Abnormality Detection Circuit for Bus Hang-Up Localization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional computer systems face inefficiencies in detecting and addressing hang-ups, as they often require full system initialization, which can be time-consuming and disrupt normal operations, especially when only specific modules are affected.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of abnormality detection circuits that monitor bus signals to detect hang-ups and generate signals for local reactivation of affected modules, preventing unnecessary full system initialization and allowing continuous operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a watchdog timer is used to detect hang-up and reset the system, then system reliability is improved, but system productivity deteriorates due to full system initialization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehang-up detection capabilityVSAvoidsystem recovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the system into multiple modules (master modules and slave modules) and implements separate abnormality detection circuits for each module. When a hang-up is detected, only the affected module is reset rather than the entire system, thus maintaining productivity while ensuring reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local reset capability to specific modules based on where the hang-up is detected. Each module has its own abnormality detection circuit that can independently trigger a reset signal for that specific module, allowing localized recovery without affecting other parts of the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If full system initialization is performed upon hang-up detection, then system reliability is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoidinitialization time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into independent modules with individual abnormality detection circuits. This segmentation allows the reset operation to be confined to the specific module experiencing the hang-up, avoiding time-consuming full system initialization while maintaining system stability through targeted recovery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If centralized watchdog timer is used for hang-up detection, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates in identifying affected modules

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection system structureVSAvoidhang-up location identification

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The centralized detection system is segmented into distributed abnormality detection circuits, with each circuit responsible for monitoring its specific module. This segmentation improves measurement precision by enabling accurate identification of which specific module experienced the hang-up, while the overall system structure remains relatively simple through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8700835B2Computer system and abnormality detection circuit

Publication Date: 2014.04.15 SOCIONEXT INC

AI summary

A computer system includes multiple modules that perform communication via a bus, and abnormality detection circuits that monitor signals on the bus related to communication between the modules to detect a hang-up, wherein each of the abnormality detection circuits is arranged to correspond to a part of the multiple modules, and, when detecting the hang-up, generates and outputs a signal instructing reactivation only of the corresponding module.