Compressed Replay Buffer for Data Bus Error Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic systems require large, uncompressed replay buffers to handle error corrections in data bus communications, leading to inefficiencies due to many 'dead cycles' and increased buffer size, especially when a significant number of commands need to be replayed.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a compressed replay buffer that stores commands and associated timings, allowing for efficient retransmission of commands by using command types and timing values to manage 'dead cycles' and reduce buffer size, thereby optimizing data bus communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an uncompressed replay buffer is used to store commands for error correction, then reliability is maintained, but the buffer size increases and dead cycles are not minimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential command information (command type and address) from the full command sequence, storing only these critical elements in the replay buffer rather than complete commands. This reduces buffer size while maintaining the ability to replay commands for error correction.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of storing complete commands in uncompressed form, the patent inverts the approach by storing compressed command representations and reconstructing full commands during replay using stored timing information and command protocols, thereby reducing buffer occupancy.
2Reliability
If an uncompressed replay buffer is used to store commands for error correction, then reliability is maintained, but dead cycles during replay increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary compression of command sequences before storage, organizing commands in a compact format that eliminates dead cycles. During replay, the compressed format allows continuous command transmission without idle periods, reducing time loss while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the representation parameters of stored commands from full uncompressed command sequences to compressed formats containing only essential information (command type, address, timing). This parameter transformation enables more efficient replay with minimized dead cycles.
3Volume of stationary object
If a compressed replay buffer is implemented to reduce buffer size, then buffer volume is reduced, but complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the replay buffer functionality into distinct components: compression logic that divides commands into essential elements (command type, address), storage structure for compressed data, and reconstruction logic for replay. This segmentation manages complexity by organizing functions into modular units.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressed replay buffer structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it compresses command data for compact storage, stores timing information for synchronization, and enables replay with dead cycle minimization. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating operations into a single buffer structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A compressed replay buffer in a first electronic unit of an electronic system holds commands in a table. As commands are transmitted from the first electronic unit to a second electronic unit, the command, along with associated data, command type, and the like are stored in a row in the table. No rows in the table contain “dead cycles” to indicate that no command was sent on a particular cycle on a bus over which the commands were transmitted. The second electronic unit may request that the first electronic unit replay some number of commands. In response, the first electronic unit uses commands in the compressed replay buffer, along with required timings stored on the first electronic unit, to replay the number of commands requested.