System Error Response Buffering for Post-Failure Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current computer-based systems fail to efficiently collect and store system information during fatal errors, as they often shut down before logging or saving error data, making post-failure analysis difficult, especially in systems not connected to a console.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a bus, logic device, controller, and non-volatile memory that rapidly captures and stores system console output data and component status information in a buffer and memory before a fatal error occurs, allowing for efficient post-failure analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the system shuts down in response to a fatal error, then the operating system stops operating to prevent further damage, but system information and error data are lost and become unavailable for analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing console output and storing it in a buffer before the fatal error occurs. The controller continuously monitors the bus for console output data and stores it in a buffer, ensuring that system information is already available when the error happens. This preliminary data collection prevents information loss while allowing the system to shut down for safety.
2Productivity
If the system continues operating after a non-fatal error, then the operating system can maintain functionality, but the error information is not captured for post-failure analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the bus for console output data and storing it in a buffer. The controller receives feedback about the system state through the bus and maintains a running record of console output. This feedback mechanism ensures that error information is captured and stored, making it available for post-failure analysis while allowing the system to continue operating.
3Loss of information
If system console output data is continuously stored in a buffer, then system information is available for analysis, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs multiple functions: it monitors the bus for console output data, stores the data in a buffer, detects fatal errors, and acquires the buffer contents when needed. By making the controller multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated hardware components for each function, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining comprehensive system information collection capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
An example system includes a bus, a logic device, a controller, and a non-volatile memory. The bus is configured to propagate data including at least system console output data. The logic device is configured to monitor the data on the bus and to store the system console output data in a buffer. The controller is configured to detect a system error, and, in response to the system error, to acquire at least a portion of the system console output data from the buffer. The non-volatile memory is configured to store the portion of the system console output data acquired by the controller.