Method for debugging computer program, device employing method, and storage medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11397662-B2
Application number	US-202117404563-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 17, 2021
Priority date	Aug 19, 2020
Publication date	Jul 26, 2022
Grant date	Jul 26, 2022

Abstract

A method for debugging a program, based on simulating an object program and comparing simulated waveforms with standard waveforms are applied in an electronic device. A simulated environment corresponding to the object program is established and multiple instructions from code of the object program are mapped against the standard waveforms. Trigger points are set in the object program, the object program is run from the trigger point and simulation waveforms are stored. The simulation waveforms are compared with the standard waveforms, and the location of a bug of the object program is found according a comparison. The bug may be resolved or cured. The electronic device utilizing the method is also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A program debugging method comprising:
establishing a simulated environment corresponding to an object program;
mapping multiple instructions of the object program with standard waveforms corresponding to the multiple instructions;
setting a trigger point in the object program;
running the object program from the trigger point and storing simulation waveforms of the object program;
comparing the simulation waveforms with the standard waveforms; and
finding a bug of the object program and fixing the bug when the simulation waveforms are inconsistent with the standard waveforms.

2. The program debugging method of claim 1 , wherein establishing the simulated environment corresponding to the object program comprises:
reading a program file corresponding to the object program; and
running the program file to simulate an execution process of the object program.

3. The program debugging method of claim 2 , wherein setting the trigger point in the object program comprises:
performing a simulation of the object program and finding an object instruction containing the bug according to a simulation result of the object program; and
setting the trigger point before the object instruction is executed.

4. The program debugging method of claim 2 , wherein a format of the program file comprises a binary format or a hex format.

5. The program debugging method of claim 1 , wherein setting the trigger point in the object program comprises:
setting the trigger point in a middle position of the object program.

6. The program debugging method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether the bug is resolved; and
resetting the trigger point in the object program until the bug is resolved.

7. The program debugging method of claim 1 , wherein mapping the multiple instructions of the object program with the standard waveforms corresponding to the multiple instructions comprises:
obtaining a list file of a machine code compiler and the multiple instructions of the object program;
mapping the multiple instructions with the standard waveforms according to the list file of the machine code compiler.

8. The program debugging method of claim 1 , wherein the trigger point comprises a general purpose input output (GPIO) signal.

9. A program debugging device comprising:
at least one processor; and
a data storage storing one or more programs which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
establish a simulated environment corresponding to an object program;
map multiple instructions of the object program with standard waveforms corresponding to the multiple instructions;
set a trigger point in the object program;
run the object program from the trigger point and store simulation waveforms of the object program;
compare the simulation waveforms with the standard waveforms; and
find a bug of the object program and fix the bug when the simulation waveforms are inconsistent with the standard waveforms.

10. The program debugging device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor establishing the simulated environment corresponding to the object program comprises:
reading a program file corresponding to the object program; and
running the program file to simulate an execution process of the object program.

11. The program debugging device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor setting the trigger point in the object program comprises:
performing a simulation of the object program and finding an object instruction containing the bug according to a simulation result of the object program; and
setting the trigger point before the object instruction is executed.

12. The program debugging device of claim 10 , wherein a format of the program file comprises a binary format or a hex format.

13. The program debugging device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor setting the trigger point in the object program comprises:
setting the trigger point in a middle position of the object program.

14. The program debugging device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
determine whether the bug is resolved; and
reset the trigger point in the object program until the bug is resolved.

15. The program debugging device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor mapping the multiple instructions of the object program with the standard waveforms corresponding to the multiple instructions comprises:
obtaining a list file of a machine code compiler and the multiple instructions of the object program;
mapping the multiple instructions with the standard waveforms according to the list file of the machine code compiler.

16. The program debugging device of claim 9 , wherein the trigger point comprises a general purpose input output (GPIO) signal.

17. A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a processor of an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform a program debugging method, the program debugging method comprising:
establishing a simulated environment corresponding to an object program;
mapping multiple instructions of the object program with standard waveforms corresponding to the multiple instructions;
setting a trigger point in the object program;
running the object program from the trigger point and storing simulation waveforms of the object program;
comparing the simulation waveforms with the standard waveforms; and
finding a bug of the object program and fixing the bug when the simulation waveforms are inconsistent with the standard waveforms.

Assignees

• Hon Hai Prec Ind Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lu Chun-Ming
• Chen Chien-Fa

Classifications

• G06F11/322

  Display of waveforms, e.g. of logic analysers (G06F11/323 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F11/3636 Primary

  by tracing the execution of the program · CPC title

• G06F11/3068

  where the reporting involves data format conversion · CPC title

• G06F11/323

  Visualisation of programs or trace data · CPC title

• G06F11/366

  using diagnostics (G06F11/0703 takes precedence) · CPC title