Method, apparatus and trace module for generating timestamps

A data processing apparatus comprising:

• processing circuitry for processing data;
• and
• tracing circuitry for generating trace packets indicative of at least one characteristic of said data processing apparatus or said processing performed by said processing circuitry;
• wherein:
• at least one of said processing circuitry and said tracing circuitry is responsive to an occurrence of a predetermined event to set a timestamp request flag to indicate that a timestamp request is pending;
• and
• upon generation of a following trace packet by said tracing circuitry, said tracing circuitry is configured to check whether or not said timestamp request flag indicates that a timestamp request is pending and, when said timestamp request flag indicates that a timestamp request is pending, to generate a timestamp corresponding to said following trace packet and to set said timestamp request flag to indicate that no timestamp request is pending.

A trace module for performing tracing operations on a data processing apparatus, the trace module comprising:

• tracing circuitry for generating trace packets indicative of at least one characteristic of said data processing apparatus or processing performed by said data processing apparatus;
• and
• a timestamp request flag for indicating whether or not a timestamp request is pending;
• wherein:
• upon generation of a following trace packet by said tracing circuitry, said tracing circuitry is configured to check whether or not said timestamp request flag indicates that a timestamp request is pending and, when said timestamp request flag indicates that a timestamp request is pending, to generate a timestamp corresponding to said following trace packet and to set said timestamp request flag to indicate that no timestamp request is pending.