IP Library Granted Patent US 7,493,516
Granted Patent B2
US 7,493,516 · App. 11/364,130 · Granted Feb 17, 2009

Hardware-error tolerant computing

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,493,516
App. No.
11/364,130
Granted
Feb 17, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments include a computing system, a device, and a method. A computing system includes a processor subsystem having an adjustable operating parameter. The computing system also includes an information store operable to save a sequence of instructions. The computing system further includes a controller module. The controller module includes a monitor circuit for detecting an incidence of an operating-parameter-caused error corresponding to an execution of an instruction of the sequence of instructions by the processor subsystem. The controller further includes a control circuit for adjusting the adjustable operating parameter based upon an error-tolerant performance criterion.

Claims (51)

1. A computing system comprising:

a processor subsystem having an adjustable operating parameter;

an information store operable to save a sequence of instructions; and

a controller module including:

a monitor circuit for detecting an incidence of an operating-parameter-caused error corresponding to an execution of an instruction of the sequence of instructions by the processor subsystem; and

a control circuit for adjusting the adjustable operating parameter in substantial conformity with an error-tolerant performance criterion that corresponds to 0 =(Δ time to complete an execution of the sequence of instructions) divided by (Δ adjustable operating parameter).

2. A computing system comprising:

a processor subsystem having an adjustable operating parameter; an information store operable to save a sequence of instructions; and

a controller module including:

a monitor circuit for detecting an incidence of an operating-parameter-caused error corresponding to an execution of an instruction of the sequence of instructions by the processor subsystem; and

a control circuit for adjusting a processor clock frequency in substantial conformity with 0 =(Δ time to complete an execution of the sequence of instructions) divided by (Δ processor clock frequency).

3. A computing system comprising:

a processor subsystem having an adjustable operating parameter;

an information store operable to save a sequence of instructions; and

a controller module including:

monitor circuit for detecting an incidence of an operating-parameter-caused error corresponding to an execution of an instruction of the sequence of instructions by the processor subsystem; and

a control circuit for adjusting a processor clock frequency in substantial conformity with ±0.05 =(Δ time to complete an execution of the sequence of instructions) divided by (Δ processor clock frequency).

4. A computing system comprising:

a processor subsystem having an adjustable operating parameter;

an information store operable to save a sequence of instructions; and

a controller module including:

a monitor circuit for detecting an incidence of an operating-parameter-caused error corresponding to an execution of an instruction of the sequence of instructions by the processor subsystem; and

a control circuit for adjusting a processor clock frequency in substantial conformity with ±0.10 =(Δ time to complete an execution of the sequence of instructions) divided by (Δ processor clock frequency).

5. A computing system comprising:

a processor subsystem having an adjustable operating parameter;

an information store operable to save a sequence of instructions; and

a controller module including:

a monitor circuit for detecting an incidence of an operating-parameter-caused error corresponding to an execution of an instruction of the sequence of instructions by the processor subsystem; and

a control circuit for adjusting a processor clock frequency in substantial conformity with ±0.20 =(Δ time to complete an execution of the sequence of instructions) divided by (Δ processor clock frequency).

6. A computing system comprising:

a processor subsystem having an adjustable operating parameter;

an information store operable to save a sequence of instructions; and

a controller module including;

a monitor circuit for detecting an incidence of an operating-parameter-caused error corresponding to an execution of an instruction of the sequence of instructions by the processor subsystem; and a control circuit for adjusting a processor voltage to substantially minimize

a time to complete an execution of the sequence of instructions.

7. A computing system comprising:

a processor subsystem having an adjustable operating parameter;

an information store operable to save a sequence of instructions; and

a controller module including;

a monitor circuit for detecting an incidence of an operating-parameter-caused error corresponding to an execution of an instruction of the sequence of instructions by the processor subsystem; and

a control circuit for adjusting a processor clock frequency in substantial conformity with

0 =(Δ time to complete an execution of the sequence of instructions) divided by (Δ processor voltage).

8. A method implemented in a computerized system, the method comprising:

detecting an incidence of a processor-operating-parameter-caused error corresponding to an execution of an instruction of the sequence of instructions by a processor subsystem having an adjustable operating parameter; and

changing at least one of a voltage of the processor subsystem and/or a processor clock frequency based upon an error-tolerant performance criterion to substantially minimize a time required to successfully complete an execution of the sequence of instructions.

9. A method implemented in a computerized system, the method comprising:

detecting an incidence of a processor-operating-parameter-caused error corresponding to an execution of an instruction of the sequence of instructions by a processor subsystem having an adjustable operating parameter; and

changing a processor clock frequency in substantial conformity with 0 =(Δ time to complete an execution of the sequence of instructions) divided by (Δ processor clock frequency).

10. A method implemented in a computerized system, the method comprising:

detecting an incidence of a processor-operating-parameter-caused error corresponding to an execution of an instruction of the sequence of instructions by a processor subsystem having an adjustable operating parameter; and

changing a processor clock frequency in substantial conformity with 0 =(Δ time to complete an execution of the sequence of instructions) divided by (Δ processor voltage).

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE ASSIGNOR SHOULD BE SEARETE LLC NOT LILY GUSE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 023502 FRAME 0195. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE LILY GUSE WAS MISTAKENLY ENTERED AS ASSIGNOR ON THE ELECTRONIC FILING ASSGT COVER SHEET. Recorded Dec 9, 2009
From: SEARETE LLC
To: INVENTION SCIENCE FUND I
Reel/Frame 023631/0956 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 11, 2009
From: GUSE, LILY
To: INVENTION SCIENCE FUND I
Reel/Frame 023501/0354 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2006
From: FERREN, BRAN; HILLIS, W. DANIEL; MANGIONE-SMITH, WILLIAM HENRY; MYHRVOLD, NATHAN P.; TEGREENE, CLARENCE T.; WOOD, LOWELL L., JR.
To: SEARETE LLC
Reel/Frame 017741/0914 →