Dynamic Debugging Message Configuration via Runtime Bitmask
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Debugging firmware in a computing system is challenging due to the unavailability of debugging information during the execution of the release version, making it difficult to identify the root cause of functional issues, especially when rebuilding the firmware is not feasible or reproducible.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a dynamic configuration mechanism that allows for the selection and updating of debugging messages at runtime, using masks associated with modules or components, enabling precise control over the types of debugging messages available without rebuilding the firmware, and providing a debugging configuration service to manage these settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If firmware is rebuilt for debugging mode to obtain debugging information, then debugging capability is improved, but firmware stability and operational consistency deteriorate because system conditions change after rebuilding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic configuration of debugging message availability through a bitmask parameter that can be modified at runtime without rebuilding firmware. This allows the system to adapt debugging capabilities during operation while maintaining the original firmware image, thus preserving system stability while enabling debugging when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the state of debugging messages from static (always unavailable in release mode) to dynamically controllable through a bitmask parameter. By modifying this parameter, the system can enable or disable specific debugging messages without altering the firmware code itself, resolving the contradiction between debugging access and system stability.
2Loss of information
If all debugging messages are made available during firmware execution, then debugging information completeness is improved, but system resource consumption and output volume deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling debugging messages selectively based on their type and source module rather than uniformly for all messages. The bitmask parameter allows specific debugging message categories to be enabled or disabled independently, providing targeted debugging information while minimizing unnecessary output volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments debugging messages into different types and sources, each controllable through specific bits in the bitmask parameter. This segmentation allows the system to enable only the necessary debugging messages for a particular debugging task, reducing overall output volume while maintaining completeness for relevant information.
3Device complexity
If debugging messages are configured at build-time, then firmware structure simplicity is improved, but flexibility and adaptability deteriorate because configuration cannot be changed without rebuilding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic configurability through a bitmask parameter that can be modified at runtime. This single parameter provides flexible control over debugging message availability without adding complex configuration structures, maintaining firmware simplicity while enabling adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements configuration flexibility through parameter changes rather than structural modifications. The bitmask parameter can be changed without rebuilding firmware, allowing the system to adapt debugging behavior to different operational needs while maintaining a simple firmware structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Configuration of availability of debugging messages during the execution of a firmware in a debugging mode of operation is provided. The configuration can be updated without rebuilding the firmware. Thus, a selection of a group of available types of debugging messages can be updated dynamically, at various runtime instances of the firmware. The selection can be accomplished by configuring, at a runtime of the firmware, a level of recordation of debugging messages and one or more data structures associated with the level or recordation. Each of the one or more data structures includes elements indicative of respective types of debugging messages being enabled or disabled for presentation during the execution of the firmware in the debugging mode of operation. A debugging message can be provided based at least partially on at least one of the data structure(s) during the execution of the firmware in the debugging mode of operation.