Abstract: In a J2EE application server, a method of passing context information among transactions in a hierarchical parent-child transaction chain executing in a single thread of execution. The method comprises generating a correlator corresponding to a top level transaction spawning a plurality of child transactions in the parent-child transaction chain. The correlator is stored in a Java thread local (JTL) stack associated with the thread of execution. For each child transaction, the JTL stack is referenced to access a correlator associated with a parent of the child transaction. The method further comprises utilizing context information provided by said parent correlator to generate a correlator for said child transaction.

Abstract: A system for monitoring response time of a method or function associated with a Java software component is disclosed. The system comprises an instrumentation engine for inserting instrumentation code in a byte code representation of said method or function, said instrumentation code effecting generation of a start time marker and a stop time marker upon start and completion, respectively, of the method or function. The system can further comprise an interface module that is invoked by the instrumentation code upon start and completion of said method or function, and an application response measurement (ARM) agent that is in communication with the interface module. The interface module, upon invocation by said instrumentation code, calls the ARM agent to cause generation of the start and stop time markers by the ARM agent.

Abstract: A method for monitoring performance of a plurality of transactions in a J2EE application server is disclosed. The transactions include a top level transaction and plurality of transactions relating to the top level transaction in a child parent hierarchy. For each of selected ones of said transactions, the method comprises instrumenting the transaction at run-time without modifying its source code to obtain a performance metric corresponding thereto. Further, for each of said instrumented transactions, a correlator is generated for identifying the top level transaction and a parent, if any, of the transaction. The method further calls for utilizing the correlators to cross-correlate a performance metric corresponding to a parent transaction with one or more performance metrics corresponding to one or more child transactions of said parent transaction.

Abstract: A method of instrumenting a method of a class by modifying bytecodes is disclosed. The method comprises: providing an interface, by which the method can be selected; inserting bytecodes that will be executed when the selected method is called; and providing an interface, through the inserted bytecodes can pass information about the method.