An apparatus and method for monitoring events in a data processing system

A method of monitoring events in a data processing system, comprising:

• monitoring occurrences of a first event within the data processing system, and asserting a first signal to indicate every m-th occurrence of the first event, where m is an integer of 1 or more;
• monitoring occurrences of a second event within the data processing system, and asserting a second signal to indicate every n-th occurrence of the second event, where n is an integer of 1 or more;
• employing history maintenance circuitry to maintain event history information which is updated in dependence on the asserted first and second signals;
• responsive to an analysis trigger, employing history analysis circuitry to analyse the event history information to detect a reporting condition when the event history information indicates that a ratio between the occurrences of the first event and the occurrences of the second event is outside an acceptable range;
• and
• asserting a report signal in response to detection of the reporting condition.

An apparatus comprising:

• first event monitoring means for monitoring occurrences of a first event within a data processing system, and for asserting a first signal to indicate every m-th occurrence of the first event, where m is an integer of 1 or more;
• second event monitoring means for monitoring occurrences of a second event within the data processing system, and for asserting a second signal to indicate every n-th occurrence of the second event, where n is an integer of 1 or more;
• history maintenance means for maintaining event history information which is updated in dependence on the asserted first and second signals;
• and
• history analysis means for analysing, in response to an analysis trigger, the event history information to detect a reporting condition when the event history information indicates that a ratio between the occurrences of the first event and the occurrences of the second event is outside an acceptable range;
• wherein the history analysis means is responsive to detection of the reporting condition to assert a report signal.