ECC Syndrome Marking for Previously Detected Uncorrectable Errors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing error correction and reporting systems in electronic and computing systems face challenges in effectively handling and reporting data errors, particularly uncorrectable errors, which can lead to multiple redundant error reports obscuring the root cause of the issue.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus utilizing a syndrome with a special pattern for error detection and correction, where newly generated check bits are inverted when an uncorrectable error is detected, allowing subsequent readers to identify previously reported errors and avoid re-reporting them, thereby facilitating efficient error handling and reporting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple components detect and report uncorrectable errors independently, then error detection capability is improved, but error reporting accuracy deteriorates due to redundant reports obscuring the root cause
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the special syndrome pattern in check bits) that mediates between multiple error detectors and the error reporting system. When the first detector finds an uncorrectable error, it embeds this information in the check bits using a special syndrome pattern. Subsequent detectors reading the same data can recognize this pattern and understand that an error has already been detected, preventing redundant reports while maintaining accurate error detection across multiple components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the result of error detection by one component is fed back to other components through the check bits. The special syndrome pattern acts as feedback information that tells subsequent detectors that an uncorrectable error has already been identified, allowing them to adjust their behavior and avoid generating duplicate error reports, thus improving overall error reporting accuracy
2Reliability
If standard error detection and correction methods are used, then error detection capability is maintained, but system complexity increases due to multiple error handling routines and shutdown procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the error reporting function from the complex chain of multiple error handling routines and shutdown procedures. By embedding error detection results directly in the check bits using special syndrome patterns, it removes the need for separate error reporting mechanisms and complex error handling logic in multiple components, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining error detection capability
Data Source
AI summary
An error detecting and correcting method and mechanism. An error correcting code for data is utilized wherein a special syndrome pattern is used to indicate corresponding data includes a previously detected uncorrectable error. In response to receiving data and corresponding first check bits from a storage device, new check bits corresponding to the read data are generated. Based upon the read check bits and newly generated check bits, a syndrome is generated. If an uncorrectable error is detected, the newly generated check bits are inverted prior to be stored. Subsequent readers of the stored data will generate a syndrome which corresponds to the predetermined pattern and determine that the data includes a previously detected uncorrectable error. Data including an error corresponding to an previously detected uncorrectable error may be discarded and no error reported.