Preventing erroneous operation in a system which may enable unsupported features
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorGary L. Swoboda
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention is a method of operating a system having multiple finite state machines and a controller controlling an operational state of each finite state machine. Upon selection by the controller of a changed operational state, each finite state machine determines if it supports the changed operational state. If the finite state machine supports the changed operational state, it enters the changed operational state. If the finite state machine does not support the changed operational state, it enters an offline state. The controller may also determine whether a changed operational state is supported by each finite state machine.
Claims5
In a system having multiple hardware finite state machines and a hardware controller connected to each finite state machine via a bus a method of controlling an online operational state of each finite state machine comprising the steps of:
- upon selection by the hardware controller of a changed operational state each hardware finite state machine checking to determine if the changed operational state is supported by the hardware finite state machine;
- if the changed operational state is supported by the hardware finite state machine, entering the changed operational state;
- and
- if the changed operational state is not supported by the hardware finite state machine, entering an offline state.
A system comprising:
- a plurality of finite state machines, each finite state machine having a clock input and a combined input/output and ready line;
- a bus having a clock line connected to said clock input of each of said plurality of finite state machines;
- a controller connected to said bus via a clock output and a combined input/output and ready line, said controller operable to control an online operational state of each of said plurality of finite state machines by signaling a changed operational state via said bus;
- and
- wherein each of said plurality of finite state machines is operable in response to receipt of a signal of a changed operational state from said controller to:
- check to determine if said changed operational state is supported by said finite state machine,
- enter said changed operational state if said changed operational state is supported by said finite state machine, and
- enter an offline state if said changed operational state is not supported by said finite state machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.