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US6345322B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Intelligently interpreting errors in build output log files

Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1998-12-18
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Granted: 2002-02-05
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Expires: 2018-12-18
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Abstract

Abstract A method for identifying predefined error conditions in a build output log file to determine if software build is defective. An output log file is generated within a storage device of a data processing system during a build of a software algorithm on the data processing system. A user creates a list file on the data processing system containing predefined valid error conditions. The output log file is searched to identify user-defined strings from the list file. A comparison of the user-defined strings identified during the search is made with predefined valid error conditions to determine when the user-defined strings identified matches the predefined valid conditions.

Inventors

  • 👤 Randy Scott Humphrey

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 00:33
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/36; G06F11/3668; G06F11/3672; G06F11/3688; G06F11/362; G06F11/3636; G06F11/366

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim 149 words
A method for identifying predefined error conditions in a build output log file, the method comprising the steps of: generating an output log file in a storage device of a data processing system during compilation of a software routine on said data processing system; creating a list file on said data processing system of predefined valid error conditions; searching said output log file to identify user-defined strings; and comparing said identified user-defined strings with said predefined valid error conditions to determine when said identified user-defined strings match said predefined valid error conditions, wherein validity of a match between said user-defined strings and said pre-defined valid error conditions is determined based on a pre-specified level of exactness, said level of exactness ranging from a literal match for a selected number of characters to a non-literal match having some equivalence of characters with a number of characters of said user-defined strings.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 149 words
A method for identifying predefined error conditions in a build output log file, the method comprising the steps of: generating an output log file in a storage device of a data processing system during compilation of a software routine on said data processing system; creating a list file on said data processing system of predefined valid error conditions; searching said output log file to identify user-defined strings; and comparing said identified user-defined strings with said predefined valid error conditions to determine when said identified user-defined strings match said predefined valid error conditions, wherein validity of a match between said user-defined strings and said pre-defined valid error conditions is determined based on a pre-specified level of exactness, said level of exactness ranging from a literal match for a selected number of characters to a non-literal match having some equivalence of characters with a number of characters of said user-defined strings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 74 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said comparing step further includes the steps of: ignoring said identified user-defined string when said identified user-defined string matches a predefined valid error condition; recording said identified user-defined string when said identified user-defined string does not match a predefined valid error condition; and informing a user when said identified user-defined string does not match a predefined valid condition utilizing an output device of the data processing system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein said informing step includes the step of providing a list of any unresolved error conditions remaining at end of said output log file.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said user-defined strings in said comparing step correspond to known error conditions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said comparing step further includes the step of scanning ACSII files for user-defined error strings utilizing a user-defined error descriptor file.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein said user-defined error descriptor file describes a set of conditions to search for including error strings and describes conditions to ignore.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said searching step further includes the steps of: identifying SYS0002 errors; and ignoring any of said SYS0002 errors which follow a line containing a deletion command.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 49 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said valid condition in said creating step is a part of a search description and further wherein said valid condition includes a range, said range being a predefined number of lines above and below said user-defined error condition for a specified text.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 57 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said comparing step is invoked on a plurality of output log files wherein said step further includes the step of: overlooking user-defined error strings in a subset of said plurality of output log files; and progressing automatically from one file to the next in said plurality of output log files.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 161 words
A system for identifying predefined error conditions in a build output log file to determine if software build is defective comprising: means for generating an output log file in a storage device of a data processing system during building of a software routine on said data processing system; means for creating a list file on said data processing system of predefined valid error conditions; means for searching said output log file to identify user-defined strings; and means for comparing said user-defined strings identified in said searching step with said predefined valid conditions to determine when said user-defined strings identified matches said predefined valid conditions, wherein validity of a match between said user-defined strings and said pre-defined valid error conditions is determined based on a pre-specified level of exactness, said level of exactness ranging from a literal match for a selected number of characters to a non-literal match having some equivalence of characters with a number of characters of said user-defined strings.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 161 words
A system for identifying predefined error conditions in a build output log file to determine if software build is defective comprising: means for generating an output log file in a storage device of a data processing system during building of a software routine on said data processing system; means for creating a list file on said data processing system of predefined valid error conditions; means for searching said output log file to identify user-defined strings; and means for comparing said user-defined strings identified in said searching step with said predefined valid conditions to determine when said user-defined strings identified matches said predefined valid conditions, wherein validity of a match between said user-defined strings and said pre-defined valid error conditions is determined based on a pre-specified level of exactness, said level of exactness ranging from a literal match for a selected number of characters to a non-literal match having some equivalence of characters with a number of characters of said user-defined strings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 77 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said comparing means further includes: means for ignoring said identified user-defined string when said identified user-defined string matches a predefined valid error condition; means for recording said identified user-defined string when said identified user-defined string does not match a predefined valid error condition; and means for informing a user when said identified user-defined string does not match a predefined valid condition utilizing an output device of the data processing system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 29 words
