US5960199A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Model trace view for object-oriented systems
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1997-05-02
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Granted: 1999-09-28
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Expires: 2017-05-02
Abstract
Abstract The present invention discloses a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture of an object-oriented tool for displaying, within one window of a monitor connected to a computer, both a graphical and textual trace of an object-oriented model during execution. The invention has three sections, an object/operation/argument selection section, a graphical trace section, and a textual trace section. The object selection section displays a list of all available objects. The graphical trace view displays a graphic of the objects passing operations back and forth. The textual trace displays a log of activity during execution.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen Andrew Brodsky
- 👤 Gary Charles Doney
- 👤 Michael Morris Golding
- 👤 Hsin-Liang Huang
- 👤 Rebecca Mei-Har Lau
- 👤 Shu Jung Wang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:33
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/36; G06F11/362; G06F11/3636; G06F11/3698; G06F16/00; G06F16/20; G06F16/28; G06F16/289; G06F8/00; G06F8/70; G06F8/71; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/54; G06F9/542; G09G5/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for displaying an execution trace of an object model on a monitor connected to a computer, comprising the steps of: executing the object model in the computer; and displaying a model trace view for the execution of the object model on the monitor attached to the computer, wherein the model trace view includes a graphical trace view for displaying a graphical representation of the execution of the object model and a textual trace view for displaying a textual representation of the execution of the object model.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for displaying an execution trace of an object model on a monitor connected to a computer, comprising the steps of: executing the object model in the computer; and displaying a model trace view for the execution of the object model on the monitor attached to the computer, wherein the model trace view includes a graphical trace view for displaying a graphical representation of the execution of the object model and a textual trace view for displaying a textual representation of the execution of the object model.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 above, wherein the model trace view includes an object list of all objects within the object model.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2 above, wherein the model trace view includes an operations list of all operations for a selected object in the object list.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 3 above, further comprising the step of selecting a starting object for the execution of the object model from the objects list.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 4 above, further comprising the step of selecting a starting operation for the selected starting object from the operations list.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 5 above, wherein the model trace view includes an argument entry field for entering data to pass to a selected starting operation in the operations list.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 above, wherein the graphical representation comprises one or more visual elements selected from a group comprising objects in the object model, state changes of the objects in the object model, messages sent and received by the objects in the object model.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 1 above, wherein the textual representation comprises one or more textual elements selected from a group comprising objects in the object model, state changes of the objects in the object model, messages received by the objects in the object model, messages returned by the objects in the object model, attribute values set in the objects in the object model, attribute values retrieved in the objects in the object model, user trace entries, and pausing, resuming, ending, and stopping execution messages.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of selectively filtering the textual representation of the execution of the model by selecting textual elements to display.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 above, wherein the step of executing comprises the step of executing the object model in a step mode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 10 above, wherein the step mode includes both stepping in and stepping over, stepping in being the computer displaying the result of each line executed in the object model and stepping over being the computer executing each line in a defined section of the object model without displaying it.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 above, wherein the step of executing comprises the step of executing the object model in a run mode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 above, further comprising the step of pausing the execution of the object model.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 13 above, further comprising the step of resuming the paused execution of the object model.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 above, further comprising the step of stopping the execution of the object model.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 above, further comprising the step of closing the model trace view.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 above, wherein both the graphical trace view and the textual trace view can be resized.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
94 words
An apparatus for displaying an execution trace of an object model, comprising: a computer having a monitor connected thereto; means, performed by the computer, for executing the object model; and means, performed by the computer, for displaying a model trace view for the execution of the object model on the monitor attached to the computer, wherein the model trace view includes a graphical trace view for displaying a graphical representation of the execution of the object model and a textual trace view for displaying a textual representation of the execution of the object model.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
94 words
An apparatus for displaying an execution trace of an object model, comprising: a computer having a monitor connected thereto; means, performed by the computer, for executing the object model; and means, performed by the computer, for displaying a model trace view for the execution of the object model on the monitor attached to the computer, wherein the model trace view includes a graphical trace view for displaying a graphical representation of the execution of the object model and a textual trace view for displaying a textual representation of the execution of the object model.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 18 above, wherein the model trace view includes an object list of all objects within the object model.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 19 above, wherein the model trace view includes an operations list of all operations for a selected object in the object list.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 20 above, further comprising means for selecting a starting object for the execution of the object model from the objects list.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 21 above, further comprising means for selecting a starting operation for the selected starting object from the operations list.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 22 above, wherein the model trace view includes an argument entry field for entering data to pass to a selected starting operation in the operations list.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 18 above, wherein the graphical representation comprises one or more visual elements selected from a group comprising objects in the object model, state changes of the objects in the object model, messages sent and received by the objects in the object model.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
