Handling errors in buffers
AssigneeArm Limited
InventorsBalaji Venu, Matthias Lothar Boettcher, Mbou Eyole
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A buffer (72), (74), (76), (60), (78), (20), (82-90) has a number of entries for buffering items associated with data processing operations. Buffer control circuitry (100) has a redundant allocation mode in which, on allocating a given item to the buffer, the item is allocated to two or more redundant entries of the buffer. On reading or draining an item from the buffer, the redundant entries are compared and an error handling response is triggered if a mismatch is detected. By effectively reducing the buffer capacity, this simplifies testing for faults in buffer entries.
Claims18
An apparatus comprising:
- a buffer comprising a plurality of entries to buffer items associated with data processing operations performed by at least one processing circuit;
- and
- buffer control circuitry having a redundant allocation mode in which:
- when allocating a given item to the buffer, the buffer control circuitry is configured to allocate the given item to each entry of a set of N redundant entries of the buffer, where N≥2;
- and
- when reading or removing the given item from the buffer, the buffer control circuitry is configured to compare the items stored in said set of N redundant entries and to trigger an error handling response when a mismatch is detected between the items stored in said set of N redundant entries.
A method comprising:
- buffering items associated with data processing operations performed by at least one processing circuit in a plurality of entries of a buffer;
- wherein when operating in a redundant allocation mode:
- when allocating a given item to the buffer, the given item is allocated to each entry of a set of N redundant entries of the buffer, where N≥2;
- and
- when reading or removing the given item from the buffer, the items stored in said set of N redundant entries are compared and an error handling response is triggered when a mismatch is detected between the items stored in said set of N redundant entries.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.