Method and apparatus for non-intrusive tracing

A method for non-intrusive tracing, the method comprising:

• counting selected events by multiple counters;
• sampling in a seamless manner, by multiple shadow registers coupled to the multiple counters, the multiple counters to retrieve multiple counters values in response to predefined triggering events;
• wherein the multiple counters and the multiple shadow registers are controlled by a counters and registers logic circuit;
• receiving, by a trace logic coupled to the multiple shadow registers, additional trace information that comprises at least one program counter value, and
• outputting, as a trace information, by the trace logic, at least one of the multiple counters values and the additional trace information.

An apparatus for non-intrusive tracing, the apparatus comprises:

• multiple counters, operable to count multiple selected events;
• multiple shadow registers, coupled to the multiple counters, for sampling the multiple counters in a seamless manner to provide multiple counters values, in response to triggering events;
• counters and registers logic, coupled to the multiple counters and to the multiple shadow registers, operable to control the operation of the multiple counters and multiple shadow registers;
• and
• trace logic, coupled to the multiple shadow registers, adapted to output at least one of the multiple counters values.

A method for non-intrusive tracing, the method comprising:

• counting selected events by multiple counters;
• sampling, in a seamless manner by multiple shadow registers, coupled to the multiple counters, the multiple counter to retrieve multiple counter values in response to predefined triggering events;
• and
• outputting, as a trace information by a trace logic counters to the multiple shadow registers, the multiple counters values wherein the multiple counters and the multiple shadow registers are controlled by a counters and registers logic.