Patents by Inventor Thomas Sean Houlihane
Thomas Sean Houlihane has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10289527Abstract: An apparatus comprises trace circuitry to output exception trace data indicating exception handling events detected during monitoring of processing activity of processing circuitry. A configuration element maintains exception trace configuration data for controlling the output of the exception trace data via the trace circuitry. When output of exception trace data is enabled, the trace circuitry selects, in dependence on the exception trace configuration data, how much of the exception trace data to output.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2016Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: ARM LimitedInventors: Richard Alan Gordon, Thomas Sean Houlihane
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Publication number: 20170052869Abstract: An apparatus comprises trace circuitry to output exception trace data indicating exception handling events detected during monitoring of processing activity of processing circuitry. A configuration element maintains exception trace configuration data for controlling the output of the exception trace data via the trace circuitry. When output of exception trace data is enabled, the trace circuitry selects, in dependence on the exception trace configuration data, how much of the exception trace data to output.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2016Publication date: February 23, 2017Inventors: Richard Alan GORDON, Thomas Sean HOULIHANE
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Patent number: 9292036Abstract: A data processing apparatus and method provide communication between a master device operating from a master clock signal and a slave device operating from a slave clock signal asynchronous to the master clock signal. An interface transfers packets between the master device and the slave device. A slave clock replica generator associated with the master device generates a slave clock replica that controls timing of transmission of packets by the master device over the interface. A sync request transfer is issued over the interface and has a property identifiable by the slave device irrespective of whether the sync request transfer is synchronized with the slave clock signal. In response, the slave device issues a sync response transfer indicative of at least a frequency of the slave clock signal, and the slave clock replica generator determines at least the frequency of the slave clock replica from that sync transfer.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: ARM LimitedInventors: Thomas Christopher Grocutt, Thomas Sean Houlihane
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Publication number: 20140351359Abstract: A data processing apparatus and method provide communication between a master device operating from a master clock signal and a slave device operating from a slave clock signal asynchronous to the master clock signal. An interface transfers packets between the master device and the slave device. A slave clock replica generator associated with the master device generates a slave clock replica that controls timing of transmission of packets by the master device over the interface. A sync request transfer is issued over the interface and has a property identifiable by the slave device irrespective of whether the sync request transfer is synchronised with the slave clock signal. In response, the slave device issues a sync response transfer indicative of at least a frequency of the slave clock signal, and the slave clock replica generator determines at least the frequency of the slave clock replica from that sync transfer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2013Publication date: November 27, 2014Applicant: ARM LIMITEDInventors: Thomas Christopher GROCUTT, Thomas Sean HOULIHANE
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Patent number: 8407529Abstract: A data processing apparatus having one or more trace data sources. At least one of said trace data sources includes a trace data generator responsive to activity in monitored circuitry to generate trace data representing said activity. A synchronization marker generator is coupled to the trace data generator and operates to generate a synchronization marker and insert the synchronization marker into the trace data stream. A controller is coupled to the synchronization marker generator to generate and insert a synchronization marker into the trace data stream. The controller controls initiation in dependence on behavior of the data processing apparatus downstream of the trace data generator. In this way, the downstream behavior of the data processing apparatus can be made to influence the rate and timing of insertion of synchronization markers into a trace data stream.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2011Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: ARM LimitedInventors: John Michael Horley, Andrew Brookfield Swaine, Thomas Sean Houlihane, Sheldon James Woodhouse, Michael John Williams
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Patent number: 8176366Abstract: A data processing apparatus having one or more trace data sources. At least one of said trace data sources includes a trace data generator responsive to activity in monitored circuitry to generate trace data representing said activity. A synchronization marker generator is coupled to the trace data generator and operates to generate a synchronization marker and insert the synchronization marker into the trace data stream. A controller is coupled to the synchronization marker generator to generate and insert a synchronization marker into the trace data stream. The controller controls initiation in dependence on behavior of the data processing apparatus downstream of the trace data generator. In this way, the downstream behavior of the data processing apparatus can be made to influence the rate and timing of insertion of synchronization markers into a trace data stream.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2009Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: ARM LimitedInventors: John Michael Horley, Andrew Brookfield Swaine, Thomas Sean Houlihane, Sheldon James Woodhouse, Michael John Williams
