Method and apparatus for power failure protection

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the time to which the timer (28) is set is sufficiently less than the minimum time that the standby power supply (32) is capable of supplying power, that sufficient standby power will be available for an orderly shutting down of the operation of said data processing apparatus without possible damage.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 1, characterized by also including the step of checking for the presence of the standby power supply (32) before repetitively checking the status of said standby power supply (32).

Claim 5

A method according to claim 1, characterized by also including the step of recharging the standby power supply from the normal power supply (32) when said normal power supply resumes operation after interruption.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 4, characterized in that said timer (28) is reset to its original set value after a predetermined time has elapsed since the last use of the standby power supply (32), said predetermined time being sufficient to recharge said standby power supply (32) fully from a totally depleted state.

Claim 7

A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said standby power supply (32) automatically commences supplying power to said data processing apparatus (20) when said normal power supply is interrupted.

Claim 8

A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the checking of the status of the standby power supply (32) is accomplished by a switching means (38) controlled by the standby power supply (32) and coupled to the data processing apparatus (20).

Claim 9

A method according to claim 1, characterised by the step of resetting the timer (28) to an initial position when said standby power supply (32) has been fully recharged.

Claim 10

A data processing system including data processing means (20) which includes logic and control circuitry, and memory means adapted to store: operating system software (22) for controlling the logic and control circuitry to enable said data processing means (20) to perform various functions, and application software (22) for causing the data processing means (20) to perform specific routines, characterized in that said memory means is further adapted to store power failure protection software, (26); in that said data processing means (20) further includes a timer (28) associated with said power failure protection software (26) for timing the duration of events associated with said data processing means (20); and in that said system further includes: a source of power for normally operating said data processing means (20); standby power means (32) coupled to said source of power and to said data processing means (20) for supplying power from said source of power to said data processing means (20), said standby power means (32) also including auxiliary power means (35) for supplying standby power to said data processing means in the event of loss of power from said source of power, means to recharge said auxiliary power means (35) from said source of power, monitoring means (36) to monitor any failure of power from said source of power and to initiate use of said auxiliary power means (35) to supply power in the event of failure of power from said source of power, monitoring means (36) to monitor any failure of power from said source of power and to initiate use of said auxiliary power means (35) to supply power in the event of failure of power from said source of power, and switch means (38) controlled by said monitoring means (36) and settable in accordance with whether or not power from said auxiliary power means (35) is being supplied to said data processing means (20); and communications means (40) coupled to said switch means (38) and to said data processing means (20), whereby said power failure protection software (26) causes said data processing means (20) to periodically check the status of the switch means (38) of the standby power means (32) to determine whether the auxiliary power means (35) is being used to power the data processing means (20), and whereby said power failure protection software causes said timer (28) to run whenever said auxiliary power means (35) is supplying power to said data processing means, said power failure protection software being operable to cause an orderly shutdown of said data processing means (20) whenever said timer (28) indicates that a predetermined amount of time has elapsed during which the data processing means (20) has been powered by the auxiliary power means (35), in order to avoid sudden power failure.

Claim 11

A data processing system including data processing means (20) which includes logic and control circuitry, and memory means adapted to store: operating system software (22) for controlling the logic and control circuitry to enable said data processing means (20) to perform various functions, and application software (22) for causing the data processing means (20) to perform specific routines, characterized in that said memory means is further adapted to store power failure protection software, (26); in that said data processing means (20) further includes a timer (28) associated with said power failure protection software (26) for timing the duration of events associated with said data processing means (20); and in that said system further includes: a source of power for normally operating said data processing means (20); standby power means (32) coupled to said source of power and to said data processing means (20) for supplying power from said source of power to said data processing means (20), said standby power means (32) also including auxiliary power means (35) for supplying standby power to said data processing means in the event of loss of power from said source of power, means to recharge said auxiliary power means (35) from said source of power, monitoring means (36) to monitor any failure of power from said source of power and to initiate use of said auxiliary power means (35) to supply power in the event of failure of power from said source of power, monitoring means (36) to monitor any failure of power from said source of power and to initiate use of said auxiliary power means (35) to supply power in the event of failure of power from said source of power, and switch means (38) controlled by said monitoring means (36) and settable in accordance with whether or not power from said auxiliary power means (35) is being supplied to said data processing means (20); and communications means (40) coupled to said switch means (38) and to said data processing means (20), whereby said power failure protection software (26) causes said data processing means (20) to periodically check the status of the switch means (38) of the standby power means (32) to determine whether the auxiliary power means (35) is being used to power the data processing means (20), and whereby said power failure protection software causes said timer (28) to run whenever said auxiliary power means (35) is supplying power to said data processing means, said power failure protection software being operable to cause an orderly shutdown of said data processing means (20) whenever said timer (28) indicates that a predetermined amount of time has elapsed during which the data processing means (20) has been powered by the auxiliary power means (35), in order to avoid sudden power failure.

Claim 12

A data processing system according to claim 9, characterized in that said predetermined time is less than the minimum time during which the auxiliary power means (35) is capable of providing power to run the data processing means (20).