Method and apparatus for trace data collection

A method is provided for collecting trace data items generated by a plurality of trace points, the method comprising: allocating a ring buffer in a first memory, the ring buffer including a plurality of trace buffers; when any of the trace points is executed, storing a trace data item generated by the trace point in one of the plurality of trace buffers that is identified by a given value of a ring pointer; retrieving the trace data item from the trace buffer based on at least one of: (i) a first timestamp that is generated when the trace data item is stored in the trace buffer, and (ii) a second timestamp indicating a time when the ring pointer was assigned the given value; and storing the retrieved trace data item in a second memory device.