Abstract:
An error reporting method is used for reporting errors in testing a computer system. The error reporting method includes the following steps: testing the computer system to find errors; generating an error code corresponding to a specific error during the test; and displaying the error code. An error reporting system being used for reporting errors in testing a computer system is also disclosed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to error reporting methods and systems, and more particularly to an error reporting method and system for reporting errors during a start-up of a computer. 
   DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
   Computers such as desktop computers, portable computers, are widely used to process information. A general computer includes many hardware components, such as a main board, a central processing unit (CPU), an enhanced graphics adaptor (EGA) card, and a read only memory (ROM), including many software components, such as an operating system and a basic input/output system (BIOS). The basic input/output system is one of the more important programs and is stored in the read only memory. 
   When the computer is powered up, the basic input/output system will test the working states of the hardware components by a power on self-test. After the power on self-test, if no error is found, the operating system will be loaded. Whereas, if any errors are found, the computer will generate warning signals to report the errors. 
   A general error reporting method of the computer is done by using various warning sounds generated by a speaker that is mounted on the mainboard, to indicate the errors from the various components. For instance, a sound with a long beep may indicate an error from the ROM, while another sound with a long beep and two short beeps may indicate an error from the enhanced graphics adaptor (EGA) card. 
   The aforementioned error reporting method is widely used in computers at present. However, in practice, the warning sounds can&#39;t be clearly heard especially when the computer is located in a noisy environment. 
   Therefore, an error reporting method and an error reporting system for a computer system is desired in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An error reporting method is used for reporting errors in testing a computer system. The error reporting method includes the following steps: testing the computer system to find errors; generating a error code corresponding to a specific error during the test; and displaying the error code. 
   Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present error reporting method and the error reporting system will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present device, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     Many aspects of the present error reporting method and system can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a computer system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the computer system including an error reporting system; 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the error reporting system of  FIG. 1 , the error reporting system including a displaying module; 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of the displaying module of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a chart showing relationships between errors of the computer and states of the displaying module; 
       FIG. 5  is a chart showing relationships between error codes and the states of the displaying module; 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating an error reporting method in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe preferred embodiments of the present error reporting system and method. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a computer system  2  includes a plurality of hardware components, such as a central processing unit (CPU)  21 , a north bridge  22 , a memory  23 , an enhanced graphics adaptor (EGA)  24 , and a south bridge  25 . The north bridge  22  is electronically connected to the central processing unit  21 , the memory  23 , and the enhanced graphics adaptor  24 . The central processing unit  21  is used to access the memory  23  and control the enhanced graphics adaptor  24  via the north bridge  22 . The north bridge  22  is used to transmit information and commands between the central processing unit  21  and other components such as the memory  23  and the enhanced graphics adaptor  24 . An error reporting system  3  is used in the computer system  2  for testing and reporting errors from the hardware components during a power on self-test. The error reporting system  3  communicates with the north bridge  22  via the south bridge  25 . 
   Referring also to  FIG.2 , the error reporting system  3  includes a basic input/output system  32 , a display controlling module  34 , and a displaying module  36 . The basic input/output system  32  includes a power on self-test module  322  for starting up the power on self-test of the computer system  2 , and an error reporting module  324  for generating error codes corresponding to specific errors found during the power on self-test. The display controlling module  34  is used for activating the displaying module  36  to display the error codes. 
   After the computer system  2  is powered up, the power on self-test module  322  starts up the power on self-test of the computer system  2 , so as to test states of the hardware components such as the central processing unit  21 , the memory  23 , and the enhanced graphics adaptor  24 . If an error is found during the test, the power on self-test module  322  transmits this error to the error reporting module  324 . The error reporting module  324  generates an error code and a display command based on the specific error found by the power on self-test module  322 , and transmits the error code and the display command to the display controlling module  34 . The display controlling module  34  activates the displaying module  36  to display the error code in response to the display command. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the displaying module  360  includes a plurality of indicators such as a first indicator  362 , a second indicator  364  and a third indicator  366 . Each indicator  362 ,  364  and  366  has a light-on state and a light-off state. The light-on state further includes a quick-twinkle state and a slow-twinkle state. The light-on state can be combined with one of the two twinkle states. Therefore, by permutation and combination, the displaying module  360  may have up to fifteen states. However, when all indicators  362 ,  364  and  366  stay in the light-off state, the display module  360  stay in the light-off state and there is no error in the test. So fourteen states are used to indicate the errors codes. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , a 8421 binary coded decimal (BCD) error code including eight bits is used to indicate a corresponding error. In the error code, a Bit 4  is used to represent the twinkle states, a Bit 2  is used to represent the first indicator  362 , a Bit 1  is used to represent the second indicator  364 , a Bit 0  is used to represent the third indicator  366 , and the other four Bits are set to “0”. For the bit 4 , the quick-twinkle state of the displaying module  36  is set to “0”, while the slow-twinkle state of the displaying module  36  is set to “1”. For the bits  0 ,  1 , and  2 , the light-on state of each indicator is set to “1” while the light-off state is set to “0”. Therefore, each specific error corresponds to a corresponding 8421 BCD error code. Furthermore, the 8421 BCD error code can be converted into a simpler hex error code. For instance, if only the third indicator  366  gets into the slow-twinkle state, the 8421 BCD error code is “00010001” and its corresponding hex error code is “0x11”; the specific error is “Cache Initiation Fail”. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , a state of the displaying module  360  can indicate a corresponding 8421 BCD error code or a corresponding hex error code. For example, if the displaying module  36  gets into the quick-twinkle state, the first indicator  362  gets into the light-off state, the second indicator  364  gets into the light-off state, and the third indicator  366  gets into the light-on state, then the state of the displaying module  360  can indicate an 8421 BCD error code “00000001”, and may also indicate an hex error code “0x01”. Thus, the fourteen states of displaying module  360  can indicate fourteen specific 8421 error codes or fourteen hex error codes. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  6 , an error reporting procedure of an error reporting method for the computer system  2  is illustrated. To begin with, the displaying module  36  is set to an initial state with all indicators being in the light-off states. Firstly, in step  41 , the computer system  2  is powered up. Then in step  42 , the error reporting system  3  performs the power on self-test. In step  43 , a determination is made to determine whether a specific error occurs during the power on self-test. In step  44 , if an error occurs, an error reporting module  324  generates an error code corresponding to a specific error, and sends the error code to the display controlling module  34 . In step  45 , the error reporting module  324  also generates a display command and sends the display command to the display controlling module  34 . In step  46 , a displaying module  36  is activated to display the error code by the controlling module  34 . In step  47 , if no error occurs, the displaying module  36  stays remains in the initial state. 
   The error reporting system  3  and the error reporting method employs the displaying module  36  to display the error codes. Therefore, the error reporting system  3  and the error reporting method can be used in any environments. 
   It should be emphasized that the above-described preferred embodiment, is merely a possible example of implementation of the principles of the invention, and is merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and be protected by the following claims.