U.S. patent application number 11/100884 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-08 for state/activity indication using icons on an lcd.
Invention is credited to Agnihotri, Manoj B., Martinez, Jesus A..
Application Number | 20050198583 11/100884 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34590110 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050198583 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Martinez, Jesus A. ; et
al. |
September 8, 2005 |
State/activity indication using icons on an LCD
Abstract
An LCD display provides language-independent icons for
identifying state and/or activity information about a
processor-based system. The LCD display includes a distinct portion
for connoting different functional aspects of the system. Icons
identifying the power-on state, disk activity, LAN activity, WAN
activity, and sensor conditions are supplied.
Inventors: |
Martinez, Jesus A.;
(Portland, OR) ; Agnihotri, Manoj B.; (Lake
Oswego, OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TROP PRUNER & HU, PC
8554 KATY FREEWAY
SUITE 100
HOUSTON
TX
77024
US
|
Family ID: |
34590110 |
Appl. No.: |
11/100884 |
Filed: |
April 7, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11100884 |
Apr 7, 2005 |
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09513425 |
Feb 25, 2000 |
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6901557 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
715/772 ;
715/736 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/04817
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/772 ;
715/736 |
International
Class: |
G06F 003/00 |
Claims
1-14. (canceled)
15. A method comprising: executing a power-on routine; identifying
a portion of the power-on routine with a state; retrieving an icon
from a memory to represent the state; and sending the icon to a
display coupled to a headless server system.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: identifying a
second portion of the power-on routine with a second state;
retrieving a second icon from the memory to represent the second
state; and sending the second icon to the display.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein sending the icon to the display
comprises sending the icon through a display controller of the
headless server system to the display, wherein the display is
included in the headless server system.
18. The method of claim 15, further comprising sending the icon to
the display before the headless server system has established
network access.
19. The method of claim 15, further comprising sending the icon to
an icon region of the display corresponding to the icon.
20. The method of claim 15, further comprising using a basic
input/output system function to send the icon to the display.
21. The method of claim 15, wherein sending the icon to the display
comprises sending the icon to a liquid crystal display.
22. A system comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the
processor; and a medium coupled to the processor including
instructions that, when executed enable the system to: execute a
power-on routine; identify a portion of the power-on routine with a
state; retrieve an icon from the memory to represent the state; and
send the icon to a display of the system, wherein the system
comprises a headless server.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein the instructions, when executed
enable the system to: identify a second portion of the power-on
routine with a second state; retrieve a second icon from the memory
to represent the second state; and send the second icon to the
display.
24. The system of claim 22, wherein the instructions, when executed
enable the system to send the icon through a display controller of
the headless server to the display.
25. The system of claim 22, wherein the instructions, when executed
enable the system to send a message to the display before the
headless server has established network access.
26. The system of claim 22, wherein the instructions, when executed
enable the system to use a basic input/output system function to
send the icon to the display.
27. The system of claim 22, wherein the display comprises a liquid
crystal display.
28. The system of claim 27, wherein the liquid crystal display
includes a first region to display a plurality of icons and a
second region to display message information.
29. An article comprising a machine-accessible medium including
instructions that enable a system to: execute a power-on routine;
identify a portion of the power-on routine with a state; retrieve
an icon from a memory to represent the state; and send the icon to
a display physically located with the system, wherein the system
comprises a headless server.
30. The article of claim 29, further storing instructions that
enable the system to: identify a second portion of the power-on
routine with a second state; retrieve a second icon from the memory
to represent the second state; and send the second icon to the
display.
31. The article of claim 29, wherein the instructions further
enable the system to send the icon through a display controller of
the headless server to the display.
32. The article of claim 29, wherein the instructions further
enable the system to send a message to the display.
33. The article of claim 29, wherein the instructions further
enable the system to send the icon to an icon region of the display
corresponding to the icon.
34. The article of claim 29, wherein the instructions further
enable the system to use a basic input/output system function to
send the icon to the display.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] This invention relates to server systems and, more
particularly, to successful initialization of servers.
[0002] A headless server is a server system which includes no
keyboard, no mouse and no monitor. As expected, headless server
systems typically operate without any human intervention. Because
of this, headless server systems have higher reliability
requirements than most other computer systems. Further, headless
server systems ideally operate using minimal or no manual
steps.
