Storage Circuit Consistency Testing for Software-Readable Error Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Safety critical systems face challenges in detecting errors in memory systems where faults in one part cause data to be fetched from another part, making errors undetectable.
Innovation Solution
A data processing apparatus and method that performs consistency tests between two storage circuits, updating result storage circuitry with the test results, allowing software access to determine which circuit is malfunctioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If consistency testing between storage circuits is implemented, then error detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage circuits perform self-diagnosis by comparing their own data consistency. The first storage circuit's data is compared with the second storage circuit's data, allowing the system to detect errors autonomously without external intervention, thus improving reliability while minimizing additional complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Test data is pre-stored in both storage circuits before actual operation. This preliminary setup enables immediate consistency checking when errors occur, allowing rapid error detection without requiring complex real-time analysis mechanisms
2Device complexity
If traditional error detection methods are used, then device complexity is kept low, but error detection precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a copy of test data in a second storage circuit and compares it with the first storage circuit's data. This copying approach enables precise error detection through direct comparison without requiring complex analysis algorithms, maintaining simplicity while improving detection precision
Solution Approach 2:
The comparison result is fed back to determine whether an error has occurred. This simple feedback mechanism provides precise error detection by directly comparing data consistency between the two storage circuits, achieving high detection precision with minimal complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A data processing apparatus includes configuration circuitry that receives, from software, a set of test information and configures each of a first storage circuit and a second storage circuit to perform a consistency test based on the test information. Check circuitry performs the consistency test between data stored in the first storage circuit and the second storage circuit and updates result storage circuitry with a result of the consistency test. The result storage circuitry is accessible to the software.