Global Debug Controller Trace Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current debugging techniques for data processors face inefficiencies in filtering and managing data trace information across multiple debug clients, leading to unnecessary data collection and processing of irrelevant information.
Innovation Solution
A global debug controller employs a tag Random Access Memory (RAM) to store filtering criteria, which filters data trace information based on address, data, and attributes, allowing only relevant data to be maintained and discarding irrelevant data by using a tag bit associated with addresses, thereby applying a common filtering criteria across multiple debug clients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data trace information is collected from multiple debug clients without filtering, then complete debugging information is available, but unnecessary data collection and processing occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary trace information by implementing a filtering mechanism that selectively captures data based on address ranges and other criteria. The filter module extracts relevant trace information from the broader set of available data, eliminating unnecessary collection and processing of irrelevant information while maintaining complete debugging capability for the filtered data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by implementing client-specific filtering criteria where each debug client can have customized filter settings. The filter module applies different filtering rules to different clients based on their individual trace window configurations, allowing each client to receive only the locally relevant trace information while maintaining overall system reliability.
2Quantity of substance
If a comprehensive trace window is used to capture all data, then all data of interest is included, but irrelevant data is also collected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the comprehensive trace window into multiple smaller, client-specific trace windows. Each debug client is assigned a specific trace window range based on their debugging needs, allowing the system to maintain comprehensive data coverage across all clients while preventing individual clients from collecting irrelevant data outside their assigned ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter module serves as an intermediary between the comprehensive trace collection system and individual debug clients. It receives trace information from the broader trace window and selectively passes only the relevant data to each client based on their filtering criteria, preventing direct collection of irrelevant data by clients while maintaining overall data coverage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If trace information is processed for all clients, then all debugging needs are met, but resource utilization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by implementing selective processing where the filter module processes trace information for only those clients whose filtering criteria match the current trace data. Clients with non-matching criteria have their processing skipped entirely, reducing overall resource utilization while maintaining the capability to fully process data for any individual client when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
In a processing system comprising a plurality of data processors at an integrated circuit die, each data processor has a local debug module. In response to acquiring data trace information based upon a corresponding local filtering criteria, the local debug modules transmit their data trace information to a global resource from each of the local debug modules for further filtering by a common filtering criteria.