Trace Data Source Identifier for Flush Request Completion

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Solution Overview

Problem

In data processing apparatuses, the existing technique of using a register to indicate a flush request completion can become unreliable due to complex output paths and buffers, leading to race conditions and uncertainty in interpreting the flush response.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a selected trace data source identifier into the trace stream to indicate the completion of a flush request, ensuring all items of trace data generated before the request are included before the identifier, thus safely interpreting the response without disrupting the trace stream's formatting or bandwidth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a register is used to indicate flush request completion, then the flush response can be indicated, but race conditions and uncertainty occur due to complex output paths and buffers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflush response indication reliabilityVSAvoidoutput path complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the flush response indication with the existing trace stream by incorporating a selected trace data source identifier into the trace stream itself. This combines the function of indicating flush completion with the existing trace data output mechanism, eliminating the need for separate register polling and avoiding race conditions while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If a register is polled to determine flush completion, then the flush status can be checked, but uncertainty and race conditions arise in complex systems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflush completion detection accuracyVSAvoidflush response interpretation certainty

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a selected trace data source identifier as an intermediary marker within the trace stream. This identifier acts as a reliable mediator that clearly demarcates the completion of flush operations, providing unambiguous detection accuracy and eliminating the uncertainty associated with register polling in complex systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If trace data is buffered at various points, then trace data can be temporarily stored, but the flush response becomes unreliable due to buffer complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrace data buffering capacityVSAvoidflush response reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by inserting the selected trace data source identifier into the trace stream before the actual flush completion occurs. This advance placement ensures that all buffered trace data generated before the flush request is clearly delimited, maintaining reliability even when trace data is buffered at multiple points in the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9678852B2Tracing the operations of a data processing apparatus using trace data source identifiers to respond to flush requests

Publication Date: 2017.06.13 ARM LTD

AI summary

An apparatus for processing data is disclosed in which the operations of data processing circuitry are monitored by one or more trace data sources which generate items of trace data indicative of the data processing operations performed by the data processing circuitry. Trace data source identifiers in a resulting trace stream indicate the source of items of trace data and a selected trace data source identifier is included in the trace stream in response to a received flush request signal. All items of trace data generated before the apparatus received the flush request signal are included in the trace stream before the selected trace data source identifier, such that the conclusion of the response of the apparatus to the flush request signal can be identified.