Operating system hang detection and methods for handling hang conditions
AssigneeNVIDIA Corporation
InventorGary D. Hicok
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Circuitry for detecting operating system hang conditions is provided. The circuitry includes interrupt logic for receiving system interrupts targeted for a central processing unit. Further included is hang detection logic that is in communication with the interrupt logic. The hang detection logic is capable of determining whether the central processing unit has processed an interrupt within a period of time. Hang resolution logic is further provided for removing the central processing unit from a hang state when it is determined that the interrupt has not been processed within the period of time.
Claims26
Circuitry for detecting operating system hang conditions, comprising:
- interrupt logic for receiving system interrupts targeted for a central processing unit;
- hang detection logic being in communication with the interrupt logic, the hang detection logic being capable of determining whether the central processing unit has processed an interrupt within a period of time by monitoring an interrupt pin;
- and
- hang resolution logic for removing the central processing unit from a hang state when it is determined that the interrupt has not been processed within the period of time.
In a computer system having a central processing unit, a north bridge, a south bridge, random access memory, and a system basic input/output system (BIOS), hang detect circuitry being integrated into the south bridge for monitoring when an operating system enters a hang state, the hang detect circuitry comprising:
- interrupt logic for handling interrupts for the computer system and communicating the received interrupts to the central processing unit;
- hang detection logic for monitoring an interrupt pin and a period of time for which an interrupt to the operating system is asserted and determining when the hang state has occurred;
- and
- hang resolution logic for recovering the operating system from the hang state.
A method for detecting when an operating system enters a hang state, comprising:
- monitoring an interrupt pin for asserted interrupts to the operating system;
- and
- timing each interrupt to determine if the hang state has occurred.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.