Patent ID: 7526422
Filing Date: 2009-04-28
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for debugging microcontroller code comprising: a) programming said microcontroller code into a target microcontroller including a first memory and into an in circuit emulator base station including a second memory, a trace buffer, and a target microcontroller emulator which is not identical to and emulates operation of said target microcontroller and initializing said first memory and said second memory; b) executing the microcontroller code on the target microcontroller and on the target microcontroller emulator in lock step by executing same instructions using same clocking signals; c) verifying lock step of said executing step by comparing content of the first memory and content of the second memory when said target microcontroller encounters a breakpoint and said executing step halts; d) if lock step of said executing step is not verified, reporting an error, saving an execution history using said trace buffer and debugging said microcontroller code; and e) if lock step of said executing step is verified, continuing execution of the microcontroller code.