# US 2014/0156137 A1 · Lightweight Trace Based Measurement Systems and Methods

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- Number: US 2014/0156137 A1
- Document ID: US20140156137A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/689,826
- Filed: 2012-11-30
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30
- Assignees: Infineon Technologies AG
- Applicants: Infineon Technologies AG
- Inventors: Albrecht Mayer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156137A1

## CPC

- G06F 11/3636: {by tracing the execution of the program}
- G06F 11/3466: {Performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring}
- G06F 11/3476: {Data logging (G06F11/14, G06F11/2205 take precedence)}
- G06F 2201/865: Monitoring of software
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

An automotive electronics system includes an electronic control unit and a trace adapter. The electronic control unit is configured to receive measurement signals and provide control signals. Additionally, the electronic control unit is configured to generate or provide trace signals by replacing original instructions in a binary image with trace instructions. The trace instructions are functionally equivalent, but trigger providing the trace signals. The trace adapter is coupled to the electronic control unit. The trace adapter is configured to obtain the trace signals from the electronic control unit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An automotive electronics system comprising:
an electronic control unit configured to receive measurement signals, provide control signals, and to generate trace signals by replacing original instructions with trace instructions; and
a trace adapter coupled to the electronic control unit and configured to obtain the trace signals from the electronic control unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sensors configured to provide the measurement signals.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of automotive components configured to operate according to the control signals.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of sensors include a gas flow sensor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of automotive components includes an engine injection controller.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the trace signals include trace information associated with a control algorithm for a single time period.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the original instructions include a store instruction.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the trace instructions include a store trace instruction, wherein the store trace instruction is functionally equivalent to a store instruction and additionally supplies trace information to the trace adapter.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the trace adapter is configured to store trace information from the trace signals.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to identify trace associated instructions in a binary image.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to replace the associated instructions in the binary image with trace instructions prior to execution of the binary image.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the trace adapter is integrated with the electronic control unit.

### Claim 13

A trace system comprising:
a core component configured to execute a binary image;
a main memory coupled to the core component and configured to maintain and access stored information; and
a qualification component configured to replace original instructions of the binary image with trace instructions.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, further comprising a trace adapter coupled to the core component and configured to receive trace information generated by the trace instructions.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the trace adapter is configured to analyze the trace information to identify erroneous control signal determinations.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein a side band signal is generated by the core component on performing one of the trace instructions.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, further comprising a trace memory, separate from the main memory, the trace memory configured to receive trace information from the core component.

### Claim 18

A method of operating an automotive electronics system, the method comprising:
obtaining a current instruction of a binary image;
identifying the current instruction as a traceable instruction;
replacing the current instruction of the binary image with a trace instruction, wherein the trace instruction is functionally equivalent to the current instruction and provides trace information;
executing the binary image; and
providing trace information associated with the trace instruction.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, further comprising providing the trace information to a main memory and a trace adapter.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein identifying the current instruction as a traceable instruction comprises comparing the current instruction with a trace list.