Probe Injection for Code Coverage with Minimal CPU Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for injecting probes into executable code to determine code coverage often result in significant performance impact and lack the use of time-sensitive and performance-sensitive measures, as well as statistical analysis for minimal resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for efficiently injecting probes into executable code, utilizing statistical analysis and time-sensitive/performance-sensitive measures to minimize CPU and RAM resource usage, with dynamic probe placement and fuzzy counter increments to reduce performance impact, allowing for code behavior analysis during execution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If probes are injected into executable code to determine code coverage, then code coverage information can be obtained, but performance impact on CPU and RAM resources increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by injecting probes selectively at specific code locations rather than throughout the entire codebase. The system identifies and injects probes only at strategically chosen points that provide sufficient coverage information while minimizing performance overhead. This selective approach allows the system to obtain meaningful code coverage data without instrumenting every possible execution path, thereby reducing the performance impact on CPU and RAM resources.
2Measurement precision
If traditional probe injection methods are used, then code coverage can be measured, but resource utilization (CPU and RAM) increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by making probe injection location-specific and context-aware. Different probe types and instrumentation strategies are applied at different code locations based on their characteristics and importance. Critical code paths receive more detailed instrumentation while less important areas use lighter probing mechanisms. This localized approach ensures that resource utilization is optimized for each specific code region, providing accurate coverage measurements without uniformly high resource consumption across the entire system.
3Reliability
If probes are injected for comprehensive code coverage, then testing accuracy improves, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing static analysis and code profiling before probe injection to identify high-value code paths that require instrumentation. The system预先 analyzes the code structure, execution patterns, and critical paths, then strategically places probes only where they will provide maximum testing accuracy. This pre-planning approach eliminates the need for comprehensive probing of all code, significantly reducing the time required for code coverage measurement while maintaining high testing reliability through targeted probe placement in the most informative locations.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and methods for efficiently injecting probes to executable code, which is then executed. Such probes may be used for example to examine the behavior of the code during execution. Optionally analyzing the behavior of the code during execution is used as part of a testing strategy for the code.