Template-Based Asynchronous Debugging for Secure Enterprise Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing debugging methods for enterprise software are complex, resource-intensive, and require excessive access or modification, making it difficult to analyze problems in customer systems without transferring or installing a program IDE and source code, especially in secure environments.
Innovation Solution
A template-based asynchronous debugging system using a Web services interface that allows configuration and activation of 'hard' and 'soft' breakpoints without stopping process execution, enabling debugging across different operating systems and technologies through a debugging client and agent communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If traditional debugging methods are used to analyze problems in customer systems, then problem detection capability is improved, but system security is compromised and access restrictions are violated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a debugging agent as an intermediary component that runs within the customer's secure system environment. This agent acts as a mediator between the external debugging client and the internal running process, allowing problem detection without direct external access. The agent collects debugging information locally and transmits it securely to the client, thus maintaining security restrictions while enabling effective problem analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the debugging interface by implementing a debugging agent that replicates debugging functionality within the target system. Instead of requiring physical access to the system or installation of full IDE environments, the agent provides a simplified copy of debugging capabilities that operates autonomously within security constraints, allowing remote debugging without compromising system security.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If IDE and source code are transferred to customer site for debugging, then debugging capability is improved, but system complexity and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential debugging functionality from the complex IDE environment and implements it as a lightweight debugging agent. By separating the core debugging capabilities (breakpoint management, trace collection) from the full IDE suite, the solution provides adequate debugging capability without requiring transfer of entire IDE installations or source code, thus reducing system complexity and resource requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The debugging agent operates autonomously within the customer's system, self-managing breakpoint execution, trace data collection, and information transmission. This self-service capability eliminates the need for external IDE installation and complex setup procedures, allowing debugging to proceed with minimal system modification and reduced complexity while maintaining effective problem analysis capability.
3Measurement precision
If hard breakpoints are used to stop process execution for debugging, then debugging precision is improved, but process productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic breakpoint management where the debugging agent can adjust breakpoint behavior based on system state and user needs. Breakpoints can be configured as soft breakpoints that temporarily pause execution for data collection without fully stopping the process, or as conditional breakpoints that only activate under specific conditions. This dynamic approach maintains debugging precision while minimizing impact on overall process productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The debugging system employs periodic sampling and trace collection instead of continuous process interruption. The agent collects debugging information at predetermined intervals or at specific event triggers rather than stopping execution continuously. This periodic action approach ensures precise problem detection at critical moments while allowing the process to maintain high productivity between debugging events.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for debugging a running process of an application or component are disclosed. A debugging agent runs one or more templates. Each template is configured with a breakpoint set defined in debugging code for stopping execution of the running process according to one or more breakpoints. One or more debugging clients each includes a user interface for defining at least one of the one or more templates. Each debugging client is selectable to receive debugging information of the running process based on the breakpoint set.