Secure coprocessor assisted hardware debugging

A method comprising:

• providing, by a secure coprocessor, security protection by performing authentication and validation functions;
• generating, by a debug tool, a debug request and conveying the debug request to the secure coprocessor;
• performing, by the secure coprocessor, one or more operations to convert data of the debug request from a first format to a second format in response to receiving the debug request, wherein data in the second format is executable by a debug target;
• conveying, by the second coprocessor, the data in the second format to the debug target;
• performing, by the secure coprocessor, one or more operations to convert a result from the second format to the first format, wherein the result is generated by the debug target executing one or more instructions on the data in the second format;
• and
• conveying, by the secure coprocessor, the result to the debug tool to be displayed to a user to assist in debug operations associated with the debug target.

An apparatus comprising:

• a memory;
• a debug target comprising at least one processor;
• and
• a secure coprocessor configured to provide security protection for the apparatus by performing authentication and validation functions;
• wherein the secure coprocessor is configured to:
• receive a debug request generated by a debug tool;
• perform one or more operations to convert data of the debug request from a first format to a second format in response to receiving the debug request, wherein data in the second format is executable by the debug target;
• convey the data in the second format to the debug target;
• perform one or more operations to convert a result from the second format to the first format, wherein the result is generated by the debug target executing one or more instructions on the data in the second format;
• and
• convey the result to the debug tool to be displayed to a user to assist in debug operations associated with the debug target.