METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIAGNOSIS AND DEBUGGING OF A MICROPROCESSOR USING ALTERNATE DESTINATIONS IN RESPONSE TO DEBUG EXCEPTIONS

A circuit for diagnosing and debugging a processor for executing a stream of instructions that includes a set of debug registers for identifying an instruction or data address breakpoint; a processor for generating a debug exception in response to an instruction or data address in the stream of instructions matching the instruction or data breakpoint stored in the set of debug registers and a debug configuration register for enabling transfer of program control to one of a plurality of destinations in response to the debug exception. The debug configuration registers may designate system management mode, JTAG routine or a software debug interrupt handler as the destination.