Voltage-Frequency Scaling Redundancy for Fault Tolerance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Computing devices face operational failure when the primary arrangement for dynamically scaling voltage and frequency develops a fault, leading to a lack of voltage-frequency parameters for processing cores, potentially rendering the device non-operational.

Innovation Solution

A secondary arrangement is triggered to fetch and transmit pre-stored voltage-frequency parameters from memory to processing cores, ensuring the device remains operational, albeit at sub-optimal performance, in case of primary arrangement failure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a primary arrangement dynamically computes voltage and frequency parameters, then the device achieves optimal performance and adaptability, but the device becomes vulnerable to complete failure when the primary arrangement develops a fault

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice performanceVSAvoiddevice operational continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a secondary arrangement that is pre-configured with voltage-frequency parameter computation capabilities. This secondary arrangement remains in standby mode and is activated only when the primary arrangement fails, ensuring continuous operation without requiring real-time decision-making during the failure event.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a redundant backup system (secondary arrangement) that cushions against the harmful effect of primary arrangement failure. This redundancy ensures that when the primary arrangement develops a fault, the device can switch to the secondary arrangement and maintain operational continuity, preventing complete device failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If a secondary arrangement is added to prevent failure, then device reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice operational continuityVSAvoidarrangement structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a simplified copy of the primary arrangement's functionality in the secondary arrangement. Rather than implementing a completely different backup mechanism, the secondary arrangement replicates the essential voltage-frequency parameter computation capability, providing redundancy while maintaining design simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The secondary arrangement is designed to perform the same voltage-frequency parameter computation function as the primary arrangement, making it a universal backup solution. This multi-functional design allows the same computational logic to serve both as the primary operational system and as a backup system, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10732699B2Redundancy in distribution of voltage-frequency scaling parameters

Publication Date: 2020.08.04 INTEL CORP

AI summary

An apparatus is provided which comprises: a power management circuitry; and a processing circuitry comprising a processing core, wherein the power management circuitry is to: compute first voltage and frequency parameters, and transmit the first voltage and frequency parameters to the processing circuitry for operation of the processing core, and wherein in response to a detection of a fault, the power management circuitry is to: access second voltage and frequency parameters from a memory, and transmit the accessed second voltage and frequency parameters to the processing circuitry for operation of the processing core.