Intel Corporation
SELF-HEALING LOW SPEED SERIAL INTERFACE

Abstract:

An apparatus and method to monitor status of a serial data signal on a low speed serial bus is provided. A controller configures a watchdog timer in each target device, sends a heart-beat command to all of the target devices over the low speed serial bus prior to the expiration of the watchdog timer and issues a broadcast read command to any one of the target devices on the low speed serial bus. A response to the broadcast read command confirms that the low speed serial bus is functional. If a response is not received, the low speed serial bus is not functional and the controller initiates a broadcast reset command to initialize all target devices on the low speed serial bus.