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Publication number: 20120110387Abstract: A data processing apparatus having one or more trace data sources. At least one of said trace data sources includes a trace data generator responsive to activity in monitored circuitry to generate trace data representing said activity. A synchronization marker generator is coupled to the trace data generator and operates to generate a synchronization marker and insert the synchronization marker into the trace data stream. A controller is coupled to the synchronization marker generator to generate and insert a synchronization marker into the trace data stream. The controller controls initiation in dependence on behavior of the data processing apparatus downstream of the trace data generator. In this way, the downstream behavior of the data processing apparatus can be made to influence the rate and timing of insertion of synchronization markers into a trace data stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2011Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: ARM LimitedInventors: John Michael Horley, Andrew Brookfield Swaine, Thomas Sean Houlihane, Sheldon James Woodhouse, Michael John Williams
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Patent number: 8099635Abstract: A data processing apparatus and method are provided for generating a trace stream. The data processing apparatus comprises logic for producing data elements, and trace logic for producing a stream of trace elements representative of at least some of the data elements. The trace logic has trace generation logic operable to generate trace elements for inclusion in the stream, and is further arranged to generate trace timing indicators for inclusion in the stream. Each trace timing indicator indicates the elapse of one or more processing timing intervals, the processing timing interval being a predetermined plurality of clock cycles.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2010Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: ARM LimitedInventors: John Michael Horley, Andrew Brookfield Swaine, Thomas Sean Houlihane
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Patent number: 8055950Abstract: A data processing apparatus having one or more trace data sources is provided in which the trace data sources operate to generate respective streams of trace data. At least one of said trace data sources comprises a trace data generator responsive to activity in monitored circuitry to generate trace data representing said activity. A synchronization marker generator is coupled to the trace data generator and operates to generate a synchronization marker and insert the synchronization marker into the trace data stream. The synchronization marker identifies a synchronization position in the trace data stream. A controller is coupled to the synchronization marker generator, and operates to initiate the synchronization marker generator to generate and insert a synchronization marker into the trace data stream. The controller controls initiation in dependence on behaviour of the data processing apparatus downstream of the trace data generator with respect to trace data flow.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2008Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: ARM LimitedInventors: Thomas Sean Houlihane, John Michael Horley
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Patent number: 7949914Abstract: A system is described having a JTAG diagnostic unit and a serial wire diagnostic unit. A watcher unit is connected to a data connection shared between the diagnostic units. Special patterns detected upon the shared data connection serve to switch between diagnostic modes with respective ones of the diagnostic units becoming active.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2010Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: ARM LimitedInventors: Peter Logan Harrod, Edmond John Simon Ashfield, Thomas Sean Houlihane, Paul Kimelman, Simon John Craske, Michael John Williams
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Patent number: 7937626Abstract: A data processing apparatus and method are provided for generating a trace stream. The data processing apparatus comprises logic for producing data elements, and trace logic for producing a stream of trace elements representative of at least some of the data elements. The trace logic has trace generation logic operable to generate trace elements for inclusion in the stream, and is further arranged to generate trace timing indicators for inclusion in the stream. Each trace timing indicator indicates the elapse of one or more processing timing intervals, the processing timing interval being a predetermined plurality of clock cycles.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2008Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: ARM LimitedInventors: John Michael Horley, Andrew Brookfield Swaine, Thomas Sean Houlihane
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Publication number: 20110029823Abstract: A data processing apparatus and method are provided for generating a trace stream. The data processing apparatus comprises logic for producing data elements, and trace logic for producing a stream of trace elements representative of at least some of the data elements. The trace logic has trace generation logic operable to generate trace elements for inclusion in the stream, and is further arranged to generate trace timing indicators for inclusion in the stream. Each trace timing indicator indicates the elapse of one or more processing timing intervals, the processing timing interval being a predetermined plurality of clock cycles.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2010Publication date: February 3, 2011Applicant: ARM LimitedInventors: John Michael Horley, Andrew Brookfield Swaine, Thomas Sean Houlihane
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Publication number: 20100257510Abstract: A data processing apparatus having one or more trace data sources is provided in which the trace data sources operate to generate respective streams of trace data. At least one of said trace data sources comprises a trace data generator responsive to activity in monitored circuitry to generate trace data representing said activity. A synchronization marker generator is coupled to the trace data generator and operates to generate a synchronization marker and insert the synchronization marker into the trace data stream. The synchronization marker identifies a synchronization position in the trace data stream. A controller is coupled to the synchronization marker generator, and operates to initiate the synchronization marker generator to generate and insert a synchronization marker into the trace data stream. The controller controls initiation in dependence on behavior of the data processing apparatus downstream of the trace data generator with respect to trace data flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2009Publication date: October 7, 2010Applicant: ARM LimitedInventors: John Michael Horley, Andrew Brookfield Swaine, Thomas Sean Houlihane, Sheldon James Woodhouse, Michael John Williams
