Patent US5613098A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US5613098A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Testing and debugging new Y architecture code on existing X architecture system by using an environment manager to switch between direct X code execution and simulated Y code execution

Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
•
Filing: 1995-03-16
•
Granted: 1997-03-18
•
Expires: 2015-03-16
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A process is provided for developing a new computer system based on a new (Y) architecture. A Y computer prototype is developed with a design in accordance with the Y architecture. A multi-code processing system is developed for use on an existing X computer system designed in accordance with an X architecture and having an operative X operating system and operative X support routines. The processing system includes a Y simulator component, a debugger component, and an environment manager component. A Y code module is developed for each of a plurality of predetermined Y program modules during the Y prototype development. The multi-code processing system and at least one of the Y code modules are loaded into the X computer system during the Y prototype development. A related X code module may also be processed for loading into the X computer at the same time. The multi-code processing system components are operated on the X computer system during the prototype development to control and interface the switching of code execution between the X and Y domains and to test and debug each of the Y code modules. The debugged Y code modules are executed on the Y prototype or other Y computer system unit after the Y prototype is developed.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert V. Landau
  • 👤 James E. Johnson
  • 👤 Michael V. Iles

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 14:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/36; G06F11/3698

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim 145 words
An apparatus for testing programs for a new computer system based on a new (Y) architecture comprising: a multi-code processing system including an existing X computer system designed in accordance with an X architecture and having an operative X operating system and operative X support routines, said multi-code processing system further including a Y architecture simulator program and an environment manager program to control and interface the switching of code execution between direct execution on said X computer system and execution on said Y architecture simulator; a Y code module designed in accordance with said Y architecture; means for converting said Y code module for operation on said multicode processing system by combining said Y code module with related X code to form a mixed-code image; means, within said multi-code processing system, for executing said mixed-code image to test and debug said Y code module.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 145 words
An apparatus for testing programs for a new computer system based on a new (Y) architecture comprising: a multi-code processing system including an existing X computer system designed in accordance with an X architecture and having an operative X operating system and operative X support routines, said multi-code processing system further including a Y architecture simulator program and an environment manager program to control and interface the switching of code execution between direct execution on said X computer system and execution on said Y architecture simulator; a Y code module designed in accordance with said Y architecture; means for converting said Y code module for operation on said multicode processing system by combining said Y code module with related X code to form a mixed-code image; means, within said multi-code processing system, for executing said mixed-code image to test and debug said Y code module.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for executing the debugged Y code modules on a Y computer hardware prototype after said Y prototype is developed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said multi-code execution system further includes a debugger component to enable testing and debugging of said Y code module.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said debugger, Y simulator and environment manager test X code modules and Y code modules together.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said Y computer hardware prototype further includes a prototype Y operating system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said Y code module includes at least a portion of the Y operating system code.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said Y code module is an application program.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said multi-code processing system executes X support routines when called by said Y module.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the user level functions of said X and Y application programs are similar or identical.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 75 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for converting further combines said Y code module with a second Y code module after said step of executing said mixed-code image to test and debug said Y code module, and forms a combined Y code module as a result, and wherein said means for executing further executes said combined Y code module on said multi-code processing system to test and debug said combined Y code module.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 29 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said X architecture computer system is a Complex Instruction Set Code architecture, and said Y architecture is a Reduced Instruction Set Code architecture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for successively replacing said Y code module with other Y code modules in order to test and debug a complete Y program.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 72 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for converting further comprises: a Y-cross compiler for cross-compiling said Y code modules to form corresponding Y object files; a jacket-compiler for compiling jacket descriptions specifying interfaces corresponding to said Y code modules to form jacketing tables; and a cross-linker for cross-linking said Y object files to form a Y image which is combined with a related X image to form said mixed-code image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 135 words
A computer implemented process for testing a Y code module designed in accordance with a new computer system based on a new (Y) architecture comprising the steps of: converting said Y code module by combining said Y code module with related X code to form a mixed-code image; executing said mixed-code image on a multicode execution system to test and debug said Y code module, said mixed code execution system including an existing X computer system designed in accordance with an X architecture and having an operative X operating system and operative X support routines, said multi-code processing system further including a Y architecture simulator program and an environment manager program to control and interface the switching of code execution between direct execution on said X computer system and execution on said Y architecture simulator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 135 words
A computer implemented process for testing a Y code module designed in accordance with a new computer system based on a new (Y) architecture comprising the steps of: converting said Y code module by combining said Y code module with related X code to form a mixed-code image; executing said mixed-code image on a multicode execution system to test and debug said Y code module, said mixed code execution system including an existing X computer system designed in accordance with an X architecture and having an operative X operating system and operative X support routines, said multi-code processing system further including a Y architecture simulator program and an environment manager program to control and interface the switching of code execution between direct execution on said X computer system and execution on said Y architecture simulator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 143 words
A computer implemented process for testing programs for a new computer system based on a new (Y) architecture, comprising the steps of: converting a Y code module designed in accordance with said Y architecture for operation on a multicode processing system by combining said Y code module with related X code to form a mixed-code image, said multicode processing system including an existing X computer system designed in accordance with an X architecture and having an operative X operating system and operative X support routines, said multi-code processing system further including a Y architecture simulator program and an environment manager program to control and interface the switching of code execution between direct execution on said X computer system and execution on said Y architecture simulator; and executing said mixed-code image on said multi-code processing system to test and debug said Y code module.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 143 words
A computer implemented process for testing programs for a new computer system based on a new (Y) architecture, comprising the steps of: converting a Y code module designed in accordance with said Y architecture for operation on a multicode processing system by combining said Y code module with related X code to form a mixed-code image, said multicode processing system including an existing X computer system designed in accordance with an X architecture and having an operative X operating system and operative X support routines, said multi-code processing system further including a Y architecture simulator program and an environment manager program to control and interface the switching of code execution between direct execution on said X computer system and execution on said Y architecture simulator; and executing said mixed-code image on said multi-code processing system to test and debug said Y code module.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 68 words
The computer implemented process of claim 15, wherein said converting further comprises: cross-compiling said Y code modules on a Y-cross compiler to form corresponding Y object files; compiling jacket descriptions specifying interfaces corresponding to said Y code modules to form jacketing tables; and a cross-linker for cross-linking said Y object to form a Y image which is combined with a related X image to form said mixed-code image.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

No citation records indexed.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2000-03-17 2000-09-16 2001-03-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2004-03-17 2004-09-16 2005-03-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2008-03-17 2008-09-16 2009-03-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag