Content Adaptive Signal Probing in Hardware Emulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current signal probing methods in hardware emulation devices face challenges in capturing relevant signal values due to limited visibility of internal states and logic transitions, often requiring continuous recording of time windows around single trigger events, which can be inefficient and difficult to define effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method that records signal values only when a predetermined recording condition is met, allowing for non-continuous data storage and marking of signal values with flags to indicate data unit boundaries, enabling content-adaptive signal probing and reducing unnecessary data capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous recording of time windows around single trigger events is used, then signal values can be captured, but the amount of recorded data becomes large and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and records only the essential signal values that meet predetermined recording conditions (such as valid transitions or specific pattern matches) rather than recording all signal values continuously. This selective extraction reduces the recorded data volume while maintaining the reliability of capturing meaningful signal events.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the recording parameter from continuous time-based recording to conditional event-based recording. By monitoring whether signal values satisfy predetermined conditions (such as valid transitions, pattern matches, or boundary conditions), the system dynamically determines what to record, thereby reducing data volume while preserving critical information.
2Reliability
If continuous recording is performed to ensure no signal information is missed, then all signal events are captured, but the complexity of data processing and analysis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the meaningful signal events that satisfy predetermined recording conditions, removing unnecessary data from the recording process. This extraction approach simplifies subsequent data processing and analysis by eliminating redundant information while retaining all critical signal events.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary filtering and condition checking before recording signal values. By evaluating whether signal values meet predetermined conditions (such as valid transitions or pattern matches) before storage, the system prepares the data in advance, reducing the complexity of later processing and analysis steps.
3Loss of information
If all signal values are recorded continuously, then complete signal data is available, but the time required for debug analysis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and records only the essential signal values that meet predetermined recording conditions, such as valid transitions, pattern matches, or boundary conditions. This selective recording maintains signal data completeness for meaningful events while dramatically reducing the total data volume, thereby decreasing debug analysis time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the recording approach from continuous time-based recording to conditional event-based recording. By monitoring and recording only when predetermined conditions are met (such as valid transitions or specific patterns), the system preserves all critical signal information while reducing data volume, thus shortening analysis time.
4Reliability
If continuous time windows are recorded to capture signal patterns, then signal structure information is preserved, but storage memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and records only signal values that satisfy predetermined recording conditions, such as valid transitions, pattern matches, or boundary conditions. This selective extraction preserves the essential signal structure information while minimizing storage memory requirements by excluding redundant data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the recording parameter from continuous time-based recording to conditional event-based recording. By dynamically determining what to record based on predetermined conditions (such as valid transitions or pattern matches), the system preserves signal structure information while reducing storage memory size.
Data Source
AI summary
Method, computer program stored on a computer-accessible medium and signal probing device can be provided for recording signal values of a first signal generated by an emulated digital circuit which can be emulated by a hardware emulation device. For example, the first signal can be read out, where the first signal comprises a plurality of data units. Furthermore, at least two signal values of the first signal can be stored. Each signal value of the first signal can only be stored, if a predetermined recording condition is fulfilled, such that a non-continuous set of signal values is stored in a data buffer. Moreover, at least one of the stored signal values can be marked with a flag, if the signal value is a boundary of a data unit of the first signal.