Failure analysis of a network-on-chip for real-time mixed-critical systems

Multi- and many-core architectures using Networks-on-Chip (NoC) are being explored for use in real-time safety-critical applications for their performance and efficiency. Such systems must provide isolation between tasks that may present distinct criticality levels. The NoC is critical to maintain the isolation property as it is a heavily used shared resource. To meet safety-standard requirements, such architectures require a systematic evaluation of the effects of all possible failures such as in the form of a Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA). We present the results of a detailed system-level analysis of a typical real-time mixed-critical network-on-chip architecture. This comprises an FMEA and error effects classification regarding duration and isolation violation.