Data processing system capable of operation despite a malfunction

Claim 2

In a data processing system which includes a functional unit having a plurality of portions through which successive groups of segments of data normally pass simultaneously in parallel by segment, said system also including error detection means for signalling the occurrence of a malfunction in said unit; apparatus to enable said system to operate despite said malfunction, comprising: first means responsive to a signal from said error detection means for causing a group of segments of data to pass, one segment following another serially by segment, through one of said portions of said unit; and means responsive to said first means for disabling said first means upon termination of said signal from said error detection means enabling a subsequent group of segments of data to pass simultaneously in parallel by segment through said one of said portions of said unit.

Claim 3

In a data processing system which includes a functional unit having a plurality of portions, and error detection means for signalling the occurrence of a malfunction in a first one of said portions; apparatus to enable said system to operate despite said malfunction, comprising: saving means for saving input data supplied to said first portion; data flow control means responsive to signal from said error detection means for causing said saved data to pass from said saving means to a second one of said portion; and means responsive to the data flow control means for automatically inhibiting the passage of saved data to said second one of said portions upon termination of said error detection signalling.

Claim 4

In a data processing system which includes a functional unit having a plurality of portions, and error detection means for signalling the occurrence of a malfunction in a first one of said portions; apparatus to enable said system to operate despite said malfunction, comprising: saving means for saving input data supplied to said first portion; data flow control means responsive to signal from said error detection means for causing said saved data to pass from said saving means to a second one of said portion; and means responsive to the data flow control means for automatically inhibiting the passage of saved data to said second one of said portions upon termination of said error detection signalling.

Claim 5

In the data processing system of claim 2, said apparatus further comprising: counting means responsive to the detection of the occurrence of a malfunction in said unit for counting the number of times that a malfunction has been detected in said unit.

Claim 6

In the data processing system of claim 3, said apparatus further comprising: means responsive to a predetermined count is said counting means for producing an inhibiting signal; means for generating a use-indicating signal in response to an attempt by said data processing system to supply data to said functional unit; and means jointly responsive to said inhibiting signal and to said use-indicating signal for inhibiting passage of said saved data through said first portion of said functional unit.

Claim 7

In the data processing system of claim 2, said data flow control means comprising: determining means for determining in which portion of said unit said malfunction occurred.

Claim 8

In the data processing system of claim 5, said apparatus further comprising: means responsive to a signal from said determining means indicating the occurrence of an error in said second portion for causing said saved data to pass from said saving means to a third portion of said unit.

Claim 9

In the data processing system of claim 5, wherein said second portion of said unit comprises a plurality of subportions, said apparatus further comprising: additional determining means for signalling the occurrence of an error in a first subportion of said second portion; and means responsive to a signal from said additional determining means for causing said saved data to pass from said saving means to a second subportion of said second portion of said unit.

Claim 10

In the data processing system of claim 5, wherein said second portion of said unit comprises a plurality of subportions, said apparatus further comprising: means responsive to a signal from said determining means indicating the occurrence of an error in said second portion for causing said saved data to pass from said saving means to a first subportion of said second portion of said unit.

Claim 11

In a data processing system which includes a functional unit having a plurality of portions, input means for supplying input data to said unit, and error-indicating means capable of indicating the occurrence of a malfunction in one of said portions, said functional unit normally presenting data at its output in a parallel format; apparatus to enable said system to continue to operate despite the occurrence of a malfunction in said unit, comprising: determining means responsive to said error-indicating means for indicating in which of said portions a malfunction occurred; saving means for saving input data; gating means connected between said saving means and said unit; data flow control means responsive to said determining means for causing said gating means to pass saved input data from said saving means to a portion of said unit other than one for which said determining means has indicated the occurrence of a malfunction, said unit thereby being caused to present data at its output in a nonparallel format; means responsive to data presented in said nonparallel format for rearranging same into said parallel format; and means responsive to said data flow control means for disabling said gating means upon termination of said error signal from said error-indicating means enabling subsequent utilization of said operation of said unit for which a malfunction was indicated, said unit thereby being caused to again present data at its output in said parallel format.

Claim 12

In a data processing system which includes a functional unit having a plurality of portions, input means for supplying input data to said unit, and error-indicating means capable of indicating the occurrence of a malfunction in one of said portions, said functional unit normally presenting data at its output in a parallel format; apparatus to enable said system to continue to operate despite the occurrence of a malfunction in said unit, comprising: determining means responsive to said error-indicating means for indicating in which of said portions a malfunction occurred; saving means for saving input data; gating means connected between said saving means and said unit; data flow control means responsive to said determining means for causing said gating means to pass saved input data from said saving means to a portion of said unit other than one for which said determining means has indicated the occurrence of a malfunction, said unit thereby being caused to present data at its output in a nonparallel format; means responsive to data presented in said nonparallel format for rearranging same into said parallel format; and means responsive to said data flow control means for disabling said gating means upon termination of said error signal from said error-indicating means enabling subsequent utilization of said operation of said unit for which a malfunction was indicated, said unit thereby being caused to again present data at its output in said parallel format.

Claim 13

In the data processing system of claim 9, the apparatus wherein: said functional unit comprises a high-order-half portion and a low-order-half portion; said saving means comprises an auxiliary register for storing said input data; and said data flow control comprises means responsive to an indication by said determining means that a malfunction occurred in said low-order-half portion and no malfunction occurred in said high-order-half portion by causing said gating means to pass all input data to said high-order-half portion, and said data flow control comprises means responsive to an indication by said determining means that a malfunction occurred in said high-order-half portion and no malfunction occurred in said low-order-half portion by causing said gating means to pass all input data to said low-order-half portion.

Claim 14

In the data processing system of claim 10, said apparatus further comprising: counting means responsive to the detection of the occurrence of a malfunction in said unit for counting the number of times that a malfunction has been detected in said unit.

Claim 15

In the data processing system of claim 11, said apparatus further comprising: means responsive to a predetermined count in said counting means for producing an inhibiting signal; means for generating a use-indicating signal in response to an attempt by said data processing system to supply data to said functional unit; and means jointly responsive to said inhibiting signal and to said use-indicating signal for inhibiting passage of saved data through the malfunctioning portion of said functional unit.

Claim 16

In the data processing system of claim 10, the apparatus wherein: each of said low-order-half portion and said high-order-half portion comprises subportions of said unit; said data flow control comprises means responsive to an indication from said determining means that a malfunction has occurred in each of said low-order-half portion and said high-order-half portion for causing said gating means to pass saved data from said saving means to one of said other portions of said functional unit.