JPH0644095A - System for diagnosing fixed time power source on/off function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable testing only by means of a computer by executing compari son with the time of a present time register and inspecting whether or not a power source is turned ON/OFF at the correct time at every power source being ON/OFF. CONSTITUTION:When the coincidence of the present time with the fixed time power source OFF register is obtained by a comparator 5 and a power source OFF request interruption signal 17 is given to a test program 8, the test program 8 compares the contents of the fixed time power source OFF register with the contents of the present time register so as to check the propriety of a fixed time OFF function. In the propriety check of the fixed time ON function, after a prescribed time elapses, the power source is turned ON and IPLed and control is shifted to the test program 8. When it is judged that the execution of the test program 8 is after a second time by the value of a counter 9, a comparator 4 compares the contents of the present time register 1 with the contents of the fixed time power source ON register and normality is recognized at the time of coincidence. An error processing is executed at the time of non- coincidence.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for easily and reliably diagnosing the validity of a constant time ON / OFF function of a computer system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows a conventional constant time power supply ON / OFF.
2 shows a basic hardware configuration for realizing the function of. 1 is a current time register indicating the current time, 2 is a power source O
N constant time power ON register for setting time, 4 comparator for comparing current time register and power ON time, 3 constant time power OFF register for setting power OFF time, 5 for current time and power OFF time Is a power supply, 6 is a power supply, 10 and 11 are power supplies
This is a power ON / OFF control signal for turning off the power.

Next, the operation will be described. The constant time power on / off of the computer can guarantee the operation even when the power of the computer is turned off by the battery backup. The hardware shown in FIG. 4 is set by setting an arbitrary time in the target constant time power ON register 2 or constant time power OFF register 3 by an instruction or an operation panel. The computer has the contents of the present time register 1 indicating the present time and the designated constant time power ON register 2 or constant time power OFF register 3
The contents of is compared by the comparator 4 or 5, and when they match, the power supply control signals 10 and 11 are output and the power supply is turned on or off. Conventionally, when testing the validity of the constant time ON / OFF function of a computer as described above, an arbitrary time is set by a program or manually by a tester, and the validity of the constant time ON / OFF function of the computer is set. The sex was checked visually.

[0004]

Since the test of the constant time power ON / OFF function of the conventional computer system has been conducted as described above, it is necessary to inevitably require manpower and labor of the examiner. In addition, there is a problem in that when a mass-produced product is tested, only a limited test can be performed due to the troublesomeness.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the constant time power supply of the computer is turned on / off.
The purpose is to obtain a constant-time power ON / OFF function diagnostic method that can automate the OFF function test without human intervention and improve the quality of products.

[0006]

The fixed time power ON / OFF function diagnostic method according to the present invention has a constant time power ON / OFF register that can be read / written by a program, and automatically starts the IPL when the power is turned ON. However, it utilizes the function of loading the diagnostic program having the checking means, and has the following elements. (A) a current time register that holds the current time,
(B) Power on at a fixed time to keep the time when the power is turned on
A register, (c) a constant time power OFF register that holds the time to turn off the power, (d) at least a comparison between the contents of the current time register and the contents of the constant time power ON register, and a comparison with the contents of the current time register. Time power O
A comparator for performing any of the comparisons of the contents of the FF register, (e) a power ON / OFF means for turning the power ON / OFF based on the comparison result of the comparator,
(F) The constant time power ON register and the constant time power OF
A predetermined time is set in the F register, and the contents of the current time register and the constant time power source O are set by the comparator.
When it is determined that the contents of either the N register and the constant time power supply OFF register match, the contents of the current time register and the contents of either the constant time power supply ON register or the constant time power supply OFF register that is said to match Checking means for checking the power ON / OFF function by taking out and comparing the above, (g) Power ON / OF
Starting means for operating the checking means when the power is turned on by the F means.

[0007]

The present invention is for checking means (diagnostic program).
The check operation is automatically executed by the start-up means being started after the IPL. The checking means (diagnostic program) sets the time in the constant time power ON / OFF register and compares the time with the current time register each time the power is turned ON / OFF, so that the power is turned on at the correct time.
Check if N / OFF. Therefore, it is possible to provide an environment in which a test can be performed easily and reliably using only a computer without human intervention.

[0008]

【Example】

Example 1. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 shows a specific example of the test method. In FIG. 1, 2 is a readable / writable constant time power ON register, 4 is the current time of the current time register 1 and the constant time power ON register 2 is shown. Comparator that outputs an interrupt when the time matches, 3 is a readable / writable constant time power OFF register, 5 is a program interrupt when the current time of the current time register 1 and the time of the constant time power OFF register 3 match Comparator that outputs a, 7 automatically starts the IPL when the power is turned on I
PL function, 8 is a test program called and executed by the IPL function 7, 9 is a counter having an initial value of 0 for determining whether or not the test program is the first execution, 1
2 and 13 are power ON / OF output by the test program
F time set signal, 14 is a power-on request signal for permitting the operation of the constant-time power-on function, 15 is a power-off request signal output by the test program, and 16 and 17 are power-on / off output by the comparators 4 and 5. A request interrupt signal, 18 and 19 are AND circuits, and 20 is a switch for switching the power OFF request signal 15.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the power supply 6 of the computer is turned on
Then, the IPL function 7 automatically starts the IPL, reads the test program, and starts the execution (S1). next,
It is checked from the value of the counter 9 whether the test program is first executed (S2). When the value of the counter is 0 and it is the first execution, the ON / OFF time calculated based on the current time is set in the constant time power ON / OFF register (S
3).

