First processor inserting hooks into software and sending unique identifications to output bus and second processor associating data frames and time with these unique identifications

• US 5,121,501 A
• Filed: 12/27/1989
• Issued: 06/09/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bishop, David A., Raby, Charles L., Baumgartner, Raymond S., Skelton, Michael H., Herrington, Kenneth M., Dyar, John R., Henson, James D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GECKIL, MEHMET B
• Application Number:
  US07/458,045
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 371/19
• US Class Current: 717/127
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/348 Circuit details, i.e. tracer hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3644 by instrumenting at runtime

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring software applications within a first processor during development thereof. A limited number of uniquely identifiable elements or "hooks" are inserted into the software application under development and each time an element is encountered during processing of that software application, the identity of the element and a selected data frame are coupled to the output bus of the first processor. A data output card is utilized to couple that information to a data collection card via a dedicated cable. The data collection card is then utilized to transfer the identity of each element encountered and its associated data frame along with a time value, to a second processor, which is utilized to record that data. In one embodiment of the present invention, a switched bank memory system is utilized in the second processor to permit high speed data storage. In the event the software application under development generates monitoring outputs at a speed greater than may be accurately stored within the second processor, an overrun indication is stored within the second processor and subsequent tests may be run utilizing fewer "hooks" within the software application under development.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the performance of a selected software application with a first processor having an output bus, said method comprising the steps of:

inserting a limited number of uniquely identifiable elements at selected locations within said selected software application;

processing said selected software application within said first processor;

automatically coupling to said output bus a unique identification of each of said limited number of uniquely identifiable elements, in association with a preselected data frame, in response to each encountering of one of said limited number of uniquely identifiable elements during processing of said selected software application;

coupling a second processor having memory means coupled thereto to said output bus;

associating a chronological order time value with said identification and said preselected data frame; and

storing said identification, said preselected data frame, and said chronological order time value within said memory means coupled to said second processor wherein said performance of said selected software application may be monitored.

2. The method for monitoring the performance of a selected software application according to claim 1, further including the step of associating an identifying header frame with said identification, said selected data frame and said chronological order time value prior to storage thereof.

3. The method for monitoring the performance of a selected software application according to claim 1, further including the step of storing within said memory means coupled to said second processor an overrun indication in the even said identification and said preselected data frame are coupled to said output bus at a speed in excess of the speed at which said identification and said preselected data frame may be stored.

4. A data processing system for monitoring the performance of a selected software application within a first processor having an output bus, said data processing system comprising:

means for inserting a limited number of uniquely identifiable elements at selected locations within said selected software application;

means for automatically coupling to said output bus a unique identification of each of said limited number of uniquely identifiable elements in association with a preselected data frame, in response to each encountering of one of said limited number of uniquely identifiable elements during processing of said selected software application within said first processor;

a second processor coupled to said output bus of said first processor, said second processor having memory means coupled thereto;

means for associating a chronological order time value with said identification and said preselected data frame; and

means for coupling said identification, said preselected data frame and said chronological order time value to said second processor for storage within said memory means coupled thereto.

5. A data processing system for monitoring the performance of a selected software application within a first processor having an output bus according to claim 4, further including means for storing an overrun indication within said memory means coupled to said second processor in the event said identification and said preselected data frame are coupled to said memory means at a speed in excess of the speed at which said identification and said preselected data frame may be stored.

6. A data processing system for monitoring the performance of a selected software application within a first processor having an output bus according to claim 4, wherein said memory means coupled to said second processor includes a switched bank memory device.

7. A data processing system for monitoring the performance of a selected software application with a first processor having an output bus according to claim 6, further including disk storage means coupled to said second processor.

8. A data processing system for monitoring the performance of a selected software application within a first processor having an output bus according to claim 4, wherein said means four coupling said identification and said preselected data frame to said second processor comprises a data output card coupled to said output bus of said first processor.

9. A data processing system for monitoring the performance of a selected software application within a first processor having an output bus according to claim 8, wherein said means for coupling said identification and said preselected data frame to said second processor comprises a data collection card coupled to said data output card by means of a dedicated cable.

10. A data processing system for monitoring the performance of a selected software application within a first processor having an output bus according to claim 8, wherein said second processor includes an input/output bus and wherein said data collection card is coupled to said input/output bus.