With this approach, you can periodically sample variables (data variables or program execution) via a debug port. The concept of Profiler Sampling is mainly used for statistical analysis or sampling rather slowly changing variables and cyclic program execution.
Available for some architectures, which feature a bigger CPU package (this is only possible when such a bigger, super-set device is available). BlueBox tools connect directly to the Emulation adapter, which is connected to the Target hardware through the pin count conversion board (which is the same format as the smaller CPU package). In some cases, the bigger CPU package might already have trace capabilities, which can be used directly.
Some CPUs (e.g. Renesas RH850) support special instructions, which generate messages on the debug port. The application must be instrumented to generate these messages and the trace method is therefore called Software trace.
winIDEA Analyzer supports Slow
Run, a method in which the application is executed by stepping through the
application. This method does not support real-time execution but can be used
to measure statement coverage on a small scale (e.g. during unit
testing).