Automated Culprit Thread Identification in CPU Lockups
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for determining the source of software crashes are error-prone, time-consuming, and often inaccurate, as they rely on manual comparison of stack traces, which can lead to incorrect attribution of crash causes and delayed customer support.
Innovation Solution
An automated end-to-end system that analyzes crash reports by identifying culprit threads and generating signature back traces, using a combination of module identification and graphical user interfaces to provide accurate and timely insights into software crash causes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual comparison of stack traces is used to determine crash source, then human judgment and flexibility are applied, but the process becomes time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of comparing stack traces with an automated computer-based system that uses algorithms to analyze crash reports, extract stack traces, and identify culprit threads automatically, eliminating human intervention while maintaining or improving accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service crash analysis by automatically processing crash reports and generating identification of the culprit thread without requiring human analysts, allowing the system to serve itself in analyzing its own crash data
2Reliability
If manual analysis methods are used, then detailed human inspection can be performed, but incorrect attribution of crash causes occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual human inspection with automated computational analysis that systematically processes crash reports and reliably identifies culprit threads, eliminating human errors in attribution while accelerating the support response process
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides automated feedback by analyzing crash reports and immediately identifying the culprit thread, creating a closed-loop process that continuously improves reliability through systematic analysis rather than subjective human judgment
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive stack trace analysis is performed manually, then thorough examination is possible, but the process becomes tedious and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex manual process of analyzing comprehensive stack traces with an automated system that handles the complexity internally through algorithms, presenting a simplified output to users while maintaining thorough analysis capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts only the essential information needed for crash source identification from the comprehensive stack trace data, separating the complex analysis process from the simple output presentation, thereby reducing perceived complexity while maintaining analysis thoroughness
Data Source
AI summary
An automated end-to-end analysis of customer service requests is disclosed. A core dump is received, wherein the core dump corresponds to a customer service request regarding a crash of a computer system. A processor automatically analyzes the core dump to determine if a pcpu lockup of the computer system is due to a software issue. Provided the pcpu lockup of the computer system is due to the software issue, the processor determines which thread is a culprit thread responsible for the pcpu lockup of the computer system.