IC Interconnection Network Fault Detection via Local Digest Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated circuits face challenges in detecting faults within interconnection networks, particularly in environments requiring functional safety, where data transmission faults can lead to incorrect data delivery or misrouting, which existing technologies fail to address effectively.
Innovation Solution
An interconnection network with digest generation circuitry to create upstream and downstream digests for data blocks, and fault detection circuitry that compares these digests to detect faults by identifying discrepancies, allowing for timely action to mitigate fault impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fault detection circuitry is provided locally at upstream location, then fault detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fault detection system is segmented into distributed digest generation units at each node and a centralized fault detection circuit at the upstream location. Each node independently generates digests for its transmitted data blocks, which are then collected and compared at the upstream location. This segmentation allows fault detection capability to be improved while distributing the complexity across multiple simple components rather than concentrating it in a single complex unit.
Solution Approach 2:
Digests serve as intermediaries between the distributed data transmission nodes and the centralized fault detection circuit. Instead of requiring direct complex interaction between all nodes and the fault detection system, the digest generation units create simplified representations (intermediaries) of the transmitted data that can be easily collected, stored, and compared at the upstream location, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining fault detection capability.
2Measurement precision
If digests are generated at both upstream and downstream locations, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Digests are generated in advance at both upstream and downstream locations before the actual fault detection comparison is needed. The upstream digest is generated when the data block leaves the upstream node, and the downstream digest is generated when the data block arrives at the downstream node. This preliminary generation of digests allows for precise fault detection comparison without time-critical processing delays during the actual fault detection operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of transmitting and comparing entire data blocks between upstream and downstream locations, the system creates compact copies (digests) of the data blocks at both locations. These digests are simplified representations that capture the essential characteristics of the original data for comparison purposes. This copying approach maintains measurement precision for fault detection while significantly reducing the time and resources required for the comparison operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An interconnection network is provided for managing data transfer between a plurality of nodes of an integrated circuit. The interconnection network has at least one transmission path originating from an upstream location of the interconnection network, each transmission path being arranged to transmit data blocks from the upstream location to an associated downstream location within that transmission path. Digest generation circuitry is used to generate digests for data blocks, and fault detection circuitry provided in association with the upstream location is arranged to determine presence of a fault condition in the interconnection network. The digest generation circuitry is arranged to generate an upstream digest for a given data block at the upstream location, and to generate a corresponding downstream digest for the given data block at the associated downstream location. The fault detection circuitry is arranged to receive upstream digests from the upstream location and corresponding downstream digests received via a return path from each downstream location, and to determine presence of the fault condition based on a comparison of each upstream digest with its corresponding downstream digest.