[0003] For a typical computer system, the "boot" process is
executed by a program, usually located in read-only memory (ROM) of
the computer system. The ROM program may be described as including
two separate processes: the power-on self test, or POST, and the
basic input/output system, or BIOS. The POST part of the program
executes commands such that different circuitry and components of
the computer system may be initialized. The BIOS portion includes
functions which may be used by software, including POST, for
communicating with different devices in the computer system.
[0004] Upon receiving power to the computer system, the POST
program in the ROM immediately begins execution. The POST performs
initialization functions, such as detecting and testing the memory,
the display, the non-volatile media, such as hard disk and floppy
disk drives, and so on. In some systems, an abbreviated POST, or
"quick-boot," may be available.
[0005] Once the POST routine completes initialization and testing
of the system, control is typically transferred to an operating
system, usually located on the hard disk drive. Once the operating
system gains control of the system, all run-time operations of the
system, including any execution of application programs, are
controlled by the operating system. The operating system may or may
not utilize the BIOS functions in communicating with the hardware
of the computer system.
[0006] Currently, boot processes are designed for systems with a
monitor, a keyboard and a mouse. These processes assume that the
user is present in front of the system, and may thus be available
to respond to any POST or operating system errors. These errors may
take the form of beeps, screen displays, or other indicia.
Typically, execution of either the POST or operating system program
will stop once these errors occur. Manual intervention is generally
the only way for the boot process to proceed. Contingencies, such
as automatic attempts to boot from other devices, are typically not
executed by the POST or operating system programs. Further,
information is typically not shared between the operating system
and the POST routine.
[0007] Thus, there is a continuing need for a reliable and
automated initialization process which may be assisted
remotely.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the system according to one
embodiment of the invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the LCD display 124, according
to one embodiment of the invention;
[0010] FIGS. 3A through 3F are sample icons according to one
embodiment of the invention;
[0011] FIGS. 4A and 4B are flow diagrams for updating the state
icon according to one embodiment of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of the disk activity driver
according to one embodiment of the invention;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of the LAN activity service
according to one embodiment of the invention; and
[0014] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of the WAN activity driver
according to one embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] In FIG. 1, a computer system 100 includes a processor 102
and a memory 104, connected by a system bus 126. The processor 102
may generally refer to one or more central processing units (CPUs),
microcontrollers or microprocessors, such as an X86 microprocessor,
a Pentium.RTM. microprocessor or an advanced risk controller (ARM),
as just a few examples.
[0016] Furthermore, the phrase "computer system" may refer to any
type of processor-based system that may include a desktop computer,
a laptop computer, a headless server, an appliance or a set-top
box, as just a few examples. Thus, the invention is not intended to
be limited to the illustrated system 100, but rather, the system
100 is an example of one of many embodiments of the invention.
[0017] The memory 104 may be one of a number of types of random
access memories, such as dynamic random access memories (DRAMs),
synchronous DRAMs (SDRAMs), and static RAMs (SRAMs). Other types of
memory 104 may include single in-line memory modules (SIMMs) or
double in-line memory modules (DIMMs).
[0018] The computer system 100 further includes a South Bridge 115,
between the system bus 126 and a second bus 128. The South Bridge
115 is an input/output (I/O) controller which includes bridge
support between the buses 126 and 128, as well as providing an
interface to a hard disk drive 112, a modem 120, non-volatile
read-only memory (NVRAM) 116, and read-only memory (ROM) 106.
[0019] In one embodiment, the bus 128 is a Peripheral Component
Interconnect (PCI) bus 128. The PCI bus is compliant with the PCI
Local Bus Specification, Revision 2.2 (Jun. 8, 1998, available from
the PCI Special Interest Group, Portland, Oreg. 97214).
[0020] Among other circuitry not shown, the PCI bus 128 may support
a network interface card 118, for high-speed connection of the
computer system 100 to a network 250, such as a local area network
(LAN) or a wide-area network (WAN). Alternatively, connection to
the computer network 250 may employ the modem 120. In one
embodiment, the modem 120 is a high-speed PCI modem, connected
directly to the PCI bus 128.
[0021] Also connected to the network 250 is a computer system 200.
In one embodiment, the computer system 200 acts as a remote console
200 to the computer system 100. The computer system 200 may perform
remote operations which assist in the successful boot of the
computer system 100.
[0022] Looking back to the computer system 100, in one embodiment,
the ROM 106 includes a power-on self test (POST) 108 program, and a
basic input/output system (BIOS) 110 program. Alternatively, the
POST 108 and BIOS 110 programs may reside in a flash memory device.
