Embedded Controller Captures Diagnostic Data During Forced Shutdown
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information handling systems face challenges in diagnosing crashes, especially when users force a shutdown, as this often results in a lack of logging information, making it difficult to determine the cause of the crash.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an embedded controller (EC) that captures diagnostic information during a forced power off event and transmits this information to the BIOS upon subsequent boot, allowing for analysis of the crash even when traditional logging methods are unavailable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the system creates crash dump or mini-dump files to record system state, then diagnostic information is captured, but the process requires noticeable time which users are unwilling to wait
Solution Approach 1:
The embedded controller continuously monitors system state and pre-captures diagnostic information in background before a crash occurs. When a crash happens, this pre-captured data is immediately available, eliminating the need for time-consuming post-crash dump creation while ensuring diagnostic information is preserved.
2Productivity
If the user forces the system to power off by holding the power button, then immediate shutdown is achieved, but logging information is not captured making crash diagnosis difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The embedded controller acts as an intermediary between the host system and power management. It continuously monitors system state independently of the host OS and captures diagnostic information directly from hardware registers and sensors. When a forced shutdown occurs, this intermediary has already preserved critical logging information that would otherwise be lost, enabling crash diagnosis even during rapid shutdowns.
3Loss of information
If traditional logging methods are used during forced shutdown, then diagnostic information may be captured, but the system requires the user to wait for crash dump creation
Solution Approach 1:
The embedded controller performs self-service by autonomously monitoring system state, capturing diagnostic information, and storing it in non-volatile memory without requiring host OS intervention or user waiting. It independently manages its own data collection and preservation functions, ensuring diagnostic information is ready immediately upon system reset or boot.
Data Source
AI summary
An information handling system may include a host system including at least one host processor and a basic input/output system (BIOS); and an embedded controller (EC) including an EC processor. In response to the information handling system receiving an instruction from a user to initiate a forced power off, the EC may be configured to: store diagnostic information indicating a state of the host system; and upon a subsequent boot of the host system, transmit information to the BIOS indicating the forced power off.