Event Processor Timing and Anomaly Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processor management systems face challenges in accurately measuring and reporting timing for tasks in safety-critical applications, as software-based timing approaches lack visibility into lower-level processing resources and can be inaccurate and burdensome, while hardware-based timing is inflexible and limited.
Innovation Solution
A system with configurable event processors that route signals for timing and control counters and timers, allowing for localized, real-time detection of events and anomalies, reducing latency and CPU overhead by using dedicated event buses for anomaly detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If software-based timing approaches are used to monitor processor tasks, then system flexibility and ease of implementation are improved, but measurement precision and timing accuracy deteriorate due to lack of visibility into lower-level processing resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces event processors as intermediary hardware components between the software supervisor and the actual processing resources. These event processors collect timing data directly from hardware events (interrupts, memory accesses, I/O operations) and provide accurate timing information to the software, thereby maintaining software flexibility while achieving hardware-level measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces software-based timing mechanisms with hardware-based event processing. Instead of relying on software polling or interrupt-driven timing which lack precision, the system uses dedicated hardware event processors that capture timing data directly from processing events, substituting the software timing mechanism with a more precise hardware-based approach.
2Adaptability or versatility
If software-based timing approaches are used, then system adaptability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to CPU overhead from collecting and analyzing processor data
Solution Approach 1:
The event processors are designed to autonomously collect, process, and analyze timing data without requiring CPU intervention. The hardware event processors self-manage the data collection from processing events and generate timing reports, thereby maintaining system adaptability while eliminating the CPU overhead associated with software-based data collection and analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The event processors serve as intermediaries that handle the burden of data collection and analysis, freeing the CPU from these tasks. The supervisor software can focus on high-level decision-making while the event processors manage the detailed timing data collection, thus improving CPU efficiency while preserving system adaptability.
3Measurement precision
If hardware-based timing is used to achieve accurate measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and inflexibility increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the timing measurement function into separate event processor modules, each dedicated to specific types of events (interrupts, memory accesses, I/O operations). This segmentation allows the system to achieve hardware-level measurement precision for specific events while keeping the overall system complexity manageable through modular design and selective deployment of event processors only where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies hardware-based event processing locally at specific processing resources where precise timing measurement is critical, rather than implementing a comprehensive hardware timing system throughout the entire processor. This localized approach achieves measurement precision where needed while minimizing overall device complexity.
4Reliability
If comprehensive processor monitoring is implemented to detect errors, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases due to latency in error detection and response
Solution Approach 1:
The event processors continuously monitor processing events and pre-calculate timing data in real-time as events occur, rather than waiting for software to periodically check status. This preliminary action ensures that when an error condition is detected, the timing information is already available immediately, thereby improving reliability through continuous monitoring while minimizing error detection latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces software-based error detection with hardware-based event processing that operates in real-time. The event processors detect errors and generate interrupts immediately when anomalous timing patterns are detected, eliminating the latency inherent in software polling or periodic checking, thus improving both reliability and reducing time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture for an example event processor are disclosed to retrieve an input event and an input event timestamp corresponding to the input event, generate an output event based on the input event and the input event timestamp, in response to determination that an input event threshold is exceeded within a threshold of time, and an anomaly detector to retrieve the output event, determine whether the output event indicates threat to functional safety of a system on a chip, and in response to determining the output event indicates threat to functional safety of the system on a chip, adapt a process for the system on a chip to preserve functional safety.