A method of connecting to an integrated circuit. A target integrated circuit (102) is provided with an embedded agent (104) for exporting signals. While the target integrated circuit (102) is operating, data signals from one or more collection points (252) in the integrated circuit (102) are collected by the embedded agent (104), at least at a clock rate of operation of the integrated circuit at the one or more collection points (252), in parallel to the target circuit (102) operation. The collected data signals are inserted into packets, by the embedded agent (104) and the packets are transmitted to a unit external to the integrated circuit, in real time.