Provision of debug via a separate ring bus in a data processing apparatus

A method of processing data, said method comprising the steps of:

• performing data processing operations using a plurality of functional units, at least one of said functional units being operable to perform data processing operations and at least a subset of said plurality of functional units having at least one of a respective co-processor register for storing configuration data and a respective debug register for storing debug data;
• providing a first ring path for communication of configuration instructions between a first ring sequence of said plurality of functional units;
• and
• providing a second ring path for communication of said debug data between a second ring sequence of said plurality of functional units;
• wherein separate provision of said first ring path and said second ring path provides independent access to said co-processor register and to said debug register.

Apparatus for processing data, said apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of means for processing, at least one of said means for processing being operable to perform data processing operations and at least a subset of said plurality of means for processing having at least one of a respective means for storing configuration data and a respective means for storing debug data;
• means for providing a ring path for communication of configuration instructions between a first ring sequence of said plurality of means for processing;
• and
• means for providing a ring path for communication of debug data between a second ring sequence of said plurality of means for processing;
• wherein separate provision of said means for providing a ring path for communication of configuration instructions and said means for providing a ring path for communication of said debug data provides independent access to said co-processor register and to said debug register.