The ROM 106 may also include non-volatile memory devices such as
erasable and programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically
erasable and programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), and flash
memories.
[0023] In one embodiment, the hard disk drive 112 may store an
operating system 114. The operating system 114 may be loaded into
the memory 104, for faster execution.
[0024] For a headless server computer system, a monitor may not be
present. However, in some embodiments, the headless server may
include a small display, such as a small liquid crystal display
(LCD), for error reporting. Accordingly, the system bus 126 of FIG.
1 is coupled to a display controller 123, to support a display 124,
such as an LCD display.
[0025] Despite configuring the computer system 100 such that remote
assistance is available, the LCD display 124 may provide additional
support for some fail-safe conditions. For example, the LCD display
124 may provide quick system status of the computer system 100.
During initial power on, network access or other connection of the
computer system 100 may not yet be established.
[0026] Further, as the computer system 100 is being powered down,
connection to the remote computer system 200 may have been removed.
Where network problems occur, the remote system 200 may also be
unavailable. Where tasks need to be performed on the computer
system 100 itself, such as removing or replacing devices on the
system, the LCD display 124 may provide relevant information.
[0027] In FIG. 2, the LCD display, according to one embodiment,
includes a message area 302, such as for providing text-based error
or status messages, and six icon regions 310-320. Along with the
message area 302, the icon regions 310-320 may supply a user with
relevant error and status information about the computer system
100. In one embodiment, the icon regions 310-320 are
language-independent graphic elements.
[0028] In one embodiment, each icon provides status information for
a distinct functional area of the computer system 100. For example,
a state icon 310 indicates where in the power-on, or "boot"
process, the computer system 100 is currently executing. The boot
process involves execution of the POST program 108, loading the
operating system 114, and successful booting of the operating
system 114 such that application programs may operate. During this
time, it may be difficult to identify where in the boot process the
computer system 100 may be. Accordingly, the state icon 310 may
supply this information about the computer system 100.
[0029] In Table 1, according to one embodiment, are seven different
icons that may be sent to the state icon region 310. Each icon
represents a distinct initialization state of the computer system
100. In FIG. 3A, icons 330-342 may be used to depict distinct
initialization status. The icons may be displayed by the POST
program 108 or by the operating system software 114, as described
further in FIG. 4, below.
1TABLE 1 State Icons State Icon Description POST display Machine is
in POST. BIOS is icon 330 in control OS Booting display Bootstrap
about to be loaded icon 332 by BIOS OS Initializing display OS
booted and started running icon 334 OS Running display OS fully up
icon 336 OS Shutting Down display OS starting graceful shut down
icon 338 OS Halted display OS mostly shutdown icon 340 Emergency
Mode display System is in emergency mode. icon 342 BIOS is in
control
[0030] A disk activity icon 312 provides status information about
the hard disk drive or drives 112. In one embodiment, the disk
activity icon 312 region may be updated during disk accesses, to
connote a disk error, to indicate that the disk 112 is being
checked, or to indicate that the disk 112 is being rebuilt from a
mirror disk or other backup media.
[0031] Table 2, according to one embodiment, shows how the disk
activity icon 312 may be updated in response to four states of the
hard disk drive 112: normal (disk) activity, disk error, disk being
checked, and disk being rebuilt. Likewise, FIG. 3B includes icons
344-350, which may be used as disk activity icons 312.
[0032] For three of the states in Table 2, two icons are shown.
Where two icons are shown, the display 124 is updated with
alternating icons, to provide an "animated" icon 312. Thus, for
example, when disk activity occurs, icon 344a is displayed,
followed by icon 344b, followed by icon 344a again, and so on. This
creates the animated effect of an arrow flashing above a disk
drive.
2TABLE 2 Disk Activity Icons State Icon Description Normal
alternate icons Flickered to show normal Operation 344a and 344b
disk activity Disk Error display icon 346 Shown to depict a disk
error Check disk alternate icons Flickered to depict that 348a and
348b disk is being checked Rebuilding alternate icons Flickered to
depict that mirror 350a and 350b the mirror is being rebuilt from a
mirror or from another backup media
[0033] Looking back at FIG. 2, a LAN activity icon 314 provides
information relevant to the LAN connection of the computer system
100 to the network 250. In one embodiment, the LAN activity icon
314 indicates when LAN activity is taking place, as well as when a
LAN error occurs.
