US5206948A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bus monitor with means for selectively capturing trigger conditions
Assignee: Bull HN Information Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1989-12-22
•
Granted: 1993-04-27
•
Expires: 2009-12-22
Abstract
Abstract A monitoring means for selectively detecting and recording signals representing at selected points within a system, includes trigger generation logic responsive to selected bus signals for generating trigger signals representing the occurrence of selected conditions, and a recording memory for recording the conditions thereupon, a trigger selection logic for selecting trigger outputs corresponding to the trigger signals. The trigger selection logic includes a trigger enabling memory for storing selectable trigger enabling codes, wherein each enabling code corresponds to a trigger signal, and trigger output logic responsive to the trigger enabling codes and to the trigger signals for providing trigger outputs. The trigger enabling codes include bus enabling codes representing selected conditions on a bus of the system, trigger sequence enabling codes corresponding to sequential combinations of trigger signals and external trigger enabling codes corresponding to triggers external to the system. The enabling codes may select trigger signals to be used in logical AND or OR functions in generating a trigger output or in substitution for a bus trigger signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas J. De Angelis
- 👤 Henry W. J. Maddox
- 👤 Arthur Peters
- 👤 Donald J. Rathbun
- 👤 William L. Saltmarsh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 09:46
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/30; G06F11/34; G06F11/3466; G06F11/348; G06F11/349; G06F11/3495
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
In a monitoring means for use in a computer system for selectively detecting and recording signals representing conditions of system operation at selected points within the system during operation, the monitoring means including a trigger generation means connected from a first plurality of selected points and responsive to the signals representing selected conditions for generating corresponding trigger signals representing an occurrence of corresponding selected conditions and a recording memory means connected from a second plurality of selected points and responsive to trigger outputs for recording the conditions present at the second selected points, means for selecting trigger outputs corresponding to the trigger signals, comprising: trigger code enabling means for storing a plurality of selectable trigger enabling codes, wherein each trigger enabling code corresponds to a trigger signal representing the occurrence of a corresponding condition to be detected, and trigger output means connected from the trigger generating means and from the trigger code enabling means and having an output connected to the recording memory means and responsive to the trigger enabling codes and to the trigger signals for providing trigger outputs upon the occurrence of a trigger signal corresponding to a selected trigger enabling code.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
In a monitoring means for use in a computer system for selectively detecting and recording signals representing conditions of system operation at selected points within the system during operation, the monitoring means including a trigger generation means connected from a first plurality of selected points and responsive to the signals representing selected conditions for generating corresponding trigger signals representing an occurrence of corresponding selected conditions and a recording memory means connected from a second plurality of selected points and responsive to trigger outputs for recording the conditions present at the second selected points, means for selecting trigger outputs corresponding to the trigger signals, comprising: trigger code enabling means for storing a plurality of selectable trigger enabling codes, wherein each trigger enabling code corresponds to a trigger signal representing the occurrence of a corresponding condition to be detected, and trigger output means connected from the trigger generating means and from the trigger code enabling means and having an output connected to the recording memory means and responsive to the trigger enabling codes and to the trigger signals for providing trigger outputs upon the occurrence of a trigger signal corresponding to a selected trigger enabling code.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The monitoring means of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of selected points comprise: a plurality of signal lines of a first bus of the system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
The monitoring means of claim 2, wherein: the system further includes a means connected from a bus of the system and responsive to signals on a plurality of lines of the bus for providing outputs indicating the occurrence of an illegal or error condition on the bus, and the first plurality of selected points further comprise the outputs of the means for indicating the presence of an error or illegal condition on the bus of the system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
The monitoring means of claim 2, wherein: the system further includes at least one bus, and a means connected from points of the system external to the buses of the system for providing trigger signals representing the occurrence of selected conditions external to the buses of the system, and the first plurality of selected points further comprise the outputs of the means for providing trigger signals representing the occurrence of selected conditions at points external to the buses of the system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
The monitoring means of claim 1, wherein: the system further includes a means connected from a bus of the system and responsive to signals on a plurality of lines of the bus for providing outputs indicating the occurrence of an illegal condition on the bus, and the first plurality of selected points comprise the outputs of the means for indicating the occurrence of an illegal condition on the bus of the system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
The monitoring means of claim 1, wherein: the system further includes a means connected from a bus of the system and responsive to signals on a plurality of lines of the bus for providing outputs indicating the occurrence of an error condition on the bus, and the first plurality of selected points comprise the outputs of the means for indicating the presence of an error condition on a bus of the system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
The monitoring means of claim 1, wherein: the system further includes at least one bus, and a means connected from points of the system external to the buses of the system for providing trigger signals representing the occurrence of selected conditions external to the buses of the system, and the first plurality of selected points comprise the outputs of the means for providing trigger signals representing the occurrence of selected conditions at points external to the buses of the system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The monitoring means of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of selected points comprises: a plurality of signal lines of a first bus of the system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The monitoring means of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of selected points comprises: a plurality of signal lines of a second bus of the system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The monitoring means of claim 1, wherein: the system further includes at least a first bus and a second bus, and the second plurality of selected points comprises a set of points external to the first and second buses of the system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
