Patents by Inventor Kenneth Walter Sykes

Kenneth Walter Sykes 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).

  • Patent number: 11604720
    Abstract: Based on replay of a thread, one implementation observes an influx of a value of a memory cell comprising an interaction between the thread and the value of the memory cell at an execution time point in the replaying, and determines whether the value of the memory cell observed from the influx is inconsistent with a prior value of the memory cell as known by the thread at the execution time point. If so, this implementation initiates an indication of a data inconsistency. Based on replay of a plurality of threads, another implementation identifies a memory cell that was accessed by a first thread while a thread synchronization mechanism was active on the first thread. Then, if there was another access to the memory cell by a second thread without use of the thread synchronization mechanism, this implementation initiates an indication of a potential data contention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Del Myers, Jackson Michael Davis, Thomas Lai, Andrew R. Sterland, Deborah Chen, Patrick Lothian Nelson, Jordi Mola, Juan Carlos Arevalo Baeza, James M. Pinkerton, Leslie Yvette Richardson, Kenneth Walter Sykes
  • Publication number: 20210406154
    Abstract: Based on replay of a thread, one implementation observes an influx of a value of a memory cell comprising an interaction between the thread and the value of the memory cell at an execution time point in the replaying, and determines whether the value of the memory cell observed from the influx is inconsistent with a prior value of the memory cell as known by the thread at the execution time point. If so, this implementation initiates an indication of a data inconsistency. Based on replay of a plurality of threads, another implementation identifies a memory cell that was accessed by a first thread while a thread synchronization mechanism was active on the first thread. Then, if there was another access to the memory cell by a second thread without use of the thread synchronization mechanism, this implementation initiates an indication of a potential data contention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Del MYERS, Jackson Michael DAVIS, Thomas LAI, Andrew R. STERLAND, Deborah CHEN, Patrick Lothian NELSON, Jordi MOLA, Juan Carlos AREVALO BAEZA, James M. PINKERTON, Leslie Yvette RICHARDSON, Kenneth Walter SYKES
  • Patent number: 11138093
    Abstract: Identifying and reporting potential data inconsistencies and/or potential data contentions based on historic debugging traces. Based on replay of a thread, some implementations observe an influx of a value to a memory cell, and determine whether the value of the memory cell observed from the influx is inconsistent with a prior value of the memory cell as known by the thread. If so, these implementations can initiate an indication of a data inconsistency. Based on replay of a plurality of threads, other implementations identify a memory cell that was accessed by a first thread while a thread synchronization mechanism was active on the first thread. Then, if there was another access to the memory cell by a second thread without use of the thread synchronization mechanism, these implementations might initiate an indication of a potential data contention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Del Myers, Jackson Michael Davis, Thomas Lai, Andrew R Sterland, Deborah Chen, Patrick Lothian Nelson, Jordi Mola, Juan Carlos Arevalo Baeza, James M Pinkerton, Leslie Yvette Richardson, Kenneth Walter Sykes
  • Publication number: 20200349053
    Abstract: Identifying and reporting potential data inconsistencies and/or potential data contentions based on historic debugging traces. Based on replay of a thread, some implementations observe an influx of a value to a memory cell, and determine whether the value of the memory cell observed from the influx is inconsistent with a prior value of the memory cell as known by the thread. If so, these implementations can initiate an indication of a data inconsistency. Based on replay of a plurality of threads, other implementations identify a memory cell that was accessed by a first thread while a thread synchronization mechanism was active on the first thread. Then, if there was another access to the memory cell by a second thread without use of the thread synchronization mechanism, these implementations might initiate an indication of a potential data contention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Del MYERS, Jackson Michael DAVIS, Thomas LAI, Andrew R. STERLAND, Deborah CHEN, Patrick Lothian NELSON, Jordi MOLA, Juan Carlos AREVALO BAEZA, James M. PINKERTON, Leslie Yvette RICHARDSON, Kenneth Walter SYKES
  • Publication number: 20190324891
    Abstract: Presenting historical state of a code element of a prior execution of an entity. An embodiment includes presenting historical state of the code element based on replaying segment(s) of the prior execution from trace data. Presenting the historical state includes presenting a first state of the code element, in connection with a first execution time point. The first state is based on a first memory access for the code element at the first execution time point. Presenting the historical state also includes presenting the first state of the code element along with an indication that the first state is a last known state (in connection with a subsequent execution time point) or a next known state (in connection with a prior execution time point).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Jordi MOLA, Henry GABRYJELSKI, Jackson Michael DAVIS, Deborah Liang CHEN, Del MYERS, Thomas LAI, Patrick Lothian NELSON, Juan Carlos AREVALO BAEZA, Kenneth Walter SYKES
  • Publication number: 20190171547
    Abstract: Querying resource lifetime using a trace of program execution. An embodiment includes identifying a query expression targeted at least a portion of the trace of program execution. The query expression specifies at least (i) a data object representing a plurality of events identified in the trace, each event associated with one or more attributes relating to resource lifetime, and (ii) one or more conditions matching the one attributes relating to resource lifetime. In response to receiving the query expression, the query expression is processed based at least on an analysis of an identified subset of the trace. Based on processing the query expression, a result data set that includes or identifies at least one of the plurality of events that meets the one or more conditions is presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Jordi MOLA, Kenneth Walter SYKES
  • Patent number: 10185645
    Abstract: Querying resource lifetime using a trace of program execution. An embodiment includes identifying a query expression targeted at least a portion of the trace of program execution. The query expression specifies at least (i) a data object representing a plurality of events identified in the trace, each event associated with one or more attributes relating to resource lifetime, and (ii) one or more conditions matching the one attributes relating to resource lifetime. In response to receiving the query expression, the query expression is processed based at least on an analysis of an identified subset of the trace. Based on processing the query expression, a result data set that includes or identifies at least one of the plurality of events that meets the one or more conditions is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jordi Mola, Kenneth Walter Sykes
  • Publication number: 20180260302
    Abstract: Querying resource lifetime using a trace of program execution. An embodiment includes identifying a query expression targeted at least a portion of the trace of program execution. The query expression specifies at least (i) a data object representing a plurality of events identified in the trace, each event associated with one or more attributes relating to resource lifetime, and (ii) one or more conditions matching the one attributes relating to resource lifetime. In response to receiving the query expression, the query expression is processed based at least on an analysis of an identified subset of the trace. Based on processing the query expression, a result data set that includes or identifies at least one of the plurality of events that meets the one or more conditions is presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Jordi MOLA, Kenneth Walter SYKES
  • Patent number: 9983978
    Abstract: Performing a query over a trace of program execution. A method includes receiving a query expression targeted at least a portion of a trace of program execution. A data structure that represents the query expression is built. The data structure has a plurality of data elements representing concepts and operations of the query. Based on the data structure, an order for evaluating the data elements is identified. The plurality of data elements is evaluated. Based on the evaluation, at least a portion of a result set is conveyed for consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jordi Mola, Kenneth Walter Sykes
  • Patent number: 5717902
    Abstract: A method and system for applying an appropriate object ownership model is provided. In a preferred embodiment, an operating system selectively applies an object ownership model with which running programs are compatible. This permits programs designed to be used with operating systems that do not apply a rigorous object ownership model to be used with an operating system capable of applying a rigorous object ownership model. The method and system has both an automatic object deallocation phase and an object access control phase. In the automatic deallocation control phase, the method and system defers the automatic deallocation of objects owned by programs that are incompatible with automatic object deallocation until a later time at which no such programs are still running. Instead of immediately deallocating the objects owned by a terminating program, the method and system designates them for deferred deallocation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David J. D'Souza, Kenneth Walter Sykes