Patent · US Active

Tracking asynchronous execution of program using hierarchical structure of objects

US8032886B2 · kind B2 · utility

8Cited by
18References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 17, 2005
Grant dateOct 4, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 14, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F9/4411
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The invention builds a structure of software objects that captures the historically contingent development of an asynchronous program. The invention builds software objects that represent the resources and subtasks that make up the asynchronous program. The objects are connected into a hierarchy whose structure explicates interactions among the resources and subtasks. When a fault is detected, the structure tells the debugger everything the program was doing at the time of the fault and lays open the developmental history of the program that led to the fault. The debugger uses this information to trace the detected fault back through code and time to its origin. When a new feature is added, the structure tells maintenance personnel how the new feature affects existing functions. Within the structure, the invention provides mechanisms for handling reference counters and software locks. Groups of resources can be handled together, the structure taking care of coordination.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.