Embedded Trace Description Probe Placement

Solution Overview

Problem

Current tracing frameworks require extensive knowledge of the program's inner workings for effective probe placement, limiting user understanding and requiring developers to manually insert probes at specific locations, which can be time-consuming and error-prone.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for embedding probe calls into source code, compiling, post-processing, and linking to create an embedded file with probe encoding, allowing a tracing framework to execute and trace probes based on embedded information, enabling users to generate and execute embedded files with probe encoding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If developers manually insert probes at specific locations in the traced program, then tracing information accuracy is improved, but time consumption and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracing information accuracyVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service tracing by automatically generating probe placements based on program semantics. The tracing framework analyzes the program structure and autonomously determines optimal probe locations, eliminating the need for manual developer intervention while maintaining accurate tracing information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis of the program's semantic structure before tracing execution. By pre-processing the program to identify key tracing points and relationships, the system prepares the tracing configuration in advance, reducing both manual effort and tracing overhead during actual execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If developers manually insert probes at specific locations in the traced program, then tracing information accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracing information accuracyVSAvoidease of use

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service tracing by automatically generating probe placements based on program semantics. The tracing framework analyzes the program structure and autonomously determines optimal probe locations, eliminating the need for manual developer intervention while maintaining accurate tracing information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary layer between the developer and the tracing framework. This intermediary automatically translates high-level tracing requirements into specific probe placements, shielding users from complex manual configuration while ensuring accurate tracing through semantically-informed probe selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If extensive knowledge of program inner workings is required for effective probe placement, then tracing precision is improved, but accessibility and ease of use deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracing precisionVSAvoiduser accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service tracing by automatically generating probe placements based on program semantics. The tracing framework analyzes the program structure and autonomously determines optimal probe locations, eliminating the need for manual developer intervention while maintaining accurate tracing information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis of the program's semantic structure before tracing execution. By pre-processing the program to identify key tracing points and relationships, the system prepares the tracing configuration in advance, reducing both manual effort and tracing overhead during actual execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7409677B1Method and system for creation and use of embedded trace description

Publication Date: 2008.08.05 ORACLE AMERICAN INC

AI summary

A method of generating an embedded file involving embedding a plurality of probe calls into source code to obtain embedded source code, compiling the embedded source code to generate object code including a probe relocation for each of the plurality of probe calls, post processing the object code to obtain a plurality of modified object code, wherein the plurality of modified object code includes object code containing a no-operation instruction in place of the probe relocation and object code containing probe encoding, and linking the plurality of modified object code to obtain an embedded file, wherein the embedded file includes probe encoding.