Method and system for remote software debugging

• US 20040243883A1
• Filed: 05/27/2003
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Megatrends International, LLC
• Original Assignee: American Megatrends Incorporated
• Inventors: Shankar, Subramonian, Messer, Jason Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,412,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/362 Software debugging

Abstract

Systems and methods for debugging a computer program executing on a remote computer physically distant from a local computer are provided. The local and remote computers are connected via a network. The remote computer includes a redirection device operative to transmit the video output of the remote computer to the local computer via the network connection. The redirection device may also receive user input commands generated at the local computer and provide the input commands to the remote computer as if the input commands were physically generated by a user at the remote computer. The remote computer also includes a software program to be debugged and a debugger program. The local computer includes a remote control software application operative to receive and display the video output transmitted from the remote computer. The remote control application also receives user input commands, such as keyboard or mouse commands, received at the local computer and transmits the commands to the redirection device. The remote control application may be utilized to execute commands on the debugger application and to debug the software program executing on the remote computer from the local computer.

Claims

5. A method for debugging a computer program executing on a remote computer from a local computer, the method comprising:

executing on the remote computer the computer program and a debugger application, the debugger application operative to provide functionality for debugging the execution of the computer program;

transmitting the video output of the remote computer to the local computer, the video output including a screen display generated by the debugger application;

displaying the video output of the remote computer at the local computer;

receiving user input commands at the local computer, the user input commands directed toward the screen display generated by the debugger application;

transmitting the user input commands to the remote computer; and

executing the user input commands at the remote computer to control the debugger application as if the user input commands were physically generated at the remote computer.

7. A method for debugging a computer program executing on a remote computer from a local computer, the method comprising:

executing a computer program and a debugger application at the remote computer, the debugger application operative to provide functionality for debugging the execution of the computer program;

generating a video output at the remote computer, the video output including a screen display generated by the debugger application;

transmitting the video output of the remote computer from the remote computer to the local computer; and

receiving at the remote computer user input commands generated within the screen display and physically generated at the local computer, and executing the input commands within the debugger application as if the input commands were physically generated at the remote computer by one or more input devices physically connected to the remote computer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the remote computer and the local computer are physically located at two different locations and wherein the remote computer and the local computer are connected via a communications network.

9. A system for debugging a computer program executing on a first computer from a third computer, the system comprising:

a first computer operative to execute the computer program;

a second computer having a connection to the first computer and operative to execute a debugger application capable of providing functionality for debugging the computer program executing on the first computer over the connection, the second computer comprising an operating system independent video and input/output redirection device operative to transmit the video output of the second computer to a third computer, to receive user input commands transmitted from the third computer, and to provide the input commands to the second computer as if the input commands were physically generated at the second computer; and

a third computer operative to execute a software application for receiving the video output of the second computer, for displaying the video output of the second computer, for receiving user input commands directed toward the displayed video output of the second computer, and for transmitting the user input commands to the operating system independent video and input/output redirection device.

1. A system for debugging a computer program executing on a first computer from a second computer, the system comprising:

a first computer operative to execute the computer program and a debugger application, the first computer comprising an operating system independent video and input/output redirection device operative to transmit the video output of the first computer to a second computer, to receive user input commands transmitted from the second computer, and to provide the input commands to the first computer as if the input commands were physically generated at the first computer; and

a second computer operative to execute a software application for receiving the video output of the first computer, for displaying the video output of the first computer, for receiving user input commands directed toward the displayed video output of the first computer, and for transmitting the user input commands to the operating system independent video and input/output redirection device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the input/output redirection device is operative to transmit the video output of the first computer to the second computer as data capable of being displayed in a web browser application, and wherein the software application comprises a web browser application.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the video output of the first computer includes a screen display generated by the debugger application and wherein the user input commands are directed toward the debugger application.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first computer and the second computer are physically located at two different locations and wherein the first computer and the second computer are connected via a communications network.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein transmitting the video output of the remote computer to the local computer comprises transmitting the video output of the remote computer to the local computer in a format displayable within a web browser application, and wherein displaying the video output of the remote computer at the local computer comprises displaying the video output of the remote computer at the local computer within a web browser application.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the input/output redirection device is operative to transmit the video output of the second computer to the third computer as data capable of being displayed in a web browser application, and wherein the software application comprises a web browser application.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the video output of the second computer includes a screen display generated by the debugger application and wherein the user input commands are directed toward the debugger application.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first and second computers are physically located at a different location than the third computer, and wherein the second computer and the third computer are connected via a communications network.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer program executing on the first computer comprises a basic input output system for controlling at least a portion of the operation of the first computer.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first computer further comprises an operating system independent video and input/output redirection device operative to transmit the video output of the first computer to the third computer, to receive user input commands transmitted from the third computer, and to provide the input commands to the first computer as if the input commands were physically generated at the first computer.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the third computer is further operative to execute a software application for receiving the video output of the first computer and for displaying the video output of the first computer.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the third computer is further operative to receive user input commands directed toward the displayed video output of the first computer and to transmitting the user input commands to the operating system independent video and input/output redirection device of the first computer.

17. A method for debugging a computer program executing on a first computer from a remotely located third computer, the method comprising:

executing on the first computer the computer program;

providing an interface between the first computer and a second computer;

executing on the second computer a debugger application, the debugger application operative to provide functionality to assist in the debugging of the computer program over the interface;

transmitting the video output of the second computer to a third computer, the video output including a screen display generated by the debugger application;

displaying the video output of the second computer at the third computer;

receiving user input commands at the third computer, the user input commands directed toward the screen display generated by the debugger application;

transmitting the user input commands to the second computer; and

executing the user input commands at the second computer to control the debugger application as if the user input commands were physically generated at the second computer.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

transmitting the video output of the first computer to the third computer; and

displaying the video output of the first computer at the second computer.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the computer program executing on the first computer comprises a basic input output system for controlling at least a portion of the operation of the first computer.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receive user input commands at the third computer directed toward the displayed video output of the first computer; and

transmitting the user input commands to the first computer for execution on the first computer.

17-1. The method of claim 16, wherein transmitting the video output of the second computer to the third computer comprises transmitting the video output of the second computer to the third computer in a format displayable within a web browser application, and wherein displaying the video output of the second computer at the third computer comprises displaying the video output of the second computer at the third computer within a web browser application.