Programmable Diagnostic Memory Module
First Claim
1. A diagnostic memory module, comprising:
- memory module interface terminals for connecting the diagnostic memory module in place of an ordinary memory module in a memory subsystem;
a storage for storing a diagnostic program;
a processing unit for executing the diagnostic program; and
an interface for communicating between the processing unit and an external diagnostic system.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A programmable diagnostic memory module provides enhanced testability of memory controller and memory subsystem design. The programmable diagnostic memory module includes an interface for communicating with an external diagnostic system, and the interface is used to transfer commands to the memory module to alter various behaviors of the memory module. The altered behaviors may be changing data streams that are written to the memory module to simulate errors, altering the timing and/or loading of the memory module signals, downloading programs for execution by a processor core within the memory module, changing driver strengths of output signals of the memory module, and manipulating in an analog domain, signals at terminals of the memory module such as injecting noise on power supply connections to the memory module. The memory module may emulate multiple selectable memory module types, and may include a complete storage array to provide standard memory module operation.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A diagnostic memory module, comprising:
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memory module interface terminals for connecting the diagnostic memory module in place of an ordinary memory module in a memory subsystem; a storage for storing a diagnostic program; a processing unit for executing the diagnostic program; and an interface for communicating between the processing unit and an external diagnostic system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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- 12. A test workstation computer system, comprising a processor for executing workstation program instructions, a memory for storing the workstation program instructions, and an interface for communicating with a diagnostic memory module inserted in a target memory subsystem, wherein the workstation program instructions comprise program instructions for communicating with the diagnostic memory module to transfer diagnostic information between the diagnostic memory module and the test workstation computer system.
- 19. A computer program product, comprising computer-readable storage media encoding workstation program instructions for execution by a test workstation computer system connected via an interface a diagnostic memory module inserted in a target memory subsystem, wherein the workstation program instructions comprise program instructions for communicating with a diagnostic memory module to transfer diagnostic information between the diagnostic memory module and the test workstation computer system.
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26. A programmable interactive diagnostic memory module, comprising:
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memory module interface terminals for connecting the diagnostic memory module in place of an ordinary memory module in a memory subsystem; a plurality of memory devices for providing equivalent storage as would be otherwise provided by the ordinary memory module; a storage for storing a diagnostic program, wherein the diagnostic program includes program instructions for storing a stream of data corresponding to memory write operations received at the memory module interface terminals, altering the stream of data to generate an altered stream for simulating an error condition, and responding to memory read operations received at the memory module interface terminals by providing the altered stream at the memory module interface terminals; a processing unit for executing the diagnostic program; an interface for communicating between the processing unit and an external diagnostic system, wherein the interface transfers program instructions of the diagnostic program from the external diagnostic system; a programmable loading circuit for altering an electrical load of one of more of the memory module interface terminals, whereby the behavior of the memory subsystem is altered; a circuit for manipulating a signal on at least one of the memory module interface terminals in an analog domain to simulate noise, wherein the interface receives a command to manipulate the signal, and wherein the circuit manipulates the signal in response to receiving the command; an output driver having a programmable drive strength, wherein the interface receives a command to alter a drive strength of an output signal provided from the diagnostic memory module on at least one of the memory module interface terminals, and wherein the processing unit sets the programmable drive strength of the output driver in response to receiving the command; a timing offset circuit for adjusting a timing relationship between address signals and data signals within the diagnostic memory module, and wherein the interface receives a command to adjust the timing relationship between the address signals and the data signals, and wherein the processing unit programs the timing offset circuit to adjust the timing relationship in response to receiving the command; and at least one test point for probing signals within the diagnostic memory module.
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Specification