Patent ID: 6971051
Filing Date: 2005-11-29
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. A system for managing volatile storage of information for operating a device having extended periods of inactivity between periods of activity comprising: volatile memory connected to receive said information from a source and enabled to retain said information during power-on conditions; processing circuitry coupled to said volatile memory to process said information during said periods of activity; a volatile memory checker enabled to execute between said periods of activity, said volatile memory checker including test code configured to detect soft errors within said information retained in said volatile memory, said volatile memory being susceptible to soft errors; and said soft errors detected via execution of said volatile memory checker being soft errors occurring during said extended periods of inactivity between said periods of activity of said device; wherein said volatile memory checker includes a timing module enabled to tripper execution of said test code in response to detection of expiration of a preselected time period and simultaneous detection that said device is in a period of inactivity.