Halting data strobes on a source synchronous link and utilization of same to debug data capture problems

A circuit comprising:

• a communication link;
• a first processing core comprising a source synchronous transmitter constructed and arranged to transmit a data signal and at least one data strobe signal over said communication link, wherein said transmitter is configured to halt said at least one data strobe signal in a selected logical state in response to an external condition;
• and
• a second processing core comprising a source synchronous receiver, coupled to said communication link, that clocks in said data signal in accordance with said at least one data strobe signal, wherein when said at least one data strobe signal is halted, said data signal is not clocked into said source synchronous receiver.

A source synchronous link comprising:

• a communication link;
• transmitting means, coupled to said communication link, for transmitting a data signal and at least one data strobe signal over said communication link, wherein said transmitter is configured to halt said at least one data strobe signal in a selected logical state in response to an external condition;
• and
• receiving means, coupled to said communication link, for clocking in said data signal in accordance with said at least one data strobe signal, wherein when said at least one data strobe signal is halted, said data signal is not clocked into said source synchronous receiver.

A method for transmitting data and corresponding data strobes over a source synchronous link having a communication link coupling a transmitter and a receiver, comprising:

• transmitting a data signal and at least one data strobe signal over said communication link;
• halting said at least one data strobe signal in a selected logical state in response to an external condition;
• and
• receiving into said receiver said data signal in accordance with said at least one data strobe signal unless said at least one data strobe signal is halted.