Method for operating a microcontroller

A device comprising:

• a memory protection unit, the memory protection unit being a hardware unit and being a hardware memory protection unit;
• and
• a microcontroller configured to:
• execute a plurality of processes, wherein access rights of the processes for accessing a plurality of memory areas are stored in a memory protection unit;
• and
• during a simulation mode of the memory protection unit, execute a first one of the processes, which execution includes the first process carrying out an attempt to access via the memory protection unit, on behalf of a second one of the processes and with a particular one of a plurality of access types, one of the plurality of memory areas, wherein responsive to the access attempt, the memory protection unit transfers to the first process an indication of the access rights of the second process for the one of the plurality of memory areas, the first process being separate from the second process;
• wherein the hardware memory protection unit is separate from and external to the microcontroller.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which are stored instructions that are executable by a processor and that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method for operating a microcontroller, wherein access rights of processes that are executable by the microcontroller for accessing a plurality of memory areas are stored in a memory protection unit, the method comprising:

• during a simulation mode of the memory protection unit:
• executing a first one of the processes that carries out an attempt to access via the memory protection unit, on behalf of a second one of the processes and with a particular one of a plurality of access types, one of the plurality of memory areas, the first process being separate from the second process;
• and
• responsive to the access attempt, transferring by the memory protection unit to the first process an indication of the access rights of the second process for the one of the plurality of memory areas;
• wherein the memory protection unit is a hardware unit, the hardware unit being a hardware memory protection unit, the hardware memory protection unit being separate from and external to the microcontroller.