System and method for monitoring the validity of circulating pointers in a FIFO memory
US5388238A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 24, 1992 |
| Grant date | Feb 7, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 24, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/56
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method are described for enforcing the validity of circulating pointers stored in a pointer FIFO (first-in-first-out) memory. One or more target pointers are generated and compared to circulating pointers. If a pointer does not circulate through the system within a pre-specified time, then a pointer has been lost and an error is reported. If a circulating pointer matches a target pointer, it is suppressed by being removed from the set of circulating pointers. Another timer is then set to determine whether further circulating pointers match a target pointer. If so, then multiple pointers to the same location are present and all duplicate pointers are suppressed. After expiration of the second time, the target pointers are added to the set of circulation pointers. This process repeats with new target pointers, so that the validity of the set of circulating pointers is verified.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.