Microprocessor Emulation Asymmetry for Hardware Fault Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fault tolerance systems in microprocessor systems are not effective in reliably detecting spontaneous hardware malfunctions, as they often rely on redundant processing with identical hardware configurations, which can mask errors.
Innovation Solution
The system employs at least two software emulators simulating different microprocessors, each executing the same utility program with unique address and data structures, allowing for the detection of hardware malfunctions by producing different intermediate results and output signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundant data processing is performed using identical hardware configurations, then processing reliability is improved through comparison, but the ability to detect spontaneous hardware malfunctions deteriorates because identical configurations can mask errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by using emulators with different address structures and data structures to simulate different microprocessors. This intentional asymmetry ensures that hardware malfunctions manifest differently across emulators, enabling detection. The comparison module can identify discrepancies caused by hardware errors because the emulators process data through different structural pathways, making errors visible rather than masked.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes structural parameters of the emulation systems by configuring different address structures and data structures in the emulators. These parameter changes create divergent processing paths that reveal hardware malfunctions. When hardware behaves incorrectly, the different parameter configurations cause detectable variations in intermediate results and output signals across the emulators.
2Reliability
If multiple emulators with different address and data structures are used, then hardware malfunction detection reliability is improved, but system complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality through the comparison module that serves multiple functions: it receives output signals from multiple diverse emulators, compares intermediate results, detects hardware malfunctions, and generates error signals. This multi-functional module manages the complexity by providing a unified interface and comparison mechanism that works across different emulator configurations without requiring separate handling for each emulator type.
Solution Approach 2:
The comparison module acts as an intermediary between the diverse emulators and the error detection system. It mediates the complexity by standardizing the comparison process, receiving different types of output signals from emulators with different structures, and producing unified error detection results. This intermediary layer abstracts the complexity of managing multiple different emulator configurations.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an arrangement (10) having a microprocessor system (30) which is programmed in such a manner that redundant data processing is carried out, wherein the same useful program (NP) is executed at least twice, and having a comparison module (40) which compares the results of the at least two program execution operations with one another. According to the invention, the microprocessor system (30) is programmed in such a manner that at least two emulators (EM1, EM2) emulate different microprocessors (70, 110) in terms of software on said microprocessor system, each of the at least two emulated microprocessors (70, 110) executes the same useful program (NP) on a microprocessor-specific basis, and the results from the at least two emulated microprocessors (70, 110) are compared using the comparison module (40).