Reducing uncertainty in severely quantized telemetry signals
View Patent ↗A system that facilitates reducing uncertainty in a quantized signal. During operation, the system measures a quantized output signal from a sensor. Next, the system obtains an initial value for an uncertainty interval for the quantized output signal. The system then margins the quantized output signal high by introducing a controlled increase in the mean of the quantized output signal to produce a high-margined quantized output signal. Next, the system measures the high-margined quantized output signal from the sensor. The system then uses information obtained from the high-margined quantized output signal to reduce the uncertainty interval for the quantized output signal.
1. A method for reducing uncertainty in a quantized signal, comprising:
measuring a quantized output signal from a sensor;
obtaining an initial value for an uncertainty interval for the quantized output signal;
margining the quantized output signal high by introducing a controlled increase in the mean of the quantized output signal to produce a high-margined quantized output signal;
measuring the high-margined quantized output signal from the sensor;
using information about the bounds of the high-margined quantized output signal to reduce the uncertainty interval;
using the quantized output signal and information about the reduced uncertainty level for the quantized output signal to determine whether a component monitored by the sensor is at the onset of degradation; and
if so, performing a remedial action.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
margining the quantized output signal low by introducing a controlled decrease in the mean of the quantized output signal to produce a low-margined quantized output signal;
measuring the low-margined quantized output signal from the sensor;
using information about the bounds of the low-margined quantized output signal to further reduce the uncertainty interval.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein reducing the uncertainty interval for the quantized output signal involves:
obtaining the uncertainty intervals for the high-margined and the low-margined quantized output signals;
determining an upper bound for the uncertainty interval by selecting the minimum upper bound from: the uncertainty interval for the quantized output signal, the uncertainty interval for the high-margined quantized output signal, and the uncertainty interval for the low-margined quantized output signal; and
determining a lower bound for the uncertainty interval by selecting the maximum lower bound from: the uncertainty interval for the quantized output signal, the uncertainty interval for the high-margined quantized output signal, and the uncertainty interval for the low-margined quantized output signal.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein margining the quantized output signal high involves increasing an input signal by a fixed amount.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein margining the quantized output signal low involves decreasing an input signal by a fixed amount.
6. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein an input signal can include a voltage, current, temperature, clock speed, and/or load; and
wherein the quantized output signals can include voltage, temperature, and/or current.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the initial value for the uncertainty interval is the quantization interval of the quantized output signal.
8. An apparatus for reducing uncertainty in a quantized signal, comprising:
a computer system;
a margining mechanism configured to:
measure a quantized output signal from a sensor within the computer system;
obtain an initial value for an uncertainty interval for the quantized output signal;
margin the quantized output signal high by introducing a controlled increase in the mean of the quantized output signal to produce a high-margined quantized output signal;
measure the high-margined quantized output signal from the sensor;
use information about the bounds of the high-margined quantized output signal to reduce the uncertainty interval; and
a diagnostic mechanism configured to:
use the quantized output signal and information about the reduced uncertainty level for the quantized output signal to determine whether a component monitored by the sensor is at the onset of degradation; and
if so, to perform a remedial action.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the margining mechanism is additionally configured to:
margin the quantized output signal low by introducing a controlled decrease in the mean of the quantized output signal to produce a low-margined quantized output signal;
measure the low-margined quantized output signal from the sensor; and to
use information about the bounds of the low-margined quantized output signal to further reduce the uncertainty interval.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein while reducing the uncertainty interval for the quantized output signal, the margining mechanism is configured to:
obtain the uncertainty intervals for the high-margined and the low-margined quantized output signals;
determine an upper bound for the uncertainty interval by selecting the minimum upper bound from: the uncertainty interval for the quantized output signal, the uncertainty interval for the high-margined quantized output signal, and the uncertainty interval for the low-margined quantized output signal; and to
determine a lower bound for the uncertainty interval by selecting the maximum lower bound from: the uncertainty interval for the quantized output signal, the uncertainty interval for the high-margined quantized output signal, and the uncertainty interval for the low-margined quantized output signal.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein while margining the quantized output signal high, the margining mechanism is configured to increase an input signal by a fixed amount.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein while margining the quantized output signal low, the margining mechanism is configured to decrease the input signal by a fixed amount.
13. The apparatus of claim 8 ,
wherein an input signal can include a voltage, current, temperature, clock speed, and/or load; and
wherein the quantized output signals can include voltage, temperature, and/or current.
14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the initial value for the uncertainty interval is the quantization interval of the quantized output signal.
15. A computer system for reducing uncertainty in a quantized signal, comprising:
a computer system; and
a margining mechanism configured to:
measure a quantized output signal from a sensor within the computer system;
obtain an initial value for an uncertainty interval for the quantized output signal;
margin the quantized output signal high by introducing a controlled increase in the mean of the quantized output signal to produce a high-margined quantized output signal;
measure the high-margined quantized output signal from the sensor;
use information about the bounds of the high-margined quantized output signal to reduce the uncertainty interval; and
a diagnostic mechanism configured to:
use the quantized output signal and information about the reduced uncertainty level for the quantized output signal to determine whether a component monitored by the sensor is at the onset of degradation; and
if so, to perform a remedial action.
16. The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the margining mechanism is configured to:
margin the quantized output signal low by introducing a controlled decrease in the mean of the quantized output signal to produce a low-margined quantized output signal;
measure the low-margined quantized output signal from the sensor; and to
use information about the bounds of the low-margined quantized output signal to further reduce the uncertainty interval.
17. The computer system of claim 16 , wherein while reducing the uncertainty interval for the quantized output signal, the margining mechanism is configured to:
obtain the uncertainty intervals for the high-margined and the low-margined quantized output signals;
determine an upper bound for the uncertainty interval by selecting the minimum upper bound from: the uncertainty interval for the quantized output signal, the uncertainty interval for the high-margined quantized output signal, and the uncertainty interval for the low-margined quantized output signal; and to
determine a lower bound for the uncertainty interval by selecting the maximum lower bound from: the uncertainty interval for the quantized output signal, the uncertainty interval for the high-margined quantized output signal, and the uncertainty interval for the low-margined quantized output signal.
18. The computer system of claim 16 , wherein while margining the quantized output signal high, the margining mechanism is configured to increase an input signal by a fixed amount.
19. The computer system of claim 16 , wherein while margining the quantized output signal low, the margining mechanism is configured to decrease an input signal by a fixed amount.
20. The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the initial value for the uncertainty interval is the quantization interval of the quantized output signal.