Virtual Machine Profiling via System-Level Logging

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Developers face challenges in fully testing virtual machines on resource-constrained embedded devices due to limited resources, leading to ineffective testing methods and difficulty in identifying issues within the virtual machine, application, or the device itself.

Innovation Solution

A system that profiles virtual machines by recording operation-requests and responses between the virtual machine and the native layer, allowing for logging and emulation on a second device, enabling analysis of interactions and detection of problems within the device, virtual machine, or application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If developers test virtual machines on resource-constrained embedded devices, then testing can be performed on the target platform, but resource limitations prevent comprehensive testing and force use of ineffective testing methods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting effectivenessVSAvoidavailable resources

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a copy of the virtual machine's operation requests and responses in a system-level log file. This copying allows the test information to be stored externally without consuming additional runtime resources on the constrained device, enabling comprehensive testing capabilities while maintaining resource constraints during execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a system-level profiler as an intermediary component that sits between the virtual machine and the native layer. This profiler captures and logs operation requests and responses without interfering with the normal execution, allowing comprehensive testing data collection while maintaining the existing resource-constrained environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If developers test virtual machines outside of resource-constrained systems, then more functionality is available for testing, but the resource-constrained system lacks necessary functionality and real-world testing scenarios cannot be replicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting functionalityVSAvoidreal-world scenario accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

By copying the actual operation requests and responses that occur during real-world execution on the resource-constrained device, the patent enables external systems to replay and analyze these exact scenarios. This preserves the authenticity of real-world testing conditions while allowing versatile analysis tools to be applied externally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by capturing and logging all operation requests and responses during actual device operation before external analysis. This preliminary data collection ensures that all real-world scenarios are recorded with full accuracy, enabling subsequent comprehensive testing and analysis outside the constrained environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If traditional profiling techniques are used to detect problems, then bottlenecks can be identified, but the origin of problems (application, virtual machine, or device) cannot be determined

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebottleneck detectionVSAvoidproblem origin information

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the system into distinct layers (native layer, virtual machine layer, application layer) and captures operation requests and responses at each boundary. This segmentation allows the system to identify which layer generates each operation, thereby determining the origin of problems while maintaining comprehensive bottleneck detection capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by recording both the operation requests sent from the virtual machine and the corresponding responses returned from the native layer. This bidirectional feedback loop provides complete information about the interaction flow, enabling identification of where problems originate in the system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8997048B1Method and apparatus for profiling a virtual machine

Publication Date: 2015.03.31 SUN MICROSYSTEMS INC

AI summary

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for profiling a virtual machine on an embedded device. During operation, the system receives an operation-request at a system-level profiler from a virtual machine on an embedded device. The system then records the operation-request in a system-level log. Next, the system sends the operation-request to a native layer on the embedded device. Then, the system receives an operation-response associated with the operation-request from the native layer. The system then records the operation-response in the system-level log. Next, the system sends the operation-response to the virtual machine, thereby facilitating logging of interactions between the virtual machine and the native layer. Note that logging interactions between the virtual machine and the native layer facilitates emulation of the platform independent virtual machine on a second device. Furthermore, note that logging interactions between the virtual machine and the native layer can facilitate emulation of the platform independent virtual machine executing a specific application on a second device.