Patents by Inventor Jeffrey R. Cobb

Jeffrey R. Cobb has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20090172638
    Abstract: New code is added to existing object code in order to add new functionality. For example, a call to start a profiler function can be added at the beginning of a Java method and a call to stop the profiler function can be added at the exits of the Java method. A method may have many different exits. To insure that the profiler process is stopped regardless of which exit is performed, the byte code and exception table are modified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: COMPUTER ASSOCIATES THINK, INC.
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Cobb
  • Patent number: 7512935
    Abstract: New code is added to existing object code in order to add new functionality. For example, a call to start a profiler function can be added at the beginning of a Java method and a call to stop the profiler function can be added at the exits of the Java method. A method may have many different exits. To insure that the profiler process is stopped regardless of which exit is performed, the byte code and exception table are modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Computer Associates Think, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Cobb
  • Publication number: 20080148242
    Abstract: An interaction model for an application includes patterns which represent interactions between a client and an application. To determine whether the patterns accurately represent activity of the application, and to determine whether additional patterns are appropriate, the application is exercised. Requests to the application are analyzed to determine whether they correspond to the known patterns. If a request does not correspond to a known pattern, instrumented components which are invoked by the request are monitored to determine whether they meet one or more criterion, such as a resource utilization criterion. A report provides data regarding the instrumented components. New pattern candidates for the interaction model can be identified from non-matching requests which are deemed to be significant based on the associated components which are invoked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: COMPUTER ASSOCIATES THINK, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Cobb, Ling Thio
  • Publication number: 20080148039
    Abstract: Instrumentation points are selected for an application by running the application with comprehensive instrumentation of its components in a development mode. The application can be run by a human operator and/or load simulator which provides requests to the application. The instrumented components are monitored as the application runs. A subset of the components is selected based on criteria such as an order in which the instrumented components are invoked, whether resource utilization, such as consumption of processor cycles, exceeds a threshold, or a frequency with which components are called or call other components, and only that subset is instrumented in a production mode of the application. In one approach, the subset includes components which are invoked when traffic to/from the application matches a pattern provided by an interaction model. As a result, relevant instrumentation points can be identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: Computer Associates Think, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Cobb, Daryl L. Puryear, Ling Thio
  • Publication number: 20070263541
    Abstract: Data collected during runtime and associated with a service level agreement and operating level agreement for a network service are automatically correlated together. A network monitoring system monitors the network service during runtime to determine SLA and OLA violations. An SLA is tested against traffic monitoring data derived from monitoring traffic between a network service system and one or more users of the system. An OLA is tested against application runtime data generated from monitoring a transaction occurring between an application server and a backend or other internal entity of the network service system. The data collected during runtime can be correlated using a hierarchy based on business transactions or in some other manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Applicant: COMPUTER ASSOCIATES THINK, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Cobb, Ling Thio, Brian Zuzga
  • Publication number: 20070266149
    Abstract: Information is obtained from an application monitoring system which monitors the execution of an application and a traffic monitoring system which monitors traffic between clients and the application. The clients interact with the application to perform transactions or other tasks. Traffic monitoring data, such as information regarding defects and incidents, and application runtime data, such as traces of invoked application components, can be integrated in an output such as an interface to provide an enhanced understanding of system performance. Related traffic monitoring data and application runtime data can be linked by a request-response pair identifier associated with a request provided to the application and a response provided by the application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Applicant: COMPUTER ASSOCIATES THINK, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Cobb, Patrick C. O'Sullivan, Ling Thio
  • Publication number: 20070266045
    Abstract: Application runtime data is obtained from an application monitoring system which monitors execution of an application, and traffic monitoring data is obtained from a traffic monitoring system which monitors traffic to/from the application as the clients interact with the application. Corresponding application runtime data and traffic monitoring data can be selectively output to assist an operator in investigating an anomalous condition. The data can be classified and selectively output according to one or more hierarchies which characterize the interactions. The hierarchies can include a domain level, a business process level (where a domain is made up of a number of business processes), a business transaction level (where a business process is made up of different business transactions), an individual transaction level (where a business transaction is made up of different transactions), and a transaction component level (where a transaction is made up of one or more transaction components).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Applicant: COMPUTER ASSOCIATES THINK, INC.
