Systems and methods for analyzing bus data
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsJohn Charles Dunn, Kenneth D. Ray, Glen Thomas Slick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A protocol analyzer monitors a bus while a software module causes a trace packet to be generated and sent out on the bus to an invalid address. The trace packet triggers the protocol analyzer and permits the bus data flowing on the bus when the software module detected a problem to be analyzed. The trace packet causes the protocol analyzer to trigger even though the bus protocol is normal and the protocol analyzer would not otherwise trigger. The trace packet can be used to analyze and debug communications flowing on a bus when the software module detects a problem.
Claims20
In a system that includes a bus used for communication between a host computer and one or more devices, and a protocol analyzer that is configured to monitor traffic on the bus, a method for the protocol analyzer triggering an action related to capture of data on the bus when a protocol of the bus is functioning properly, the method comprising the protocol analyzer performing the following:
- monitoring traffic on the bus;
- detecting a trace packet on the bus, wherein the trace packet is generated by a host computer in response to a condition with a device, and wherein the trace packet is sent over the bus to an invalid address;
- and
- in response to detecting the trace packet sent to the invalid address, triggering an action related to capture of data on the bus.
A computer program product for use in a system that includes a bus used for communication between a host computer and one or more devices, and a protocol analyzer that is configured to monitor traffic on the bus, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions for implementing a method for the protocol analyzer triggering an action related to capture of data on the bus when a protocol of the bus is functioning properly, wherein the method comprises the protocol analyzer performing the following:
- monitoring traffic on the bus;
- detecting a trace packet on the bus, wherein the trace packet is generated by a host computer in response to a condition with a device, and wherein the trace packet is sent over the bus to an invalid address;
- and
- in response to detecting the trace packet sent to the invalid address, triggering an action related to capture of data on the bus.
A protocol analyzer configured to monitor traffic on a bus which is used in a system for communication between a host computer and one or more devices, wherein the and a protocol analyzer implements a method for triggering an action related to capture of data on the bus when a protocol of the bus is functioning properly, and wherein the protocol analyzer comprises:
- means for monitoring traffic on the bus;
- means for detecting a trace packet on the bus, wherein the trace packet is generated by a host computer in response to a condition with a device, and wherein the trace packet is sent over the bus to an invalid address;
- and
- means for triggering an action related to capture of data on the bus in response to detecting the trace packet sent to the invalid address.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.