Firmware Error Handler for Centralized Data Processing System
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Solution Overview
Problem
In complex data processing systems, existing error management techniques rely on OS-based agents for error monitoring, which can lead to incomplete error reporting and require manual intervention by field service personnel due to resource sharing and dynamic resource allocation, making it challenging to effectively manage and correct errors in a centralized manner.
Innovation Solution
A data processing system with a centralized error management architecture that includes firmware error handlers and a separate error manager to collect, analyze, and report errors independently of the operating system, correlating disparate errors into a global view and enabling self-healing actions without OS intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If OS-based agents are used for error monitoring, then error detection capability is provided, but error reporting completeness deteriorates due to resource sharing and dynamic allocation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the error monitoring function into two separate components: OS-based agents for real-time error detection and a firmware-based error manager for centralized error collection and analysis. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its strength while overcoming the limitations of the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The firmware error manager acts as an intermediary between the hardware error sources and the OS-based agents. It collects errors directly from hardware components and makes them available to the OS without requiring OS intervention, thus preserving error information that would otherwise be lost due to resource sharing.
2Loss of information
If centralized error management is implemented, then error analysis completeness is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The firmware error manager is designed as a universal error management component that handles multiple error types from various hardware sources through a unified interface. It provides centralized error collection, analysis, and reporting capabilities that work across different OS instances and resource configurations, reducing the need for separate error management mechanisms.
3Measurement precision
If manual intervention by field service personnel is required, then detailed error analysis can be performed, but system downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The firmware error manager performs preliminary error collection, classification, and analysis before field service personnel arrive. It pre-processes error information, correlates errors across multiple sources, and prepares diagnostic data in advance, so that when technicians do intervene, they can immediately access comprehensive error analysis results rather than starting from scratch.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where the firmware error manager monitors hardware errors, analyzes patterns, and provides real-time status updates. This automated feedback mechanism enables the system to self-diagnose and alert appropriate personnel, reducing the need for manual monitoring and minimizing response time.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of managing errors in a data processing system (10) may involve at least one computer system (14). Each computer system (14) may include a plurality of hardware components (18), including a processor (20) for executing a respective operating system and a memory (22) for storing instructions for the respective operating system (24), and firmware (28) including a firmware error handler (30). For each computer system (14), the firmware error handler (30) may identify an error occurring in one of the hardware components (18). Each respective firmware error handler (30) may communicate error information about the identified error to an error manager (32) external of the computer system (14). The error manager (14) may compile the error information communicated from each respective firmware error handler (30).