    Inventors: Jyoti K. Bansal, Ling Thio, Jeffrey R. Cobb
  • Patent number: 7225361
    Abstract: A system is disclosed that can determine whether a routine is stalled. The system does not require the developer of the routine to add code for the purpose of detecting whether the routine is stalled. Furthermore, the system can be used to monitor various routines at different levels of granularity, such as at the thread level, method level, or other levels. One embodiment of the present invention allows a user to specify a method and an expected time frame. Code for that method is modified to add additional code that implements a timing mechanism. The timing mechanism is used to detect when a thread enters that method and does not return within an approximation of the expected time frame. Other embodiments are also within the scope of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Wily Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Cobb, Lewis K. Cirne
  • Patent number: 6731310
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Craycroft, Jeffrey R. Cobb, Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Robert R. Ulrich
  • Publication number: 20040027374
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for routing an event to a human interface object in a computer system. A routing type is assigned to each event type which may be received. The event is received and the routing type assigned to the event is determined. The event is then routed based on the routing type. In embodiments of the invention, the routing type may be geometric, focus, or broadcast, but is extensible. The routing types may be added or removed from a list of routing types, at request of processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc
    Inventors: Lewis K. Cirne, Jeffrey R. Cobb, Eric C. Schlegel
  • Patent number: 6633313
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for routing an event to a human interface object in a computer system. A routing type is assigned to each event type which may be received. The event is received and the routing type assigned to the event is determined. The event is then routed based on the routing type. In embodiments of the invention, the routing type may be geometric, focus, or broadcast, but is extensible. The routing types may be added or removed from a list of routing types, at request of processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Lewis K. Cirne, Jeffrey R. Cobb, Eric C. Schlegel
  • Publication number: 20020170036
    Abstract: A system is disclosed that can determine whether a routine is stalled. The system does not require the developer of the routine to add code for the purpose of detecting whether the routine is stalled. Furthermore, the system can be used to monitor various routines at different levels of granularity, such as at the thread level, method level, or other levels. One embodiment of the present invention allows a user to specify a method and an expected time frame. Code for that method is modified to add additional code that implements a timing mechanism. The timing mechanism is used to detect when a thread enters that method and does not return within an approximation of the expected time frame. Other embodiments are also within the scope of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Cobb, Lewis K. Cirne
  • Publication number: 20020149629
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are described. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces according to the present invention, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Timothy Craycroft, Jeffrey R. Cobb, Robert G. Johnston, Robert R. Ulrich
  • Patent number: 6104391
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are disclosed. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Robert R. Ulrich, Timothy Craycroft, Jeffrey R. Cobb
  • Patent number: 5959624
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are disclosed. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Johnston, Jr., Robert R. Ulrich, Timothy Craycroft, Jeffrey R. Cobb
  • Patent number: 5933646
    Abstract: A software manager enables a computer user to administer software elements within a computer operating system. The software manager comprises a configuration database storing information including a prevailing state and a dependency listing for each of the software components within the system. The software manager also comprises a user interface which allows the computer user to view the stored information and permits the user to specify changes to the prevailing states. Finally, the software manager comprises a software manager server which communicates with the user interface and the configuration database, effects the user specified changes, and updates the stored information to reflect those changes. A user of the software manager can readily obtain an overall "picture" of a prevailing system configuration, use that picture to make intelligent decisions with respect to system modification, and thereby administer the operating system environment in a seamless, efficient, and robust manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: B. Winston Hendrickson, Gregory Scown, James E. Palmer, Robert Bowers, Jeffrey R. Cobb
  • Patent number: 5835749
    Abstract: According to the present invention a variety of methods and apparatus for providing dynamically linked libraries are taught. A "standard DLL" is a dynamically linked library (DLL) which is pulled into the data closure of a process by direct reference in the process' root DLL or by direct reference in other DLLs present in the data closure. In contrast, the present invention teaches a "phantom DLL" which is pushed into the data closure of an executable process and is not directly referenced either by the root DLL or by other DLLs present in the data closure. In some embodiments the phantom DLL includes an anonymous initialization routine which the binding manager executes when the phantom DLL is added to a new process data enclosure. By executing the initialization routine the phantom DLL has an opportunity to execute and impact the computing environment of the new process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Cobb
  • Patent number: 5619698
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a variety of methods and apparatus for providing patches within a computer operating system. A patch structure in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes a patch block which serves to link the patch structure into a patch chain, and a patch which contains the desired functionality of the patch structure. The patch chain includes a root patch structure and a final patch structure. The root patch structure has a root patch block and a given function which has the root functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan W. Lillich, Jeffrey R. Cobb, Erik L. Eidt, Wayne N. Meretsky