State/activity indication using icons on an LCD

Abstract

An LCD display provides language-independent icons for identifying state and/or activity information about a processor-based system. The LCD display includes a distinct portion for connoting different functional aspects of the system. Icons identifying the power-on state, disk activity, LAN activity, WAN activity, and sensor conditions are supplied.

1 - 14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . A method comprising: 
 executing a power-on routine;    identifying a portion of the power-on routine with a state;    retrieving an icon from a memory to represent the state; and    sending the icon to a display coupled to a headless server system.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 identifying a second portion of the power-on routine with a second state;    retrieving a second icon from the memory to represent the second state; and    sending the second icon to the display.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein sending the icon to the display comprises sending the icon through a display controller of the headless server system to the display, wherein the display is included in the headless server system.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising sending the icon to the display before the headless server system has established network access.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising sending the icon to an icon region of the display corresponding to the icon.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising using a basic input/output system function to send the icon to the display.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein sending the icon to the display comprises sending the icon to a liquid crystal display.  
   
   
       22 . A system comprising: 
 a processor;    a memory coupled to the processor; and    a medium coupled to the processor including instructions that, when executed enable the system to: 
 execute a power-on routine;  
 identify a portion of the power-on routine with a state;  
 retrieve an icon from the memory to represent the state; and  
 send the icon to a display of the system, wherein the system comprises a headless server.  
   
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the instructions, when executed enable the system to: 
 identify a second portion of the power-on routine with a second state;    retrieve a second icon from the memory to represent the second state; and    send the second icon to the display.    
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the instructions, when executed enable the system to send the icon through a display controller of the headless server to the display.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the instructions, when executed enable the system to send a message to the display before the headless server has established network access.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the instructions, when executed enable the system to use a basic input/output system function to send the icon to the display.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the display comprises a liquid crystal display.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the liquid crystal display includes a first region to display a plurality of icons and a second region to display message information.  
   
   
       29 . An article comprising a machine-accessible medium including instructions that enable a system to: 
 execute a power-on routine;    identify a portion of the power-on routine with a state;    retrieve an icon from a memory to represent the state; and    send the icon to a display physically located with the system, wherein the system comprises a headless server.    
   
   
       30 . The article of  claim 29 , further storing instructions that enable the system to: 
 identify a second portion of the power-on routine with a second state;    retrieve a second icon from the memory to represent the second state; and    send the second icon to the display.    
   
   
       31 . The article of  claim 29 , wherein the instructions further enable the system to send the icon through a display controller of the headless server to the display.  
   
   
       32 . The article of  claim 29 , wherein the instructions further enable the system to send a message to the display.  
   
   
       33 . The article of  claim 29 , wherein the instructions further enable the system to send the icon to an icon region of the display corresponding to the icon.  
   
   
       34 . The article of  claim 29 , wherein the instructions further enable the system to use a basic input/output system function to send the icon to the display.