Nexus IEEE 5001

Abstract

Nexus 5001 is a debug standards initiative based on the IEEE ISTO 5001 debug specification that addresses the diverse challenges for embedded-processor and digital-system debug interfaces. To address applications (data communication, automotive powertrain, computer peripherals, wireless systems, and other control applications) with constantly increasing complexities requires more comprehensive debug features and will benefit from more standardized interfaces. As advances in semiconductor and system design continue, these types of embedded applications use higher-performance embedded processors. Nexus 5001 was defined in 1999, and its development and proliferation are managed by the Nexus 5001 Forum™, which evolved as a successor to the Global Embedded Processor Debug Interface Standard Consortium (GEPDISC), which was formed to develop an embedded-processor debug interface standard for embedded control applications. The latest version of the Nexus standard was released in 2003, with ongoing work aimed at a new release in 2011. Nexus architectures have been used extensively in U.S. automotive applications, and more chips have been produced incorporating Nexus ports than any other nonproprietary debug-specific interface. The Nexus 5001 Forum is an industry-based standards group that manages the IEEE 5001 (Nexus) debug specification.