Multi-Core Shared Resource Reset Coordination via Interface Master
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-core systems, the lack of coordination between cores can lead to inefficient and error-prone resource management, particularly when a shared resource fails or needs to be reset, resulting in constant resets and unavailability of the resource.
Innovation Solution
A method where an interface master in a multi-core device receives error messages, communicates with interface slaves to halt resource use, resets the shared resource, and notifies slaves when the reset is complete, ensuring coordinated access and preventing unnecessary resets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple cores independently manage shared resource errors without coordination, then each core can autonomously detect and reset errors, but cascading resets occur and resource availability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
An interface master is introduced as an intermediary component that receives error messages from multiple interface slaves, coordinates the reset process, and manages resource availability state. This mediator prevents direct interference between cores while maintaining autonomous error detection capabilities at the slave level.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the interface master communicates resource availability status back to interface slaves, and slaves report error conditions to the master. This feedback loop ensures coordinated error handling and prevents cascading resets by informing all participants of the current system state.
2Ease of repair
If a core resets a shared resource during initialization, then the error is cleared, but other cores may interpret the reset as a new failure and trigger additional resets
Solution Approach 1:
The interface master tracks the initialization state of the shared resource and preemptively prevents other cores from initiating resets during the initialization period. By establishing the resource state beforehand and monitoring it, the system avoids misinterpreting initialization activities as failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by blocking reset requests from interface slaves when the resource is in an initialization or already-reset state. The interface master anticipates potential cascading resets and prevents them before they occur by controlling access based on current resource state.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for determining failure in and controlling access to a shared resource in a multi-core system. In some embodiments of a multi-core system, individual cores may share the same resource. Additionally, the resource may occasionally fail or need to be reset, and the period during which the resource is being reset may be non-instantaneous. In an embodiment without coordination between the cores, one core experiencing a failure may reset the resource. During the period in which the resource is resetting, another core may interpret the reset as a failure and reset the resource. As more cores interpret the resets as failures, they will trigger resets, quickly resulting in the resource being constantly reset and unavailable. Thus, in some embodiments, a coordination system may be utilized to determine failure of a shared resource and control resets and access to the shared resource.