Timestamp Generation Component for Debug Information Temporal Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Complex distributed processing systems face challenges in debugging due to lack of synchronization between debug functionalities across different processing elements, limiting the accuracy of timestamping and making it difficult to identify the cause of errors occurring simultaneously across multiple devices.
Innovation Solution
A signal processing device and method utilizing Precision Time Protocol (PTP) data link layer timestamp values to timestamp debug information, enabling temporal alignment of debug data across multiple processing devices with high resolution and accuracy, even across different locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional OS-level timestamping is used, then device-level synchronization is achieved, but multi-device temporal alignment accuracy deteriorates due to OS resolution limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated timestamp generation component as an intermediary between the processor and debug modules. This component receives processor clock signals and generates high-resolution timestamps independently of the OS, providing accurate time references for debug information across multiple devices without requiring OS-level synchronization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the timestamping function from the OS and processor operations by creating an independent timestamp generation component. This segmentation allows the timestamping subsystem to operate with its own high-resolution clock, independent of the OS timer resolution, thereby achieving accurate multi-device temporal alignment without increasing overall system complexity.
2Ease of operation
If processor timers are used for timestamping, then local timing is available, but synchronization across multicore and network devices deteriorates due to lack of timer synchronization
Solution Approach 1:
The timestamp generation component is designed to receive clock signals from various sources including local processor clocks and network synchronization protocols (such as PTP). This multi-functional capability allows the same component to provide both local timing availability for single-device operations and synchronized timing across multicore and network devices, eliminating the need for separate timing mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If debug functionality is distributed across multiple devices, then system debugging capability is improved, but temporal alignment of debug information deteriorates due to lack of synchronization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary timestamping of debug information at the source device before transmission. The timestamp generation component generates accurate time references in advance for each debug event, allowing receiving devices to correlate events from multiple sources without requiring complex real-time synchronization during debugging operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A signal processing device includes at least one timestamp generation component arranged to generate at least one local timestamp value, and to provide the at least one local timestamp value to at least one data link layer module for timestamping of data packets. The signal processing device further includes at least one debug module arranged to receive the at least one local timestamp value and to timestamp debug information based at least partly on the at least one local timestamp value.