Method and apparatus for insuring operation of a multiple part system controller

Claim 1

A method of reinitializing a multiple part apparatus comprised of: executing a main program for controlling said multiple part apparatus, said main program having a main program code portion and a subsequent delay counter portion, said main program further requiring an interval Tm for said execution; starting a watchdog timer having an interval of duration Tw, said interval Tw being less than the interval Tm; repeatedly initiating execution of an interrupt handler program upon the expiration of an interval of duration Ti, said interval Ti being less than said interval Tw; setting a main counter to a main counter value Tm/Ti upon execution of the program code portion of said main program; executing said delay counter portion of said main program by incrementing a delay counter value; decrementing said main counter value and restarting said watchdog timer upon execution of said interrupt handler program when the main counter value is greater than zero; said watchdog timer reinitializing said apparatus upon the expiration of the interval Tw; and alternatively said main program reinitializing said apparatus when the main counter value is greater than zero and the delay counter value reaches a selected value.

Claim 2

A method of reinitializing a multiple part apparatus comprised of: executing a main program for controlling said multiple part apparatus, said main program having a main program code portion and a subsequent delay counter portion, said main program further requiring an interval Tm for said execution; starting a watchdog timer having an interval of duration Tw, said interval Tw being less than the interval Tm; repeatedly initiating execution of an interrupt handler program upon the expiration of an interval of duration Ti, said interval Ti being less than said interval Tw; setting a main counter to a main counter value Tm/Ti upon execution of the program code portion of said main program; executing said delay counter portion of said main program by incrementing a delay counter value; decrementing said main counter value and restarting said watchdog timer upon execution of said interrupt handler program when the main counter value is greater than zero; said watchdog timer reinitializing said apparatus upon the expiration of the interval Tw; and alternatively said main program reinitializing said apparatus when the main counter value is greater than zero and the delay counter value reaches a selected value.

Claim 7

A method of reinitializing a multiple part system controller comprised of: storing a main program in a memory in said controller, said main program having a program code portion of duration Tme and a delay counter portion of duration Td; storing an interrupt handler program in said memory; executing in a processor in said controller the program code portion and the delay counter portion of said main program sequentially repeatedly at an interval of duration Tm, where Tm is greater than Tme and Td, the execution of the program code portion including setting a software counter function to an initial value Tm/Ti in said processor upon the initiation of the execution of said main program and the execution of the delay counter portion including the incrementing of a delay counter value; starting a hardware timer having an interval of duration Tw, said interval Tw being less than the interval Tm, said hardware timer further including means for reinitializing said controller upon the expiration of said interval Tw; repeatedly initiating execution of said interrupt handler program in said processor at an interval Ti with an external hardware generated signal, said interval Ti being less than the interval Tw, said interrupt handler program decrementing in each execution of the interrupt handler program the value of said software counter function and restarting said hardware timer upon execution of said interrupt handler program when the value of the software counter function is greater than zero; and reinitializing said controller alternatively when said hardware timer, and alternatively reinitializing said controller when the delay counter value of the delay counter portion of said main program increments to a selected value and the value of the software counter function is greater than zero.

Claim 8

A method of reinitializing a multiple part system controller comprised of: storing a main program in a memory in said controller, said main program having a program code portion of duration Tme and a delay counter portion of duration Td; storing an interrupt handler program in said memory; executing in a processor in said controller the program code portion and the delay counter portion of said main program sequentially repeatedly at an interval of duration Tm, where Tm is greater than Tme and Td, the execution of the program code portion including setting a software counter function to an initial value Tm/Ti in said processor upon the initiation of the execution of said main program and the execution of the delay counter portion including the incrementing of a delay counter value; starting a hardware timer having an interval of duration Tw, said interval Tw being less than the interval Tm, said hardware timer further including means for reinitializing said controller upon the expiration of said interval Tw; repeatedly initiating execution of said interrupt handler program in said processor at an interval Ti with an external hardware generated signal, said interval Ti being less than the interval Tw, said interrupt handler program decrementing in each execution of the interrupt handler program the value of said software counter function and restarting said hardware timer upon execution of said interrupt handler program when the value of the software counter function is greater than zero; and reinitializing said controller alternatively when said hardware timer, and alternatively reinitializing said controller when the delay counter value of the delay counter portion of said main program increments to a selected value and the value of the software counter function is greater than zero.

Claim 14

An apparatus for reinitializing a multiple part controller, said apparatus comprised of: means for executing a main program having a program code portion and a subsequent delay counter portion, said main program further requiring an interval of duration Tm for said execution; means for starting a hardware timer, said hardware timer decrementing to zero upon the expiration of an interval of duration Tw, said interval Tw being less than the interval Tm; means for repeatedly initiating execution of an interrupt handler program upon the expiration of an interval of duration Ti, said interval Ti being less than said interval Tw; means for setting a main counter to a main counter value Tm/Ti upon execution of the program code portion of said main program; means for executing said delay counter portion of said main program including incrementing a delay counter value; means for decrementing said main counter value and restarting said hardware timer upon execution of said interrupt handler program when the main counter value is greater than zero; and means for reinitializing said controller whereby said hardware timer reinitializes said controller upon the expiration of the interval Tw and, alternatively, said main program reinitializes said controller when the main counter value is greater than zero and the delay counter value reaches a selected value.

Claim 15

An apparatus for reinitializing a multiple part controller, said apparatus comprised of: means for executing a main program having a program code portion and a subsequent delay counter portion, said main program further requiring an interval of duration Tm for said execution; means for starting a hardware timer, said hardware timer decrementing to zero upon the expiration of an interval of duration Tw, said interval Tw being less than the interval Tm; means for repeatedly initiating execution of an interrupt handler program upon the expiration of an interval of duration Ti, said interval Ti being less than said interval Tw; means for setting a main counter to a main counter value Tm/Ti upon execution of the program code portion of said main program; means for executing said delay counter portion of said main program including incrementing a delay counter value; means for decrementing said main counter value and restarting said hardware timer upon execution of said interrupt handler program when the main counter value is greater than zero; and means for reinitializing said controller whereby said hardware timer reinitializes said controller upon the expiration of the interval Tw and, alternatively, said main program reinitializes said controller when the main counter value is greater than zero and the delay counter value reaches a selected value.