Buffer checker for task processing fault detection

A method of processing tasks at a graphics processing system having one or more processing units, the method comprising, on receiving a task for processing:

• processing the task at the one or more processing units so as to generate a first processed output;
• forming a first signature which is characteristic of the first processed output as output from a processing unit;
• writing out the first processed output to a data store;
• reading back the first processed output from the data store;
• forming a second signature which is characteristic of the first processed output as read back from the data store;
• comparing the first and second signatures;
• and
• raising a fault signal if the first and second signatures do not match.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer readable dataset description of an integrated circuit that, when processed in an integrated circuit manufacturing system, causes the integrated circuit manufacturing system to manufacture a graphics processing system for operation with a data store, the graphics processing system comprising:

• one or more processing units for processing tasks;
• a check unit operable to form a signature which is characteristic of an output from processing a task;
• and
• a fault detection unit operable to compare signatures formed at the check unit;
• the graphics processing system being configured to:
• process a task at the one or more processing units so as to generate a first processed output;
• form at the check unit a first signature which is characteristic of the first processed output as output from a processing unit;
• write out the first processed output to the data store;
• read back the first processed output from the data store;
• form at the check unit a second signature which is characteristic of the first processed output as read back from the data store;
• compare the first and second signatures at the fault detection unit;
• and
• raise a fault signal if the first and second signatures do not match.