Appeal No. 96-3850
Application No. 08/253,480
to the completion of the microprocessor's power-on self-test
program. The system uses a diagnostic interrupt vector table
set in a read/writable memory formed on the same semiconductor
chip as the microprocessor. Claim 1 is illustrative of the
claimed invention, and reads as follows:
1. A system for testing a plurality of hardware
interrupt service routines for a microprocessor prior to
the completion of a power-on, self-test (POST) program
for the microprocessor, set in a read-only memory (ROM)
of the microprocessor, the system incorporating a
read/writable memory formed in the same semiconductor
chip as the microprocessor and ordinarily inoperative
during the POST, the system comprising:
(a) a diagnostic interrupt vector table set in the
read/writable memory, the table comprising a plurality of
interrupt vectors corresponding to a plurality of
hardware interrupt routines, and a physical address for
each of the interrupt vectors corresponding to the
address of a diagnostic interrupt service routine for
that interrupt vector;
(b) means for selecting one of a plurality of
devices and for causing the selected device to initiate
an interrupt signal;
(c) circuitry for transmitting the interrupt signal
to the microprocessor for recognition and storage of the
interrupt signal;
(d) means for accessing the read/writable memory for
the interrupt signal and reading out the corresponding
physical address; and
(e) means for performing the diagnostic interrupt
service routine.
2
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