System and method for visualizing system operation trace chronologies
Filing Information
- Patent Number: US5898873
- Application Number: US8747496
- Filing date: 11/12/1996
- Issue date: 04/27/1999
- Predicted expiration date: 11/12/2016
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analyzing 100 million+ documents to uncover your network...- U.S. Classifications: 395/704 · 345/440 ·
- International Classifications: G06F 945 ·
- International Classifications: 395182.13;182.18;677;678;704 ·
Abstract
The present invention is a system and method of parsing system trace information to generate separate timelines of schedulable processes. System operation trace files are accurately parsed into schedulable processes without reliance on explicit context switching information provided by an operating system or trace tool. The invention accurately detects and parses nested event-pairs for display by a visualization tool, and allows a user to view either a nested or unnested visualization.References Cited
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| US5428618 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Ueki et al. | Jun 1995 |
| US5442740 | International Business Machines Corporation | Parikh | Aug 1995 |
| US5442744 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Piech et al. | Aug 1995 |
| US5563994 | Harmon et al. | Oct 1996 | |
| US5732272 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Gochee | Mar 1998 |
Foreign Patent Documents
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| JP1181135 | MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP | Jul 1989 | |
| JP5189224 | NIPPON ELECTRIC CO | Jul 1993 | |
| JP7261744 | YAMATAKE HONEYWELL CO LTD | Oct 1995 |
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Referenced By
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Independent Claims | See all claims (20)
- 1. A method for displaying trace information, generated in a cooperative multitasking information handling system, comprising:loading a trace file containing system scheduling information into a storage;parsing the system scheduling information contained in the trace file into one or more timelines, wherein each timeline contains one or more event-pairs, and wherein event-pairs may be nested within one another, and wherein the parsing includes the following:saving a first trace hook;saving a second trace hook;if the first trace hook is one of a predetermined first set of instructions, logging a first dispatch event for a visualization tool, wherein the first dispatch event corresponds to an event-pair start;if the first trace hook is not one of the predetermined first set of instructions, performing the following:if the first trace hook is one of a predetermined second set of instructions, logging a second dispatch event for the visualization tool, wherein the second dispatch event corresponds to an event-pair stop;if the first trace hook is not one of the predetermined second set of instructions, performing the following:if the second trace hook is a function entry point, sending the event-pair start to the visualization tool;if the second trace hook is a function exit point, sending the event-pair stop to the visualization tool; anddisplaying the timelines on a display means using the visualization tool.
- 9. An information handling system, comprising:one or more processors;a storage means;a display means;an operating system for controlling the one or more processors;means for loading a trace file containing system scheduling information into the storage means, wherein the system scheduling information is generated in a cooperative multitasking system;means for parsing the system scheduling information contained in the trace file into one or more timelines, wherein each timeline contains one or more event-pairs, and wherein event-pairs may be nested within one another, and wherein the means for parsing includes the following:means for saving a first trace hook;means for saving a second trace hook;means for determining if the first trace hook is one of a predetermined first set of instructions;means for logging a first dispatch event for a visualization tool if the first trace hook is one of the predetermined first set of instructions, wherein the first dispatch event corresponds to an event-pair start;means for determining if the first trace hook is one of a predetermined second set of instructions;means for logging a second dispatch event for the visualization tool if the first trace hook is one of the predetermined second set of instructions, wherein the second dispatch event corresponds to an event-pair stop;means for determining if the second trace hook is a function entry point;means for sending the event-pair start to the visualization tool if the second trace hook is the function entry point;means for determining if the second trace hook is a function exit point;means for sending the event-pair stop to the visualization tool if the second trace hook is the function exit point; andmeans for displaying the timelines on the display means using the visualization tool.
- 15. A computer-readable medium for displaying system operation trace information on a display device, comprising:means for loading a trace file containing system scheduling information into a storage means, wherein the system scheduling information is generated in a cooperative multitasking system;means for parsing the system scheduling information contained in the trace file into one or more timelines, wherein each timeline contains one or more event-pairs, and wherein event-pairs may be nested within one another, and wherein the means for parsing includes the following:means for saving a first trace hook;means for saving a second trace hook;means for determining if the first trace hook is one of a predetermined first set of instructions;means for logging a first dispatch event for a visualization tool if the first trace hook is one of the predetermined first set of instructions,wherein the first dispatch event corresponds to an event-pair start;means for determining if the first trace hook is one of a predetermined second set of instructions;means for logging a second dispatch event for the visualization tool if the first trace hook is one of the predetermined second set of instructions,wherein the second dispatch event corresponds to an event-pair stop;means for determining if the second trace hook is a function entry point;means for sending the event-pair start to the visualization tool if the second trace hook is the function entry point;means for determining if the second trace hook is a function exit point;means for sending the event-pair stop to the visualization tool if the second trace hook is the function exit point; andmeans for displaying the timelines on the display device using the visualization tool.
