Method and system for remote software debugging

• US 7,412,625 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2003
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel; Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mehrmanesh; Elmira
• Application Number:
  US10/446,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20040243883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,904 Days
• Field of Search: 714/38, 714/46, 714/57, 345/502, 345/530, 715/740, 715/749, 719/330
• US Class Current: 714/38.14
• 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

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

the 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 video output of the second computer to the 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

the 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 of the second computer, the user input commands from the third computer directed to the debugger application executing on the second computer to control debugging of the computer program executing on the first computer.

2. The system of claim 1, 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.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the video output of the second computer includes a screen display generated by the debugger application.

4. The system of claim 1, 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.

5. The system of claim 1, 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.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first computer further comprises an operating system independent video and input/output redirection device operative to transmit 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 from the third computer to the first computer as if the input commands were physically generated at the first computer.

7. The system of claim 6, 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.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the third computer is further operative to receive user input commands directed toward the displayed video output of the first computer and to transmit the user input commands from the third computer to the operating system independent video and input/output redirection device of the first computer.

9. 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 debugging the computer program executing on the first computer over the interface;

transmitting video output of the second computer to the 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 executing on the second computer;

transmitting the user input commands from the third computer to the second computer; and

executing the user input commands from the third computer at the second computer to control the debugger application executing on the second computer for debugging the computer program executing on the first computer as if the user input commands were physically generated at the second computer.

10. The method of claim 9, 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.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

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

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

12. The method of claim 9, 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.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving 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.