Navigable Graph Memory Debugging Tool
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current memory debugging tools are cumbersome and not developer-friendly, often requiring analysis of complex text lines and complicated relationship representations, making them inefficient for identifying memory leaks, especially in large-scale production environments.
Innovation Solution
A navigable user interface system that displays memory objects as a graph using progressive disclosure and a coordinate grid system, allowing developers to inspect and refine references between objects, and supports serialization and deserialization for cross-platform compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current memory debugging tools are used to analyze memory objects, then memory leaks can be detected, but the tools are cumbersome and require analysis of complex text lines and complicated relationship representations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of text-based memory analysis with a visual graph-based system. Memory objects and their relationships are represented as nodes and edges in a graphical interface, allowing developers to visually inspect memory structures instead of parsing complex text lines, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining detection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a graphical user interface as an intermediary between the complex memory data and the developer. This intermediary layer translates complicated relationship representations into intuitive visual graphs, making the memory debugging process more accessible without sacrificing the underlying analytical capability
2Reliability
If current memory debugging tools are used in production environments, then memory analysis can be performed, but the tools are not easily scalable when memory sizes are in the order of gigabytes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large memory graph into manageable portions using progressive disclosure. The graph is divided into visible and hidden portions, allowing developers to gradually reveal and inspect specific regions of memory without being overwhelmed by the entire gigabyte-scale dataset at once, thereby enabling scalability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic graph disclosure where the visibility of graph nodes and edges can be adjusted based on user interaction. The graph transitions from a partial view to a more comprehensive view as needed, allowing efficient navigation and analysis of large-scale memory structures without requiring the entire dataset to be loaded or displayed at once
3Loss of information
If the entire graph of objects and their relationships is displayed, then complete memory information is available, but the display becomes prohibitively complex and unintelligible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complete memory graph into a visible portion and a hidden portion. The visible portion contains the most relevant objects and relationships, while the hidden portion stores additional information that can be revealed on demand, preventing the display from becoming prohibitively complex while maintaining information completeness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial disclosure by initially displaying only the essential graph elements and relationships needed for effective memory analysis. Additional detailed information is available but not immediately displayed, allowing developers to access complete information only when necessary, thereby reducing display complexity while preserving information completeness
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a tool for allowing developers to analyze objects in to process virtual address space. The system includes a technique for identifying references between objects within memory and refining these references with runtime metadata and analysis heuristics. These objects may then be displayed in the form of a graph that employs a progressive disclosure to more effectively allow a developer debug memory. For example, the graph may organize objects within a coordinate grid system that allows a developer to concentrate or expand reference paths as necessary when analyzing objects or detecting potentially leaked or abandoned sources of memory.