Patent ID: 8161366
Filing Date: 2012-04-17
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of maintaining state data in a finite state machine, said method comprising the steps of: recording a current state of a finite state machine in a set of N binary memory elements of said finite state machine, wherein N>1, the finite state machine including a plurality of defined valid states, each defined valid state corresponding to a respective binary encoding of N bits, each bit corresponding to a respective binary memory element of the set of N binary memory elements, there being a respective set of defined valid state transitions corresponding to each defined valid state, wherein for at least one defined valid state, the respective set of defined valid state transitions does not include at least one transition to a defined valid state; repeatedly updating said current state by transitioning from a respective current state to a respective next state recorded in said set of N binary memory elements; and averting one or more respective invalid state transitions from each current state of a plurality of current states to a respective next state via ascertaining one or more respective prospective bit errors, each said invalid state transition being a state transition which is not a member of any of the sets of defined valid state transitions.