An NoC Test Strategy Based on Flooding with Power, Test Time and Coverage Considerations

Abstract

A test strategy for testing NoC switches based on flooding is presented in this paper. This test strategy tests all switch ports and network routes, while it avoids sending a test packet arriving at a switch in every direction. This test strategy is referred to as pseudo-exhaustive, versus the exhaustive testing that sends an incoming test packet of a switch in every direction. As compared with the exhaustive strategy, the pseudo- exhaustive testing consumes lower power consumption, has a lower test time and still has 100% switch port fault coverage. This paper discusses our test strategy, test mode switch hardware requirements, and evaluates test power, time, and coverage.