Patent ID: 7430487
Filing Date: 2008-09-30
Classification: G06F,G11C

Abstract:
1. A method for checking data transferred within a data processing system, wherein said data processing system includes a main processor coupled to a processor memory and a flexible support processor coupled to a flexible support processor memory, said method comprising: generating a plurality of random data utilizing said flexible support processor; storing a first and second copy of said plurality of random data in a first and a second memory location of said flexible support processor memory; wherein said first memory location is a random block within said flexible support processor memory and said second memory location is a transfer block within said flexible support processor memory; configuring, by said main processor, a memory location in said processor memory for said flexible support processor to store a third copy of said plurality of random data; writing the third copy of said plurality of random data in said memory location in the processor memory; in response to said flexible support processor retrieving said third copy from said processor memory, automatically writing said third copy in said second memory location in said flexible support processor memory; comparing said first copy with the third copy to detect a presence of one or more inconsistencies between the first copy and the third copy; and when said flexible support processor detects an inconsistency between said first copy with said third copy, writing results of said compare in a status location within a transfer description mailbox (TDM) associated with said flexible support processor; wherein the flexible support processor with associated TDM and flexible support processor memory provides a controller functionality of a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) direct memory access (DMA) master, which concurrently functions as both a system controller and an input/output (I/O) exerciser, wherein the I/O exerciser functions independently from a system under test (SUT) and does not require utilization of a card specifically designed to execute the I/O exerciser.