The Draft Embedded System Report - Benchmark to rid the myths

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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

This is the first Amendment

This is the Draft report that is under Y2K Internet Analyst debate today the final report will be released within the next 72 hours.

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 todays 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.

-- Bob Johnson-Perkins (Bob@Internet2000-Plc.com), December 24, 1998


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