The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Sep. 15, 1998

Filed:

Jul. 29, 1994
Applicant:
Inventors:

Jeffrey Todd Bridges, Raleigh, NC (US);

Thomas K Collopy, Cary, NC (US);

James N Dieffenderfer, Apex, NC (US);

Thomas Joseph Irene, Raleigh, NC (US);

Harry I Linzer, Raleigh, NC (US);

Thomas Andrew Sartorius, Raleigh, NC (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
395568 ; 395580 ;
Abstract

A system and method for tracing program code within a processor having an embedded cache memory. The non-invasive tracing technique minimizes the need for trace information to be broadcast externally. The tracing technique monitors changes in instruction flow from the normal execution stream of the code. The tracing technique monitors the updating of processor branch target register contents in order to monitor branch target flow of the code. A FIFO and serial logic circuitry is utilized to minimize the number of chip pins required to broadcast the information from the chip. The tracing technique utilizes instruction and data breakpoint debug functions to signal an external trace tool that a trace event has occurred.


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