Patent ID: 6829727
Filing Date: 2004-12-07
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
An in-circuit emulation system, comprisinga) a target system; b) an external circuit; c) a microcontroller contained in said target system comprising: (1) a processing unit, can (2) a plurality of I/O ports that interface to circuits on said target system; d) a memory from which said microcontroller executes a program e) means for one or more of said I/O ports to be reconfigured to interface with said external circuit; f) means for coupling the reconfigured I/O ports to said external circuit; g) means for said external circuit to recreate port functionality of said reconfigured I/O ports; h) means for coupling the recreated port functionality to said target system; i) means for said external circuit to load said program into said memory; j) means for said microcontroller to execute said program under the control of said external circuit; whereby said microcontroller excludes dedicated ports to interface to said external circuit and said microcontroller will be emulated in said target system while maintaining all the functionality of its said I/O ports.