Patent ID: 9690687
Date: 2017-06-27
CPC Classifications: G06F

Claim:
1. A method for increasing efficiency of a trace array by dynamically allocating a timestamp counter, the method comprising: determining, by a processor, a timestamp of a trace entry in the trace array for a signal that is configured to indicate a number based on consecutive cycles that the signal is present on a trace bus; writing, by the processor, a first part of the timestamp to a memory that is allocated for the timestamp of the trace entry, wherein a second part of the timestamp is a value of overflow data of the timestamp that exceeds a maximum value that can be stored in the memory allocated for the timestamp of the trace entry; and overwriting, by the processor, one or more free bits of the trace entry with the second part of the timestamp, wherein the one or more free bits of the trace entry comprising one or more bits previously marked to be overwritten or one or more bits not labeled as important to trace requirements such that trace data of the trace entry is not completely overwritten, with bits labeled as important to trace requirements left intact, wherein the overwriting using logics comprising: combining, by the processor, an inverted mask register and a timestamp counter using a bitwise OR operation and storing an output of the bitwise OR operation from combining the inverted mask register and the timestamp counter into the timestamp counter; incrementing, by the processor, the value of the timestamp counter by one and storing an output of the increment into the timestamp counter; combining, by the processor, a mask register and the timestamp counter using a bitwise AND operation and storing an output of the bitwise AND operation from combining the mask register and the timestamp counter into the timestamp counter; and combining, by the processor, the timestamp counter and a data entry using a bitwise OR operation and storing an output of the bitwise OR operation from combining the timestamp counter and the data entry into the data entry.