Abstract: A method for distributed automated software GUI testing includes maintaining a centralized queue, which stores test instances to be executed by distributed test execution computers (“test computers”). Each test computer includes a client platform and is connected to one or more server platforms, the client and server platforms collectively providing client-server combinations against which the tests may be executed. For each test computer: (1) a request for a test instance is received from a test computer in response to completion of a preceding test by the test computer; (2) in response, a test instance is retrieved from the queue and communicated to the test computer for execution using a testing component supported by the test computer; (3) the component performs automated software GUI testing and produces test results; and (5) in response to execution of the instance, a test result for the executed instance is received and stored.

Abstract: An improved method of optimizing the instruction set of a digital processor using code compression. In one embodiment, the method comprises obtaining an assembly language program to be used for the optimization process; calculating the static frequency of each instruction type from the base instruction set; sorting the instruction types by frequency; determining the number and type of instructions necessary for correct program execution; creating a compressed instruction set encoding; re-evaluating the compressed instruction according to the foregoing steps; and generating an instruction set encoding for the compressed instruction set. Improved compressed instruction formats and register structures useful in a processor are also disclosed. A computer program and apparatus for synthesizing logic implementing the aforementioned data cache architecture and pipeline performance enhancements are further disclosed.

Abstract: A software installation and semantic database validation system using custom actions is disclosed. The system includes a database engine module for maintaining a database. The database contains a custom action table, with columns in the table providing information about the action. Each row in the table represent an individual action. The system also includes an installation engine module operative to read an action value from an action column of the action row and causing an action specified by the action value to be performed by a computer. The actions can be executable programs, Dynamic Link Library modules, or script written in scripting languages such as JavaScript or Visual Basic.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a full system monitor. The monitor may be configured to monitor in real-time one or more (i) software variables down to change rates, (ii) hardware registers down to cycle rates, and (iii) firmware registers down to microcode fetch rates.

Abstract: There is disclosed improved apparatus and methodology for customizing software. With respect to GUI resources such as splash-screens, a dynamic link library containing a customer's customized resources and a default link library containing the manufacturer's default resources are prepared at design time. Source code is normally not included in the customized dynamic link library. At run time, the customer resources are automatically included by operation of a resource manager algorithm and appear on the computer terminal screen unless they were not made available initially in which case the equivalent default resource is shown on the screen. If there are any bugs which are induced by the customer's specifications to be corrected, or if the customized dynamic link library is changed for some other reason, the source code does not have to be rewritten as it is not included in the dynamic link library.

Abstract: A computer system executing a method for performing reusable software application development comprises integrating a data processing system, providing a set of keywords and attributes, and declaring a set of executable specifications using the keywords and attributes, further comprising generating a program code, instantiating an object code, generating a testable functionality result, generating at least one unit test, generating an implementation documentation output, generating a performance statistics output, and generating a project metrics in the data processing system.

Abstract: Fragile native compilation of virtual machine code is described, in which a native code optimizer inspects external code entities such as Java base classes and emits target code based on an inter-procedural analysis of the code and data structure invariants and other properties of the external code entity. The fragile compiler also records which properties of the external code entities were used to produce the optimized code in a “fragile set”, so that the virtual machine at which the compiled code is deployed and executed can detect if the recorded properties of the external code entities are compatible with the properties of the corresponding entities on the deployment virtual machine. If the code entities are incompatible, the compiled native code is rejected and the virtual machine reverts to interpreting the virtual machine code.

Abstract: A system and method for debugging a program which is intended to execute on a reconfigurable device. A computer system stores a program that specifies a function, and which is convertible into a hardware configuration program (HCP) and deployable onto a programmable hardware element comprised on the device. The HCP is generated based on the program, specifies a configuration for the programmable hardware element that implements the function, and further specifies usage of one or more fixed hardware resources by the programmable hardware element in performing the function. A test configuration is deployable on the programmable hardware element by a deployment program, where, after deployment, the programmable hardware element provides for communication between the fixed hardware resources and the program. The program is executable by a processor in the computer system, where during execution the program communicates with the one or more fixed hardware resources through the programmable hardware element.

Abstract: In this information processing system, when a function that cannot be enabled in the current system configuration of a device is selected by a user on a setting window for setting various functions, control is performed to display information about a component required to enable the selected function. The system also performs control to obtain information about the component from a server. With the above arrangement, the information processing system can easily provide information about a component required to allow a device to enable the function selected by a user.

Abstract: A workstation is programmed to operate as an application development system for a medical imaging system. Objects programmed in an object-oriented language are selected from a component library using a visual component assembler which enables them to be dragged from a framework area on a display to a workspace area. Properties of selected components may be edited, and the resulting collection of components may be graphically linked together and saved as an application program.

