Online Path-based Test Method for Network-on-Chip

A considerable amount of routers and links remains idle after each mapping application onto the Network-on-Chip based many-core systems. Online path-based test method is a kind of self-test for these idle components. In this paper, a path-based fabric for NoC is firstly proposed. A path serves as the basic component, covering one link and its associated control logic in the routers. One possibility is to apply fault detection on the idle paths, while the other paths continue to operate normally. Moreover, this paper details the hardware implementation, targeting the stuck-at and bridging faults. It suggests a good trade-off between fault coverage, hardware overhead and test time. Experimental results show that the approach achieves 93% of the stuck-at faults in control unit and cover 100% of the stuck-at and bridging faults on the global link within 256 clock cycles.