Debugging a program intended to execute on a reconfigurable device using a test feed-through configuration

A system for debugging a measurement program which is usable to configure a reconfigurable measurement device, the system comprising:

• the reconfigurable measurement device comprising:
• a programmable hardware element;
• one or more fixed hardware resources coupled to the programmable hardware element;
• and
• a computer system comprising a processor and a memory;
• wherein the computer system is coupled to the reconfigurable measurement device;
• wherein the memory stores the measurement program specifying a measurement function;
• wherein the programmable hardware element is further configurable with a test feed-through configuration, wherein, after configuration with the test feed-through configuration, the programmable hardware element provides for communication between the one or more fixed hardware resources and the measurement program;
• and
• wherein, for debugging purposes, the measurement program is further executable by the processor of the computer system to test performance of the measurement function including the usage of the one or more fixed hardware resources.

A system for debugging a reconfigurable measurement system, the system comprising:

• a programmable hardware element;
• one or more fixed hardware resources coupled to the programmable hardware element;
• and
• a computer system comprising a processor and a memory;
• wherein the computer system is coupled to the programmable hardware element;
• wherein the memory stores a measurement program specifying a measurement function, wherein the measurement program is convertible into a hardware configuration program which specifies a configuration for the programmable hardware element that implements the measurement function, and wherein the hardware configuration program further specifies usage of the one or more fixed hardware resources by the programmable hardware element in performing the measurement function;
• wherein the programmable hardware element is further configurable with a test feed-through configuration, wherein, after configuration with the test feed-through configuration, the programmable hardware element provides for communication between the one or more fixed hardware resources and the program;
• and
• wherein, for debugging purposes, the measurement program is further executable by the processor of the computer system to test performance of the measurement function including the usage of the one or more fixed hardware resources.

A method for debugging a program which is usable to configure a reconfigurable system, wherein the reconfigurable system includes a programmable hardware element coupled to one or more fixed hardware resources, the method comprising:

• storing a program on a memory of a computer system, wherein the program specifies a function, and wherein the program is operable to be converted into a hardware configuration program and deployed on the programmable hardware element;
• wherein the program is operable to be converted into a hardware configuration program that uses the one or more fixed hardware resources when executed on the programmable hardware element;
• configuring the programmable hardware element with a test feed-through configuration, wherein, after configuration with the test feed-through configuration, the programmable hardware element provides for communication between the program and the one or more fixed hardware resources;
• and
• for debugging purposes, the computer system executing the program to test performance of the function including the usage of the one or more fixed hardware resources, wherein said executing includes the program communicating with the one or more fixed hardware resources through the programmable hardware element.

A method for debugging a measurement program which is usable to configure a reconfigurable measurement device, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element coupled to one or more fixed hardware resources, the method comprising:

• storing a measurement program on a memory of a computer system, wherein the measurement program specifies a measurement function, and wherein the measurement program is operable to be converted into a hardware configuration program and deployed on the programmable hardware element;
• wherein the measurement program specifies a hardware configuration program that is operable to use one or more fixed hardware resources coupled to the programmable hardware element
• configuring the programmable hardware element with a test feed-through configuration, wherein, after configuration with the test feed-through configuration, the programmable hardware element provides for communication between the program and the one or more fixed hardware resources;
• for debugging purposes, the computer system executing the measurement program to test performance of the function including the usage of the one or more fixed hardware resources, wherein said executing includes the measurement program communicating with the one or more fixed hardware resources through the programmable hardware element.

A memory medium comprised in a computer system, comprising:

• a program that specifies a function, wherein the program is operable to be converted into a hardware configuration program and deployed on a programmable hardware element;
• a hardware configuration program generated based on the program, wherein the hardware configuration program specifies a configuration for the programmable hardware element that implements the function, and wherein the hardware configuration program further specifies usage of the one or more fixed hardware resources by the programmable hardware element in performing the function;
• and
• a test configuration;
• a deployment program executable to deploy the test configuration onto the programmable hardware element, wherein, after configuration with the test configuration, the programmable hardware element provides for communication between the one or more fixed hardware resources and the program;
• wherein, for debugging purposes, the program is executable by a processor in the computer system, to test performance of the function including the usage of the one or more fixed hardware resources, wherein during execution the program communicates with the one or more fixed hardware resources through the programmable hardware element.

A memory medium containing program instructions which are executable to perform:

• storing a measurement program on a memory of a computer system, wherein the measurement program specifies a measurement function, and wherein the measurement program is operable to be converted into a hardware configuration program and deployed on a programmable hardware element;
• wherein the hardware configuration program specifies usage of one or more fixed hardware resources by the programmable hardware element;
• configuring the programmable hardware element with a test feed-through configuration, wherein, after configuration with the test feed-through configuration, the programmable hardware element provides for communication between the one or more fixed hardware resources and the measurement program;
• for debugging purposes, executing the measurement program on the computer system to test performance of the function including the usage of the one or more fixed hardware resources, wherein said executing includes the measurement program communicating with the one or more fixed hardware resources through the programmable hardware element.

A memory medium containing program instructions which are executable to perform:

• storing a program on a memory of a computer system, wherein the software program specifies a function, and wherein the software program is operable to be converted into a hardware configuration program and deployed on the programmable hardware element;
• wherein the hardware configuration program specifies usage of the one or more fixed hardware resources by the programmable hardware element;
• configuring the programmable hardware element with a test feed-through configuration, wherein, after configuration with the test feed-through configuration, the programmable hardware element provides for communication between the one or more fixed hardware resources and the software program;
• for debugging purposes, executing the software program on the computer system to test performance of the function including the usage of the one or more fixed hardware resources, wherein said executing includes the software program communicating with the one or more fixed hardware resources through the programmable hardware element.

A memory medium comprised in a computer system, comprising:

• a user interface program which is executable to receive user input specifying a function;
• a configuration generation program which is executable to generate a hardware configuration program based on the user input, where the hardware configuration program is deployable on a programmable hardware element, and wherein the hardware configuration program specifies a configuration for the programmable hardware element that implements the function, and wherein the hardware configuration program further specifies usage of one or more fixed hardware resources by the programmable hardware element in performing the function;
• and
• a test configuration;
• a deployment program executable to deploy the test configuration onto the programmable hardware element, wherein, after configuration with the test configuration, the programmable hardware element provides for communication between the one or more fixed hardware resources and the program;
• wherein, for debugging purposes, the program is executable by a processor in the computer system to test performance of the function including the usage of the one or more fixed hardware resources, wherein during execution the program communicates with the one or more fixed hardware resources through the programmable hardware element.