US 2008/0301326 A1 · Detecting loss of communication with peripherals

Abstract

Computer systems having operating systems that provide plug and play functionality for peripheral devices such as printers, web cameras, keyboards, mice and the like are known. These allow peripheral devices to be connected to the computer system in an ad hoc manner. However, if communication between a peripheral and such a computer system is lost during a time period when that computer system is shut down, no indication of this loss is given by the plug and play operating system. A method is described here for issuing error messages if communication between a peripheral and a computer system is lost. A persistent store is used to keep a record of peripherals in communication with the computer and this record is compared with detected information about presence of peripherals. The error messages may optionally be transferred to a remote management system via a communications network.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method of detecting loss of communication between a peripheral and a computer system the method comprising:

accessing a persistent store;
storing information about the peripheral in the persistent store;
using an operating system at the computer system to monitor for presence of the peripheral;
comparing results of the monitoring with information in the persistent store;
and
issuing an error message on the basis of the comparison.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Detecting loss of communication with peripherals

Life of this patent

Detecting loss of communication with peripherals

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18