Boot Data Segment Verification for Bit-Flip Recovery

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Storage circuits prone to bit-flip errors cause incorrect boot data, leading to failed boot procedures, and existing solutions like ECC-based processor circuits or storage circuits are costly and space-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A processor circuit reads and verifies segments and sub-segments of boot data using hash values to ensure correctness, allowing for successful boot execution without large memory occupation or high costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ECC-based processor circuits or storage circuits are used to prevent bit-flip errors, then boot data reliability is improved, but device cost and area increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveboot data correctnessVSAvoidarea and cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The boot data is divided into multiple segments, with each segment containing a specific number of bits. The processor circuit reads and verifies segments sequentially, allowing early detection of bit-flip errors without needing to protect the entire boot data with complex ECC mechanisms, thus reducing overall device complexity and area while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary verification of boot data segments during the boot process by reading and checking hash values before full execution. This preliminary action detects bit-flip errors early, preventing the need for expensive post-error correction mechanisms and reducing the required protection overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If boot data is stored in storage circuit without verification, then device area is reduced, but boot procedure fails when bit-flip occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveareaVSAvoidboot procedure success

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The processor circuit performs preliminary reading and verification of boot data segments with hash value comparison before executing the boot procedure. This preliminary verification ensures boot data correctness without requiring large redundant storage space, achieving both area efficiency and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Hash values serve as intermediaries between the stored boot data and the verification process. The processor circuit compares calculated hash values with stored hash values to verify boot data correctness, enabling reliable verification without directly storing or processing large amounts of redundant boot data, thus maintaining area efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12554584B2Boot data reading system, boot data reading method, and processor circuit

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 REALTEK SEMICON CORP

AI summary

A boot data reading system includes a storage circuit and a processor circuit. The storage circuit is configured to store first boot data and second boot data. The first boot data includes a first segment and a second segment. The second boot data includes a third segment, and the third segment corresponds to the first segment. The processor circuit is coupled to the storage circuit. The processor circuit reads the first segment and determines whether the first segment is correct or not. When the first segment is correct, the processor circuit reads the second segment and determines whether the second segment is correct or not. When the first segment is incorrect, the processor circuit reads the third segment and determines whether the third segment is correct or not.