Using a data ECC to detect address corruption

摘要

A system for detecting an address or data error in a memory system. During operation, the system stores a data block to an address by: calculating a hash of the address; using the calculated hash and data bits from the data block to compute ECC check bits; and storing the data block containing the data bits and the ECC check bits at the address. During a subsequent retrieval operation, the memory system uses the address to retrieve the data block containing the data bits and ECC check bits. Next, the system calculates a hash of the address and uses the calculated hash and the data bits to compute ECC check bits. Finally, the system compares the computed ECC check bits with the retrieved ECC check bits to determine whether an error exists in the address or data bits, or if a data corruption indicator is set.

主权项

1. A method for detecting an address or data error in a memory system, comprising:
during a memory operation, using an address to retrieve a data block containing data bits and associated error-correcting code (ECC) check bits; calculating a hash of the address, which involves calculating a parity bit for the address; using the calculated hash which includes the parity bit for the address, and the data bits to compute ECC check bits; and comparing the computed ECC check bits with the retrieved ECC check bits to determine whether an error exists in the address or data bits.