Patent ID: 8621336
Filing Date: 2013-12-31
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A data processing apparatus comprising: processing circuitry for performing data processing operations; a set associative storage device having a plurality of specific physical locations and configured to store data values for access by the processing circuitry when performing data processing operations; error detection circuitry for performing, for each access to the storage device, an error detection operation on the data value accessed; and maintenance circuitry associated with the storage device for performing one or more maintenance operations; wherein the processing circuitry is configured to issue an error detection maintenance request to the maintenance circuitry specifying at least one of said specific physical locations within the storage device, and the maintenance circuitry is responsive to the error detection maintenance request to perform at least one dummy access to the at least one specific physical location within the storage device and to provide the processing circuitry with error status information derived from the error detection operation performed by the error detection circuitry in respect of said at least one dummy access.