Kernel-mode in-flight recorder tracing mechanism

• US 20060200701A1
• Filed: 03/01/2005
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Callender, Robin L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,849,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3636 by tracing the execution of the program
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/366 using diagnostics G06F11/0703 takes precedence

Abstract

The subject invention relates to systems and methods that automatically monitor and record component-related activities to support remote diagnostic capabilities. In one aspect, an automated computer diagnostic system is provided. The system includes a trace component that monitors computer-related activities between a driver and an operating system component. The trace component can be embedded within the driver or coupled thereto but, generally records activities relating to a given driver in contrast to generically for the entire operating system. A log records the computer-related activities to facilitate problem diagnosis with respect to the driver or the operating system component.

Claims

1. An automated computer diagnostic system, comprising:

a trace component that monitors computer-related activities between a driver and an operating system component; and

a log that records the computer-related activities to facilitate problem diagnosis with respect to the driver or the operating system component.

2. The system of claim 1, the trace component is provided as an instruction that taps information from the operating system component.

3. The system of claim 1, the trace component operates in parallel with at least one other trace component adapted for the operating system component.

4. The system of claim 1, the log is created as a circular buffer that receives on-going updates from the trace component.

5. The system of claim 1, the trace component is embedded within the driver.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a remote computer system that receives the log for further diagnostic analysis.

7. The system of claim 6, the remote system includes a user interface to analyze the contents of the log.

8. The system of claim 7, the user interface includes at least one of a trace analyzer, an error code table or listing, a suggestion display, a help index, a support icon, a support number, and controls for at least one of a break command or a file inspection command.

9. The system of claim 6, the remote system includes one or more automated procedures to diagnose a system or driver failure or to repair a system or driver failure.

10. The system of claim 1, the log is provided as part of a system crash dump of information or as part of a miniature dump of information.

11. The system of claim 1, the log includes at least one of a trace state, an event, an address, an interrupt state, a bus state, a signal state, a register status, a framework status, and a processor status.

12. A computer readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon for implementing the components of claim 1.

13. A method for capturing diagnostic information, comprising:

adapting a trace recording element to a driver;

interfacing the trace recording element with an operating system; and

logging output from the trace recording element to an analysis file.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising automatically transmitting the analysis file to a debugging station.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising automatically responding to at least one event contained in the analysis file.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising applying a statistical or learning function to respond to the event.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising applying a user interface function to the analysis file.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising outputting a command from the user interface function in response to the analysis file.

19. A system to facilitate computer diagnostic operations, comprising:

means for tracing activities of a driver component;

means for interfacing the driver component to a log;

means for providing output to the log in accordance with the tracing activities; and

means for interfacing the driver component to a computer library component.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising means for analyzing the log.