[0034] Table 3 and FIG. 3C, according to one embodiment, show how
the LAN activity icon 314 may be updated with flashing icon pairs
352a and 352b for normal operation and a distinct error icon 354,
to indicate a LAN error.
3TABLE 3 LAN Activity Icons State Icon Description Normal Operation
alternate icons Flickered to show 352a and 352b normal LAN activity
LAN Error display icon 354 Shown to depict a LAN error
[0035] In FIG. 2, a wide-area network, or WAN, activity icon 316
also provides network-related information about the computer system
100, such as for connection to the Internet. Table 4 and FIG. 3D,
according to one embodiment, show how the WAN activity icon 316 may
be updated with flashing icon pairs 356a and 356b, for normal
operation, while a distinct error icon 358 indicates a WAN
error.
4TABLE 4 WAN Activity Icons State Icon Description Normal Operation
alternate icons 356a Flickered to show and 356b normal WAN activity
WAN Error display icon 358 Shown to depict a WAN error
[0036] A sensor status icon 318 may be used to depict sensor
conditions for the computer system 100. In one embodiment, the
computer system 100 may include sensors for monitoring the voltage,
the temperature, the operation of a fan, whether the chassis is
opened, and other physical characteristics of the computer system
100. Some possible sensor status icons 318, according to one
embodiment, are shown in Table 5 and FIG. 3E.
5TABLE 5 Sensor Status (Health) Icons State Icon Description Normal
Operation display All sensors are OK icon 360 Temperature Alert
display A temperature sensor has icon 362 generated an alert
Voltage Alert display A voltage sensor has icon 364 generated an
alert Fan Alert display A fan sensor has generated icon 366 an
alert Intrusion Alert display The chassis has been opened icon
368
[0037] A "please wait" icon 320 is also provided, in some
embodiments. The "please wait" icon 320 may be used by the POST
program 108, the operating system software 114, or other
applications to indicate that a process is ongoing, but not yet
complete. For example, when a program is loaded, the "please wait"
icon 320 may be sent to the LCD display 124. Table 6 shows the
"please wait" icon according to one embodiment.
6TABLE 6 "Please Wait" Icon State Icon Description Normal Operation
display System is running normally icon 360 Please wait display
Shown when a time consuming icon 370 or critical operation is
taking place
[0038] Looking back to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, the computer
system 100 includes an LCD driver 130 for sending configuration,
status, and error information to the display 124. The LCD driver
130 may provide text information for the message area 302 or may
update one of the icons 310-320. The LCD driver 130 is loaded by
the operating system 114 once the computer system 100 is
initialized.
[0039] Particularly during early initialization of the computer
system 100, however, the LCD driver 130 may not be available for
sending information to the display 124. For the time prior to
successfully loading the operating system 114, for example, the LCD
display driver 130 may not be used. Instead, in one embodiment, the
computer system 100 includes a function, display icon, in the BIOS
110 for updating the icons. The BIOS functions 110 may be used by
the POST program 108, the operating system program 114, or
application programs, as needed.
[0040] In FIGS. 4A and 4B, the computer system 100 may update the
state icon 310 according to the flow diagrams. The state icon 310
is updated at different points during the boot of the computer
system 100. First, the POST program 108 is executed (block 402) and
the state icon 310 is accordingly updated (block 404). In the
embodiment of FIG. 3A, the state icon 310 would be updated with the
icon 330. Because the operating system 114 is not yet loaded, the
BIOS function, display icon, is used to update the state icon
310.
[0041] If the system is in an emergency mode (block 406), the
display icon BIOS function is again used, this time to update the
state icon 310 to indicate that the system is in an emergency mode.
In the embodiment of FIG. 3A, icon 342 is used. The computer system
100 next enters the emergency mode (block 410).
[0042] If the system is not in an emergency mode, the state icon
310 is updated to indicate that the operating system is booting
(block 412). Again, the display icon BIOS function is used. Then,
the operating system 114 boot loader is called (block 414).
[0043] Just before initialization, the state icon 310 is once again
updated, to show that the operating system 114 is initializing
(block 416). In the embodiment of FIG. 3A, the icon 334 is used.
Next, the operating system 114 is initialized (block 418).
[0044] In FIG. 4B, the operating system 114 now has been
initialized such that the LCD driver 130 may be loaded (block 420).
This time, to update the state icon 310, the LCD driver 130 is
called, to indicate that the operating system 114 is now
operational (block 422). In the embodiment of FIG. 3A, the icon 336
indicates this state.