The system of claim 11 , wherein said informing means includes means for providing a list of any unresolved error conditions remaining at end of said output log file.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 19 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said user-defined strings in said comparing means correspond to known error conditions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 27 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said comparing means further includes means for scanning ACSII files for user-defined error strings utilizing a user-defined error descriptor file.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 28 words
The system of claim 14 , wherein said user-defined error descriptor file describes a set of conditions to search for including error strings and describes conditions to ignore.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 34 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said searching means further includes: means for identifying SYS0002 errors; and means for ignoring any of said SYS0002 errors which follow a line containing a deletion command.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 49 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said valid condition in said creating means is a part of a search description and further wherein said valid condition includes a range, said range being a predefined number of lines above and below said user-defined error condition for a specified text.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 58 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said comparing means is invoked on a plurality of output log files wherein said means further includes: means for overlooking user-defined error strings in a subset of said plurality of output log files; and means for progressing automatically from one file to the next in said plurality of output log files.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 171 words
A computer program product for identifying predefined error conditions in a build output log file to determine if software build is defective, said program product comprising: a computer readable medium; and program instructions on said computer readable medium for: generating an output log file in a storage device of a data processing system during building of a software routine on said data processing system; creating a list file on said data processing system of predefined valid error conditions; searching said output log file to identify user-defined strings; and comparing said user-defined strings identified in said searching step with said predefined valid conditions to determine when said user-defined strings identified matches said predefined valid conditions, wherein validity of a match between said user-defined strings and said pre-defined valid error conditions is determined based on a pre-specified level of exactness, said level of exactness ranging from a literal match for a selected number of characters to a non-literal match having some equivalence of characters with a number of characters of said user-defined strings.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 171 words
A computer program product for identifying predefined error conditions in a build output log file to determine if software build is defective, said program product comprising: a computer readable medium; and program instructions on said computer readable medium for: generating an output log file in a storage device of a data processing system during building of a software routine on said data processing system; creating a list file on said data processing system of predefined valid error conditions; searching said output log file to identify user-defined strings; and comparing said user-defined strings identified in said searching step with said predefined valid conditions to determine when said user-defined strings identified matches said predefined valid conditions, wherein validity of a match between said user-defined strings and said pre-defined valid error conditions is determined based on a pre-specified level of exactness, said level of exactness ranging from a literal match for a selected number of characters to a non-literal match having some equivalence of characters with a number of characters of said user-defined strings.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 78 words
The computer program product of claim 19 , said program instructions for said comparing further includes program instructions for: ignoring said identified user-defined string when said identified user-defined string matches a predefined valid error condition; recording said identified user-defined string when said identified user-defined string does not match a predefined valid error condition; and informing a user when said identified user-defined string does not match a predefined valid condition utilizing an output device of the data processing system.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 34 words
The computer program product of claim 20 , said program instructions for said informing includes program instructions for providing a list of any unresolved error conditions remaining at end of said output log file.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 23 words
The computer program product of claim 19 , said user-defined strings in said program instructions for said comparing correspond to known error conditions.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 32 words
The computer program product of claim 19 , said program instructions for said comparing further includes program instructions for scanning ACSII files for user-defined error strings utilizing a user-defined error descriptor file.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 30 words
The computer program product of claim 22 , wherein said user-defined error descriptor file describes a set of conditions to search for including error strings and describes conditions to ignore.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 36 words
The computer program product of claim 19 , program instructions for said searching further includes program instructions for: identifying SYS0002 errors; and ignoring any of said SYS0002 errors which follow a line containing a deletion command.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 54 words
The computer program product of claim 19 , wherein said valid condition in said program instructions for said creating is a part of a search description and further wherein said valid condition includes a range, said range being a predefined number of lines above and below said user-defined error condition for a specified text.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 63 words
The computer program product of claim 19 , said program instructions for said comparing is invoked on a plurality of output log files wherein said comparing program instructions further includes program instructions for: overlooking user-defined error strings in a subset of said plurality of output log files; and progressing automatically from one file to the next in said plurality of output log files.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US6202174B1 Cited
US6138121A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2005-02-04 2005-08-06 2006-02-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2009-02-04 2009-08-06 2010-02-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2013-02-04 2013-08-06 2014-02-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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