Mis-synchronization detection system using a combined error correcting and cycle identifier code

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of a receiving node receiving the data and the transmitting node error correction symbols, and the receiving node detecting errors in received data and/or transmitting node error correction symbols, said receiving and detecting steps comprising the steps of: C. generating receiving node error correction symbols by encoding said received data using said error correction code combined with a receiving node data cycle identifier which corresponds to the data cycle in which the receiving node was operating when the receiving node received the data and producing receiving node error correction symbols; D. comparing the receiving node error correction symbols with the transmitting node error correction symbols; E. if the receiving node error correction symbols do not match with the transmitting node error correction symbols, determining the number and locations of errors in the data and/or transmitting node error correction symbols; F. asserting a mis-synchronization signal, if the errors are associated with the inclusion of the transmitting node data cycle identifier; G. labeling the data uncorrectable, if there are an uncorrectable number of errors in the data and the transmitting node error correction symbols; and H. correcting errors in the data, if the data and the transmitting node error correction symbols include a correctable number of errors.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2, wherein the step of generating transmitting node error correction symbols includes combining said error correction code with one or more bits of a binary representation of a data cycle number.

Claim 5

The method of claim 2, wherein the step of generating receiving node error correction symbols includes combining said error correction code with one or more bits of a binary representation of the data cycle number associated with the cycle in which the receiving node was operating when the node received the received data.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving by a receiving node the data and the transmitting node error correction symbols and the receiving node detecting errors in received data and/or transmitting node error correction symbols by: C. decoding the transmitting node error correction symbols to remove the transmitting node data cycle identifier and produce transmitting node error correction symbols without the transmitting node data cycle identifier; D. encoding the received data using the error correction code; E. comparing the encoded received data with the decoded transmitting node error correction symbols without the transmitting node data cycle identifier to determine if the received data and/or the transmitting node error correction symbols include errors; F. asserting a mis-synchronization signal, if the errors are associated with the inclusion of the transmitting node data cycle identifier; G. labeling the data uncorrectable, if the data and the transmitting node error correction symbols an uncorrectable number of errors; and H. correcting errors in the data, if the data and transmitting node error correction symbols include a correctable number of errors.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating transmitting node error correction symbols includes combining said error correction code with one or more bits of a binary representation of a data cycle number.

Claim 8

A multiple node system for transmitting data between the nodes in a predetermined number of data cycles over a system bus, the nodes each including: A. means for generating transmitting node error correction symbols by encoding the data to be transmitted using an error correction code combined with a transmitting node data cycle identifier to form a combined code which identifies the cycle in which the data are to be transmitted, said combined code having the same number of bits as the said error correction code alone; and B. a transmitter, coupled to said means for generating, for transmitting the data and the transmitting node error correction symbols over the system bus in one or more data cycles.

Claim 9

A multiple node system for transmitting data between the nodes in a predetermined number of data cycles over a system bus, the nodes each including: A. means for generating transmitting node error correction symbols by encoding the data to be transmitted using an error correction code combined with a transmitting node data cycle identifier to form a combined code which identifies the cycle in which the data are to be transmitted, said combined code having the same number of bits as the said error correction code alone; and B. a transmitter, coupled to said means for generating, for transmitting the data and the transmitting node error correction symbols over the system bus in one or more data cycles.

Claim 10

The multiple node system of claim 7, wherein each node further includes: C. means for receiving the data and the transmitting node error correction symbols transmitted over the system bus; D. error correction means including: i. means for generating receiving node error correction symbols; ii. error correction symbol encoding by encoding said received data using said error correction code combined with a receiving node data cycle identifier which corresponds to the data cycle in which the receiving node which received the data was operating when the receiving node received the data, the error correction symbol encoding means producing receiving node error correction symbols; iii. error location means for comparing received transmitting node error correction symbols with the receiving node error correction symbols and, if the transmitting node error correction symbols do not match with the receiving node error correction symbols, determining the number and locations of errors in the data and/or transmitting node error correction symbols; E. signaling means for asserting a mis-synchronization signal if the error location means determines that the errors are associated with the included transmitting node data cycle identifier; F. labeling means for labeling the data uncorrectable if the error location means determines that there are an uncorrectable number of errors in the data/or and the transmitting node error correction symbols; and G. correcting means for correcting errors in the data if the error location means determines that there are a correctable number of errors associated with the data and the transmitting node error correction symbols.

