Distributed ECC Syndrome Exchange for Low-Pin Error Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing error detection and correction methods using ECC in information processing systems face challenges with increased production costs due to the need for more pins in ECC processing apparatuses and reliability issues with data transmission, especially when handling high-level data processing and diverse error detection across multiple ECC processing apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A control method and apparatus that enables multiple data processing units to exchange partial syndromes and renewal information through information exchange paths, allowing for the generation of a true syndrome and enabling high-level data processing, such as partial data merge, and diverse error detection and correction, equivalent to a single processing apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If one ECC processing apparatus processes a unit of error check, then error detection and correction can be performed, but the number of pins must be increased according to data size, leading to increased production cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the error check unit into multiple parts, with each ECC processing apparatus handling a portion. Multiple apparatuses share the processing load by exchanging partial syndromes, eliminating the need for a single apparatus to handle the entire data width with proportionally more pins.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple ECC processing apparatuses to work together on a single error check unit. By merging their partial syndrome processing capabilities and exchanging information through information exchange paths, they achieve the functionality of a larger apparatus without requiring increased pin count in individual units.
2Device complexity
If data is transmitted by folding itself to handle large data size, then transmission can occur through existing pins, but a one-bit failure in pin or data transmission path multiplies to a plural-bit failure, causing reliability problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transmission into separate paths for different parts of the error check unit. Each ECC processing apparatus receives and processes its designated portion directly without folding, so a failure in one transmission path affects only that portion rather than multiplying errors across the entire data unit.
3Device complexity
If multiple ECC processing apparatuses share the error check unit with partial error check, then pin count is reduced, but processing apparatuses in upper echelon are required to achieve final error check and correction, reducing ability to perform high level data processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the error check and correction capabilities within each ECC processing apparatus by providing them with both syndrome generation means and syndrome-based correction means. This eliminates the need for upper echelon apparatuses to perform final correction, enabling each apparatus to independently perform high-level data processing on its processed data.
4Productivity
If partial syndrome exchange is used between multiple ECC processing apparatuses, then error check can be distributed, but diverse error detection and correction processing corresponding to different error categories cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines syndrome generation means and syndrome-based correction means within each ECC processing apparatus. This enables each apparatus to not only exchange partial syndromes for distributed processing but also to independently perform diverse error detection and correction operations based on its generated syndrome, supporting multiple error correction codes and diverse error categories.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a control method for an error detection & correction apparatus, comprising a plurality of data processing apparatuses which reside in a data communications path and partake in exchanging data by the unit of error correcting code, and a plurality of information exchange paths which are installed between the plurality of data processing apparatuses; and generating a true syndrome by exchanging a partial syndrome relating to a part of the data partaken by each of the data processing apparatuses by way of the information exchange paths, comprising the step of exchanging renewal information relating to a part of the data partaken by each of the data processing apparatuses with the other data processing apparatus by way of the information exchange path.