Runtime analysis and control to monitor the status of the threads during execution of folded thread

• US 9,436,498 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2013
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Krauss, Kirk J.
• Primary Examiner(s): GHAFFARI, ABU Z
• Application Number:
  US14/023,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20140013329A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 718/100, 718/102, 718/104, 718/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3017 where the computing system is implementing multitasking multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46; allocation of resources G06F9/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3072 where the reporting involves data filtering, e.g. pattern matching, time or event triggered, adaptive or policy-based reporting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3089 Monitoring arrangements determined by the means or processing involved in sensing the monitored data, e.g. interfaces, connectors, sensors, probes, agents software debugging using additional hardware using a specific debug interface G06F11/3656; performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring G06F11/3466
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3466 Performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3612 by runtime analysis performance monitoring G06F11/3466
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3644 by instrumenting at runtime
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/865 Monitoring of software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/46 Multiprogramming arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/48 Program initiating; Program switching, e.g. by interrupt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4843 by program, e.g. task dispatcher, supervisor, operating system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/485 Task life-cycle, e.g. stopping, restarting, resuming execution G06F9/4881 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/52 Program synchronisation; Mutual exclusion, e.g. by means of semaphores

Abstract

A computer hardware system configured to perform runtime analysis and runtime control of a multithreaded computer program includes at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to initiate and/or perform the following. A plurality of the threads are folded, under control of a supervisor thread, together to be executed as a single folded thread. The execution of the folded thread is monitored to determine a status of the threads. At least one indicator corresponding, to the determined status of the threads, is presented in a user interface.

Claims

1. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer usable storage medium having stored therein computer usable program code for performing runtime analysis and runtime control of a multithreaded computer program,

the computer usable program code, which when executed by a computer hardware system, causes the computer hardware system to perform;

folding, under control of a supervisor thread, a plurality of the threads together to be executed as a single folded thread;

monitoring the execution of the folded thread to determine a status of the threads; and

presenting in a user interface at least one indicator corresponding to the determined status of the threads, wherein

the folding includes

copying state data of a second thread of the threads, and

applying the copied state data to be used as state data for a first thread of the threads, and

wherein the computer usable storage medium does not consist of a transitory propagating signal.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein

the computer usable program code further causes the computer hardware system to perform:

identifying, in a list of folded threads, a first thread that is currently executing; and

identifying a thread tracking structure associated with the first thread.

3. The computer program product of claim 2, wherein

state data of the first thread is stored to a memory location.

4. The computer program product of claim 3, wherein

the memory location is indicated by the thread tracking structure associated with the first thread.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer usable program code further causes the computer hardware system to perform:

suspending the first thread; and

suspending the second thread, wherein

the copying the state data is performed by the supervisor thread while both the first and second threads are suspended.

6. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein

execution of the first thread is reinitiated.

7. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer usable program code further causes the computer hardware system to perform:

selecting, as the second thread, a thread that is next to the first thread in a list of folded threads.

8. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein

the applying the copied state includes storing the copied state data to a memory location indicated by a thread tracking structure associated with the first thread.

9. A computer hardware system configured to perform runtime analysis and runtime control of a multithreaded computer program, comprising

at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to initiate and/or perform:

folding, under control of a supervisor thread, a plurality of the threads together to be executed as a single folded thread;

monitoring the execution of the folded thread to determine a status of the threads; and

presenting in a user interface at least one indicator corresponding to the determined status of the threads, wherein

the folding includes

copying state data of a second thread of the threads, and

applying the copied state data to be used as state data for a first thread of the threads.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to initiate and/or perform:

identifying, in a list of folded threads, a first thread that is currently executing; and

identifying a thread tracking structure associated with the first thread.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein

state data of the first thread is stored to a memory location.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein

the memory location is indicated by the thread tracking structure associated with the first thread.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to initiate and/or perform:

suspending the first thread; and

suspending the second thread, wherein

the copying the state data is performed by the supervisor thread while both the first and second threads are suspended.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein

execution of the first thread is reinitiated.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to initiate and/or perform:

selecting, as the second thread, a thread that is next to the first thread in a list of folded threads.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein

the applying the copied state includes storing the copied state data to a memory location indicated by a thread tracking structure associated with the first thread.