Interface Tracking Circuit for Transaction Data Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing integrated circuits face challenges in efficiently extracting transaction-level information from interfaces due to the need for large on-chip memory resources to store signal data for debugging and verification, which is impractical and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an interface tracking circuit within the IC that uses counters to track transaction starts and ends, generating counter data, and an integrated logic analyzer to capture signal data as trace data within a defined trace window, allowing a host system to determine transaction-level information without storing extensive data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If signal data is stored for the entire operation period of the interface, then complete transaction information is captured, but large on-chip memory resources are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction information completenessVSAvoidon-chip memory size

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The interface tracking circuit performs preliminary actions by generating counter data that tracks transaction starts and ends before the trace window begins. This preliminary tracking allows the system to capture only the necessary portion of transaction data during the trace window, rather than storing all signal data from the beginning of interface operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The solution segments the data capture process into two parts: (1) counter data generated continuously by the interface tracking circuit to track transaction boundaries, and (2) signal data captured only during the trace window by the integrated logic analyzer. This segmentation eliminates the need to store complete signal data for the entire operation period.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If trace window start is delayed after interface operation starts, then debugging flexibility is improved, but transaction matching becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebugging flexibilityVSAvoidtransaction matching complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The counter data acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the delayed trace window start and the transaction boundaries. The counter data continuously tracks transaction starts and ends, providing reference information that enables accurate transaction matching even when the trace window begins after interface operation has already started.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The solution replaces the mechanical approach of storing all signal data and performing complex post-processing matching with a more efficient system that uses counter-based tracking. The counter data provides a simplified mechanism for identifying transaction boundaries and matching them with captured signal data, reducing the complexity of the matching process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10445219B1Extracting transaction level information from a circuit interface

Publication Date: 2019.10.15 XILINX INC

AI summary

Extracting transaction level information from an interface can include tracking transactions of an interface within an integrated circuit (IC) using a plurality of counters within the IC, wherein the counters generate counter data corresponding to the transactions. The method can include capturing signals of the interface as trace data for a trace window using an integrated logic analyzer within the IC, wherein a start of the trace window begins after a start of the tracking of the transactions using the plurality of counters. The method can also include using a host data processing system coupled to the IC, determining transaction level information for the interface using the counter data and the trace data for the trace window.