CAREER: From Nonstop-Monitoring to Nano-ISA: An Adaptive Multi-Dimensional Framework for Processor Reliability

计算机技术的成功应用提高了生活质量。事实上，很难指出社会功能的一个方面没有受到计算机系统的积极影响。计算机系统性能的巨大进步，同时降低了计算成本，一直是计算成功的主要原因。然而，设备尺寸的缩小最近给系统可靠性带来了新的挑战。系统可靠性是一个不容置疑的问题，也是本研究的主要重点。该建议采用多维方法来改善平均故障时间(MTTF)，而不是解决单一的可靠性问题，如软错误或工艺变化。随着时间的推移，可靠性的下降非常缓慢，因此本研究中提出的解决方案也是低成本的解决方案。为了开发低成本的解决方案，第一步是在采取主动措施检测错误之前，非侵入性地监控处理器的健康状况，以了解其老化过程。当检测到错误时，该方案使用低成本和灵活的软件机制来纠正错误，而不是使用昂贵的硬件解决方案。虽然任何一种方法都肯定会扩大MTTF，但当错误监测、检测和纠正在基于可靠性需求的分层框架中使用时，拟议研究的真正好处将结出硕果。这项提议的更广泛影响体现在两个方面。这项拟议的研究是出于工业对系统可靠性的担忧。在技术方面，开发的低成本解决方案将通过密切的产业界和学术界的互动转移给业界采用。大部分建议的研究思路将由研究团队作为研究原型进行设计和实施。这些原型将与工业合作伙伴共享，以便在工业环境中进行进一步评估。招募女性和少数族裔学生将是鼓励更广泛参与拟议研究的关键驱动力之一。这一目标将通过洛杉矶南加州大学家庭学校的积极参与和参与来实现。

Successful use of computing technologies has enhanced quality of life. In fact, it is hard to point to even one aspect of societal functioning that is not impacted positively by computer systems. The tremendous advances in computer system performance while simultaneously lowering the computing cost have been the primary reason for the success of computing. However, shrinking device sizes have recently lead to new challenges in system reliability. System reliability is an uncompromising concern and is the primary focus of this proposed research. Rather than addressing one single reliability concern, such as soft errors or process variations, this proposal takes a multi-dimensional approach to improve Mean-Time-To-Failure (MTTF). Reliability degrades extremely slowly over time and hence the solutions proposed in this research are also low cost solutions. In order to develop low cost solutions, the first step is to non-intrusively monitor the health of a processor to understand its aging process before taking proactive measures for detecting errors. When the error is detected, instead of employing expensive hardware solutions, this proposal uses low cost and flexible software mechanisms to correct the errors. While any one approach will certainly extend MTTF, the true benefits of the proposed research will bear fruition when error monitoring, detection and correction are employed in a hierarchical framework based on reliability needs. The broader impacts of this proposal are on two fronts. The proposed research is motivated by industrial concerns regarding system reliability. On the technology front, the low cost solutions developed will be transferred for industry adoption through close industry-academia interactions. Most of the proposed research ideas will be designed and implemented by the research team as research prototypes. These prototypes will be shared with industrial partners for further evaluations in an industrial setting. Woman and minority student recruitment will be one of the key driving force to encourage broader participation in the proposed research. This objective will be achieved through active participation and involvement of USC's Family of Schools in Los Angeles.