Independently based diagnostic monitoring
First Claim
1. An independently based diagnostic system, comprising:
- an evaluator that is arranged to receive a diagnostic output from a monitored processor, wherein the diagnostic output is a pre-determined time-variant signal, and wherein the evaluator is arranged to perform successive evaluations upon the received diagnostic output using a comparison signal;
a comparison signal generator that is arranged to independently generate the comparison signal using a basis that is generated independently of the monitored processor; and
a notification interface that provides progressive notifications of the results of successive evaluations of the diagnostic output;
wherein the evaluator and the notification interface are arranged in a common substrate with the monitored processor;
wherein the comparison signal generator is a timing processor that is arranged in a common substrate with the monitored processor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An independently based diagnostic system tests the execution of a processor. The processor is arranged to provide a diagnostic output that provides a pre-determined time-variant signal. The independently based diagnostic system has an independent basis from which to evaluate the pre-determined time-variant signal. The independent basis can be, for example, an independent time base that is separately generated from the processor time base used to clock the processor and/or an independent voltage source that is separate from the processor power supply. The independently based diagnostic system provides progressive notifications of the results of successive evaluations of the pre-determined time-variant signal.
15 Citations
5 Claims
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1. An independently based diagnostic system, comprising:
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an evaluator that is arranged to receive a diagnostic output from a monitored processor, wherein the diagnostic output is a pre-determined time-variant signal, and wherein the evaluator is arranged to perform successive evaluations upon the received diagnostic output using a comparison signal; a comparison signal generator that is arranged to independently generate the comparison signal using a basis that is generated independently of the monitored processor; and a notification interface that provides progressive notifications of the results of successive evaluations of the diagnostic output; wherein the evaluator and the notification interface are arranged in a common substrate with the monitored processor; wherein the comparison signal generator is a timing processor that is arranged in a common substrate with the monitored processor.
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2. An independently based diagnostic system, comprising:
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an evaluator that is arranged to receive a diagnostic output from a monitored processor, wherein the diagnostic output is a pre-determined time-variant signal, and wherein the evaluator is arranged to perform successive evaluations upon the received diagnostic output using a comparison signal; a comparison signal generator that is arranged to independently generate the comparison signal using a basis that is generated independently of the monitored processor; and a notification interface that provides progressive notifications of the results of successive evaluations of the diagnostic output; wherein the wherein the comparison signal generator includes a first timing processor and a second timing processor that are arranged to generate the comparison signal for evaluating a diagnostic signal that includes a complex waveform.
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3. A processing system, comprising:
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a monitored processor that is arranged to generate diagnostic output that is pre-determined and time-variant and includes a sequence of fixed frequencies; a diagnostic monitor that is arranged to receive the diagnostic output from the monitored processor, to perform successive evaluations upon the received diagnostic output using a comparison signal includes a sequence of fixed frequencies, to independently generate the comparison signal using a basis that is generated independently of the monitored processor; and
to provide progressive notifications of the results of successive evaluations of the pre-determined time-variant signal; anda user interface that is arranged to operate in response to an indication of an error within the provided progressive notifications; wherein diagnostic monitor is arranged to count pulses of the diagnostic output and a first comparison signal generated by a first timing processor and generate an error indication when the difference between the counted pulses of the diagnostic output and the counted pulses of the comparison signal fall outside of a predetermined range. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. A method for monitoring the execution of a safety-related processor, comprising:
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receiving a diagnostic output from the safety-related processor, wherein the diagnostic output is a pre-determined time-variant signal; performing successive evaluations upon the received diagnostic output using a comparison signal; independently generating the comparison signal using a basis that is generated independently of the safety-related processor; and providing progressive notifications of the results of successive evaluations of the diagnostic output; wherein the basis that is generated independently of the monitored processor includes at least one of a frequency and a voltage level; further comprising counting pulses of the diagnostic output and a first comparison signal generated by a first timing processor and generating an error indication when the difference between the counted pulses of the diagnostic output and the counted pulses of the comparison signal fall outside of a predetermined range.
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Specification