US5903758A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for auditing dynamically linked procedure calls
Assignee: Oracle America Inc
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Filing: 1997-02-24
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Granted: 1999-05-11
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Expires: 2017-02-24
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is a method and apparatus for providing instrumentation of procedure calls in dynamically linked environments. More specifically, an embodiment of the present invention includes an API that allows a user to define procedures that are called during specific times during the execution of a runtime linker. By defining procedures in accordance with this API, the user can select procedures within a user program for auditing. The API also allows the user to define an entry procedure that will be called immediately before each audited procedure and an exit procedure that will be called immediately after each audited procedure. The runtime linker uses the procedures defined by the user to select procedures within the program for auditing. The runtime linker then arranges for the entry procedure to be called before, and the exit procedure to be called after, each audited procedure.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael S. Walker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:52
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/40; G06F8/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for binding a reference included in a referring object to a procedure defined in a defining object, the method comprising the steps, performed by a computer system, of: determining whether the reference has been selected for auditing; inserting instructions in the referring object, if the reference has been selected for auditing, where the instructions are configured to call, in sequence, a user-defined entry procedure and the procedure defined in the defining object; and inserting instructions in the referring object, if the reference has not been selected for auditing, where the instructions call the procedure defined in the defining object.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for binding a reference included in a referring object to a procedure defined in a defining object, the method comprising the steps, performed by a computer system, of: determining whether the reference has been selected for auditing; inserting instructions in the referring object, if the reference has been selected for auditing, where the instructions are configured to call, in sequence, a user-defined entry procedure and the procedure defined in the defining object; and inserting instructions in the referring object, if the reference has not been selected for auditing, where the instructions call the procedure defined in the defining object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of determining whether the reference has been selected for auditing includes the step of calling a user-defined procedure to determine whether auditing will be performed for references included in the referring object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of determining whether the reference has been selected for auditing includes the step of calling a user-defined procedure to determine whether auditing will be performed for procedures defined in a defining object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of determining whether the reference has been selected for auditing includes the step of calling a user-defined procedure to determine whether auditing will be performed for that reference.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of inserting instructions in the referring object, if the reference has been selected for auditing, where the instructions are configured to call a user-defined exit procedure sequentially following a call to the procedure defined in the defining object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the referring object includes a program linkage table having an entry that is associated with the procedure defined in the defining object and wherein the instructions inserted into the referring object include instructions inserted into the entry of the program linkage table.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the steps included in the method are performed by a runtime linker.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
144 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for binding a reference included in a referring object to a procedure defined in a defining object, the computer program product comprising: first computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to determine whether the reference has been selected for auditing; second computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to insert instructions in the referring object, if the reference has been selected for auditing, where the instructions are configured to call, in sequence, a user-defined entry procedure and the procedure defined in the defining object; and third computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to insert instructions in the referring object, if the reference has not been selected for auditing, where the instructions call the procedure defined in the defining object.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
144 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for binding a reference included in a referring object to a procedure defined in a defining object, the computer program product comprising: first computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to determine whether the reference has been selected for auditing; second computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to insert instructions in the referring object, if the reference has been selected for auditing, where the instructions are configured to call, in sequence, a user-defined entry procedure and the procedure defined in the defining object; and third computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to insert instructions in the referring object, if the reference has not been selected for auditing, where the instructions call the procedure defined in the defining object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 8 wherein the first computer readable program code devices include computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to call a user-defined procedure to determine whether auditing will be performed for references included in the referring object.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 8 wherein the first computer readable program code devices include computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to call a user-defined procedure to determine whether auditing will be performed for procedures defined in a defining object.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 8 wherein the first computer readable program code devices include computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to call a user-defined procedure to determine whether auditing will be performed for that reference.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 8 further comprising fourth computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to insert instructions in the referring object, if the reference has been selected for auditing, where the instructions are configured to call a user-defined exit procedure sequentially following the call to the procedure defined in the defining object.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 8 wherein the referring object includes a program linkage table having an entry that is associated with the procedure defined in the defining object and wherein the instructions inserted into the referring object include instructions inserted into the entry of the program linkage table.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for binding a reference included in a referring object to a procedure defined in a defining object, the method comprising the steps, performed by a computer system, of: determining whether the reference has been selected for auditing; and inserting in the referring object, if the reference has been selected for auditing, instructions configured to perform runtime auditing.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for binding a reference included in a referring object to a procedure defined in a defining object, the method comprising the steps, performed by a computer system, of: determining whether the reference has been selected for auditing; and inserting in the referring object, if the reference has been selected for auditing, instructions configured to perform runtime auditing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as recited in claim 14 wherein the instructions configured to perform runtime auditing are configured to selectively call in sequence, a user-defined entry procedure the procedure defined in the defining object and a user-defined exit procedure.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for binding a reference included in a referring object to a procedure defined in a defining object, the apparatus comprising: a first portion configured to determine whether the reference has been selected for auditing; a second portion configured to insert instructions in the referring object, if the reference has been selected for auditing, where the instructions are configured to call, in sequence, a user-defined entry procedure and the procedure defined in the defining object; and a third portion configured to insert instructions in the referring object, if the reference has not been selected for auditing, where the instructions call the procedure defined in the defining object.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for binding a reference included in a referring object to a procedure defined in a defining object, the apparatus comprising: a first portion configured to determine whether the reference has been selected for auditing; a second portion configured to insert instructions in the referring object, if the reference has been selected for auditing, where the instructions are configured to call, in sequence, a user-defined entry procedure and the procedure defined in the defining object; and a third portion configured to insert instructions in the referring object, if the reference has not been selected for auditing, where the instructions call the procedure defined in the defining object.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein the first portion is configured to call a user-defined procedure to determine whether auditing will be performed for references included in the referring object.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein the first portion is configured to call a user-defined procedure to determine whether auditing will be performed for procedures defined in a defining object.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein the first portion is configured to call a user-defined procedure to determine whether auditing will be performed for that reference.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 16 further comprising a fourth portion configured to insert instructions in the referring object, if the reference has been selected for auditing, where the instructions are configured to call a user-defined exit procedure sequentially following the call to the procedure defined in the defining object.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein the referring object includes a program linkage table having an entry that is associated with the procedure defined in the defining object and wherein the instructions inserted into the referring object include instructions inserted into the entry of the program linkage table.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-10 | 2006-11-09 | 2007-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-10 | 2010-11-09 | 2011-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |