Trace messaging device and methods thereof

Abstract

A method of generating timestamped trace messages includes generating a trace message in response to an event at an instruction pipeline of a data processing device. If timestamping is enabled, timestamps are only included in the trace message only if a programmable condition is detected. For example, a timestamp can be included in the trace message if the amount of space used to store messages at a trace message buffer exceeds a watermark value. The condition that results in a timestamped trace message is programmable, and can be selected via a debug interface. Because timestamps are only included in trace messages when the programmable condition is satisfied, some trace messages will not include a timestamp, thereby reducing the amount of buffer space needed to store the trace messages.

1 . A method, comprising:
 generating a first trace message at a data processing device in response to a first trace event; and   in response to determining an amount of space used to store trace messages at a buffer is in a first relationship to a threshold amount, including a timestamp in the first trace message.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein including the timestamp comprises including the timestamp in response to determining the amount of space is less than the threshold amount. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein including the timestamp comprises including the timestamp in response to determining the amount of space is greater than the threshold amount. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 in response to determining timestamping for a first condition is enabled, including the timestamp in the first trace message based on detecting the first condition; and 
 in response to determining timestamping for a second condition is enabled, including the timestamp in the first trace message based on detecting the second condition. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first condition is based on an amount of buffer space used to store trace messages exceeding a threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the threshold is a programmable value. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first condition is based on a number of trace messages generated at the data processing device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first condition is based on occurrence of an interrupt. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first condition is based on occurrence of a first programmable watchpoint and the second condition is based on occurrence of a second programmable watchpoint different than the first. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first condition is based on determination of a first instruction type at an instruction pipeline of the data processing device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first condition is based on determination of a first data address at an instruction pipeline of the data processing device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first condition is based on a change in frequency of a clock signal associated with the data processing device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first condition is based on a change in a power mode associated with the data processing device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first condition is based on a condition associated with a first thread executing at the data processing device and the second condition is based on a condition associated with a second thread executing at the data processing device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first condition comprises a request received at the data processing device from a second device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first condition is associated with a first transport message stream, and the second condition is associated with a second transport message stream. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 adjusting the second condition based detecting the first condition.   
     
     
         18 . A device, comprising:
 an instruction pipeline;   a trace monitoring module connected to the instruction pipeline, the trace monitoring module configured to:
 generating a first trace message at a data processing device in response to a first trace event; and 
 in response to determining an amount of space used to store trace messages at a buffer is in a first relationship to a threshold amount, include a timestamp in the first trace message. 
   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the trace monitoring module is to include the timestamp comprises including the timestamp in response to determining the amount of space is less than the threshold amount. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the trace monitoring module is to include the timestamp in response to determining the amount of space is greater than the threshold amount.