Abstract:
A system and method for debugging a partitioned avionics computer which uses a debugging dump memory and a debugging dump memory controller which take control of the main system bus of the computer for a predetermined amount of time.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to computers, and more particularly relates to partitioned computers, and even more particularly relates to methods and systems for debugging partitioned avionics computers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In recent years, partitioned computers have become increasingly prevalent in many industries. One example is the aviation electronics community where cockpit integration has progressed so extensively that what was once a collection of numerous independent hardware black boxes is now a single partitioned avionics computer which hosts independent proprietary avionics software programs produced by competing avionics companies. In the avionics industry, it is also often necessary to service such equipment in a very rapid manner. If such avionics equipment requires such extensive service that the aircraft is even temporarily taken out of revenue service, the financial impact on the airline can be substantial. Consequently, it is desirable to have a system and method for debugging such software systems in an efficient manner, which also does not require disclosure of the contents of one avionics company&#39;s proprietary software to its competitor. 
     One prior art approach to this situation has been to interrupt the normal functioning of the system processor by capturing the processor and using it to examine and debug the various partitioned memory sections of the computer. 
     While this approach has been used extensively in the past, it does have obvious drawbacks. For example, capturing and using the system processor until the debugging operation is complete can be quite time consuming and, therefore, disruptive to the normal operation of the computer. 
     Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and systems for debugging partitioned avionics computers in an efficient manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for debugging a computer in an efficient manner. 
     It is a feature of the present invention to utilize an independent debugging dump memory and debugging dump memory controller. 
     It is another feature of the present invention to dedicate a predetermined amount of processor time of the primary processor in the host operating system to memory transfer for debugging purposes. 
     It is an advantage of the present invention to permit debugging of computers without requiring the main system microprocessor to perform debugging operations. 
     It is another advantage of the present invention to permit debugging without compromising safety or guaranteed performance. 
     It is another advantage of the present invention to permit debugging of computers with installed software, which has received an official review and response from an official of a governmental agency which regulates air safety, while such computers and software are in use for revenue service. 
     The present invention is an apparatus and method for debugging computers designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages. The present invention is carried out in an “interference-less” manner in a sense that the interference in the normal operation of a host computer during debugging operations has been greatly reduced and that such interference is known a priori. 
     Accordingly, the present invention is a system and method including a computer having an independent debugging dump memory and a debugging dump memory controller, which takes control of the memory access bus for a predetermined amount of time on a predefined schedule. The debug controller and other mechanisms of the present invention may be implemented as separate physical components, or included within the physical design and implementation of a single physical device. 
     Control may be returned to the main system by either of two means: Preemption of the debug mechanism by the main processor at the completion of a predefined time interval, or by release of main system resources by the debug system at the completion of the memory transfer. 
     The present invention has utility for initial development testing, hardware/software integration and testing, requirements verification and validation, as well as other testing either prior to or following official review and response from an official of a governmental agency who regulates air safety (commonly called appliance approval). 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may be more fully understood by reading the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram view of a system of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Now referring to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like matter throughout, and more specifically referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a system of the present invention generally designated  100 , including a main system microprocessor  102 , which could be any type of processor which is capable of both executing the programs in main system memory  106  and administering the system  100 . Main system memory  106  is coupled to main system microprocessor  102  via memory access bus  104 . Main system memory  106  can be any suitable RAM memory. In a preferred embodiment, main system memory  106  is a partitioned RAM memory having “n” partitions of either a physical or logical nature. Each partition contains an independent proprietary avionics software program. Several competing avionics manufacturers can be the sources for these programs. Memory access bus  104  can be any suitable data bus. Coupled to memory access bus  104  is debug dump memory  108 . This debug dump memory  108  is preferably any type of RAM memory which is capable of rapidly receiving large amounts of data from memory access bus  104 . Debug dump memory controller/processor  110  can be a microprocessor, a programmable logic device, or any direct memory access controller which will facilitate the copying of the desired data in main system memory  106  to debug dump memory  108 , so such data can be used by another processor which is independent of main system microprocessor  102  and which will perform debugging operations. These debugging operations may be done either synchronously or asynchronously, depending upon the precise overall system application. Debug dump transmitter  112  and debug control transceiver  114  are shown as intermediate structure and/or functions which may be support for or part of the debugging processor  116 , which could be a general purpose microprocessor or any application specific integrated circuit or other computing device capable of performing debugging operations or an external storage device or combination thereof. 
     In operation, the apparatus and method of the present invention as described in FIG. 1 could function as follows: 
     The partitions of main system memory  106  are executed by main system microprocessor  102  in a context switching arrangement, which is when the main system microprocessor  102  brings one partition into focus, and the code resident therein is allowed to actually execute. FIG. 1 shows two lines between the partition n−1 and the memory access bus  104 . This depicts that this partition is currently the one being executed by main system microprocessor  102 . When a partition is switched into context, the code therein is executed until either 1) it is finished (non-preemptive scheduler) or 2) until main system microprocessor  102  detects that it is time to suspend further execution of that partition (preemptive scheduler). At this time, the contents of all registers and transitory memory locations are saved into main system memory  106 ; i.e., it is “switched out.” The scheduler function performed by main system microprocessor  102 , or another device, then cycles to the next partition and switches it in for execution. The process is repeated until all “n” partitions have been switched in and out. In all cases, the contents of the memory locations preserve the final or intermediated products of the processes which run during the partition time. When all partitions have had their execution time, then main system microprocessor  102  transfers control of memory access bus  104  to debug dump memory controller/processor  110  for a short time to allow for the debug dump process to occur. During the time that debug dump memory controller/processor  110  has control of memory access bus  104 , the actions are merely reading one or more chosen memory locations in main system memory  106  and simultaneously writing such data into debug dump memory  108 . Due to its dedicated function and use of direct memory access, data is copied into the debug dump memory  108  at a much higher rate than data would be processed if the main system microprocessor  102  were to perform the debugging operations itself. After the desired data is copied into debug dump memory  108 , control of memory access bus  104  is switched back to main system microprocessor  102 , which then begins to cycle through the partitions executing the code therein. During this time when main system microprocessor  102  is executing the partitions of main system memory  106 , the debug dump memory  108  is “off line” and is accessible to debugging processor  116 . This system allows for simultaneous normal operation and debugging operations. It should also be noted that the system  100  does not require that an entire copy of main system memory  106  be made for debugging purposes because it allows debug dump memory controller/processor  110  to have access to whatever portions of main system memory  106  as are necessary to perform the desired debugging operations. 
     Throughout this description, reference is made to avionics and partitioned computers and to partitioned proprietary avionics software programs, because it is believed that the beneficial aspects of the present invention would be most readily apparent and valuable when used in connection with such computers and such programs; however, it should be understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited to avionics computers, partitioned computers, or avionics software programs and should be hereby construed to include other non-avionics, non-partitioned computers and non-avionics software programs as well. 
     It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construct steps, and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of their material advantages. The form herein described is merely a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof.