Object code logic analysis and automated modification system and method

A method for automatically modifying computer program logic organized as one or more object code modules, comprising the steps of:

• (a) analyzing object code logic to identify instances of a desired change, wherein the object code logic is analyzed by one or more processes, selected from the group consisting of:
• applying inferential analysis and state dependent analysis to disassembled object code,
• scanning data files referenced by the object code to locate data formatted as date data, and
• tracing presumed references to the selected data type through a logical flow of the object code;
• (b) modifying the object code embodied in the computer program logic with respect to the desired change to modify computer program logical execution, substantially without decompilation or reference to source code;
• and
• (c) storing information representing the modified computer program logic for execution.

A method for modifying computer program behavior resolve an ambiguity, comprising:

• (a) identifying an ambiguous reference in a computer program;
• (b) analyzing the ambiguous reference to determine a likely resolution, wherein the ambiguous reference is analyzed by one or more processes selected from the group consisting of:
• applying inferential analysis and state dependent analysis to the computer program, scanning data files referenced by the computer program to locate data formatted as date data, and
• tracing presumed references to the selected data type through a logical flow of the computer program;
• (c) defining an alteration to the computer program execution to implement the determined likely resolution;
• and
• (d) applying the alteration such that the determined likely resolution is executed during normal execution of the computer program.

A method for automatically modifying computer program logic, comprising the steps of:

• (a) analyzing object code logic of the computer program by applying inferential analysis and state dependent analysis to the object code logic to define instances of a desired change;
• (b) modifying the object code in line to effect the desired change in object code logic, substantially without decompilation or reference to source code;
• and
• (c) storing information representing the modified computer program logic for execution.

A medium for storing a program executable on a computer for automatically modifying object code of another computer program, comprising logical instructions for:

• (a) analyzing object code logic of the other computer program by performing an analysis selected from one or more of the group consisting of:
• applying inferential analysis and state dependent analysis to the object code logic to define instances of a desired change,
• scanning data files referenced by the object code to locate data formatted as date data, and
• tracing presumed references to a selected data type through a logical flow of the object code;
• (b) modifying the object code to effect the desired change in object code logic, substantially without decompilation or reference to source code;
• and
• (c) storing information representing the modified object code for execution.

A computer system for automatically modifying object code of a computer program, comprising:

• (a) means for analyzing object code logic of the other computer program by performing an analysis selected from one or more of the group consisting of:
• applying inferential analysis and state dependent analysis to the object code logic to define instances of a desired change,
• scanning data files referenced by the object code to locate data formatted as date data, and
• tracing presumed references to a selected data type through a logical flow of the object code;
• (b) means for modifying the object code to effect the desired change in object code logic, substantially without decompilation or reference to source code;
• and
• (c) means for storing information representing the modified object code for execution.