC's non-volatile memory. The routine sets an alarm field of the system's real time clock (RTC) to be activated after the pre-selected time unit has elapsed. A POT interrupt handler routine is installed in a chain for RTC interrupts and is invoked each time the alarm is activated (i.e., at each passage of the pre-selected time unit) while the system is powered on. When invoked, the POT interrupt handler routine increments the POT count and resets the RTC alarm to be activated after another pre-selected time unit has elapsed.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4035627 (1977-07-01), Dickinson
patent: 4168525 (1979-09-01), Russell
patent: 4322831 (1982-03-01), Peterson
patent: 4466074 (1984-08-01), Jindrick
patent: 4766567 (1988-08-01), Kato
patent: 4804957 (1989-02-01), Selph
patent: 5307480 (1994-04-01), Hwang
IBM TDB, vol. 30, No. 1., Jun. 1987, pp. 193-194, "Loop Power-On-Self Test Diagnostics".

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Power on timer for a personal computer 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 Power on timer for a personal computer system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Power on timer for a personal computer system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-422241