Asynchronous Web Services Debugging for Secure Remote Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional debugging methods face challenges in securely accessing and analyzing remote systems over wide area networks, particularly for maintenance operations, due to stringent security measures and limitations in supporting multi-step remote access.
Innovation Solution
An asynchronous debugging system utilizing a Web services interface allows for debugging of local and remote systems across different operating systems and technologies, enabling secure, platform-independent communication between a debugging client and agent, with support for both online and offline debugging through a Web services connection, including the use of SSL for secure authentication and breakpoint management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional debugging schemes are used for remote access, then access to customer systems is enabled, but security requirements and cryptographic standards are not adequately supported
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Web services interface as an intermediary layer between the debugging client and the remote system. This intermediary enables secure communication by standardizing the interaction protocol, allowing cryptographic authentication and authorization through established Web services security mechanisms without requiring direct or insecure connections to the customer system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the communication parameter from direct peer-to-peer connections to standardized Web services protocol-based communication. This parameter change enables the system to automatically handle security credentials, authentication tokens, and cryptographic operations through the Web services framework, thereby meeting high cryptographic standards while maintaining ease of use.
2Reliability
If debugging access is restricted to maintain security, then security is improved, but debugging capability and problem analysis are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The Web services interface acts as a secure intermediary that respects customer system access restrictions while enabling debugging operations. It handles authentication and authorization automatically, allowing the debugging client to communicate with the debugging agent without requiring direct access to the customer system, thus maintaining security while preserving full debugging capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service through automatic authentication and authorization handling by the Web services framework. The debugging agent can autonomously manage its own security credentials and communication protocols, eliminating the need for manual security configuration while maintaining restricted but secure access to the customer system.
3Measurement precision
If debugging requires stopping execution for analysis, then detailed debugging information is obtained, but process execution time and productivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic debugging modes that allow the system to adapt between stopping execution for detailed analysis and continuous execution for productivity. The asynchronous communication enabled by Web services allows the debugging client to request detailed information only when necessary, while the process can continue running in between, providing dynamic adjustment between measurement precision and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables continuity of useful action by allowing the process to execute continuously while the debugging agent collects and transmits debugging information asynchronously through Web services. This eliminates the need to stop execution for routine monitoring, maintaining both detailed debugging capability and process productivity simultaneously.
4Device complexity
If debugging agent is located on the same machine as the process, then direct connection is simplified, but remote system access and network independence are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by designing the debugging agent to communicate with the process through standardized Web services interfaces that work across different operating systems and network configurations. The same Web services-based agent can debug local processes, remote processes, and processes on different platforms without requiring system-specific configuration, thereby achieving both simplicity and versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for debugging a running process of an application or component is disclosed. A debugging client has a user interface for receiving user commands to configure and control a debugging program. A debugging agent is resident in a local network area with the running process and has a direct connection with the running process. The debugging agent is configured to execute the debugging program to obtain debugging information on the running process, and to send the debugging information to the debugging client. A Web services communication link is established between the debugging client and the debugging agent for communicating signals to the debugging agent from the debugging client representing the user commands to configure and control the debugging program.