Circuit for monitoring the usage of components within a computer system

摘要

A usage monitor circuit monitors the amount of use of various components within a computer system. The circuit includes a plurality of timers and counters that are respectively coupled to the various components to be monitored such that the counters record the number of times the components are activated and the timers record the cumulative times the components are activated. The usage monitor circuit also includes a tamper protection unit that indicates whether the circuit has been tampered with.