Microprocessor Atomicity Verification via Interrupted Command Execution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for checking the atomicity recovery of transactions in microcontrollers, such as those in smart cards, are inefficient and lack reliability, often requiring extensive testing that does not guarantee reliable results.
Innovation Solution
A method involving repeated execution of commands with interruptions at strategically selected times, using a dichotomy algorithm to focus on critical writing times in the non-volatile memory, allowing for efficient checking of atomicity coherence without prior knowledge of command development.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If repeated execution of commands with interruptions at regular intervals is performed, then atomicity recovery can be tested, but testing time becomes excessively long and reliability cannot be guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing critical times for data writing operations in a table structure before actual testing. This allows the testing system to directly target the most important moments for atomicity verification, eliminating the need for exhaustive regular-interval testing and significantly reducing testing time while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the command execution process by identifying and isolating specific critical times when data writing occurs. Instead of testing the entire command execution cycle uniformly, the system divides the testing focus into discrete critical moments (read operations, write operations, interrupt points), allowing targeted verification that reduces overall testing duration while ensuring atomicity recovery reliability.
2Reliability
If comprehensive testing of all possible interrupt times is performed, then atomicity coherence can be verified, but the testing process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses preliminary action by pre-establishing a table structure that stores critical times for data writing operations before testing begins. This pre-computed reference allows the testing system to automatically identify and verify only the most important atomicity points, simplifying the testing process while maintaining comprehensive verification of atomicity coherence without requiring complex real-time analysis of all possible interrupt moments.
3Productivity
If testing focuses on critical writing times in non-volatile memory, then testing efficiency improves, but the method requires strategic selection of interrupt times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing critical writing times in a table structure before testing. This eliminates the need for complex real-time strategic selection of interrupt times, as the critical moments are already identified and stored. The testing system simply needs to retrieve these pre-identified times, significantly improving testing efficiency while reducing the complexity of time selection to a straightforward lookup process.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system for checking the atomic character of at least one command executed by a microprocessor of an electronic component including at least one rewritable non-volatile memory, including: selecting a command including at least one updating of at least one piece of data in the non-volatile memory; executing this command several times; interrupting each execution at a different time of its development; and checking, after each interrupt, the coherence of the data in the non-volatile memory with respect to at least one predetermined authorized state.