Abstract: A system comprising an implantable medical device that comprises a memory circuit, a radiation detector circuit configured to detect a condition correlative to a high-energy radiation level that exceeds a background radiation level, and a controller circuit. The control circuit checks memory locations for errors using a first rate of error checking per time period during a normal operation mode and, in response to the radiation detector circuit indicating a high-energy radiation level, initiates a memory scrubbing mode, wherein the memory scrubbing mode has an increased rate of error checking substantially all memory locations per time period in the memory circuit to check for any errors and correct any such errors.

Abstract: One example is directed to a method of generating a set of schedules for use by a partitioning kernel to execute a plurality of partitions on a plurality of processor cores included in a multi-core processor unit. The method includes determining a duration to execute each of the plurality of partitions without interference and generating a candidate set of schedules using the respective duration for each of the plurality of partitions. The method further includes estimating how much interference occurs for each partition when the partitions are executed on the multi-core processor unit using the candidate set of schedules and generating a final set of schedules by, for at least one of the partitions, scaling the respective duration in order to account for the interference for that partition. The method further includes configuring the multi-core processor unit to use the final set of schedules to control the execution of the partitions using at least two of the cores.

Abstract: In a computing system a method and apparatus for cache pooling is introduced. Threads are assigned priorities based on the criticality of their tasks. The most critical threads are assigned to main memory locations such that they are subject to limited or no cache contention. Less critical threads are assigned to main memory locations such that their cache contention with critical threads is minimized or eliminated. Thus, overall system performance is improved, as critical threads execute in a substantially predictable manner.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a scalable self-checking processing platform are described herein. According to one embodiment, during an execution frame, a first processing element executes both a high-criticality application and a first low-criticality application. During that same execution frame, a second processing element executes both the high-criticality application and a second low-criticality application. The high-criticality application output from the first processing element is compared with that from the second processing element before the next execution frame, and a fault occurs when the output does not match. The low-criticality application is not duplicated or compared. This and other embodiments allow high-criticality applications to be appropriated checked while avoiding the over-dedication of resources to low-criticality applications that do not warrant self-checking.

Abstract: A system comprising an implantable medical device that comprises a memory circuit, a radiation detector circuit configured to detect a condition correlative to a high-energy radiation level that exceeds a background radiation level, and a controller circuit. The control circuit checks memory locations for errors using a first rate of error checking per time period during a normal operation mode and, in response to the radiation detector circuit indicating a high-energy radiation level, initiates a memory scrubbing mode, wherein the memory scrubbing mode has an increased rate of error checking substantially all memory locations per time period in the memory circuit to check for any errors and correct any such errors.

Abstract: A system comprising an implantable medical device that comprises at least one electrical input to receive sensed electrical activity of a heart of a patient, a memory, and a controller circuit. The controller circuit is coupled to the electrical input and memory and is operable to enter a memory scrubbing mode that increases a rate of detecting and correcting single bit errors in the memory when the controller circuit determines the implantable device is in a high-energy radiation environment.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a method of generating a set of schedules for use by a partitioning kernel to execute a plurality of partitions on a plurality of processor cores included in a multi-core processor unit. The method includes determining a duration to execute each of the plurality of partitions without interference and generating a candidate set of schedules using the respective duration for each of the plurality of partitions. The method further includes estimating how much interference occurs for each partition when the partitions are executed on the multi-core processor unit using the candidate set of schedules and generating a final set of schedules by, for at least one of the partitions, scaling the respective duration in order to account for the interference for that partition. The method further includes configuring the multi-core processor unit to use the final set of schedules to control the execution of the partitions using at least two of the cores.

Abstract: In a computing system a method and apparatus for cache pooling is introduced. Threads are assigned priorities based on the criticality of their tasks. The most critical threads are assigned to main memory locations such that they are subject to limited or no cache contention. Less critical threads are assigned to main memory locations such that their cache contention with critical threads is minimized or eliminated. Thus, overall system performance is improved, as critical threads execute in a substantially predictable manner.

Abstract: A system comprising an implantable medical device that comprises at least one electrical input to receive sensed electrical activity of a heart of a patient, a memory, and a controller circuit. The controller circuit is coupled to the electrical input and memory and is operable to enter a memory scrubbing mode that increases a rate of detecting and correcting single bit errors in the memory when the controller circuit determines the implantable device is in a high-energy radiation environment.

Abstract: A system comprising an implantable medical device that comprises at least one electrical input to receive sensed electrical activity of a heart of a patient, a memory, and a controller circuit. The controller circuit is coupled to the electrical input and memory and is operable to enter a memory scrubbing mode that increases a rate of detecting and correcting single bit errors in the memory when the controller circuit determines the implantable device is in a high-energy radiation environment.

Abstract: In a multitasking system executing real-time harmonic and dynamic tasks having various priority levels, slack is stolen from both timeline and reclaimed slack to enable the execution of high priority non-essential tasks on a best efforts basis. Counts of the amount of slack consumed, slack reclaimed, and periodic compute time consumed are maintained by individual priority level and dynamically updated at certain times. Idle time is calculated by priority level. Available slack is calculated, and slack is allocated and consumed by rate, with the highest rate first and the lowest rate last. Slack is made available to tasks in more than one time partition. All slack belongs to a common system-wide pool of slack obtained from any one or more of the time partitions. Common slack can also be time-shared by static, non-harmonic tasks residing in different time partitions. Also described are a computer system and various methods that perform slack scheduling in a time-partitioned system.

Abstract: A time-partitioned system for accounting for processor time consumed by operating system services provided on behalf of an application runs in a real-time environment. The time utilized by the operating system is treated as application processing time, rather than viewing the resultant processor time consumed as an operating system overhead. Each application consists of one or more threads. A time budget is assigned to each thread and to each interrupt. The processor time consumed by the operating system when executing on behalf of a thread or interrupt is charged back to the application or interrupt as part of the application's time budget. Operating system overheads and processor interrupts are thus accounted for accurately enough to determine a schedule for the applications that is enforceable by the operating system at run time.

Abstract: A method is provided for optimizing CPU budgets associated with at least first and second threads executable in a time-partitioned real-time operating system. The first thread having a first CPU budget is executed, and at least a portion of the first thread's unused CPU budget is transferred to the second thread.

Abstract: A system comprising an implantable medical device that comprises at least one electrical input to receive sensed electrical activity of a heart of a patient, a memory, and a controller circuit. The controller circuit is coupled to the electrical input and memory and is operable to enter a memory scrubbing mode that increases a rate of detecting and correcting single bit errors in the memory when the controller circuit determines the implantable device is in a high-energy radiation environment.

Abstract: A method is provided for optimizing CPU budgets associated with at least first and second threads executable in a time-partitioned real-time operating system. The first thread having a first CPU budget is executed, and at least a portion of the first thread's unused CPU budget is transferred to the second thread.

Abstract: A time-partitioned system for accounting for processor time consumed by operating system services provided on behalf of an application runs in a real-time environment. The time utilized by the operating system is treated as application processing time, rather than viewing the resultant processor time consumed as an operating system overhead. Each application consists of one or more threads. A time budget is assigned to each thread and to each interrupt. The processor time consumed by the operating system when executing on behalf of a thread or interrupt is charged back to the application or interrupt as part of the application's time budget. Operating system overheads and processor interrupts are thus accounted for accurately enough to determine a schedule for the applications that is enforceable by the operating system at run time.