Simple method optimization

• US 20040230956A1
• Filed: 11/03/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CA, Inc. (d/b/a CA Technologies) (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CA, Inc. (d/b/a CA Technologies) (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cirne, Lewis K., Puryear, Daryl L., Bley, John B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,418,145 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/128
• 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 11/3624 by performing operations on the source code, e.g. via a compiler
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3636 by tracing the execution of the program

Abstract

Methods are classified as simple or complex. Complex methods are modified to add a tracer. Methods classified as simple are not modified to add a tracer. There are many different standards that can be used within the spirit of the present invention to classify methods as simple or complex. In one embodiment, a method is complex if it meets three criteria: (1) the method has an access level of public or package; (2) the method is non-synthetic and (3) the method calls at least one other method. Methods that do not satisfy all three criteria are classified as simple methods.

Claims

1. A process for monitoring, comprising:

accessing a method;

determining whether said method is complex; and

modifying said method for a particular purpose only if said method is complex.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of determining whether said method is complex includes determining whether said method is non-synthetic.

3. A process according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of determining whether said method is complex includes determining whether said method has an access level of public or package.

4. A process according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of determining whether said method is complex includes determining whether said method calls another method.

5. A process according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of determining whether said method is complex includes determining whether said method is non-synthetic, calls another method and has an access level of public or package.

6. A process according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of determining whether said method is complex includes determining whether said method calls one or more different methods and can be called by a sufficient scope of one or more other methods.

7. A process according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of modifying includes modifying object code.

8. A process according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of modifying includes adding a tracer for said method.

9. A process according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of modifying includes adding a timer for said method.

10. A process according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of modifying includes adding exit code and start code to existing object code.

11. A process according to claim 10, wherein:

said start code starts a tracing process;

said exit code stops said tracing process;

said exit code is positioned to be executed subsequent to original object code;

said step of adding exit code includes adding an instruction to jump to said exit code from said original object code;

said step of adding exit code includes adding an entry in an exceptions table; and

said step of adding an entry in said exceptions table includes adding a new entry into said exceptions table for said method, said new entry indicates a range of indices corresponding to said original object code, said new entry includes a reference to said exit code and said new entry indicates that said new entry pertains to all types of exceptions.

12. A process according to claim 1, wherein:

said particular purpose is to add a first tracer.

15. A process according to claim 12, wherein:

said step of determining includes determining whether said methods have an access level of public or package.

38. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 3, wherein:

said step of tracing includes timing said method.

13. A process for monitoring, comprising:

determining which methods of a set of methods are complex; and

using a first tracing mechanism for said methods determined to be complex without using said first tracing mechanism for methods not determined to be complex.

14. A process according to claim 13, wherein:

said step of determining includes determining whether said methods are non-synthetic.

16. A process according to claim 13, wherein:

said step of determining includes determining whether said methods call other methods.

17. A process according to claim 13, wherein:

said step of determining includes determining whether said methods are non-synthetic, call other methods and have an access level of public or package.

18. A process according to claim 13, wherein:

said step of determining includes determining whether said methods call one or more different methods and can be called by a sufficient scope of one or more other methods.

19. A process according to claim 13, wherein:

said step of using a first tracing mechanism includes adding and using timers for said methods.

20. A process according to claim 13, wherein:

said step of using a first tracing mechanism includes modifying existing object code to add said first tracing mechanism.

21. A process according to claim 20, wherein:

said first tracing mechanism includes timers for said methods.

22. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage devices, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a process comprising:

determining which methods of a set of methods are complex; and

modifying for a particular purpose only those methods that are determined to be complex.

23. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 22, wherein:

said step of determining includes determining whether said methods are non-synthetic.

24. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 22, wherein:

said step of determining includes determining whether said methods have an access level of public or package.

25. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 22, wherein:

said step of determining includes determining whether said methods call other methods.

26. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 22, wherein:

said step of determining includes determining whether said methods are non-synthetic, call other methods and have an access level of public or package.

27. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 22, wherein:

said step of determining includes determining whether said methods calls one or more different methods and can be called by a sufficient scope of one or more other methods.

28. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 22, wherein:

said step of modifying includes modifying existing object code.

29. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 22, wherein:

said step of modifying includes adding tracers.

30. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 22, wherein:

said step of modifying includes adding timers.

31. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 22, wherein:

said step of modifying includes adding exit code and start code to existing object code.

32. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 31, wherein:

said start code starts a tracing process;

said exit code stops said tracing process;

said exit code is positioned to be executed subsequent to original object code;

said step of adding exit code includes adding an instruction to jump to said exit code from said original object code;

said step of adding exit code includes adding an entry in an exceptions table; and

said step of adding an entry in said exceptions table includes adding a new entry into said exceptions table for said method, said new entry indicates a range of indices corresponding to said original object code, said new entry includes a reference to said exit code and said new entry indicates that said new entry pertains to all types of exceptions.

33. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage devices, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a process comprising:

determining whether a method is complex; and

tracing said method for a particular purpose only if said method is complex.

34. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 33, wherein:

said step of determining whether said method is complex includes determining whether said method is non-synthetic.

35. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 33, wherein:

said step of determining whether said method is complex includes determining whether said method has an access level of public or package.

36. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 33, wherein:

said step of determining whether said method is complex includes determining whether said method calls another method.

37. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 33, wherein:

said step of determining whether said method is complex includes determining whether said method is non-synthetic, calls another method and has an access level of public or package.

39. An apparatus capable of monitoring, comprising:

means for determining whether a method is complex; and

means for tracing said method for a particular purpose only if said method is complex.

40. An apparatus capable of monitoring, comprising:

a storage device; and

one or more processors in communication with said storage device, said one or more processors perform a process comprising;

accessing a method,

determining whether said method calls one or more different methods and can be called by a sufficient scope of one or more other methods, and

tracing said method for a particular purpose only if said method calls one or more different methods and can be called by a sufficient scope of one or more other methods.

41. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein:

said step of determining includes determining whether said method is non-synthetic.

42. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein:

said step of determining includes determining whether said method has an access level of public or package.

43. An apparatus according to claim 41, wherein:

said step of determining includes determining whether said method is non-synthetic.

44. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein:

said process further includes modifying existing object code for said method in order to add a first tracing mechanism.

45. An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein:

said first tracing mechanism includes a timer.

46. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein:

said step of tracing includes timing said method.