84 words
The apparatus of claim 18 above, wherein the textual representation comprises one or more textual elements selected from a group comprising objects in the object model, state changes of the objects in the object model, messages received by the objects in the object model, messages returned by the objects in the object model, attribute values set in the objects in the object model, attribute values retrieved in the objects in the object model, user trace entries, and pausing, resuming, ending, and stopping execution messages.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising means for selectively filtering the textual representation of the execution of the model by selecting textual elements to display.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 18 above, wherein means for executing comprises means for executing the object model in a step mode.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 27 above, wherein the step mode includes both stepping in and stepping over, stepping in being the computer displaying the result of each line executed in the object model and stepping over being the computer executing each line in a defined section of the object model without displaying it.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 18 above, wherein means for executing comprises means for executing the object model in a run mode.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 18 above, further comprising means for pausing the execution of the object model.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 30 above, further comprising means for resuming the paused execution of the object model.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 18 above, further comprising means for stopping the execution of the object model.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 18 above, further comprising means for closing the model trace view.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 18 above, wherein both the graphical trace view and the textual trace view can be resized.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
122 words
An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer and tangibly embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for displaying an execution trace of an object model on a monitor connected to the computer, the method comprising the steps of: executing the object model in the computer; and displaying a model trace view for the execution of the object model on the monitor attached to the computer, wherein the model trace view includes a graphical trace view for displaying a graphical representation of the execution of the object model, a textual trace view for displaying a textual representation of the execution of the object model, and a means of controlling the execution.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
122 words
An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer and tangibly embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for displaying an execution trace of an object model on a monitor connected to the computer, the method comprising the steps of: executing the object model in the computer; and displaying a model trace view for the execution of the object model on the monitor attached to the computer, wherein the model trace view includes a graphical trace view for displaying a graphical representation of the execution of the object model, a textual trace view for displaying a textual representation of the execution of the object model, and a means of controlling the execution.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 35 above, wherein the model trace view includes an object list of all objects within the object model.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 36 above, wherein the model trace view includes an operations list of all operations for a selected object in the object list.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 37 above, further comprising the step of selecting a starting object for the execution of the object model from the objects list.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 38 above, further comprising the step of selecting a starting operation for the selected starting object from the operations list.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 39 above, wherein the model trace view includes an argument entry field for entering data to pass to a selected starting operation in the operations list.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 19 above, wherein the graphical representation comprises one or more visual elements selected from a group comprising objects in the object model, state changes of the objects in the object model, messages sent and received by the objects in the object model.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 19 above, wherein the textual representation comprises one or more textual elements selected from a group comprising objects in the object model, state changes of the objects in the object model, messages received by the objects in the object model, messages returned by the objects in the object model, attribute values set in the objects in the object model, attribute values retrieved in the objects in the object model, user trace entries, and pausing, resuming, ending, and stopping execution messages.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 42, further comprising the step of selectively filtering the textual representation of the execution of the model by selecting textual elements to display.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 19 above, wherein the step of executing comprises the step of executing the object model in a step mode.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 44 above, wherein the step mode includes both stepping in and stepping over, stepping in being the computer displaying the result of each line executed in the object model and stepping over being the computer executing each line in a defined section of the object model without displaying it.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 19 above, wherein the step of executing comprises the step of executing the object model in a run mode.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 19 above, further comprising the step of pausing the execution of the object model.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 47 above, further comprising the step of resuming the paused execution of the object model.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 19 above, further comprising the step of stopping the execution of the object model.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 19 above, further comprising the step of closing the model trace view.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 19 above, wherein both the graphical trace view and the textual trace view can be resized.
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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) | 2002-09-27 | 2003-03-29 | 2003-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-27 | 2007-03-29 | 2007-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-27 | 2011-03-29 | 2011-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |