filtering.tex

\chapter{Filtering} \label{ch:filtering}

The contents of this chapter are informative only.

Filtering provides a mechanism to control whether the encoder should produce trace.  For example,
it may be desirable to trace:

\begin{itemize}
  \item When the instruction address is within a particular range;
  \item Starting from one instruction address and continuing until a second instruction address;
  \item For one or more specified privilege levels;
  \item For a particular context or range of contexts;
  \item Exception and/or interrupt handlers for specified exception causes or with particular \textbf{tval} values;
  \item Based on values applied to the \textbf{impdef} or \textbf{trigger} signals;
  \item For a fixed period of time
  \item etc.
\end{itemize}

How this is accomplished is implementation specific.  

One suggested implementation partitions the architecture into filters and comparators in order to provide maximum flexibility at 
low cost.  The number of filters and comparators is system dependent.

Each comparator unit is actually a pair of comparators (Primary and Secondary, or P, S) allowing a bounded range to be matched with a single unit
if required, and offers:

\begin{itemize}
  \item input selected from \textbf{iaddress}, \textbf{context} and \textbf{tval} (and \textbf{daddress} if data
    trace is supported);
  \item A range of arithmetic options (<, >, =, !=, etc) independently selectable for each comparator;
  \item Secondary match value may be used as a mask for the primary comparator;
  \item The two comparators can be combined in several ways: P, P\&\&S, !(P\&\&S), latch (set on P clear on S);
  \item Each comparator can also be used to explcitly report a particular instruction address (i.e. generate a watchpoint).
\end{itemize}

Each filter can specify filtering against instruction and optionally data trace inputs from the HART, and offers:

\begin{itemize}
  \item Require up to 3 run-time selectable comparator units to match;
  \item Multiple choice selection for \textbf{priv} and \textbf{cause} inputs (and \textbf{dtype} if data trace is supported);
  \item Masked matching for \textbf{interrupt} and \textbf{impdef} inputs.
\end{itemize}

Allowing for up to 3 comparators allows for simultaneous matching on Address, Trap value and context (unlikely, but should not 
be architecturally precluded).

The filtering configuration fields are detailed in section~\ref{encoderControl}.  These support the architecture described 
above, though will also support simpler implementations, for example where the comparator function is more tightly coupled with
each filter, or where filtering is provided on only some inputs (such as just instruction address).