US6026362A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tool and method for diagnosing and correcting errors in a computer program
Assignee: Tandem Computers Inc
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Filing: 1995-12-27
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Granted: 2000-02-15
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Expires: 2015-12-27
Abstract
Abstract In a computer system, an improved tool and method for debugging complex computer applications, displays the relationship between processes and resources of the processes and the contents of the stack and registers for threads of processes. Double clicking on the displayed information causes more detailed information to be displayed. The display is updated when predetermined operations are performed during debug. Debug commands are accepted by the tool through a graphical user interface using operations performed by the user directly on the graphical representation of the functions of the software application. The ability of the tool to accept user commands through the graphical user interface and to display critical debugging information using this same interface greatly facilitates debugging. The displayed information includes graphical information representing currently executing processes and their resources and further representing threads of the currently executing processes.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Dongsuk Kim
- 👤 Seth Gordon Hawthorne
- 👤 Joseph Stanley Kosinski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:34
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/36; G06F11/3698; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/018
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for debugging a software application, comprising the steps, performed by a data processing system, of: opening in a Graphical User Interface (GUI) a GUI window; receiving a name of a process in the software application, where the process is a process to be debugged; displaying in the GUI window a graphical process icon representing the process; receiving an indication that the user has selected the graphical process icon displayed in the GUI window; obtaining information about all threads currently executing in the process; and displaying a process tree graphically representing the information for all threads currently executing in the process.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for debugging a software application, comprising the steps, performed by a data processing system, of: opening in a Graphical User Interface (GUI) a GUI window; receiving a name of a process in the software application, where the process is a process to be debugged; displaying in the GUI window a graphical process icon representing the process; receiving an indication that the user has selected the graphical process icon displayed in the GUI window; obtaining information about all threads currently executing in the process; and displaying a process tree graphically representing the information for all threads currently executing in the process.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying a process tree includes the step of displaying the process tree in a second GUI window.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the process tree includes thread information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the thread information includes a register node for a thread of the process.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of: allowing the user to indicate the register node; and displaying, in response to the user's indication, the contents of a register of the thread.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the process tree contains resource information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the thread information includes a stack node for a thread of the process.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of: allowing the user to indicate the stack node; and displaying, in response to the user's indication, the contents of a stack of the thread.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining step further includes the steps of: requesting, by a debug client, thread information for the process from a debug server; and sending, by the debug server, the requested thread information for the process to the debug client.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining step further includes the steps of: detecting, by a debug server, an event connected with the process; sending, by the debug server, thread information for the process, thread information for the process to the debug client; and receiving, by the debug client, the thread information for the process.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for debugging a software application, comprising the steps, performed by a data processing system, of: opening in a Graphical User Interface (GUI) a GUI window; receiving a name of a process in the software application, where the process is a process to be debugged; displaying in the GUI window a graphical process icon representing the process; receiving an indication that the user has selected the graphical process icon displayed in the GUI window; obtaining detailed information about the process; and graphically displaying the detailed information about the process.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for debugging a software application, comprising the steps, performed by a data processing system, of: opening in a Graphical User Interface (GUI) a GUI window; receiving a name of a process in the software application, where the process is a process to be debugged; displaying in the GUI window a graphical process icon representing the process; receiving an indication that the user has selected the graphical process icon displayed in the GUI window; obtaining detailed information about the process; and graphically displaying the detailed information about the process.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 11, further including the steps of: receiving an indication that the user has selected a portion of the displayed detailed information, where the selected portion corresponds to an aspect of the process; obtaining additional detailed information about the aspect of the process; and graphically displaying the additional detailed information about the aspect of the process.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
105 words
A system for debugging a software program, comprising: means for opening a Graphical User Interface (GUI) window in a GUI; means for receiving a name of a process in the software application, where the process is a process to be debugged; means for displaying in the GUI window a graphical process icon representing the process; means for receiving an indication that the user has selected the graphical process icon displayed in the GUI window; means for obtaining information about all threads currently executing in the process; and means for displaying a process tree graphically representing the information for all threads currently executing in the process.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
105 words
A system for debugging a software program, comprising: means for opening a Graphical User Interface (GUI) window in a GUI; means for receiving a name of a process in the software application, where the process is a process to be debugged; means for displaying in the GUI window a graphical process icon representing the process; means for receiving an indication that the user has selected the graphical process icon displayed in the GUI window; means for obtaining information about all threads currently executing in the process; and means for displaying a process tree graphically representing the information for all threads currently executing in the process.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
100 words
A computer-readable storage medium storing code for causing a computer to perform the steps of: opening a Graphical User Interface (GUI) window in a GUI; receiving a name of a process in the software application, where the process is a process to be debugged; displaying in the GUI window a graphical process icon representing the process; receiving an indication that the user has selected the graphical process icon displayed in the GUI window; obtaining information about all threads currently executing in the process; and displaying a process tree graphically representing the information for all threads currently executing in the process.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
100 words
A computer-readable storage medium storing code for causing a computer to perform the steps of: opening a Graphical User Interface (GUI) window in a GUI; receiving a name of a process in the software application, where the process is a process to be debugged; displaying in the GUI window a graphical process icon representing the process; receiving an indication that the user has selected the graphical process icon displayed in the GUI window; obtaining information about all threads currently executing in the process; and displaying a process tree graphically representing the information for all threads currently executing in the process.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of displaying currently executing thread information, comprising the steps of: receiving information identifying a process; reviewing operating system information for the process; obtaining thread information for all threads currently executing in the process from the operating system information; and displaying a process tree graphically representing the thread information.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of displaying currently executing thread information, comprising the steps of: receiving information identifying a process; reviewing operating system information for the process; obtaining thread information for all threads currently executing in the process from the operating system information; and displaying a process tree graphically representing the thread information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
A computer-readable medium storing code for causing a computer to perform the steps of: receiving information identifying a process; reviewing operating system information for the process; obtaining thread information for all threads currently executing in the process from the operating system information; and displaying a process tree graphically representing the thread information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
52 words
A computer-readable medium storing code for causing a computer to perform the steps of: receiving information identifying a process; reviewing operating system information for the process; obtaining thread information for all threads currently executing in the process from the operating system information; and displaying a process tree graphically representing the thread information.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of displaying process information, comprising the steps of: receiving information identifying a process; retrieving detailed information for the process; displaying a process tree having a first level of detailed information about the process; receiving information identifying a portion of the process being displayed; and displaying a process tree having a second level of detailed information about the portion of the process.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of displaying process information, comprising the steps of: receiving information identifying a process; retrieving detailed information for the process; displaying a process tree having a first level of detailed information about the process; receiving information identifying a portion of the process being displayed; and displaying a process tree having a second level of detailed information about the portion of the process.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of displaying a tree structure representing currently executing program code, comprising the step of: receiving information identifying program code currently being executed, the program code having been previously compiled into object code stored in an object code file; receiving a request to display a tree structure representing details of the program code; obtaining program code information from object code file while the program code continues to execute; and displaying the program code information in a tree structure.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of displaying a tree structure representing currently executing program code, comprising the step of: receiving information identifying program code currently being executed, the program code having been previously compiled into object code stored in an object code file; receiving a request to display a tree structure representing details of the program code; obtaining program code information from object code file while the program code continues to execute; and displaying the program code information in a tree structure.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 18, further comprising the step, after receiving a request to display a tree structure, taking control of the program code.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 18, wherein the program code information includes the call relationships between program modules.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-02-14 | 2003-08-16 | 2004-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-02-14 | 2007-08-16 | 2008-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-02-14 | 2011-08-16 | 2012-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |