Piscataway, NJ. The MIPI Alliance, an international organization that develops interface specifications for mobile and mobile-influenced industries, has announced the availability of “MIPI Gigabit Debug for IP Sockets” (MIPI GbD for IPS), a new specification for debugging electronic products.
Part of the MIPI Gigabit Debug family, MIPI GbD for IPS offers convenience and versatility, enabling companies to debug devices during development and again after products are commercialized and connected to networks. The specification can be used to debug all types of connected devices, from smartphones to end points on the Internet of Things (IoT).
“This powerful solution enables companies to use available connections on pervasive networks, such as Ethernet or Wi-Fi, to perform debugging functions that previously required dedicated hardware connections,” said Joel Huloux, chairman of the board of MIPI Alliance. “Mobile device manufacturers, companies building connected devices for automotive systems and other vertical sectors, and developers in the IoT ecosystem can use this specification to fine-tune their designs.”
MIPI GbD for IPS is a network adapter that enables use of two high-level MIPI Alliance debug protocols on IP-based connections. MIPI SneakPeek Protocol Specification (MIPI SPPSM) facilitates communication between a terminal device and an external test system when debugging terminal hardware and software. MIPI Gigabit Trace, as described in the MIPI Gigabit Trace Framework Appendix to MIPI Trace Wrapper Protocol (MIPI TWPSM) specification, is used to stream trace data to a host system for debugging.
MIPI GbD for IPS provides potential for use with two IP-oriented transport layer protocols: TCP over IP and UDP over IP. For implementations that use UDP over IP, the specification provides an additional capability, called MIPI-Reliable UDP, which improves UDP reliability to prevent the potential corruption of trace data.
The specification gives engineers the flexible option to implement the technique in either hardware or software, to select the approach best suited for the size of the device. The software option facilitates remote testing of devices and also reduces costs compared to hardware-based implementations.
MIPI Alliance has registered a service name and port number with the Internet Assigned Number Authority (IANA) to simplify the setup of debug tooling based on MIPI GbD for IPS. The IANA registration also provides interoperability conveniences for engineering teams and third-parties that are evaluating device designs with the specification.
“MIPI GbD for IPS is a universal, convenient and practical debugging solution,” said Jason Peck, vice chair of the MIPI Alliance Debug Working Group. “If you have a smart device or a connected device you will be able to use this specification for a wide range of debug and diagnostic applications, and you won’t need to invest in costly equipment to implement it.”
The release of MIPI GbD IPS is the latest in a series of MIPI Alliance specifications designed to help engineers perform tests over standardized networks. MIPI Gigabit Debug for USB (MIPI GbD for USBSM), a network adapter released earlier this year, enables engineers to run SneakPeek and Gigabit Trace on USB connections even while the USB connection is carrying other traffic. A forthcoming specification, an update to the MIPI Narrow Interface for Debug and Trace (NIDnT) solution, will enable engineers to use USB Type-C interfaces in combination with MIPI GbD for USB and other functions for conducting tests and debug.
MIPI Alliance offers its MIPI Gigabit Debug specifications independently of one another, enabling companies to select and use those that meet their particular needs. For more information about the MIPI Gigabit Debug family of specifications, please visit http://mipi.org/specifications/debug.
Forthcoming Webinar on MIPI Gigabit Debug Specifications
Developers are invited to attend the September 21 webinar “MIPI Gigabit Debug over IP Sockets: A Technical Overview.”
The MIPI Alliance Debug Working Group welcomes new members and contributions to its efforts.
