US 6,311,326 B1 · Online debugging and tracing system and method

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for debugging software running in a target machine. A debugging set-up script is created in a host machine which defines trace point locations, and the variables to be returned to the host machine. The method sends the trace point locations and variables to the target machine where a stub program running in the target machine effects the modification of a software program in the target machine by inserting traps at the trace points. Data is collected using the stub program to ascertain variable values when a trace point is hit and the acquired variable data are stored in the target machine in a target machine buffer memory. The collected data is sent, at the request of the host machine, or at the end of a predetermined time, or when a pass-count is reached or at a time set by the target machine, to the host machine without stopping or interrupting operation of the target system.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A method for debugging software running in a target machine comprising

defining, in a host machine, trace point locations and variables to be acquired by said software,
sending the trace point locations and variables to the target machine,
running a stub program in the target machine,
collecting, using the stub program, data representing the variables selected by said host machine, when a trace point is reached, and
sending said collected data, online, to the host machine without stopping operation of said target machine.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Online debugging and tracing system and method

Life of this patent

Online debugging and tracing system and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26