Communication interface controller with output monitoring

An integrated circuit (IC) comprising:

• a first pin;
• a second pin;
• a processor having an input and an output, the processor configured to provide, via the output, an instruction that indicates an instructed target address, a read/write flag, and a memory address;
• a bus monitor having a first input, a second input, a third input, and an output, the output of the bus monitor coupled to the input of the processor;
• and
• a transceiver having an input, a first output, and a second output, the output of the processor coupled to the input of the transceiver and to the first input of the bus monitor, the first output of the transceiver coupled to the first pin and to the second input of the bus monitor, the second output of the transceiver coupled to the second pin and to the third input of the bus monitor, and the transceiver configured to generate a message in response to the instruction so that the message includes a message target address, the read/write flag, and the memory address;
• wherein the bus monitor is configured to compare a signal received at its first input to a signal received at its second input, the comparison responsive to a signal received at its third input, and to provide a signal to the processor in response to the comparison.

A method of operating an integrated circuit (IC), the method comprising:

• sending an instruction by a processor to a transceiver, the instruction specifying an instructed address of a specified target IC, a read or write command, and a memory address of the specified target IC;
• transmitting out of the IC, by the transceiver, a message including a message address corresponding to the instructed address, the command, and the memory address;
• determining, using a bus monitor, whether the instructed address and the message address are the same;
• and
• determining whether to provide, by the bus monitor to an event handler, an error interrupt signal based on whether the instructed address and the message address are the same.