Diagnostic Tool Emulation for Expression Evaluation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional diagnostic tools, such as debuggers, face challenges in evaluating expressions that include function calls to functions that do not exist within the target program process, particularly when lambda expressions are involved, as they require emulation to determine the value of expressions without modifying the target program or generating side effects.

Innovation Solution

The diagnostic tool emulates the execution of the first and second functions within a process other than the target program process, using intermediate or machine language representations and compilation to evaluate expressions, allowing for simulation of modifications without actual changes to the target program.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the diagnostic tool executes functions within the target program process to evaluate expressions, then the expression evaluation is accurate, but the target program process is modified and side effects are generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexpression evaluation accuracyVSAvoidside effects and modifications to target program

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The diagnostic tool creates a copy of the target program process in an emulation environment. This copy allows function execution and expression evaluation without modifying the original target program. The emulation environment replicates the runtime behavior while isolating side effects, enabling accurate evaluation without harmful modifications to the actual target program.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The diagnostic tool introduces an intermediary emulation environment between the expression evaluation and the target program process. This intermediary layer executes functions and evaluates expressions while capturing results without directly modifying the target program. The intermediary absorbs side effects and presents cleaned results to the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the diagnostic tool executes functions within the target program process, then the expression can be evaluated using target program state, but the target program process must be modified to include non-existent functions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexpression evaluation capabilityVSAvoidtarget program process modification

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of modifying the target program process, the diagnostic tool copies the necessary program state and creates an emulation environment that can execute functions without requiring changes to the original target program. This allows expression evaluation using target program state while avoiding the complexity of modifying the target program's function library.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The diagnostic tool segments the expression evaluation process into separate components: state extraction from the target program, function execution in the emulation environment, and result retrieval. This segmentation allows evaluation of expressions with non-existent functions by executing them in the isolated emulation environment rather than modifying the target program process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional debuggers evaluate expressions by executing functions in the target program, then the evaluation is direct, but they cannot evaluate expressions containing lambda expressions or non-existent functions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexpression evaluation versatilityVSAvoidexpression evaluation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The diagnostic tool implements a universal expression evaluation mechanism that can handle various function types including lambda expressions and functions that do not exist in the target program. The emulation environment provides multi-functionality to evaluate expressions with different function signatures and behaviors, making the diagnostic tool adaptable to diverse expression evaluation needs while maintaining reliable results through controlled emulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9208060B1Emulation-based expression evaluation for diagnostic tools

Publication Date: 2015.12.08 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Systems, methods and computer program products are described that enable a diagnostic tool, such as a debugger, to evaluate an expression based on the state of a target program process where the expression to be evaluated includes a call to a first function that exists in the target program process but where evaluation of such first function requires evaluation of a second function that does not exist in the target program process. For an expression such as this, the diagnostic tool emulates execution of the first function within a process other than the target program process, such as within the diagnostic tool process. In other embodiments, the emulation capability of the diagnostic tool is leveraged to enable a user thereof to simulate a modification of the target program process without making actual changes to the target program process.