Title: Fault-tolerant corrector/detector chip for high-speed data processing

Abstract

An internally fault-tolerant data error detection and correction integrated circuit device (10) and a method of operating same. The device functions as a bidirectional data buffer between a 32-bit data processor and the remainder of a data processing system and provides a 32-bit datum is provided with a relatively short eight bits of data-protecting parity. The 32-bits of data by eight bits of parity is partitioned into eight 4-bit nibbles and two 4-bit nibbles, respectively. For data flowing towards the processor the data and parity nibbles are checked in parallel and in a single operation employing a dual orthogonal basis technique. The dual orthogonal basis increase the efficiency of the implementation. Any one of ten (eight data, two parity) nibbles are correctable if erroneous, or two different erroneous nibbles are detectable. For data flowing away from the processor the appropriate parity nibble values are calculated and transmitted to the system along with the data. The device regenerates parity values for data flowing in either direction and compares regenerated to generated parity with a totally self-checking equality checker. As such, the device is self-validating and enabled to both detect and indicate an occurrence of an internal failure. A generalization of themore » device to protect 64-bit data with 16-bit parity to protect against byte-wide errors is also presented. « less

Inventors:

Andaleon, David D ^[1]; Napolitano, Jr., Leonard M. ^[2]; Redinbo, G Robert ^[3]; Shreeve, William O ^[4]

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1. San Ramon, CA
2. (Danville, CA)
3. Davis, CA
4. Fayetteville, NY

Issue Date:

Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1994

Research Org.:

AT&T

OSTI Identifier:

869174

Patent Number(s):

5291496

Assignee:

United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

G - PHYSICS G06 - COMPUTING G06F - ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING

H - ELECTRICITY H03 - BASIC ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY H03M - CODING

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G - PHYSICS G06 - COMPUTING G06F - ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING

G06F11/10 - Adding special bits or symbols to the coded information, e.g. parity check, casting out 9's or 11's

H - ELECTRICITY H03 - BASIC ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY H03M - CODING

H03M13/151 - {using error location or error correction polynomials}
H03M13/51 - Constant weight codes

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC04-76DP00789

Resource Type:

Patent

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

fault-tolerant; corrector; detector; chip; high-speed; data; processing; internally; error; detection; correction; integrated; circuit; device; 10; method; operating; functions; bidirectional; buffer; 32-bit; processor; remainder; provides; datum; provided; relatively; eight; bits; data-protecting; parity; 32-bits; partitioned; 4-bit; nibbles; respectively; flowing; towards; checked; parallel; single; operation; employing; dual; orthogonal; basis; technique; increase; efficiency; implementation; correctable; erroneous; detectable; appropriate; nibble; values; calculated; transmitted; regenerates; direction; compares; regenerated; generated; totally; self-checking; equality; checker; self-validating; enabled; detect; indicate; occurrence; internal; failure; generalization; protect; 64-bit; 16-bit; byte-wide; errors; bit data; data processing; integrated circuit; data flow; speed data; circuit device; single operation; operation employing; data processor; error detection; high-speed data; bidirectional data; /714/