US 8,276,018 B2 · Non-volatile memory based reliability and availability mechanisms for a computing device

Abstract

Mechanisms are provided for use with a microprocessor chip, for storing selected reliability information in an on-chip non-volatile storage device. An on-chip reliability controller coupled to one or more on-chip resources of the microprocessor chip, collects raw reliability information from the one or more on-chip resources of the microprocessor chip. The on-chip reliability controller analyzes the raw reliability information to identify selected reliability information for the one or more resources of the microprocessor chip. The on-chip reliability controller stores the selected reliability information in the on-chip non-volatile storage device. The on-chip non-volatile storage device stores the selected reliability information even in the event of an overall failure of the microprocessor chip in which the microprocessor chip loses power. The on-chip non-volatile storage device has an interface through which the selected reliability information is accessible by an off-chip device even in the event of an overall failure of the microprocessor chip.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method, in a data processing system, for storing selected reliability information in an on-chip non-volatile storage device, comprising:

collecting, by an on-chip reliability controller coupled to one or more on-chip resources of a microprocessor chip, raw reliability information from the one or more on-chip resources of the microprocessor chip;
analyzing, by the on-chip reliability controller, the raw reliability information to identify selected reliability information for the one or more on-chip resources of the microprocessor chip;
and
storing the selected reliability information in the on-chip non-volatile storage device, wherein the on-chip non-volatile storage device has an interface through which the selected reliability information is accessible by an off-chip device in the event of an overall failure of the microprocessor chip.

1 more element

An apparatus, comprising:

at least one on-chip resource of a microprocessor chip;
an on-chip reliability controller coupled to the at least one on-chip resource of the microprocessor chip;
and
an on-chip non-volatile storage device coupled to the on-chip reliability controller, wherein the on-chip reliability controller;
collects raw reliability information from the one or more on-chip resources of the microprocessor chip;
analyzes the raw reliability information to identify selected reliability information for the one or more on-chip resources of the microprocessor chip;
and
stores the selected reliability information in the on-chip non-volatile storage device, wherein the on-chip non-volatile storage device has an interface through which the selected reliability information is accessible by an off-chip device even in the event of an overall failure of the chip.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Non-volatile memory based reliability and availability mechanisms for a computing device

Life of this patent

Non-volatile memory based reliability and availability mechanisms for a computing device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20