Middlesoft commander

A system controller comprising:

• a first interface for coupling the system controller to a host system and receiving communication packets from the host system and transmitting return packet and error messages to the host system;
• a second JTAG-enabled interface for coupling the system controller to a JTAG-capable device and for transmitting JTAG commands to and receiving JTAG data from the JTAG-capable device;
• and
• a Middlesoft Commander, said Middlesoft Commander comprising executable code for providing the following functionality;
• receiving from the host system one or more communication packets, said communication packets each comprising a command field followed by data supporting the particular command;
• deciphering the received communication packets;
• converting a request within each deciphered packet into high and low level JTAG commands;
• forwarding the generated JTAG commands to the SUT;
• re-structuring output JTAG data received from the debug-analysis of the SUT into return packets decipherable/recognizable by the host system;
• forwarding the return packets to the host system;
• wherein said system controller is a JTAG POD and further comprises:
• a middleware application for enabling access and control to JTAG interfaces and protocols on the system controller and which (a) interfaces with both an IEEE JTAG 1149.1 interface of the JTAG POD and the debug software and (b) facilitates communication between other components of JTAG POD and Middlesoft Commander;
• and
• an embedded operating system (OS) and a basic input output system (BIOS), which provide operating code for enabling self-initialization of the system controller.

A system controller comprising:

• a first interface for coupling-the system controller to a host system and receiving communication packets from the host system and transmitting return packet and error messages to the host system;
• a second JTAG-enabled interface for coupling the system controller to a JTAG-capable device and for transmitting JTAG commands to and receiving JTAG data from the JTAG-capable device;
• and
• a Middlesoft Commander, said Middlesoft Commander comprising executable code for providing the following functionality:
• receiving from the host system one or more communication packets, said communication packets each comprising a command field followed by data supporting the particular command;
• deciphering the received communication packets;
• converting a request within each deciphered packet into high and low level JTAG commands;
• forwarding the generated JTAG commands to the SUT;
• re-structuring output JTAG data received from the debug analysis of the SUT into return packets decipherable/recognizable by the host system;
• forwarding the return packets to the host system;
• when an incoming communication packet is received from the host system, automatically deciphering the received packets to determine if the received packets are valid;
• when the received packets are not valid:
• generating a first type error message;
• and
• forwarding the first type error message back to the host system;
• when the received packets are valid:
• dynamically converting the received packets into at least one of a high and a low level JTAG command(s);
• and
• forwarding the JTAG command(s) to the SUT.

A system controller comprising:

• a first interface for coupling the system controller to a host system and receiving communication packets from the host system and transmitting return packet and error messages to the host system;
• a second JTAG-enabled interface for coupling the system controller to a JTAG-capable device and for transmitting-JTAG commands to and receiving JTAG data from the JTAG-capable device;
• and
• a Middlesoft Commander, said Middlesoft Commander comprising executable code for providing the following functionality
• receiving from the host system one or more communication packets, said communication packets each comprising a command field followed by data supporting the particular command;
• deciphering the received communication packets;
• converting a request within each deciphered packet into high and low level JTAG commands;
• forwarding the generated JTAG commands to the SUT;
• re-structuring output JTAG data received from the debug analysis of the SUT into return packets decipherable/recognizable by the host system;
• forwarding the return packets to the host system;
• when JTAG data is received from SUT, automatically determining whether the data is valid;
• when the JTAG data is not valid:
• generating a second-type error message;
• and
• forwarding the second-type error message to the host system when the JTAG data is valid:
• dynamically restructuring the valid data into return packets that are readable by the host system;
• and
• forwarding the return packets back to the host system.

A computer program product comprising:

• a computer readable storage medium;
• and
• program code on the computer readable storage medium that when executed within a system controller operating as a JTAG POD enables the functions of:
• receiving from the host system one or more communication packets, said communication packets each comprising a command field followed by data supporting the particular command;
• when an incoming communication packet is received from the host system, automatically deciphering the received packets to determine if the received packets are valid;
• when the received packets are not valid,
• generating a first type error message;
• and
• forwarding the first type error message back to the host system;
• when the received packets are valid, dynamically converting the received packets into at least one of a high and a low level JTAG command(s);
• and
• forwarding the generated JTAG commands to the SUT.