Embedded Event Descriptor Database for IC Utility Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ASICs and SoCs require firmware updates to external utilities for maintaining compatibility, leading to potential performance or function loss if compatibility is not maintained.

Innovation Solution

An IC device embeds an event descriptor database that stores event descriptors for managing device interactions, allowing a utility application to generate user interfaces without requiring updates to its logic, thus supporting various management functions across different devices and versions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If firmware updates are applied to IC devices, then device functionality and performance are improved, but compatibility with external utilities may be lost requiring utility updates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidutility compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the device information into two parts: static utility interface logic and dynamic event descriptor database. The event descriptor database is updated with firmware versions while the utility application logic remains unchanged, resolving the contradiction between device functionality improvement and utility compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The event descriptor database acts as an intermediary layer between the IC device and the utility application. It translates device-specific firmware changes into a standardized format that the utility can interpret without requiring updates to its core logic, maintaining compatibility while enabling functionality improvements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If external utilities are updated to maintain compatibility with new firmware, then compatibility is maintained, but system complexity and update overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveutility compatibilityVSAvoidsystem update overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The IC device autonomously maintains its own event descriptor database that describes its capabilities and interfaces. This self-service approach allows the device to adapt to firmware updates without requiring corresponding updates to external utilities, reducing system complexity and update overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If utility application logic is updated for each device version, then device support is maintained, but development time and maintenance effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice supportVSAvoiddevelopment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The utility application is designed with universal logic that can work with multiple IC device versions through the standardized event descriptor database interface. A single utility application can support multiple device types and firmware versions by reading their respective event descriptors, eliminating the need for version-specific utility updates and reducing development time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12498918B2Device management system with embedded management operation database

Publication Date: 2025.12.16 RAMBUS INC

AI summary

An IC device stores an event descriptor database that includes an event descriptor set describing a set of events relating to management of the IC device. The IC device sends the event descriptor set to a utility application that generates a user interface based on the event descriptor set. In response to interactions with the user interface, the utility application sends controls and/or receives data from the IC device relating to the events. The event descriptor set may be updated to cause the utility application to generate an updated user interface for the IC device without requiring any update to the utility application logic.