Patent ID: 8887001
Filing Date: 2014-11-11
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for processing data comprising: a data source configured to generate data; and a trace output device coupled to said data source and configured to receive said data from said data source and to output trace data from said apparatus; wherein said data source dynamically selects one of a plurality of priority levels to be associated with said data; said trace output device is responsive to received data having a first level of priority to one of: (i) if said trace output device is ready to process said data, then accept said data from said data source; and (ii) if said trace output device is not ready to process said data, then stall acceptance of said data from said data source until said trace output device is ready to process said data; and said trace output device is responsive to received data having a second level of priority to accept said data from said data source and, if said trace output device is not able to process said data, then to discard said data, wherein said trace output device comprises a data buffer memory configured to store said data prior to output of said data from said apparatus; and wherein (i) said trace output device is ready to process said data when said data buffer memory has empty capacity greater than or equal to N+F(P); and (ii) said trace output device is not ready to process said data when said data buffer memory has empty capacity less than N+F(P), where N is the number of bytes needed to store said data and F(P) is a function of P where P is a priority level of said data.