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Publication number: 20100223518Abstract: A system is described having a JTAG diagnostic unit and a serial wire diagnostic unit. A watcher unit is connected to a data connection shared between the diagnostic units. Special patterns detected upon the shared data connection serve to switch between diagnostic modes with respective ones of the diagnostic units becoming active.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2010Publication date: September 2, 2010Inventors: Peter Logan Harrod, Edmond John Simon Ashfield, Thomas Sean Houlihane, Paul Kimelman, Simon John Craske, Michael John Williams
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Patent number: 7743294Abstract: A system is described having a JTAG diagnostic unit and a serial wire diagnostic unit. A watcher unit is connected to a data connection shared between the diagnostic units. Special patterns detected upon the shared data connection serve to switch between diagnostic modes with respective ones of the diagnostic units becoming active.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2006Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: ARM LimitedInventors: Peter Logan Harrod, Edmond John Simon Ashfield, Thomas Sean Houlihane, Paul Kimelman, Simon John Craske, Michael John Williams
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Publication number: 20090183034Abstract: A data processing apparatus having one or more trace data sources is provided in which the trace data sources operate to generate respective streams of trace data. At least one of said trace data sources comprises a trace data generator responsive to activity in monitored circuitry to generate trace data representing said activity. A synchronization marker generator is coupled to the trace data generator and operates to generate a synchronization marker and insert the synchronization marker into the trace data stream. The synchronization marker identifies a synchronization position in the trace data stream. A controller is coupled to the synchronization marker generator, and operates to initiate the synchronization marker generator to generate and insert a synchronization marker into the trace data stream. The controller controls initiation in dependence on behaviour of the data processing apparatus downstream of the trace data generator with respect to trace data flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2008Publication date: July 16, 2009Applicant: ARM LIMITEDInventors: Thomas Sean Houlihane, John Michael Horley
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Patent number: 7496813Abstract: An integrated circuit 2 including functional circuits 4, 6 and a diagnostic circuit 10 passes a functional signal and a diagnostic signal to/from the integrated circuit using a shared integrated circuit pin 14. The functional signal and the diagnostic signal have relative forms such that they can be simultaneously communicated and respective independent physical communication channels provided therefore. Examples are the diagnostic signal being used to frequency, phase, amplitude or otherwise modulate a functional signal being passed. A diagnostic interface circuit 18 is provided to recover the diagnostic signal from the combined functional and diagnostic signal or to combine the functional and diagnostic signals.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2005Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: ARM LimitedInventors: Thomas Sean Houlihane, George James Milne
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Patent number: 7444257Abstract: A system and method for generating a testbench for a representation of a device to be incorporated in a data processing apparatus is provided. The representation of the device is configurable based on configuration data specifying predetermined attributes of one or more components of the data processing apparatus with which that device is to be coupled, and the testbench provides a test environment that represents those one or more components. The method includes receiving the configuration data used to configure the representation of the device, and generating the testbench with reference to the configuration data and a first set of templates defining the test environment. By this approach, a matching testbench can automatically be generated for any particular instantiation of the configurable representation of the device to enable thorough verification testing of that instantiation of the device to be performed.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2003Date of Patent: October 28, 2008Assignee: Arm LimitedInventor: Thomas Sean Houlihane
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Publication number: 20080235538Abstract: A data processing apparatus and method are provided for generating a trace stream. The data processing apparatus comprises logic for producing data elements, and trace logic for producing a stream of trace elements representative of at least some of the data elements. The trace logic has trace generation logic operable to generate trace elements for inclusion in the stream, and is further arranged to generate trace timing indicators for inclusion in the stream. Each trace timing indicator indicates the elapse of one or more processing timing intervals, the processing timing interval being a predetermined plurality of clock cycles.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2008Publication date: September 25, 2008Applicant: ARM LIMITEDInventors: John Michael Horley, Andrew Brookfield Swaine, Thomas Sean Houlihane
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Patent number: 7412633Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided with diagnostic circuitry, such as serial scan chains or debug bus access circuits, with which communication is established using an interface circuit coupled with a bi-directional serial link to an external diagnostic device. The bi-directional serial link carries both data and control signals.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2006Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: ARM LimitedInventors: Paul Kimelman, Edmond John Simon Ashfield, Thomas Sean Houlihane, Ian Field