Memory System Bootloader Failure Logging for Post-Failure Debugging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Debugging bootloader failures in memory systems is challenging due to the lack of error recovery mechanisms, leading to difficult and resource-intensive debugging processes, especially when failure signals are reset during field qualification, making it hard to reproduce the issue accurately.
Innovation Solution
A memory sub-system is configured to store information about bootloader failures on designated memory devices, allowing diagnostic firmware to access and utilize this information for debugging, even when the bootloader cannot be executed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If bootloader failure information is not stored, then the memory system operates with simpler architecture, but debugging becomes difficult and resource-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by storing bootloader failure information in a designated memory region before diagnostic firmware is loaded. This pre-stored information includes failure registers and debug data that capture the state at the time of bootloader failure, enabling subsequent diagnostic firmware to analyze the failure without needing to reproduce it, thereby reducing debugging time while maintaining manageable system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If failure signals are reset during field qualification, then the system can be reused for other tests, but it becomes hard to reproduce the issue accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by creating a persistent copy of the failure state information in a designated non-volatile memory region. Instead of relying on transient failure signals that get reset, the system copies critical failure data (registers, status information) to a permanent storage location, allowing diagnostic firmware to accurately analyze the failure without needing to reproduce it, thus maintaining both system reusability and failure analysis reliability.
3Measurement precision
If diagnostic firmware is loaded to analyze bootloader failures, then accurate debugging is possible, but the process becomes more resource-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies taking out by extracting only the essential failure information from the bootloader failure state and storing it in a compact designated memory region. Instead of requiring full system state capture or extensive logging resources, the system extracts critical failure registers and status data, reducing the resource burden of debugging while maintaining sufficient analysis accuracy through targeted information collection.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments described herein provide for bootloader failure analysis of a memory system using information regarding a failure of the bootloader, where the information is stored on the memory sub-system in response to detection of (e.g., stored at the time of) the failure. In particular, the stored information can comprise data that would be lost or otherwise inaccessible for subsequent diagnostic (e.g., debug) purposes, such as by a manufacturer of the memory sub-system. According to some embodiments, a memory sub-system is configured to save information regarding a failure of a bootloader, to one or more designated memory devices of the memory sub-system, such that diagnostic firmware (e.g., debug firmware) subsequently loaded and executed on the memory sub-system (e.g., by a manufacturer) can make use of the stored information to perform one or more diagnostic functions (e.g., debug functions) on the memory sub-system.