Debug Support
8-32
Copyright © ARM Limited 2000. All rights reserved.
8.11.4
Communications using the comms channel
You can send and receive messages using the comms channel.
Sending a message to the debugger
When the processor has to send a message to the debugger, it must check the comms
data write register is free for use by finding out whether the W bit of the debug comms
control register is clear.
The processor reads the debug comms control register to check the status of the W bit:
•
If the W bit is clear, the comms data write register is clear.
•
If the W bit is set, previously written data has not been read by the debugger. The
processor must continue to poll the control register until the W bit is clear.
When the W bit is clear, a message is written by a register transfer to coprocessor 14.
As the data transfer occurs from the processor to the comms data write register, the W
bit is set in the debug comms control register.
The debugger sees both the R and W bits when it polls the debug comms control register
through the JTAG interface. When the debugger sees that the W bit is set, it can read
the comms data write register, and scan the data out. The action of reading this data
register clears the debug comms control register W bit. At this point, the
communications process can begin again.
Receiving a message from the debugger
Transferring a message from the debugger to the processor is similar to sending a
message to the debugger. In this case, the debugger polls the R bit of the debug comms
control register.
•
if the R bit is LOW, the comms data read register is free, and data can be placed
there for the processor to read
•
if the R bit is set, previously deposited data has not yet been collected, so the
debugger must wait.
When the comms data read register is free, data is written there using the JTAG
interface. The action of this write sets the R bit in the debug comms control register.
The processor polls the debug comms control register. If the R bit is set, there is data
that can be read using an
MRC
instruction to coprocessor 14. The action of this load
clears the R bit in the debug comms control register. When the debugger polls this
register and sees that the R bit is clear, the data has been taken, and the process can now
be repeated.
Summary of Contents for ARM946E-S
Page 1: ...ARM DDI 0155A ARM946E S Technical Reference Manual ...
Page 6: ...vi Copyright ARM Limited 2000 All rights reserved ARM DDI 0155A 04 Limited Confidential ...
Page 54: ...Programmer s Model 2 34 Copyright ARM Limited 2000 All rights reserved ARM DDI 0155A ...
Page 70: ...Caches 3 16 Copyright ARM Limited 2000 All rights reserved ARM DDI 0155A ...
Page 78: ...Protection Unit 4 8 Copyright ARM Limited 2000 All rights reserved ARM DDI 0155A ...
Page 112: ...Coprocessor Interface 7 14 Copyright ARM Limited 2000 All rights reserved ARM DDI 0155A ...