Nxp Usa, Inc.

Freescale Semiconductor,inc.

Jonathan J Gamoneda

William C Moyer

Jeffrey William Scott

Jehoda Refaeli

Richard G Collins

A method for managing thread execution in a processing system is provided. The method includes setting a first watchpoint, and generating a first watchpoint trigger corresponding to the first watchpoint. In response to the first watchpoint trigger, execution of a first thread is controlled in accordance with a value stored in a first control register. Controlling the first thread may further include disabling execution of the first thread. The disabling execution of the first thread may occur within the first watchpoint region.

Data processing system having dynamic thread control

In one or more embodiments, one or more systems, method, and/or processes described herein can change/switch from a first trace mode to a second trace mode without halting a system under development and/or under test. For example, a debug/trace unit can switch a trace mode without halting a processing unit of a system under development and/or under test. For instance, a debug/trace unit can switch a trace mode that can occur on a change of flow boundary of program instructions executable by a processing unit, at a branch instruction, if a region of program instructions is entered or exited, and/or if a capacity of a buffer changes. In one or more embodiments, Nexus messages can be utilized, and trace mode switches can include switches to and/or from traditional and history traces modes.

Switching between traditional and history program trace modes without halting a processor

A data processing system and method includes a data processor and memory that are coupled to debug circuitry that generates debug messages including address translation trace messages. A memory management unit (MMU) includes a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) for implementing address translation to translate addresses between virtual and physical forms. The debug circuitry includes message generation circuitry coupled to the MMU for receiving notice when TLB entries are modified and generating both an address translation trace message and a corresponding program correlation message containing at least one of branch history information and instruction count information. The branch history information is a history of direct branch instructions that are executed and whether, when executed, the direct branch instructions were taken. The instruction count information is a count of one or more data processing instructions executed up to a point in time when a new TLB entry is established in the TLB.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Jonathan J Gamoneda