Processing apparatus, trace unit and diagnostic apparatus

A processing apparatus comprising:

• processing circuitry configured to perform processing operations in response to program instructions;
• a condition status storage location configured to store at least one condition flag indicating a property of a previous processing result;
• and
• trace circuitry configured to generate trace data elements indicative of said processing operations performed by said processing circuitry in response to said program instructions;
• wherein:
• said processing circuitry is responsive to at least one conditional instruction to perform a conditional operation in dependence on a current value of a subset of said at least one condition flag;
• and
• said trace circuitry is configured, in response to said processing circuitry processing at least one of said at least one conditional instruction, to generate a trace data element including a traced condition value indicative of at least said subset of said at least one condition flag, said traced condition value providing information for determining a processing outcome of said at least one conditional instruction.

A processing apparatus comprising:

• processing means for performing processing operations in response to program instructions;
• condition status storage means for storing at least one condition flag indicating a property of a previous processing result;
• and
• trace means for generating trace data elements indicative of said processing operations performed by said processing means in response to said program instructions;
• wherein:
• said processing means is responsive to at least one conditional instruction to perform a conditional operation in dependence on a current value of a subset of said at least one condition flag;
• and
• said trace means is configured, in response to said processing means processing at least one of said at least one conditional instruction, to generate a trace data element including a traced condition value indicative of at least said subset of said at least one condition flag, said traced condition value providing information for determining a processing outcome of said at least one conditional instruction.

A trace unit for monitoring processing operations performed by a processing apparatus in response to program instructions, said processing apparatus comprising a condition status storage location configured to store at least one condition flag indicating a property of a previous processing result, said processing apparatus being responsive to at least one conditional instruction to perform a conditional operation in dependence on a current value of a subset of said at least one condition flag;

• said trace unit comprising:
• trace circuitry configured to generate trace data elements indicative of said processing operations performed by said processing apparatus in response to said program instructions;
• wherein:
• said trace circuitry is configured, in response to said processing apparatus processing at least one of said at least one conditional instruction, to generate a trace data element including a traced condition value indicative of at least said subset of said at least one condition flag, said traced condition value providing information for determining a processing outcome of said at least one conditional instruction.

A trace unit for monitoring processing operations performed by a processing apparatus in response to program instructions, said processing apparatus comprising condition status storage means for storing at least one condition flag indicating a property of a previous processing result, said processing apparatus being responsive to at least one conditional instruction to perform a conditional operation in dependence on a current value of a subset of said at least one condition flag;

• said trace unit comprising:
• trace means for generating trace data elements indicative of said processing operations performed by said processing apparatus in response to said program instructions;
• wherein:
• said trace means is configured, in response to said processing apparatus processing at least one of said at least one conditional instruction, to generate a trace data element including a traced condition value indicative of at least said subset of said at least one condition flag, said traced condition value providing information for determining a processing outcome of said at least one conditional instruction.

A diagnostic apparatus for analysing trace data indicative of processing operations performed by a processing apparatus in response to program instructions, said processing apparatus comprising a condition status storage location configured to store at least one condition flag indicating a property of a previous processing result, said processing apparatus being responsive to at least one conditional instruction to perform a conditional operation in dependence on a current value of a subset of said at least one condition flag;

• said diagnostic apparatus comprising:
• a trace input configured to receive trace data including at least one trace data element generated in response to said processing apparatus processing at least one of said at least one conditional instruction, said at least one trace data element including a traced condition value indicative of said property of the previous processing result indicated by at least said subset of said at least one condition flag;
• and
• diagnostic circuitry configured to determine a processing outcome of said at least one conditional instruction in dependence on said traced condition value included in said at least one trace data element.