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System and method for software diagnostics using a combination of visual and dynamic tracing

  • US 8,504,994 B2
  • Filed: 10/07/2009
  • Issued: 08/06/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A computer system that facilitates a visual process of identifying and isolating software execution problems within a client program without requiring modifications to the executable of the client program, said system comprising:

  • a first computer having a first processor and a first display device, the first processor executing the client program in a runtime environment that includes generating information displayed on the first display device;

    a second computer having a second processor and a second display device, the first computer being remote from but communicatively connected to the second computer;

    a trace options module configured, when executed using the second processor, to receive from a user a selection of one or more source code portions of the client program, the selections being recorded in a trace control file that is sent to the first computer with a tracing agent;

    an information-gathering module configured, when executed using the first processor, to;

    connect to the runtime environment of the client program using the tracing agent;

    monitor selected events related to the user-selected source code portions recorded in the trace control file, the selected events occurring during execution of the client program, and store data describing said events in a log file,augment the log file with API events, message events, and program events, including screen update events and user interaction events, occurring during execution of the client program but outside of the user-selected source code portions, andobtain screen captures of images displayed on the first display device by the client program in response to storing the API events, message events, and program events, and store the screen captures in the log file; and

    an information-display module configured, when executed on the second processor, to;

    receive said log file,display an animated list of events logged in said log file in a first portion of the second display device, andplay an animation of the screen captures by rendering the screen captures in a second portion of the second display device, the animation of the screen captures being synchronized with the animated event display by advancing the screen capture animation when a screen update event or user interaction event that triggered the obtaining of the screen capture is encountered in the log file.

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