System and method for debugging firmware/software by generating trace data

A system for debugging firmware/software by generating trace data, the system comprising:

• a test system, comprising:
• a first memory;
• a flash memory, for storing an embedded system;
• and
• a first central processing unit (CPU), for running a debug engine in a power-on stage to configure an area of the first memory used for temporary storage, recording a load address and a branch instruction execution record set into the area for temporary storage, and receiving a debug instruction to transfer the load address and the branch instruction execution record set in the area for temporary storage, wherein the load address is an address of a module, which is loaded in the first memory, of the embedded system, and the branch instruction execution record set comprises a plurality of branch instruction execution records that record addresses before and after a branch instruction is executed;
• and
• a main control system, comprising:
• a second memory, for storing a program debug symbol table and source program code of the embedded system, wherein the program debug symbol table is generated when the source program code is compiled;
• and
• a second CPU, for running a debug tool program to send the debug instruction to the test system and to collect the load address and the branch instruction execution record set in the area for temporary storage of the test system, running an analyzer to access the load address, the branch instruction execution record set, and the program debug symbol table in the second memory, and finding an original source file, a function name, and line numbers of executed codes from the program debug symbol table according to the load address and the branch instruction execution record set to generate an analysis report, wherein the analysis report comprises a program execution path and a program code coverage.

A method for debugging firmware/software by generating trace data, the method comprising the following steps:

• running a debug module in a power-on stage in a test system, to configure an area of the memory 12 used for temporary storage;
• running, by the test system, a module of an embedded system, and recording a load address and a branch instruction execution record set of the module into the area for temporary storage, wherein the load address is an address of the module loaded in the memory, and the branch instruction execution record set comprises a plurality of branch instruction execution records that record addresses before and after a branch instruction is executed;
• accessing, by an analyzer of the test system, the load address and the branch instruction execution record set in an operating system stage in the area for temporary storage, and accessing in the memory a program debug symbol table address and source program code of the embedded system, wherein the program debug symbol table is generated when the source program code is compiled;
• and
• finding, by the analyzer, an original source file, a function name, and line numbers of executed codes from the program debug symbol table according to the load address and the branch instruction execution record set to generate an analysis report, wherein the analysis report comprises a program execution path and a program code coverage.

A system for debugging firmware/software by generating trace data, the system comprising:

• a memory, for storing a program debug symbol table and source program code of an embedded system, wherein the program debug symbol table is generated when the source program code is compiled;
• a flash memory, for storing an embedded system;
• and
• a central processing unit (CPU), for running a debug module in a power-on stage to configure an area of the memory used for temporary storage, running a module of an embedded system, recording a load address and a branch instruction execution record set into the area for temporary storage, running an analyzer in an operating system stage in a test system, to access the load address and the branch instruction execution record set in the area for temporary storage, and access the program debug symbol table in the memory, and finding an original source file, a function name, and line numbers of executed codes from the program debug symbol table according to the load address and the branch instruction execution record set, to generate an analysis report that comprises a program execution path and a program code coverage,
• wherein the load address is an address of the module loaded in the memory, and the branch instruction execution record set comprises a plurality of branch instruction execution records that record addresses before and after a branch instruction is executed.