Hardware Emulator for Debugging Image Processing Control Collisions
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image processing apparatuses like MFPs, debugging application programs that control hardware resources is challenging due to short response times and high error occurrence probabilities, making it difficult to identify and resolve control collisions between multiple application programs.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus with a hardware processor that includes a host controller, a guest controller, an emulator, and a changer, allowing the guest controller to control hardware resources through a device emulator and switching between direct control of the hardware and emulator control, facilitating debugging by modifying HDL programs and adding commands for delay, parameter, and variable checks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If execution time is shortened to increase error occurrence probability, then debugging capability is improved, but response time becomes too short to capture errors
Solution Approach 1:
An emulator is introduced as an intermediary between the guest controller and hardware resource. The emulator receives control signals from the guest controller, emulates the hardware resource's behavior including response delays, and returns simulated responses. This allows the system to maintain short execution cycles while still observing complete control-response sequences, thereby increasing error occurrence probability without sacrificing response time visibility.
2Measurement precision
If programmable hardware component is configured to accept response delay, then debugging accuracy is improved, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of configuring expensive programmable hardware components to accept response delays, the patent creates a software-based emulator that copies the hardware resource's behavior. The emulator reads the HDL program describing the hardware resource and simulates its operation including timing characteristics, providing the same debugging accuracy at minimal cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the need for specially configured programmable hardware with a software emulation system. The emulator executes HDL program interpretation in software, substituting the need for hardware configured to accept delays, thereby achieving the same effect at lower cost and complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple application programs control one hardware resource, then functionality is improved, but control collision errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The emulator serves as a mediator between multiple application programs and the hardware resource. Each application program sends control signals to the emulator, which manages the emulation of hardware resource access. This allows multiple programs to operate concurrently with proper coordination, maintaining functionality while reducing control collision errors through centralized management of hardware access.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus includes a host controller that controls a hardware resource, a guest controller, an emulator that is provided between the host controller and the guest controller and allows the guest controller to control the hardware resource, and a changer that changes an HDL program, wherein the guest controller includes a guest driver, the emulator includes a device emulator that emulates the hardware resource by executing the changed HDL program, and a switcher that switches control to any one of a first control for controlling the host controller in accordance with control of the hardware resource by the guest driver and allowing the hardware resource to be controlled, and a second control for controlling the device emulator in accordance with the control of the hardware resource by the guest driver.