Patent US4076387A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5778230A
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US
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Goal directed object-oriented debugging system
Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1995-11-13
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Granted: 1998-07-07
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Expires: 2015-11-13
Abstract
Abstract A human oriented object programming system provides an interactive and dynamic process for debugging computer programs which facilitates the development of complex computer programs such as operating systems and large applications with graphic user interfaces (GUIs). The system performs goal directed debugging in response to a user request. The user merely inputs a high level debugging request, and the system breaks down the request into a set of goals and subgoals for implementing the high level user request. The system automatically develops one or more hypotheses which are tested in attempting to handle the debugging request of the user. Once a hypothesis is found to be true, the system automatically initiates backtracking, and further hypothesis, if necessary, to carry out the user request.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael D. Wimble
- 👤 Lawrence L. You
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:56
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/36; G06F11/3698
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
An apparatus for goal directed debugging of an application program, the apparatus comprising: (a) a user interface for receiving a request from a user for information concerning a cause of a observed problem in the application program; (b) a goal developer for receiving the request and breaking the request down into one or more debugging goals, which, when accomplished, will provide information concerning the cause of the problem; (c) a debug program control element responsive to the one or more debugging goals for selectively executing one or more debugging programs to accomplish each of the one or more debugging goals; and (d) a reporting element for collecting information from the application program executing under control of the one or more debugging programs, determining a cause of the problem from the information and reporting the information to the user.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
An apparatus for goal directed debugging of an application program, the apparatus comprising: (a) a user interface for receiving a request from a user for information concerning a cause of a observed problem in the application program; (b) a goal developer for receiving the request and breaking the request down into one or more debugging goals, which, when accomplished, will provide information concerning the cause of the problem; (c) a debug program control element responsive to the one or more debugging goals for selectively executing one or more debugging programs to accomplish each of the one or more debugging goals; and (d) a reporting element for collecting information from the application program executing under control of the one or more debugging programs, determining a cause of the problem from the information and reporting the information to the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 1, further comprising a context assessor for assessing a context of the application program at various points in its operation, wherein the goal developer utilizes the context of the application program to develop the one or more debugging goals based on the request.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 1, wherein the goal developer comprises a debug hypothesis developer for developing one or more debug hypotheses based on the request regarding a failure which resulted in the problem.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 3, wherein the debug hypothesis developer, utilizes program execution information from the application program executing under control of the debugging programs to modify one or more of the debug hypotheses to more accurately determine the failure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 1, wherein the goal developer comprises a backtrack hypothesis developer for developing one or more backtrack hypotheses which indicate the cause of the failure in response to a first of the debug hypotheses being determined as correctly indicating the failure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 1, wherein the goal developer tests the one or more backtrack hypotheses and generates a backtrack trail of the test results.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 1, wherein the goal developer comprises a subgoal developer for developing one or more subgoals to implement the one or more goals; and wherein the program control element selectively executes the one or more debugging programs based on the at least one or more subgoals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 1, further comprising a target program interpretation element for interpreting the application program.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 1, wherein the application program has an architecture and the apparatus further comprises an architecture specific services element for encapsulating application program architecture details.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 1, wherein the application program is written in a programming language and the apparatus further comprises a language specific services element for encapsulating application program language details.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 1, further comprising a symbolic information database.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 1, wherein the program control element comprises a target program state notification element for notifying the one or more debugging goals when the application program reaches a predetermined state.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the goals comprises a list of actions to be performed by the at least one goal when the application program reaches predetermined states.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the goals comprises a list of one or more events for which the at least one goal has registered with the program control element to receive notification when the one or more events occur.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 1 further comprising a constraint manager for monitoring the one or more goals and controlling execution of the application program in response to the monitoring to run the application program with a least number of constraints.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 1, wherein the goal developer comprises a goal constructor for constructing goals which will provide information concerning the cause of the problem.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for goal directed debugging of an application program, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a request from a user for information concerning a cause of an observed problem in the application program; (b) breaking down and creating from the request one or more debugging goals, which, when accomplished, will provide information concerning the cause of the problem; (c) selectively executing one or more debugging programs to accomplish each of the one or more debugging goals; (d) collecting information from the application program executing under control of one or more debugging programs; and (e) determining a cause of the problem from the information and reporting the information to the user.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for goal directed debugging of an application program, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a request from a user for information concerning a cause of an observed problem in the application program; (b) breaking down and creating from the request one or more debugging goals, which, when accomplished, will provide information concerning the cause of the problem; (c) selectively executing one or more debugging programs to accomplish each of the one or more debugging goals; (d) collecting information from the application program executing under control of one or more debugging programs; and (e) determining a cause of the problem from the information and reporting the information to the user.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of: assessing a context of the application program at various points in its operation; and utilizing the context of the application program when developing the one or more goals based on the request.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 17, including the step of developing one or more debug hypotheses based on the request regarding a failure which resulted in the problem.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 19, wherein the step of developing one or more debug hypotheses includes the steps of: testing the one or more debug hypotheses; and developing one or more alternative debug hypotheses when a tested debug hypothesis is found to be incorrect.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 19, wherein the step of developing the one or more debug hypotheses based on the request includes the step of utilizing program execution information from the application program executing under control of the debugging programs to modify one or more of the debug hypotheses to more accurately determine the failure.