Failure Location Estimation via Dual-Route Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems face challenges in accurately estimating the failure causing location due to master abort conditions, such as link breakage of the PCI-Express bus, which prevents detailed failure analysis and often requires replacing all connected components.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a first and second processing unit, where the first unit obtains failure information via a first route and notifies the second unit of non-response, allowing the second unit to obtain failure information via a second route and estimate the failure location, which is then notified back to the first unit for identification and termination of the faulty component.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the first processing unit obtains failure information via the first route (PCI-Express bus), then the failure information can be obtained quickly, but the information cannot be obtained when master abort occurs due to link breakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of obtaining failure informationVSAvoidreliability of obtaining failure information

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a second processing unit as an intermediary that provides an alternative route (second route) for obtaining failure information when the first route (PCI-Express bus) fails due to master abort. The second processing unit can access device registers through a different pathway, ensuring that failure information can still be retrieved even when the primary communication path is broken.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by having the first processing unit attempt to obtain failure information through the first route before considering alternative methods. This hierarchical approach ensures that the faster method is used when available, while having a backup ready if the primary method fails.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If all components connected to the switches are replaced when master abort occurs, then the system can be restored to normal operation, but the system downtime and replacement cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem operational statusVSAvoidsystem downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of physically replacing all connected components with an information-based approach. By obtaining and analyzing failure information through the second processing unit via the second route, the system can identify the specific failed component through logical analysis rather than brute-force replacement of all components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback by obtaining failure information from device registers and analyzing it to determine the actual failure causing location. This feedback loop allows the system to make informed decisions about which specific component needs replacement rather than replacing all components blindly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If all components connected to the switches are replaced when master abort occurs, then the system can be restored to normal operation, but the replacement cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem operational statusVSAvoidcomponent replacement cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system obtains failure information through the second processing unit and analyzes it to identify the specific failed component. This feedback mechanism enables precise identification of the failure causing location, allowing replacement of only the necessary component rather than all connected components, thereby reducing replacement costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the costly mechanical approach of replacing all components with an information-based diagnostic system that can identify the specific failed component through register analysis, significantly reducing replacement costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8832501B2System and method of processing failure

Publication Date: 2014.09.09 FSAS TECH INC

AI summary

A system includes a first obtaining unit that, when a failure occurs in the system, obtains via a first route failure information held by devices connected with a first processing unit and a second processing unit, respectively through a first route and a second route, a second obtaining unit that obtains the failure information through the second route when the failure information is not able to be obtained by the first obtaining unit, a second failure location estimation unit that estimates a failure causing location based on the failure information obtained by the second obtaining unit, an identification unit that identifies a subject using the failure location estimated by the second failure location estimation unit, and a termination unit that terminates the subject identified by the identification unit.