Method of ranking messages generated in a computer system

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a method of automatically assigning a ranking value to a plurality of received messages is disclosed. Each of the received messages provides information about a computer program. The method includes receiving a first message, storing the first message in the database and initializing the first message. Further, it is determined whether the first message is to be disqualified. If it is determined that the first message is to be disqualified, the first message is disqualified. If it is determined that the first message is not to be disqualified, a ranking value is automatically assigning to the first message based upon a predetermined set of criteria.

1 . (canceled)  
   
   
       45 . A method of reporting defect messages, comprising: 
 receiving a plurality of defect messages providing information about a computer program;    automatically ranking the defect messages according to a set of criteria including the number of program lines involved to generate the defect message.    
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the set of criteria includes whether the defect message includes an invalid pointer.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the set of criteria includes whether the defect message involves an inference.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the set of criteria includes whether the defect message refers to multiple functions.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising storing a first message of the plurality of defect messages in a database after the first message has been received.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising initializing the first message after it has been stored in the database.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the process of initializing comprises assigning an initial value to the first message.  
   
   
       52 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a ranking module for automatically ranking defect messages providing information about a computer program according to a set of criteria including whether a defect message refers to multiple functions.    
   
   
       53 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein the set of criteria includes whether the defect message includes an invalid pointer.  
   
   
       54 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein the set of criteria includes the number of program lines included in the defect message.  
   
   
       55 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein the set of criteria includes whether a defect message involves an inference.  
   
   
       56 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , further comprising a sort module coupled to the ranking module, wherein the sort module sorts the defect messages according to a rank value assigned at the ranking module.  
   
   
       57 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , further comprising a disqualification module coupled to the ranking module for disqualifying at least one of the defect messages.  
   
   
       58 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , further comprising: 
 a database for archiving the defect messages; and    an initialization module coupled to the database for initializing the defect messages received at the database.    
   
   
       59 . The apparatus of  claim 56 , wherein the defect messages are grouped into one of a plurality of bins according to the rank value assigned at the ranking module.  
   
   
       60 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein the defect messages are displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI) according to the rank value assigned at the ranking module.  
   
   
       61 . The apparatus of  claim 60 , wherein the defect messages disqualified at the disqualification module are not displayed on the GUI.  
   
   
       62 . The apparatus of  claim 56 , wherein an explanation is provided for the rank value of each defect message ranked at the ranking module.