Debugging of a data processing apparatus
AssigneeArm Limited
InventorsMichael John WILLIAMS, Richard Roy GRISENTHWAITE, Simon John CRASKE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A data processing apparatus is provided comprising data processing circuitry and debug circuitry. The debug circuitry controls operation of the processing circuitry when operating in a debug mode. The data processing circuitry determines upon entry into a debug mode a current operating state of the data processing apparatus. The data processing circuitry allocates one of a plurality of instruction sets to be used as a debug instruction set depending upon the determined current operating state.
Claims36
A data processing apparatus comprising:
- data processing circuitry for performing data processing operations in response to execution of program instructions, said data processing circuitry being configured to operate in at least an operational mode and a debug mode;
- debug circuitry configured to provide an interface between said data processing circuitry and a debugger unit external to said data processing circuitry, said debug circuitry being configured to control operation of said data processing circuitry when said data processing circuitry is operating in said debug mode;
- wherein said data processing circuitry is configured to determine, upon entry of said data processing circuitry into said debug mode, a current operating state of said data processing apparatus and to allocate, depending upon said current operating state, one of a plurality of instruction sets to be used as a debug instruction set.
A debug unit for performing debugging of operations of a data processing apparatus, said data processing apparatus being capable of operating at least in a debug mode and an operational mode and in a plurality of different operating states, said debug unit comprising:
- reading circuitry for reading from a storage location within said data processing apparatus, a record of a current operand bit-width specifying one of said plurality of operating states of said data processing apparatus;
- deducing circuitry for deducing a debug instruction set for use in generating debug instructions for supply to debug circuitry of said data processing apparatus for performing said debugging.
A debug method for performing debugging of operations of a data processing apparatus, said data processing apparatus being capable of operating at least in a debug mode and an operational mode and in a plurality of different operating states, said debug method comprising:
- reading from a storage location within said data processing apparatus, a record of a current operand bit-width specifying one of said plurality of operating states of said data processing apparatus;
- and
- deducing a debug instruction set for use in generating debug instructions for supply to debug circuitry of said data processing apparatus for performing said debugging.
A data processing apparatus comprising:
- means for performing data processing operations in response to execution of program instructions, said means for performing data processing operations being configured to operate in at least an operational mode and a debug mode;
- means for debugging configured to provide an interface between said means for performing data processing and a means for debug analysis external to said data processing apparatus, said means for debugging being configured to control operation of said means for performing data processing when said means for performing data processing is operating in said debug mode;
- wherein said means for performing data processing is configured to determine, upon entry of said means for performing data processing into said debug mode, a current operating state of said means for performing data processing and to allocate, depending upon said current operating state, one of a plurality of instruction sets to be used as a debug instruction set and to indicate to said means for debug analysis said allocated debug instruction set to be used to control said means for performing data processing.
A data processing method comprising:
- performing data processing operations in response to execution of program instructions on data processing circuitry being configured to operate in at least an operational mode and a debug mode;
- providing a debug interface between said data processing circuitry and a debugger unit external to said data processing circuitry, said debug interface being configured to control operation of said data processing circuitry when said data processing circuitry is operating in said debug mode;
- determining, upon entry of said data processing circuitry into said debug mode, a current operating state of said data processing circuitry and allocating, depending upon said current operating state, one of a plurality of instruction sets to be used as a debug instruction set.
Apparatus for performing debugging of operations of a data processing apparatus, said data processing apparatus being capable of operating at least in a debug mode and an operational mode and in a plurality of different operating states, said debug unit comprising:
- means for reading from a storage location within said data processing apparatus, a record of a current operand bit-width specifying one of said plurality of operating states of said data processing apparatus;
- and
- means for deducing a debug instruction set for use in generating debug instructions for supply to debug circuitry of said data processing apparatus for to performing said debugging.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.