Patent ID: 7673121
Filing Date: 2010-03-02
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: transmitting first digital messages to an analysis tool from a monitoring circuit integrated with a microprocessor, the first digital messages being representative of first specific events which depend on execution of an instruction sequence by the microprocessor; detecting, with a request circuit, at least one second specific event independent from the execution of the instruction sequence by the microprocessor; transmitting from the request circuit to the monitoring circuit through dedicated accesses, when the at least one second specific event is detected, a request signal indicating a request that a message associated with said at least one second specific event be transmitted to said analysis tool and a characteristic data signal associated with said at least one second specific event; storing the characteristic data signal in the monitoring circuit, and, if resource management conditions are fulfilled, transmitting an acknowledgement signal from the monitoring circuit to the request circuit through a dedicated access, wherein the acknowledgment signal notifies the request circuit that the request has been granted; transmitting at least one second digital message representative of the stored characteristic data signal from said monitoring circuit to the analysis tool; and processing the first digital messages and the at least one second digital message via the analysis tool to analyze operation of the microprocessor, including determining the instruction sequence executed by the microprocessor, and the at least one second specific event to determine at least one relationship between the instruction sequence and the at least one second specific event.