A software reconfigurable assertion checking unit for run-time error detection

Yumin Zhou, Sebastian Burg, Oliver Bringmann, Wolfgang Rosenstiel

Abstract: The stress of verifying and validating nowadays complex systems is continuously boosting. To address this imperative issue, we present an optimised assertion checking approach that dynamically implements an instruction-based checker to validate system properties during run-time. In contrast to state-of-the-art hardware checker, the presented method compiles an assertion to a microprogram, which can be changed very flexibly by software for the in-silicon validation. A stand-alone hardware block, named assertion checking unit (ACU), is designed for executing the compiled microprogram in real-time. We have successfully evaluated this approach to detect run-time error of a prototyped cryptographic system by means of a run-time fault injection technology. Additionally, we have achieved measurable benefits of the new approach compared to the previous work.