Abstract: By encoding an exception triggering value in storage referenced by an instruction in an otherwise unused slot (e.g., the delay slot of a delayed control transfer instruction or an unused instruction position in a VLIW-based architecture) coinciding with a safe point, an efficient coordination mechanism can be provided for multi-threaded code. Because the mechanism(s) impose negligible overhead when not employed and can be engaged in response to an event (e.g., a start garbage collection event), safe points can be defined at call, return and/or backward branch points throughout mutator code to reduce the latency between the event and suspension of all threads. Though particularly advantageous for thread suspension to perform garbage collection at safe points, the techniques described herein are more generally applicable to program suspension at coordination points coinciding with calls, returns, branches or calls, returns and branches therein.

Abstract: The invention provides a program conversion apparatus which performs parallelization for a multi-thread microprocessor on an intermediate program level. A parallelization apparatus of the program conversion apparatus includes a fork spot determination section, a register allocation section and an instruction reordering section. The fork spot determination section determines a fork spot and a fork system based on a result of a register allocation trial performed by the register allocation section, the number of spots at which memory data dependence is present, and branching probabilities and a data dependence occurrence frequency obtained from a profile information file. The instruction reordering section reorders instructions preceding to and succeeding the FORK instruction in accordance with the determination.

Abstract: A test manager software program includes an interactive test graphical-user-interface (GUI) for testing network devices using high-level networking commands. The test GUI allows the test engineer user to enter high-level commands such as Simple Networking Management Protocol (SNMP) commands that read values in a management information database in a network device under test. The high-level commands can be sent from the test manager using a command-line interface (CLI) in a telnet session opened to the network device during testing. The user specifies high-level test, analyze, and restore commands in test cases that are collected into test suites. Rules for logging on to the network device under test are stored that include expected prompts from the network device and user responses such as passwords. Addresses of the network device under test can be re-mapped for testing other devices so the test suites can be reused.

Abstract: This patent describes a method of compiling a computer program from a sequence of computer instructions including a plurality of first, set branch, instructions which each identify a target address for a branch and a plurality of associated second, effect branch instructions which each implement a branch to a target address. The method comprising the steps of: reading the computer instructions in blocks; allocating each set branch instruction to an initial node in a dominator tree, the initial node being the node which contains the corresponding effect branch instruction; for the first determining the effect of migrating set branch instructions to each of a set of ancestor nodes in the dominator tree based on a performance cost parameter and selecting an ancestor node with the best performance cost parameter; locating said set branch instruction at the selected ancestor node.

Abstract: Methods and systems for network-based or Internet-based software delivery are described. In one embodiment, an application program or software platform resides on a client. The program or platform is configured so that it is extensible based on software extensions that are deliverable over a network such as the Internet. Various extensions can be developed by third party developers for incorporation into the program or platform. In the described embodiment, extension files that comprise a software extension are hosted on an Internet server. Additional files are also hosted on the Internet server and describe aspects of the software extension. These additional files include files that describe a logical attachment of the extension to the program or platform, as well as files that describe the location of the extension files. Extensions are incorporated on a client by navigating to a particular Internet site through which the extensions can be accessed.

Abstract: A system for testing middleware of applications in the N-tiered model. The test system contains test code generators, test engines to execute multiple copies of the test code and a data analyzer to analyze and present the results to a human user. The system is able to automatically generate test code to exercise components of the middleware using information about these components that would otherwise be available to the application under test. Multiple copies of the test code are executed in a synchronized fashion. Execution times of multiple events are recorded and then presented in one of several formats. With the system, an application developer can identify components that represent performance bottlenecks or can gather information on deployment properties of individual components that can be used to enhance the performance of the application under test.

Abstract: A system for remotely testing middleware of applications in the N-tiered model across a network. The test system contains test code generators, test engines to execute multiple copies of the test code and a data analyzer to analyze and present the results to a human user. The system is able to automatically generate test code to exercise remotely located components of the middleware using information about these components that would otherwise be available to the application under test. Multiple copies of the test code are executed in a synchronized fashion. Execution times of multiple events are recorded and then presented in one of several formats. By use of the system, an application developer can receive test results about components that represent performance bottlenecks or can be made aware of information on deployment properties of individual components that can be used to enhance the performance of the application under test.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for editing configuration data such that alterations in one representation of the configuration data are reflected in one or more other representations of the configuration data. The altered configuration data may take effect without having to restart a corresponding program module. Multiple alterations to the configuration data may be consolidated. A differencing operation may be used to identify an altered portion of the configuration data. For one or more altered portions, an “updategram” may be generated and used to update a multiple program modules at various interconnected computer systems. A history of alterations to configuration data also may be maintained, making it possible to revert to an earlier version of the configuration data. Erroneous data may be ignored. Access to updated representations of the configuration data may be provided at a configuration management interface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to create an intermediate language or source code file from a server-side resource or dynamic web page file. The source code can then be compiled into an executable class allowing for rapid generation of web page control objects that perform server-side functions, including the rendering of client responses. The code generation scheme of the present invention is capable of creating control objects connected in a hierarchy to handle event processing and the setting of attributes to the specific objects.

Abstract: A debugging system and debugging techniques for configurable processors remove the requirement of foreknowledge of specific configurable processor information from components of the debugging system where obtaining that foreknowledge is costly. The system is part of an environment that generates a processor where the proper information is generated in the right forms for such use.