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 17, further comprising the step of developing one or more backtrack hypotheses which indicate the cause of the failure in response to a first of the debug hypotheses being determined as correctly indicating the failure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of testing the one or more backtrack hypotheses and maintaining a backtrack trail of the test results.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of developing one or more subgoals to implement the one or more goals; and selectively executing the one or more debugging programs based on the at least one or more subgoals.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 17, further comprising the step of interpreting the application program.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 17, wherein the application program has an architecture and the method further comprises the step of encapsulating architecture details.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 17, wherein the application program is written in a programming language and the method further comprises the step of encapsulating application program language details.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 17, further comprising the step of maintaining a symbolic information database.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 17, further comprising the step of notifying the one or more debugging goals when the application program reaches a predetermined state.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 17, further comprising the step of performing an action by the at least one goal when the application program reaches one or more predetermined states.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 17, further comprising the step of notifying at least one goal of one or more events for which the at least one goal has registered with a program control element to receive notification when the one or more events occur.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 17, further comprising the step of monitoring the one or more goals and controlling execution of the application program in response to the monitoring to run the application program with a least number of constraints.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 17, further comprising the step of constructing goals which will provide information concerning the cause of the problem.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
140 words
A computer program product for goal directed debugging of an application program, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon including: (a) program code for receiving a request from a user for information concerning a cause of an observed problem in the application program; (b) program code for breaking down and creating from the request one or more debugging goals, which, when accomplished, will provide information concerning the cause of the problem; (c) program code for selectively executing one or more debugging programs to accomplish each of the one or more debugging goals; (d) program code for collecting information from the application program executing under control of one or more debugging programs; and (e) program code for determining a cause of the problem from the information and reporting the information to the user.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
140 words
A computer program product for goal directed debugging of an application program, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon including: (a) program code for receiving a request from a user for information concerning a cause of an observed problem in the application program; (b) program code for breaking down and creating from the request one or more debugging goals, which, when accomplished, will provide information concerning the cause of the problem; (c) program code for selectively executing one or more debugging programs to accomplish each of the one or more debugging goals; (d) program code for collecting information from the application program executing under control of one or more debugging programs; and (e) program code for determining a cause of the problem from the information and reporting the information to the user.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
56 words
The computer program product for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 34, further comprising: program code for assessing a context of the application program at various points in its operation; and program code for utilizing the context of the application program when developing the one or more goals based on the request.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer program product for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 34, including program code for developing one or more debug hypotheses based on the request regarding a failure which resulted in the problem.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
59 words
The computer program product for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 36, wherein the program code for developing one or more debug hypotheses includes: program code for testing the one or more debug hypotheses; and program code for developing one or more alternative debug hypotheses when a tested debug hypothesis is found to be incorrect.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
66 words
The computer program product for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 36, wherein the program code for developing the one or more debug hypotheses based on the request includes program code for utilizing program execution information from the application program executing under control of the debugging programs to modify one or more of the debug hypotheses to more accurately determine the failure.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer program product for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 34, further comprising program code for developing one or more backtrack hypotheses which indicate the cause of the failure in response to a first of the debug hypotheses being determined as correctly indicating the failure.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer program product for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 34, further comprising program code for testing the one or more backtrack hypotheses and program code for maintaining a backtrack trail of the test results.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
54 words
The computer program product for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 34, further comprising program code for developing one or more subgoals to implement the one or more goals; and program code for selectively executing the one or more debugging programs based on the at least one or more subgoals.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer program product for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 34, further comprising program code for interpreting the application program.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer program product for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 34, wherein the application program has an architecture and the computer program product further comprises program code for encapsulating architecture details.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
41 words
The computer program product for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 34, wherein the application program is written in a programming language and the computer program product further comprises program code for encapsulating application program language details.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer program product for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 34, further comprising program code for notifying the one or more debugging goals when the application program reaches a predetermined state.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer program product for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 34, further comprising program code for performing an action by the at least one goal when the application program reaches one or more predetermined states.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
55 words
The computer program product for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 34, further comprising program code for notifying at least one goal of one or more events for which the at least one goal has registered with a program control element to receive notification when the one or more events occur.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer program product for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 34, further comprising program code for monitoring the one or more goals and controlling execution of the application program in response to the monitoring to run the application program with a least number of constraints.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer program product for goal directed debugging of an application program according to claim 34, further comprising program code for constructing goals which will provide information concerning the cause of the problem.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-06 | 2002-01-05 | 2002-07-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-06 | 2006-01-05 | 2006-07-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-06 | 2010-01-05 | 2010-07-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |