Controller Alarm Handling for Soft Error Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to effectively manage alarms caused by soft errors in semiconductor circuits, leading to unnecessary handling by administrators due to automatic recovery mechanisms that do not promptly inform users when handling is not required.
Innovation Solution
A controller system that collects data, detects anomalies likely caused by soft errors, executes appropriate actions, and notifies users with masked or permissioned alarms to reduce unnecessary handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an alarm is generated for every anomaly detected in processor modules or IOMs, then reliability of anomaly detection is improved, but unnecessary handling by administrators increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary evaluation mechanism that sits between anomaly detection and alarm generation. This intermediary assesses whether detected anomalies are actual failures or transient soft errors, and only triggers alarms for genuine failures. This resolves the contradiction by filtering out false positives while maintaining detection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service through automatic recovery mechanisms for soft errors. When transient errors are detected, the system automatically attempts recovery without administrator intervention, and only escalates to alarm generation when recovery fails. This reduces unnecessary handling while maintaining system reliability.
2Productivity
If automatic recovery mechanisms are implemented for soft errors, then productivity is improved by reducing manual intervention, but information loss occurs when users are not notified of errors requiring attention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously monitors recovery status and provides appropriate notifications to users. When automatic recovery succeeds, users are informed of the successful resolution. When recovery fails and alarm generation is triggered, users receive notification of the persistent error requiring attention. This resolves the information loss while maintaining high automation.
3Loss of information
If all alarms are notified to users, then loss of information is reduced by ensuring users know about all anomalies, but ease of operation deteriorates due to alarm fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the notification quality based on error type. For transient soft errors, minimal or no notification is provided since they are automatically recovered. For persistent failures requiring intervention, clear and specific notifications are sent. This selective notification approach reduces alarm fatigue while maintaining essential information communication.
Data Source
AI summary
A controller includes a processor configured to collect data from a device that is included in a system, detect an anomaly that has occurred in at least one of a processor module and an input output module based on the collected data, execute an action on an alarm that indicates the anomaly when the detected anomaly is likely to be caused by a soft error, and notify a user of the alarm on which the action is executed.