Apparatus for and method of action synchronization for software reproducibility

• US 6,845,471 B1
• Filed: 03/02/2001
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Solid Step Software
• Original Assignee: Solid Step Software
• Inventors: Huth, Jerome Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Baderman, Scott
• Application Number:
  US09/797,797
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 714/38, 714/39, 714/45, 714/46, 719/318, 717/124, 717/125, 717/127, 717/128, 717/131, 717/132, 717/133, 709/318
• US Class Current: 714/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3696 Methods or tools to render software testable

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for action synchronization for software reproducibility adds stability and control to software quality. The method and apparatus records a plurality of non-file events and a plurality of file events from a computer application. A serial event log allows sequential replaying of events which occurred during a failed run of a software application.

Claims

1. A method of action synchronization for software reproducibility to add stability and control to software quality, the method comprising the steps of:

a. recording a plurality of non-file events and a plurality of file events from a computer application;

b. playing a next event from a serial event log; and

c. copying the one of a plurality of file events to an I/O file bundle when recording one of the file events from the computer application.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising when recording one of a plurality of non-file events from the computer application, the step of storing the one of a plurality of non-file events in the serial event log.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing the one of a plurality of file events in the serial event log.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising when playing the next event from the serial event log, the step of calling an onplayback function of the next event when the next event is a basic synchronous event.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of deleting the basic synchronous event.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising when playing the next event from the serial event log, the step of updating a file map with the next event when the next event is a file event.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of deleting the file event.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising when playing the next event from the serial event log, the step of closing a gate when the next event is a human playback event.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of calling an onhuman playback function of the human playback event.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of deleting the human playback event.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising when playing the next event from the serial event log, the step of calling an oncleared function when a notification is received.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of deleting the notification.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising when playing the next event from the serial event log, the step of closing a gate when the next event is one of the plurality of non-file events.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of saving the next event.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising when playing the next event from the serial event log, the step of opening a gate when the next event is an inter process event notification.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of calling an oncleared event of a saved inter process event, wherein the saved inter process event corresponds with the inter process event notification.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of deleting the saved inter process event.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of deleting the inter process event notification.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of saving an inter process event notification when the inter process event notification is not read from the serial event log.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of opening a gate when a user completes a human playback event.

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of obtaining a filename to which an input filename maps.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of removing an original offset from the filename.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of adding a current offset to the filename and returning the filename.

24. An article of manufacture comprising a computer readable medium bearing program code embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer program code including:

a. means for recording a plurality of non-file events and a plurality of file events from a computer application;

b. means for playing a next event from a serial event log; and

c. means for copying the one of a plurality of file events to an I/O file bundle when the recording means are recording one of a plurality of file events from a computer application.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 24 further including when recording one of a plurality of non-file events from the computer application, means for storing the one of a plurality of non-file events in the serial event log.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 24 further including means for storing the one of a plurality of file events in the serial event log.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 24 further including when playing the next event from the serial event log, means for calling an onplayback function of the next event when the next event is a basic synchronous event.

28. The article of manufacture of claim 27 further including means for deleting the basic synchronous event.

29. The article of manufacture of claim 24 further including when playing the next event from the serial event log, means for updating a file map with the next event when the next event is a file event.

30. The article of manufacture of claim 29 further including means for deleting the file event.

31. The article of manufacture of claim 24 further including when playing the next event from the serial event log, means for closing a gate when the next event is a human playback event.

32. The article of manufacture of claim 31 further including means for calling an onhuman playback function of the human playback event.

33. The article of manufacture of claim 32 further including means for deleting the human playback event.

34. The article of manufacture of claim 24 further including when playing the next event from the serial event log, means for calling an oncleared function when a notification is received.

35. The article of manufacture of claim 34 further including means for deleting the notification.

36. The article of manufacture of claim 24 further including when playing the next event from the serial event log, means for closing a gate when the next event is one of the plurality of non-file events.

37. The article of manufacture of claim 36 further including means for saving the next event.

38. The article of manufacture of claim 24 further including when playing the next event from the serial event log, means for opening a gate when the next event is an inter process event notification.

39. The article of manufacture of claim 38 further including means for calling an oncleared event of saved inter process event, wherein the saved inter process event corresponds with the inter process event notification.

40. The article of manufacture of claim 39 further including means for deleting the saved inter process event.

41. The article of manufacture of claim 40 further including means for deleting the inter process event notification.

42. The article of manufacture of claim 24 further including means for saving an inter process event notification when the inter process event notification is not read from the serial event log.

43. The article of manufacture of claim 24 further including means for opening a gate when a user completes a human playback event.

44. The article of manufacture of claim 24 further including means for obtaining a filename to which an input filename maps.

45. The article of manufacture of claim 44 further including means for removing an original offset from the filename.

46. The article of manufacture of claim 45 further including means for adding a current offset to the filename and returning the filename.

47. An apparatus for action synchronization for software reproducibility to add stability and control to software quality comprising:

a. a storage media for storing a computer application;

b. a processing unit coupled to the storage media; and

c. a user interface coupled to the processing unit such that a user can record a plurality of non-file events and a plurality of file events from the computer application and subsequently play a next event from a serial event log, wherein one of a plurality of file events is copied to an I/O bundle when the user records one of the file events from the computer application.

48. A method of action synchronization for software reproducibility to add stability and control to software quality, the method comprising the steps of:

a. recording a plurality of non-file events and a plurality of file events from a computer application;

b. playing a next event from a serial event log;

c. copying the one of a plurality of file events to an I/O file bundle when recording one of the file events from the computer application; and

d. when playing the next event from the serial event log, closing a gate when the next event is a human playback event.