Communication Control Apparatus Buffer Check Software Reset
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Solution Overview
Problem
Systems without mechanisms to detect communication errors between ICs face challenges in handling errors effectively, leading to prolonged system disruptions and user inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
A communication control apparatus that includes a controller to check if data is saved in a reception buffer after transmission and initiates a software reset if abnormality is detected, thereby avoiding hardware resets and minimizing system downtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mechanism for detecting communication errors is not mounted in the system, then data transfer between ICs can be executed easily and system complexity is reduced, but communication errors cannot be detected and handled effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The controller checks the reception buffer status after data transmission to get feedback on whether the data was successfully received. This feedback mechanism enables the system to detect communication errors without requiring complex error detection mechanisms in the communication path itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing reception buffer status information to detect communication errors. Instead of adding separate error detection hardware, the system leverages the buffer's natural state (whether it contains data or not) to determine if an error occurred during transmission.
2Device complexity
If communication errors are not detected early, then system complexity remains low, but system disruption duration increases and user convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs a preliminary check of the reception buffer status immediately after data transmission to detect errors early. This preliminary detection action prevents prolonged system disruption by identifying and handling errors before they cause extended outages.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where the controller continuously monitors the reception buffer status to detect communication errors as they occur. This early feedback enables timely error handling and minimizes system disruption duration.
3Reliability
If hardware reset is used to handle communication errors, then system reliability is restored, but system downtime increases and user convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a software-based error handling approach that is faster and less intrusive than hardware resets. By using the reception buffer status as a disposable check mechanism, the system can quickly detect and handle errors without the time-consuming hardware reset process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/hardware reset approach with a software-based error detection and handling mechanism. The controller uses software logic to check buffer status and manage errors, eliminating the need for physical hardware resets and reducing system downtime.
Data Source
AI summary
The communication control apparatus includes a communication apparatus and a controller. The communication apparatus saves received data in a reception buffer, executes transfer of the received data to a transfer destination buffer from the reception buffer, erases the transferred data from the reception buffer, and interrupts the transfer upon detecting abnormality. The controller transmits data or a command to the communication apparatus. The controller checks whether the data are saved in the reception buffer after transmitting the data to the control apparatus, and transmits a command for causing the communication apparatus to execute a software reset when at least some proportion of the data are saved.