Texas Patent of the Month – September 2023

Innovation and development of new digital electronic products – of any kind – requires extensive testing, measurements, and characterization just to validate both the hardware and software in it. For complex digital electronic products the validation costs can be the largest portion of the total development project cost. Coherent Logix, Inc. has been working to reduce these costs and the time spent on testing with their proprietary real-time analysis for multiprocessor systems.

The essence of this method lies in its ability to rigorously assess the performance of a Device Under Test (DUT), particularly an MPA, while it executes application software. The MPA is a powerhouse in itself, comprising numerous processing elements, memories, and a high-speed interconnection network. This complex structure demands equally sophisticated testing methods.

Here’s how it works:

1. Analyzing the Software: The process begins with the analysis of the application software that needs testing. This software is optimized to run on the MPA’s first hardware resources.
2. Test Program Creation: Based on the analysis, a test program code is generated. This code is designed to configure the MPA’s hardware resources to duplicate data generated during the execution of the application software. 
3. Deployment of Application Software: The application software is deployed onto the MPA’s first hardware resources. This MPA becomes the DUT.
4. Stimulation and Data Generation: Input data is provided to stimulate the DUT. As the application software executes, it generates data in response to this input.
5. Data Duplication and Analysis: The test program code is executed, and it configures the MPA’s unused hardware resources to duplicate the data generated during software execution. This duplicated data is then filtered and used for analysis.
6. External Data Output: Not stopping at data duplication, the method allows for the output of a subset of this data to external pins, facilitating further analysis and assessment.
7. Analysis and Verification: The duplicated and filtered data is employed to verify the operation of the application software. This method serves as a rigorous testing ground for the software’s performance, ensuring that it functions optimally.

This innovation by Coherent Logix opens up exciting possibilities for testing complex systems in real-time, at full operational speed. By analyzing the behavior of application software on an MPA, researchers and engineers can fine-tune and optimize their systems with confidence.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

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