Ultrasoc Technologies Limited

Mentor Graphics Corporation

Michael Jonathan Thyer

Andrew Brian Thomas Hopkins

Iain Craig Robertson

Andrew James Bower

A method of reconfiguring a current debug configuration of a debug unit connected to a peripheral circuit on an integrated circuit chip. The method comprises the debug unit collecting debug data of the peripheral circuit and outputting the debug data in a message stream. The debug unit receives a debug reconfiguration command. The debug unit transmits an indication of the current debug configuration, then reconfigures the current debug configuration to a new debug configuration in accordance with the debug reconfiguration command, then transmits an indication of the new debug configuration. The indication of the current debug configuration and the indication of the new debug configuration are transmitted adjacent to the debug data in the message stream.

Reconfiguring monitoring circuitry

Reconfiguring debug circuitry

A method of tracing transactions on an integrated circuit chip. The method comprises, for each transaction: extracting the transaction from interconnect circuitry of the integrated circuit chip, the transaction comprising an address signal and a data signal; applying a filtering condition to the address signal; only if the address signal does not fail the filtering condition, storing the address signal in an address trace buffer; storing the data signal in a data trace buffer; applying a triggering condition to the stored transaction; and outputting the stored transaction if the stored transaction matches the triggering condition.

Tracing interconnect circuitry

A method of profiling transactions on an integrated circuit chip. The method comprises, for each transaction: extracting the transaction from interconnect circuitry of the integrated circuit chip; and filtering the transaction at a filtering circuit to determine which passband a parameter of the transaction lies within; sending an increment signal to a counter of a bank of counters, the counter having a counter value indicative of a number of transactions having the parameter lying within the passband; and outputting the counter values of the bank of counters.

Profiling transactions on an integrated circuit chip

An integrated circuit chip comprising system circuitry and debugging circuitry. The system circuitry comprises a peripheral circuit. The debugging circuitry comprises a debug unit and a debug adapter. The debug unit is connected to the peripheral circuit. The debug adapter interfaces between the debug unit and a debug controller. The debug adapter is configured to receive a sequence of debug commands from the debug controller, each debug command instructing the debug unit to perform an action other than responding to a poll. In respect of each debug command, the debug adapter sends the debug command to the debug unit, and polls the debug unit to query whether the debug unit has performed the action instructed in that debug command.

Debug adapter

A method of functionality testing system circuitry on an integrated circuit chip, the system circuitry comprising a plurality of sub-circuits and the integrated circuit chip further comprising debugging circuitry, the debugging circuitry comprising variability circuitry. The method comprises: at the system circuitry, performing a function by the sub-circuits performing concurrent actions; at the variability circuitry, altering relative timing of the concurrent actions so as to increase the likelihood of one or more errors in the system circuitry's performance of the function; and at the debugging circuitry, recording one or more errors in the system circuitry's performance of the function.

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Michael Jonathan Thyer