System and method for debugging microcontroller using low-bandwidth real-time trace

A system for real-time debugging of microcontroller, the system comprising:

• a microcontroller configured in an embedded device to execute a set of instructions, the microcontroller comprising a counter unit that generates a set of values for the executed set of instructions;
• an on-chip debugger (OCD) operatively coupled to the microcontroller, the on-chip debugger fetches a selective set of data packets of the set of instructions from the microcontroller, the selective set of data packets pertaining to trace data that comprises the set of values for any or a combination of entry data, exit data, and goto data, wherein the entry data and exit data pertaining to functions that comprises interrupt service routines, bootloader and compiler;
• an encoder configured in the on-chip debugger, the encoder encodes the selective set of data packets to store the encoded set of data packets in a storage unit;
• and
• an external debugger unit (EDU) operatively coupled to the on-chip debugger through an interface, the external debugger unit configured to receive the encoded set of data packets from the on-chip debugger through the interface, wherein encoding of the set of data packets is performed to compress the data for minimal information size such that the external debugger unit receives the encoded set of data packets with minimal information size through the external interface,
• wherein, the external debugger unit is configured to identify the encoded set of data packets received from the on-chip debugger based on matching of the encoded set of data packets with reference set of data packets, and wherein, the external debugger unit decodes the encoded set of data packets to form the meaningful set of instructions, the external debugger unit rectifies one or more of physical communication interface errors or decoding errors.