Method and apparatus for monitoring the execution time of a computer program

A method for determining a time of execution of high level language program instructions, comprising the computer implemented steps of:

• automatically modifying in a host computer a high level language program received from one of a plurality of object computers by inserting an identification instruction adjacent to at least one specific high level language program instruction of said high level language program whose execution time is to be monitored;
• automatically translating in one of said object computers said modified high level language program into a lower level language program;
• executing said lower level language program in said one object computer and outputting execution information to the host computer;
• monitoring in said host computer the execution of said lower level language program said step of monitoring further including:
• identifying execution of each identification instruction, and
• storing in a memory a corresponding program execution time along with each identified identification instruction for subsequent evaluation.

An observation system for determining a time of execution of high level language source program instructions, comprising:

• plural, parallel object computers each having:
• means for receiving and storing a source program and a modified source program,
• means for translating said modified source program into a lower level language object program, and
• means for executing said lower level language object program and outputting execution information to a host computer;
• and
• said host computer being interfaced with at least one of said object computers and including:
• means for receiving a source program from at least one of said object computers;
• means for generating said modified source program from said received source program, said generating means further including:
• means for selecting instructions whose execution time is to be monitored in said source program,
• means for inserting an identification instruction adjacent to at least one of said selected instructions, and
• means for transferring said modified source program to said storing means;
• and
• means for monitoring execution of said lower level language object program including:
• means for identifying an execution of each identification instruction, and
• means for registering a corresponding program execution time along with each identified identification instruction for subsequent evaluation.