For example, when OFF time = current time + 1 minute ON time = current time + 2 minutes, the power ON / OFF time set signals 12 and 13 are generated respectively and are stored in the constant time power ON / OFF register.
The ON / OFF time calculated based on the current time is set.

First, one minute later, the comparator 5 makes a match between the current time and the constant time power OFF register, and the power is turned ON.
The FF request interrupt signal 17 is notified to the test program 8. Here, the test program 8 is the fixed time power supply OF.
Compare the contents of the F register with the contents of the current time register,
The validity of the constant time OFF function is checked (S4). This comparison is made immediately after the power-off request interrupt signal 17 is issued. In the normal case, the test program increments the counter (counter value = counter value + 1),
A power off request signal 15 is issued (S5). The AND circuit 19 turns off the power-off request interrupt signal 17 and turns off the power.
Turn on the power when both signals of request signal 15 become valid.
The power OFF control signal 11 for FF is output to turn off the power of the computer to prepare for the next constant time ON function check.
Even when the test program 8 issues the power-off request signal 15, if the power of the computer is not turned off, the test program 8 is still operating, and the error processing is started (S6, S7, S8). As described above, the fixed time OF
You can check the legitimacy of the F function.

On the other hand, the validity check of the constant time ON function is performed as follows. First, the power ON request signal 14
Is always on. This is a signal indicating whether or not to use the constant time power ON function, and it is assumed that the constant time power OFF function is disabled when the power ON request signal 14 is OFF. When a predetermined time (2 minutes if normal) has elapsed, the power supply 6 is turned on and IPL is performed (S1). And test program 8
Control is passed to the test program 8 depending on the value of the counter 9.
Is determined to be the second or later execution (S2),
The comparator 4 compares the contents of the current time register 1 and the contents of the constant time power ON register. As a result of the comparison, if they match, it is confirmed to be normal, but if they do not match, error processing is performed. Note that this comparison is performed after a series of operations of turning on the power, IPL, and starting the test program, but if the comparison is performed within one minute, it is possible to check in units of minutes.

As described above, this embodiment has a clock mechanism having a battery backup function and a function capable of turning on / off the power of the computer main body at any time preset by a program or an operator. It is characterized by the ability of a self-diagnosing computer to have a self-automatic diagnosis that the power is correctly turned on / off at a set time, without human intervention.

Example 2. In the above embodiment, the power is turned on in minutes.
The case where N / OFF is performed at a constant time is shown, and the test program can check whether it is turned ON / OFF at a constant time within 1 minute. When the check is performed in units of seconds, the power supply O
N, IPL, and the time required for starting the program (T seconds) are calculated in advance, and "content of current time register-T
It may be possible to check whether the “second” and the “content of the constant time power ON register” match.

Example 3. In the above embodiment, the fixed time O
The N / OFF register is required to be readable / writable by a program and to retain the contents even when the power of the computer is turned off. However, the above condition is satisfied. If it is not a register, for example, the contents of the constant time power ON register
As shown in FIG. 3, the same effect can be obtained by a method of reading / writing using a non-volatile memory, a floppy disk, or an auxiliary storage device such as a fixed disk device. Further, although not shown, a read / write method may be used using a non-volatile memory or an auxiliary storage device such as a floppy disk or a fixed disk device instead of the constant time power OFF register.

Example 4. Further, by linking the above-described embodiment with a normal computer diagnostic program, it is possible to perform a more accurate comprehensive diagnosis of the computer.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, a self-diagnosis can be performed for a special test such as ON / OFF of the constant time power supply, so that the test can be rationalized and the quality of the product can be improved by the highly accurate diagnosis. Can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a conventional hardware configuration.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 current time register 2 constant time power supply ON register 3 constant time power supply OFF register 4, 5 comparator 6 power supply 7 IPL 8 test program 9 counter

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A constant time power supply ON / O having the following elements:
FF function diagnostic method (a) Current time register holding current time, (b) Constant time power ON register holding power ON time, (c) Constant time power OFF register holding power OFF time , (D) At least one of the comparator for executing the comparison between the contents of the current time register and the contents of the constant time power supply ON register and the contents of the current time register and the contents of the constant time power supply OFF register, (e ) Power ON / OF that turns ON / OFF the power based on the comparison result of the above comparator
F means, (f) set a predetermined time in the constant time power ON register and the constant time power OFF register,
When the contents of the current time register and the contents of the constant time power supply ON register and the contents of the constant time power supply OFF register match with each other by the comparator, the contents of the current time register match the constant time power supply ON.
Checking means for checking the power ON / OFF function by taking out and comparing the contents of either the register or the constant time power OFF register, (g) the power O
Starting means for operating the checking means when the power is turned on by the N / OFF means.