The monitoring means of claim 1, wherein the system further includes at least one bus having a plurality of signal lines and the trigger codes comprise: a plurality of bus enabling codes, wherein each of the bus enabling codes corresponds to one of a plurality of bus trigger signals, and each of the bus trigger signals represents the occurrence of signals on the signal lines of a bus of the system corresponding to a selected condition on the bus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The monitoring means of claim 11, wherein one of the bus trigger signals occurs upon each cycle of operation of the bus and a corresponding bus enabling code enables a trigger output upon each bus cycle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
The monitoring means of claim 11, wherein the trigger enabling codes comprise: a plurality of trigger sequence enabling codes, wherein each of the trigger sequence enabling codes corresponds to a sequential occurrence of a first trigger signal and a second trigger signal from the plurality of bus trigger signals, wherein a trigger sequence enabling code will enable a trigger output upon the condition that the first trigger signal occurs before the second trigger signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The monitoring means of claim 13, wherein the second triggering signal occurs next after the first trigger signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
The monitoring means of claim 13, wherein a group of trigger enabling sequence codes set to the enabling state and defining a corresponding group of sequentially defined trigger signals will enable a trigger output upon the occurrence of the trigger signals in the sequence defined by the trigger sequence enabling codes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The monitoring means of claim 13, wherein the trigger enabling codes further comprise: a plurality of external trigger enabling codes, wherein each external trigger enabling code corresponds to one of a plurality of external trigger signals from a source other than a bus of the system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The monitoring means of claim 16, wherein each external trigger enabling code and corresponding external trigger signal corresponds to one of the bus enabling codes and corresponding bus trigger signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
The monitoring means of claim 17, wherein the bus enabling codes and trigger sequence enabling codes select an external trigger signal to be used in substitution for the corresponding bus trigger signal in generating a trigger output upon the occurrence of a condition defined by one or more trigger sequence enabling codes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
55 words
The monitoring means of claim 17, wherein the bus enabling codes and trigger sequence enabling codes select an external trigger signal to be used in a logical AND function with the corresponding bus trigger signal in generating a trigger output upon the occurrence of a condition defined by one or more trigger sequence enabling codes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
55 words
The monitoring means of claim 17, wherein the bus enabling codes and trigger sequence enabling codes select an external trigger signal to be used in a logical OR function with the corresponding bus trigger signal in generating a trigger output upon the occurrence of a condition defined by one or more trigger sequence enabling codes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
The monitoring means of claim 11, wherein the trigger enabling codes further comprise: a plurality of external trigger enabling codes, wherein each external trigger enabling code corresponds to one of a plurality of external trigger signals from a source other than a bus of the system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The monitoring means of claim 21, wherein each external trigger enabling code and corresponding external trigger signal corresponds to one of the bus enabling codes and corresponding bus trigger signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The monitoring means of claim 21, wherein the bus enabling codes and trigger sequence enabling codes select an external trigger signal to be used in substitution for the corresponding bus trigger signal in generating a trigger output.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The monitoring means of claim 21, wherein the bus enabling codes and trigger sequence enabling codes select an external trigger signal to be used in a logical AND function with the corresponding bus trigger signal in generating a trigger output.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
The monitoring means of claim 21, wherein the bus enabling codes and the trigger sequence enabling codes select an external trigger signal to be used in a logical OR function with the corresponding bus trigger signal in generating a trigger output.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
67 words
The monitoring means of claim 1, wherein the trigger enabling codes comprises: a plurality of trigger sequence enabling codes, wherein each of the trigger sequence enabling codes corresponds to a sequential combination of a first trigger signal and a second trigger signal, wherein a trigger sequence enabling code will enable a trigger output upon the condition that the first trigger signal occurs before the second trigger signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The monitoring means of claim 26, wherein the second trigger signal occurs next after the first trigger signal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
51 words
The monitoring means of claim 26, wherein a group of trigger sequence enabling codes set to the enabling state and defining a corresponding group of sequentially defined trigger signals will enable a trigger output upon the occurrence of the trigger signals in the sequence defined by the trigger sequence enabling codes.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
43 words
The monitoring means of claim 1, wherein the trigger enabling codes comprise: a plurality of external trigger enabling codes, wherein each external trigger code corresponds to one of a plurality of external triggers from a source other than a bus of the system.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
50 words
The monitoring means of claim 1, wherein the trigger enabling codes comprise: a plurality of error enabling codes, wherein each of the error enabling codes corresponds to one of a plurality of error trigger signals, and each one of the error signals represents an error condition on a system bus.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The monitoring means of claim 30, wherein the error conditions on a system bus include illegal conditions.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
The monitoring means of claim 30, wherein the error conditions of a system bus include timeout conditions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4100532A
Cited
US4429368A
Cited
US4571672A
Cited
US4636940A
Cited
US4713813A
Cited
US4707834A
Cited
US4937740A
Cited
US4930070A
Cited
US4852095A
Cited
US4953167A
Cited
US4982387A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-04-26 | 1996-10-26 | 1997-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-04-26 | 2000-10-26 | 2001-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-04-26 | 2004-10-26 | 2005-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |