Embedded Systems Report

[Bob Olsen <bobolsen@tao.ca>]

From: bob@internet2000-plc.com
To: uk-y2k-action@egroups.com
Date: Sat, 09 Jan 1999 14:32:28 -0000
Subject: [uk-y2k-action] Embedded Systems Report 21St December 1998 - UK 
Government

Visionaries IT Research   
Site http://internet2000-Plc.com 
Simple solutions for complex problems 
 encryption, data, MCDC, platform application, Year2000, UFT, SBT, MAS, MDS 
Research and Consultants.    
21 St Hilda Road, Cheriton, Kent, CT19 4BU.
Telephone +44 (0) 1303 276099
Email: bob@internet2000-Plc.com

Embedded Systems Report 21St December 1998

The Golden Rules.

1.  Embedded Systems or Chips that refer to a Date and Time Stamp
       
a.  They are normally backup by a secondary power  source so that the
    CMOS can be updated by the Real Time Clock readings

b.  They need a Electronic Key or Keyboard entry system to set the
    correct date and time

2.  Embedded Systems or Chips that do not refer to a date and time
    stamp.
   
a.  Contain programming tasks that do not use the functions of a Date
    and Time Stamp, just preset program routines.

b.  These are totally  unrelated to any date problem what so ever.    
     
Note some embedded system may refer to days of the week or time only
these are not secondary power backed and are used as counters only the
internal date year is all way reset to 1980.  The user can not set the
full date and time.


Y2K testing.

Any computerised equipment that uses a time and date selection can be
Millennium Compliant Benchmarked .

The Tester will require the Equipment manual to check how to set the
time and date..

Millennium Compliant Benchmark

Set the date to 31 December 1999 Set the time to 23:59

Wait 2 Minutes.

Switch Off

Wait 1 Minute

Switch On 

Check the Date Display to see if the Date reads 1st January 2000

If the Date reads 4th January 1980 then carry out the Millennium Ready
Benchmark

The Millennium Ready Bench Mark.

Any computerised equipment that uses time and date selection or
recording can be Millennium Ready benchmarked and tested for Century
Date Change Problems.

The Tester will require the Equipment manual to check how to set the
time and date..

The Millennium Ready Benchmark.

Set the date to 31 December 1999
Set the time to 23:59

Leave the equipment running for 25 Hours

Switch Off

Wait  1 minute

Switch On 

Check the Date Display to see if the Date reads 2nd  January 2000

If the Date Display reads 4th January 1980 or any other incorrect date
then the equipment will not function correctly within the 21st
Century.

Reset The Date and Time to today’s  current time and date.

Many other tests can be carried out including the year 2000 leap year
test. 


Visionaries IT Research suggests the following solutions to the
embedded system problem:

That computerised equipment that prove to be just Millennium Ready
status be treaded in the following manner:

If used for any public safety reason, the equipment should be renewed
or upgraded.

If the computerised equipment is essential to the financial stability
of any organisation renew or upgrade.

If the computerised equipment is used to maintain a public utility,
power, gas, fuel, water , sewage etc, then renew and upgrade.

If used for non safety purposes if permanently powered to have the
time or date reset at the earliest opportunity within the first few
days of the 21st Century.

If  switch off over the holiday break at the end of 1999 then reset
the current date first time used within the 21st Century.

Any abnormalities to the standard logic should be listed at a public
access point, Internet,  Y2K Hotline or a well monitored Y2K
Information center.


------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the absolute lowest price on software visit:
http://www.bottomdollar.com/egroups/

eGroup home: http://www.eGroups.com/list/uk-y2k-action
Free Web-based e-mail groups by eGroups.com



   .............................................
   Bob Olsen, Toronto            bobolsen@tao.ca
   .............................................