[0045] At some point, the operating system 114 may be shut down
(block 424). The LCD driver 130 is called, to indicate this new
state (block 426). In the embodiment of FIG. 3A, the icon 338
indicates that the operating system 114 is shutting down.
[0046] Following shut down of the operating system 114, the
operating system 114 may be halted. Accordingly, the LCD driver 130
is called (block 428). In the embodiment of FIG. 3A, the icon 340
indicates that the operating system 114 is halted. Following the
update of the state icon 310, the operating system 114 is halted
(block 430).
[0047] The disk activity icons 312 may also be updated using the
LCD driver 130. In one embodiment, the operating system 114
controls the disk activity icon 312 using a disk activity driver.
The disk activity driver acts as a filter between a file system
driver and a disk driver, such as used to control the hard disk
drive 112.
[0048] In FIG. 5, a flow diagram illustrates the operation of the
disk activity driver, according to one embodiment. First, access to
the disk driver is initiated (block 452), such as by a file system
driver. The disk activity driver then calls the LCD driver 130, to
update the disk activity icon 312 so that it is evident that a disk
access is occurring (block 454). Following this, the disk activity
driver passes the initial request onto the disk driver (block 456).
In some embodiments, the LCD driver 130 is not updated if a disk
error occurs, despite detection of a disk access by the disk
activity driver.
[0049] The operating system 114 may call the LCD driver 130 during
other disk activities. For example, should a back up of the hard
disk drive 112 occur, the operating system 114 may call the LCD
driver 130 to change the disk activity icon 312.
[0050] To monitor LAN activity, the operating system 114, in one
embodiment, periodically calls a LAN activity service. In FIG. 6,
the operation of the LAN activity service, according to one
embodiment, requests the number of successful sends and receives
from a NIC driver using an NDIS query to retrieve the transmit and
receive counters.
[0051] After receiving a count of the transmit and receive packets
(block 462), the count is compared to a previous count (diamond
464). In one embodiment, if the number of transmit and receive
packets exceeds the prior count, the LCD driver 130 is called, to
indicate that LAN activity is occurring (block 466). If the count
does not exceed the previous count, this indicates that no LAN
activity is occurring, and accordingly, no update of the LAN
activity icon 314 is necessary.
[0052] The operating system 114 also controls updating the WAN
activity icon 316. In one embodiment, the operating system invokes
a WAN activity driver, which updates the WAN activity icon 316 on
the display 124. Like the disk driver, the WAN activity driver acts
as a filter driver, intercepting requests intended for a modem
driver.
[0053] When a requesting driver or application opens a handle
and/or initiates a request to the modem driver, the WAN activity
driver receives the request instead. When the request is received,
the WAN activity drivers sends a request to the LCD driver 130, so
that the WAN activity icon 316 may be updated to indicate WAN
activity. The WAN activity driver then passes the original request
to the modem driver. Further, when all connections have been
closed, the WAN activity driver also removes the WAN activity
icon.
[0054] In FIG. 7, the WAN activity driver according to one
embodiment is illustrated. First, access to the modem driver is
initiated (block 472). The WAN activity driver then calls the LCD
driver 130 (block 474). Then, the original request is passed on to
the modem driver (block 476).
[0055] The sensor status icon 318 may be updated by the POST
program 108, by the operating system program 114, or by other
application software, such as diagnostic programs. In one
embodiment, the computer system 100 includes distinct sensors for
monitoring temperature, voltage, operation of the fan, and whether
the chassis is opened. Accordingly, in the embodiment of FIG. 3E, a
temperature icon 362, a voltage icon 364, a fan icon 366, and a
chassis opened icon 368 may be placed in the sensor status icon 318
position of the LCD display 124.
[0056] The "please wait" icon 320 may likewise be used by any
power-on routine to indicate that an operation may take an extended
period of time. In one embodiment, the "hourglass" icon 370 of FIG.
3F may be called by the LCD driver 130 or by the BIOS 110 function,
display icon.
[0057] Thus, in some embodiments a system provides a mechanism for
the power-on state as well as other activities of a system to be
visibly available to a user. In some embodiments, different icons
are available to represent distinct functional portions of the
computer system: power-on state, LAN activity, disk activity, WAN
activity, and sensor status.
[0058] While the present invention has been described with respect
to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will
appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is
intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and
variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of this present
invention.
* * * * *