Apparatus and method for software-based control flow checking for soft error detection to improve microprocessor reliability
US7506217B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 30, 2005 |
| Grant date | Mar 17, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 13, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F11/1004
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for software-based control flow checking for soft error detection. In one embodiment, the method includes the instrumentation of one basic block of a target program to update a signature register with a successor basic block signature at an end of the basic block. In addition, the basic block is instrumented to verify that contents of the signature register match a basic block signature at a beginning of the basic block. In one embodiment, an instruction is inserted within the basic block to cause the signature register to store a predetermined value if the contents of the signature register match a basic block signature. In one embodiment, a basic block may be subdivided into a plurality of regions; each region is assigned a signature and instrumented to update the signature register at a beginning of each region. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.