System for graphically representing operation of object-oriented programs
First Claim
1. An object oriented program employinga plurality of transmitting objects,a plurality of receiving objects,a plurality of messages, wherein said plurality of messages are transmitted to said plurality of receiving objects by said transmitting objects, andan existing debugger routine, wherein said existing debugger routine can suspend operation of said program;
- a diagramming debugger process comprising the steps of;
recording transmission of said plurality of messages from said plurality of transmitting objects as the program is running wherein said recording includes examining a next program instruction, recording names of transmitting objects, recording messages sent, recording names of receiving objects, and allowing the existing debugger operation to take place;
graphically representing the recorded transmission,wherein said graphic representation includes;
a first plurality of area-limited representations of said transmitting objects;
a second plurality of area-limited representations of receiving objects; and
a third plurality of area-limited representations of said messages.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A "diagramming debugger" creates a graphical representation of the sequence of messages sent during operation of an object-oriented program. When one object transmits a message to another object, the diagramming debugger displays representations of the transmitting and receiving objects on a computer screen, each representation comprising a box with labels identifying the represented object. The box representing a sending object includes therewithin a symbol (comprising, for example, one or more characters) identifying the method that sent the message, while the box representing the receiving object includes therewithin a symbol identifying the method invoked by the message. The message is represented by an arrow pointing from the symbol identifying the sending method to the symbol identifying the invoked method.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An object oriented program employing
a plurality of transmitting objects, a plurality of receiving objects, a plurality of messages, wherein said plurality of messages are transmitted to said plurality of receiving objects by said transmitting objects, and an existing debugger routine, wherein said existing debugger routine can suspend operation of said program; -
a diagramming debugger process comprising the steps of; recording transmission of said plurality of messages from said plurality of transmitting objects as the program is running wherein said recording includes examining a next program instruction, recording names of transmitting objects, recording messages sent, recording names of receiving objects, and allowing the existing debugger operation to take place; graphically representing the recorded transmission, wherein said graphic representation includes; a first plurality of area-limited representations of said transmitting objects; a second plurality of area-limited representations of receiving objects; and a third plurality of area-limited representations of said messages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for monitoring the operation of an object oriented program while operating a debugger routine in an object oriented programming system, including graphically representing the operation of said program while said program is running, wherein the method is executed by a computer, the method comprising the steps of:
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halting the debugger; duplicating a current context of said debugger; examining the duplicate context; recording transmitting objects, messages transmitted by said transmitting objects, and objects which receive said messages during examination of the duplicate context; generating graphic representations of said recording, said representations comprising first area-limited representations of said transmitting objects, second area-limited representations of said receiving objects, and third area-limited representations of said messages; and displaying said graphic representations as visible output. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. The method for monitoring the operation of an object oriented program while operating a debugger routine in an object oriented programming system, including graphically representing the operation of said program while said program is running, wherein the method is executed by a computer, the method comprising the steps of:
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halting the debugger; duplicating a current context of said debugger; examining the duplicate context; recording transmitting objects, messages transmitted by said transmitting objects, and objects which receive said messages during said examining of the duplicate context; generating a plurality of area-limited graphic representations of said transmitting objects, of said receiving objects and, said messages; and displaying said graphic representations as visible output. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A graphic debugger process used within an object oriented computer system while running an object oriented program, the process comprising:
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acquiring transmitting-object information, receiving-object information and transmitted-message information; generating area-limited graphic representations of said information; and displaying said graphic representation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification