Programmable IC Metadata Transfer for Troubleshooting
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Solution Overview
Problem
In programmable integrated circuits (ICs), the lack of accessible metadata for circuit designs complicates troubleshooting and reconfiguration, as original design information is often unavailable to maintenance personnel, and there is no guarantee that the implemented design matches the original configuration during troubleshooting.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that load a first configuration bitstream with metadata into an IC, allowing detection of a configuration bitstream load condition to initiate loading of a second configuration bitstream, which includes the circuit design, enabling the host device to access and utilize the metadata for troubleshooting and potential updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If configuration data is stored on-chip in non-volatile memory, then the circuit design is preserved, but the metadata becomes inaccessible to maintenance personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the configuration data into two distinct parts: circuit design data stored in non-volatile memory for preservation, and metadata stored in volatile memory for accessibility. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to access metadata while preserving the circuit design, resolving the contradiction between reliability and information availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces metadata as an intermediary layer between the circuit design and maintenance personnel. This metadata layer contains descriptive information about the circuit design that can be accessed and transmitted to maintenance personnel, serving as a bridge that provides information without compromising the original circuit design storage.
2Ease of manufacture
If no metadata is provided with the configuration bitstream, then the IC can be programmed, but troubleshooting becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by attaching metadata to the configuration bitstream before loading it into the IC. This metadata is prepared and included in advance, so that when the IC is programmed, the necessary information for troubleshooting is already available, eliminating the need for separate metadata retrieval steps during maintenance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If configuration data is stored externally in PROM, then the IC can be reconfigured, but the design information is not available for troubleshooting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the metadata component from the configuration process and makes it separately accessible. By taking out the metadata as a distinct element that can be read and transmitted, the system maintains reconfiguration capability while ensuring design information is available for troubleshooting, as the metadata can be extracted and provided to maintenance personnel independently.
Data Source
AI summary
Pre-boot metadata transfer may include loading a first configuration bitstream into a programmable integrated circuit (IC), wherein the first configuration bitstream includes a first circuit design and metadata for a second circuit design. The metadata may be stored within a memory of the programmable IC. A configuration bitstream load condition may be detected and, responsive to the configuration bitstream load condition, a second configuration bitstream may be loaded into the programmable IC. The second configuration bitstream includes a second circuit design.