Claim 11

The multiple node system of claim 8, wherein the means for generating receiving node error correction symbols includes means for combining said error correction code with one or more bits of a binary representation of the data cycle number associated with the cycle in which the receiving node was operating when the node received the data.

Claim 12

The multiple node system of claim 7, wherein the nodes each include: C. means for receiving the data and the transmitting node error correction symbols over the system bus; D. means for decoding the received transmitting node error correction symbols to remove the transmitting node data cycle identifier and produce transmitting node error correction symbols without the transmitting node data cycle identifier; E. means for encoding the received data using the error correction code and comparing the encoded received data with the decoded transmitting node error correction symbols without the transmitting node data cycle identifier to determine the number and location of errors in the data and/or transmitting node error correction symbols; F. signaling means for asserting a mis-synchronization signal if the means for encoding the received data determines that the errors are associated with the included transmitting node data cycle identifier; G. labeling means for labeling the data uncorrectable if the means for encoding the received data determines that the data and/or the transmitting node error correction symbols contains an uncorrectable number of errors; and H. correction means for correcting errors in the data, the correction means correcting errors in the data if the means for encoding the received data determines that the data and transmitting node error correction symbols include a correctable number of errors.

Claim 13

The multiple node system of claim 7, wherein the means for generating transmitting node error correction symbols includes means for combining said error correction code with one or more bits of a binary representation of a data cycle number.

Claim 14

A node for transmitting and receiving data over a system bus in a number of predetermined data cycles, the node including: A. means for generating transmitting node error correction symbols by encoding data to be transmitted using an error correction code combined with a transmitting node data cycle identifier to form a combined code which identifies the cycle in which the data are to be transmitted, said combined code having the same number of bits as the said error correction code alone; and B. a data transmitter, coupled to said means for generating, for transmitting the data and the transmitting node error correction symbols in one or more data cycles.

Claim 15

A node for transmitting and receiving data over a system bus in a number of predetermined data cycles, the node including: A. means for generating transmitting node error correction symbols by encoding data to be transmitted using an error correction code combined with a transmitting node data cycle identifier to form a combined code which identifies the cycle in which the data are to be transmitted, said combined code having the same number of bits as the said error correction code alone; and B. a data transmitter, coupled to said means for generating, for transmitting the data and the transmitting node error correction symbols in one or more data cycles.

Claim 16

The node of claim 12, the node further including: C. means for receiving data and transmitting node error correction symbols from a transmitting node; D. error correction means which includes: i. means for generating receiving node error correction symbols by encoding said received data using said error correction code combined with a receiving node data cycle identifier which corresponds to the data cycle in which the data was operating when the receiving node received the data, the error correction symbol encoding means producing receiving node error correction symbols, ii. means for comparing received transmitting node error correction symbols with the receiving node error correction symbols and, if the transmitting node error correction symbols do not match with the receiving node error correction symbols, determining the number and location of errors in the data and/or transmitting node error correction symbols; E. signaling means for asserting a mis-synchronization signal if the means for comparing determines that the errors are associated with the included transmitting node data cycle identifier; F. labeling means for labeling the data uncorrectable if the means for comparing determines that there is an uncorrectable number of errors in the data and/or the transmitting node error correction symbols; and G. correcting means for correcting errors in the data if the means for comparing determines that there is a correctable number of errors associated with the data and/or transmitting node error correction symbols.