G06F11/3656

Semiconductor Device and Debug System
20200272366 · 2020-08-27 · ·

The present invention monitors read data or write data of a CPU without generating any influences on an execution operation of a program.

An LSI includes: a processing unit, executing a program; a storage unit, capable of performing a read operation or a write operation; and an internal bus, connected to the processing unit and the storage unit; and a monitoring unit (21). The processing unit is capable of performing a read access or a write access, the read access is outputting a read enable signal (RE) and an address signal (ADD) to the internal bus, and the write access is outputting write data (WD), a write enable signal (WE) and the address signal to the internal bus. The storage unit outputs the read data to the internal bus in response to the read access and stores the write data in response to the write access. The monitoring unit latches the read data or the write data to be sent through the internal bus when an access meeting a set monitoring condition is present.

Apparatus and method using debug status storage element

At least one processor core has debug and non-debug modes of operation. Debug control circuitry controls operation of the at least one processor core when in the debug mode. On power up of a given processor core, the core checks a debug status value stored in a debug status storage element. When the debug status value has a first value, a debug connect sequence of messages is exchanged with the debug control circuitry over a debug interface to determine whether the given processor core should operate in the debug mode or the non-debug mode, and the debug status value is set to a second value when it is determined that the given processor core should operate in the non-debug mode. When the debug status value has the second value, the given processor core omits initiating the debug connect sequence and determines that it should operate in the non-debug mode.

Detection of runtime failures in a system on chip using debug circuitry
10754760 · 2020-08-25 · ·

Disclosed approaches involve at least one processor executing a program and a debug interface circuit coupled to the processor. The debug interface circuit is configured to transmit first trace data from the first processor. A debug access port is coupled to the debug interface circuit. A fault detection circuit is coupled to the debug access port and is configured to receive the first trace data via the debug access port and compare the first trace data to second data. The fault detection circuit generates an error signal to the first processor in response to a discrepancy between the first trace data and the second data.

REMOTING APPLICATION ACROSS A NETWORK USING DRAW COMMANDS WITH AN ISOLATOR APPLICATION

A client device instantiates an isolator application. A request to instantiate a remote application in a server device is sent by the isolator application instance. The isolator application instance receives, from the remote application instance, draw commands and position information that correspond to the draw commands. The isolator application instance renders one or more portions of output based on the draw commands and the position information.

Methods and apparatus for selectively extracting and loading register states
10725528 · 2020-07-28 · ·

Integrated circuits may include registers that store register states. Only a subset of the registers may store critical register states. The subset of registers may be specially demarcated, such as using synthesis directions in the hardware description, and may be coupled to dedicated extraction/loading circuitry. The extraction/loading circuitry may be implemented using soft or hard logic or can leverage existing programming or debugging circuitry on a programmable integrated circuit. The extraction/loading mechanism may also be implemented using multiplexers and associated control circuitry, scan chain circuitry, a memory-mapped interface, a tool-instantiated or user-instantiated finite state machine, or external memory interface logic. Accessing critical register states in this way can help improve efficiency with live migration events, debugging, retiming, and other integrated circuit operations.

Program testing service

A device to be utilized for testing a program is connected to a device host operating in a service provider network via a peripheral bus. A network connection is established between a testing host, which might be a virtual machine, and the device host using a peripheral-bus-over-network-protocol. A secure network connection is established between the developer computing device and the testing host. A network port utilized by a debugging client application executing on the developer computing device is forwarded to the testing host over the secure network connection. Data packets generated by the debugging client application executing on the developer computing device are forwarded to a debugging server application execution on the testing host. Peripheral devices (e.g. the requested device) accessible to the testing host can then be utilized by the developer computing device for testing execution of the program as if the device were locally connected thereto.

Prefetching instruction blocks

Technology related to prefetching instruction blocks is disclosed. In one example of the disclosed technology, a processor comprises a block-based processor core for executing a program comprising a plurality of instruction blocks. The block-based processor core can include prefetch logic and a local buffer. The prefetch logic can be configured to receive a reference to a predicted instruction block and to determine a mapping of the predicted instruction block to one or more lines. The local buffer can be configured to selectively store portions of the predicted instruction block and to provide the stored portions of the predicted instruction block when control of the program passes along a predicted execution path to the predicted instruction block.

COMMANDED JTAG TEST ACCESS PORT OPERATIONS
20200217888 · 2020-07-09 ·

The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for improving the operation of a TAP architecture in a device through the use of Command signal inputs to the TAP architecture. In response to a Command signal input, the TAP architecture can perform streamlined and uninterrupted Update, Capture and Shift operation cycles to a target circuit in the device or streamlined and uninterrupted capture and shift operation cycles to a target circuit in the device. The Command signals can be input to the TAP architecture via the devices dedicated TMS or TDI inputs or via a separate CMD input to the device.

Method for managing a return of a product for analysis and corresponding product

A method for managing a product includes: placing an integrated circuit in a bootstrap mode with debugging prohibition in response to each reset or power-up of the integrated circuit and in an absence of a reception, on a test access port of the product, of a first command; and placing the integrated circuit in an analysis mode with debugging authorization in response to reception, on the test access port, of the first command following the reset or the power-up of the integrated circuit. Placing the integrated circuit in the analysis mode is maintained at least as long as a second command has not been received on the test access port. Placing the integrated circuit in the bootstrap mode and placing the integrated circuit in the analysis mode are performed in response to a determination that the integrated circuit has never before been placed in the analysis mode with debugging authorization.

TERMINAL FAILURE BUSTER
20200210321 · 2020-07-02 · ·

A system and method may include a mobile electronic device including a primary electronic display and a processor in communication with the primary electronic display. A secondary electronic display may be in communication with the processor. The processor may execute software that, in the event of an execution error of a software program or hardware component, causes at least one message inclusive of information to assist a user with a debugging process to be displayed on the secondary electronic display