Segmented debugger

Abstract

A debugger for debugging, from a central location (e.g., a user terminal 13), jobs or processes running on one or more remote units (11) connected to the user terminal (13) via a communication network (15). The user terminal (13) includes a debugger (21) that receives and interprets debug commands produced by a keyboard and display console (19). The debug commands fall in any one of three categories-debug commands directed to the user terminal (USER TERMINAL CONTROL commands); debug commands directed to a particular remote unit (REMOTE UNIT CONTROL commands); and, debug commands directed to a specific job or process of multiple jobs or processes running on a particular remote unit (LOCAL JOB / PROCESS commands). The USER TERMINAL CONTROL commands are executed at the user terminal (13). The REMOTE UNIT CONTROL commands and LOCAL JOB / PROCESS commands are transmitted to the remote units (11) via the communication network (15). Each of the remote units (11) include a remote unit debugger (23) and a local job / process debugger (25) for each job or process subject to debug control. The remote unit debuggers (23) and the local process debuggers (25) receive and carry out the REMOTE UNIT CONTROL commands and the LOCAL JOB / PROCESS commands, respectively. The remote unit and local job / process debuggers send ACKNOWLEDGE or NEGATIVE-ACKNOWLEDGE messages to the user terminal debugger (21) after a debug operation is executed, depending upon whether the execution was successful or unsuccessful. If successful, data accompanying the ACKNOWLEDGE message is displayed at the user terminal. Contrariwise, a NEGATIVE-ACKNOWLEDGE message creates a suitable error display at the user terminal. Further, the local job / process debuggers (25) can send a message to the user terminal debugger (21) in situations where an error is recognized during the operation of a job or process or where a job or process is to be debugged prior to being placed in operation. Such local job / process messages cause the identity of the sending job / process debugger to be added to a debug control data base maintained in the user terminal and the message to be displayed for subsequent action by the user.

Description

TECHNICAL AREAThis invention is directed to debuggers used to debug the programs that control the operation of central processing units and, in particular, debuggers used to debug the programs that control distributed central processing units that communicate with one another via a communication network so that they can cooperate together to achieve a specific objective, such as the production of a variety of components and their assembly to create a product.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONAs will be readily appreciated by those familiar with the data processing art, debuggers are widely used to identify mistakes, or malfunctions in a computer program. More specifically, the debugging process involves the detection, location, isolation and elimination of mistakes, or malfunctions, from an operating program. In essence, a debugger is a special program designed to assist a user in the process of debugging an operating program. Because computer operating programs come in a wide variety of f...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

In accordance with this invention, a segmented debugger for debugging, from a central location (e.g., a user terminal), jobs or processes running on one or more remote central processing units connected to the user terminal via a communications network is provided. The segmented debugger includes a user terminal debugger that receives and interprets debug commands entered by the user via a keyboard. The user commands can fall in any one of three categories--debug commands directed to the user terminal (USER TERMINAL CONTROL commands); debug commands directed to a particular remote unit (REMOTE UNIT CONTROL commands); and, debug commands directed to a specific job or process of a multiple of jobs or processes running on a particular remote unit (LOCAL JOB/PROCESS commands). The USER TERMINAL CONTROL commands are executed at the user terminal. The REMOTE UNIT CONTROL commands and LOCAL JOB/PROCESS commands are transmitted to the remote units via the communication network. The segmented debugger also includes remote unit debuggers, one located in each of the remote units, plus local job/process debuggers, which are also located in the remote units, for each job or process subject to debug control. The remote unit debuggers and the local job/process debuggers perform the commanded debug function defined by the REMOTE UNIT CONTROL commands and the LOCAL JOB/PROCESS command, respectively. The remote unit and local job/process debuggers send ACKNOWLEDGE or NEGATIVE-ACKNOWLEDGE messages to the user terminal debugger after a debug operation is completed, depending upon whether the debug operation is successful or unsuccessful. If successful, associated data accompanying the ACKNOWLEDGE message is displayed at the user terminal. Contrariwise, a NEGATIVE-ACKNOWLEDGE message creates a suitable error display. The nature of the error display is, of course, dependent upon the nature of the comm

Problems solved by technology

While this approach is satisfactory when the program is located in a local computer, particularly if the local computer includes a keyboard and display console, it is disadvantageous when the program is in a computer that normally does not include a keyboard and display console.

Past debugging procedures are particularly disadvantageous for use in computer systems that include a plurality of central processing units, particularly distributed systems, wherein various parts of a composite program are located in different units.

However, this approach has a number of disadvantages.

The end result is an expensive program that frequently does not operate as satisfactorily as desired at start up.

Frequently time consuming and, thus, expensive debugging by skilled programmers is required before satisfactory operation is achieved.

Further, changes in such programs usually require the services of skilled programmers.

Because separate programs to control such items are relatively uncomplicated, they can be written by programmers with limited skills--frequently persons familiar with the manufacturing procedure who have been taught a suitable high level programming language.

In the past, one disadvantage of this

approach to programming has been the difficulty associated with debugging programs that cooperate with one another, particularly when parts of the cooperating programs are located in separate central processing units that are spaced from one another.

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