Software-based online self-testing of network-on-chip using bounded model checking

摘要

Online testing is critical to ensure reliable operation of manycore systems based on a network-on-chip (NoC) interconnection fabric. We present a software-based online NoC self-testing solution based on bounded model checking (BMC). The proposed method first implements BMC on a sliced extended finite-state machine, and extracts the leading sequences necessary to excite NoC functions. Next, it targets the structural faults within every function excited by the leading sequence through constrained ATPG. Finally, a test protocol is developed to make the test responses observable. Experimental results show that the proposed method achieves high fault coverage in functional mode and outperforms previously proposed solutions. In addition, the fault coverage is very close to that of full-scan testing, but without any area overhead.