System and method for automatically configuring a debug system

A digital system comprising:

• a microprocessor connected to a memory module for holding a software program, the microprocessor operable to execute the software program;
• a set of functional debug components connected to the microprocessor for monitoring at least a first parameter during execution of the software program, the set of functional debug components being configurable in response to a debug command;
• a test port connected to the set of functional debug components, the test port operable to receive debug commands from a software development system on a host processor;
• and
• wherein the digital system performs the steps of:
• executing the software system on the host processor interconnected with the microprocessor;
• accessing a database to obtain a description of a set of functional components present within the microprocessor;
• creating a software representation of the capabilities of each functional component by using the description of the set of functional components;
• interrogating the software representation to determine a set of operational capabilities of the microprocessor;
• operating the software system in a manner that is responsive to the set of operational capabilities of the microprocessor;
• and
• wherein the microprocessor system comprises a target system;
• wherein the step of interrogating the software representation determines a set of debug capabilities of the target system;
• and further comprising the steps of:
• selecting a first set of debug activities in accordance with the set of debug capabilities from a plurality of debug activities included within the software development system;
• configuring a user interface of the software development system to present a first set of debug activities, such that remaining debug activities of the plurality of debug activities cannot be supported by the target system are not-included in the user interface;
• receiving a user request to perform a first debug activity;
• interrogating the software representation to determine if a first set of functional debug components are available in the target system to perform the first debug activity;
• initializing the first set of functional debug components by sending a first debug command to the target system;
• performing the first debug activity after initializing the first set of functional debug components;
• and
• repeating the steps of receiving, interrogating, initializing and performing other user requests.

A method for configuring a software debug system for interaction with a hardware system, comprising:

• executing the software debug system on a host processor interconnected with the hardware system;
• accessing a database to obtain a description of a set of functional debug components present within the hardware system;
• creating a software representation of the capabilities of each functional debug component by using the description of the set of functional components;
• interrogating the software representation to determine a set of debug capabilities of the hardware system;
• and
• selecting a first set of debug activities in accordance with the set of debug capabilities from a plurality of debug activities included within the software development system;
• and
• configuring a user interface of the software development system to present the first set of debug activities, such that remaining debug activities of the plurality of debug activities that cannot be supported by the target system are not included in the user interface.

A software development system, comprising:

• a memory storage system holding a software development tool program;
• a host computer connected to the memory storage system, the host computer operable to execute the software development tool program;
• an access mechanism for connecting to a hardware system, the hardware system being operable to execute an application program;
• and
• wherein the software development tool is operable to configure itself for interaction with a first hardware system connected to the access mechanism, comprising:
• accessing a database to obtain a description of a set of functional debug components present within the first hardware system;
• creating a software representation of the capabilities of each functional debug component by using the description of the set of functional components;
• interrogating the software representation to determine a set of debug capabilities of the first hardware system;
• and
• selecting a first set of debug activities in accordance with the set of debug capabilities from a plurality of debug activities included within the software development system;
• and configuring a user interface of the software development system to present the first set of debug activities, such that remaining debug activities of the plurality of debug activities that cannot be supported by the target system are not included in the user interface.