Apparatus and method for changing the behavior of a computer program while retaining control of program execution

US5495578A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Hewlett-Packard Company, L.P. · US

Inventors

• John G. Rohrbaugh · Fort Collins, US
• Thomas H. Baker · Fort Collins, US
• Michael J. Bennett · Las Vegas, US
• Mercedes Gil · Fort Collins, US
• Robert W. Proulx · Fort Collins, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 21, 1995
• Grant date: Feb 27, 1996
• Expiry date: Feb 21, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F2201/865
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A system comprises a flag interface module, a flag query having a selectable value based on a user authorization level, a query communicator, and a flag value communicator for communicating a new flag value from the flag interface module to a test program in response to the query communicator that enables a user to modify an execution sequence [e.g., modifying the flow] of the test program executing on a computer controlling a testing system. The execution sequence of the test program is modified only if the user has a proper authorization level. The execution sequence is modified by an authorized user without requiring the test program to be recompiled.