+/** \brief Construct a trace handle from thread and pool index
+ * @param thread Thread id
+ * @param pool_index Pool index
+ * @return trace handle
+ */
+always_inline u32
+vlib_buffer_make_trace_handle (u32 thread, u32 pool_index)
+{
+ u32 rv;
+ ASSERT (thread < 0xff);
+ ASSERT (pool_index < 0x00FFFFFF);
+ rv = (thread << 24) | (pool_index & 0x00FFFFFF);
+ return rv;
+}
+
+/** \brief Extract the thread id from a trace handle
+ * @param trace_handle the trace handle
+ * @return the thread id
+ */
+always_inline u32
+vlib_buffer_get_trace_thread (vlib_buffer_t * b)
+{
+ u32 trace_handle = b->trace_handle;
+
+ return trace_handle >> 24;
+}
+
+/** \brief Extract the trace (pool) index from a trace handle
+ * @param trace_handle the trace handle
+ * @return the trace index
+ */
+always_inline u32
+vlib_buffer_get_trace_index (vlib_buffer_t * b)
+{
+ u32 trace_handle = b->trace_handle;
+ return trace_handle & 0x00FFFFFF;
+}
+