Common Debugger Runtime Environment for Unified Electronic System Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Debugging complex electronic systems is cumbersome due to the need to switch between multiple incompatible debugger tools, making simultaneous interaction and data gathering difficult.
Innovation Solution
A common debugger runtime environment (CDRE) translates tool-specific commands into compatible formats, allowing interoperability between different debugger tools and providing a unified interface for controlling and accessing various components of the electronic system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple debugger tools are used to control different components of the electronic system, then the ability to control specific components is improved, but the complexity of operating the system increases due to incompatible commands and the need to switch between tools
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal debugger interface that can control multiple different debugger tools (HDL simulator, hardware co-simulation tool, logic analyzer, embedded system debugger) through a single unified command set. This allows one debugger to perform the functions of multiple specialized tools, reducing the need to switch between incompatible interfaces while maintaining the ability to control specific components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (the common debugger runtime environment) that sits between the user and multiple debugger tools. This intermediary translates unified debugger commands into tool-specific commands, mediating between the user's generic debugging requests and the specific requirements of each debugger tool, thereby simplifying the interface while preserving component-specific control capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple debugger tools are used concurrently to debug different components, then the debugging coverage is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the need to simultaneously interact with multiple tools
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple debugger tools into a single integrated debugger interface. Instead of requiring users to simultaneously operate separate tools for HDL simulation, hardware co-simulation, logic analysis, and embedded system debugging, the patent combines these functions into one unified debugger that can control all components through a single interface, maintaining comprehensive debugging coverage while simplifying operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified debugger is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple debugger tool operations simultaneously through a single command set. This multi-functional debugger can control HDL simulators, hardware co-simulation tools, logic analyzers, and embedded system debuggers concurrently, providing comprehensive debugging coverage without requiring users to switch between or simultaneously interact with multiple separate tools.
3Reliability
If tool-specific commands are used for each debugger tool, then the compatibility with specific tools is improved, but the loss of information increases due to the inability to reference components controlled by other debugger tools
Solution Approach 1:
The common debugger runtime environment acts as an intermediary that receives unified debugger commands referencing any component in the electronic system and translates them into the appropriate tool-specific commands. This intermediary layer preserves cross-tool component reference capability by maintaining a unified view of all components while ensuring reliable communication with each specific debugger tool through proper command translation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the parameter space of debugger commands by introducing a unified command structure that abstracts away tool-specific parameters. The unified debugger accepts generic commands with standardized parameters, and the runtime environment performs parameter transformation and mapping to the specific parameter formats required by each debugger tool, thereby maintaining both cross-tool reference capability and tool-specific compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are approaches for operating a plurality of debugger tools. A common debugger receives first-type commands for processing. Each first-type command references one of the debugger tools. Each debugger tool provides control over a respective set of one or more components of the electronic system and recognizes a respective set of tool-specific commands. Each input first-type command is translated into a respective tool-specific command that is compatible with the one of the debugger tools specified in the first-type command. Each respective tool-specific command from the common debugger is provided to the one of the debugger tools specified in the input first-type command from which the respective tool-specific command was translated. Each translated tool-specific command is performed by the targeted debugger tool.