Processor-based system analysis automation

Abstract

In an embodiment, data is captured in a first processor-based system. The captured data is serialized into an XML format. The XML-formatted data is transmitted to a second processor-based system, and the XML-formatted data is deserialized into a non-XML format. The deserialized data is processed on the second processor-based system to determine a cause of an error on the first processor-based system, and the first processor-based system or the second processor-based system is altered as a function of the processing of the deserialized data on the second processor-based system. The processing of the deserialized data on the second processor-based system relates to a support of the first processor-based system, and the first processor-based system is a production system and the second processor-based system is a test or reference system.

1 . A method comprising:
 capturing data in a first processor-based system;   serializing the captured data into an XML format;   transmitting the XML-formatted data to a second processor-based system;   deserializing the XML-formatted data into a non-XML format;   processing the deserialized data on the second processor-based system to determine a cause of an error on the first processor-based system; and   altering one or more of the first processor-based system and the second processor-based system as a function of the processing of the deserialized data on the second processor-based system;   wherein the processing of the deserialized data on the second processor-based system relates to a support of the first processor-based system; and   wherein the first processor-based system comprises a production system and the second processor-based system comprises a test or reference system for the production system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the support of the first processor-based system relates to one or more of testing, debugging, off-line debugging, error analysis, diagnostics, capture-replay scenario, and performance analysis. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 comparing an output of the first processor-based system with an output of the second processor-based system;   classifying the output of the first processor-based system as an old error when the output of the second processor-base system is correct, and the output of the first processor-based system does not equal the output of the second processor-based system;   classifying the output of the first processor-based system as a new error when the output of the first processor-based system is correct, and the output of the first processor-based system does not equal the output of the second processor-based system; and   classifying the output of the first processor-based system as a new error when the output of the first processor-based system is incorrect and the output of the second processor-based system is incorrect, and the output of the first processor-based system equals the output of the second processor-based system.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the capturing data in the first processor-based system includes the use of one or more of a debugger, a call trace with data, a programmable data recorder, and a source code generator. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising processing the deserialized data on the second processor-based system in connection with a unit test of one or more modules on the second processor-based system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the capturing data in the first processor-based system and serializing the captured data into an XML format are done substantially simultaneously. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising localizing a particular unit, module, object, or service provider on the first processor-based system in which the error occurred; wherein the localizing is performed by one or more of a comparison of an output of the first processor-based system to an output of the second processor-based system on a modular or unit level, or a comparison of a trace of data and program flow on the first processor-based system with a trace of data and program flow on the second processor-based system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 capturing data in the first processor-based system over a period of time that have caused errors in the first processor-based system;   serializing the data into an XML format;   storing the data in the XML format in a data repository;   deserializing the data into an XML format; and   using the deserialized data in unit tests on the second processor-based system.   
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 capturing input data and output data in a first processor-based system;   serializing the input data and output data into an XML format;   verifying the correctness of the captured input data and the captured output data;   using the captured input data as test input data in testing the first processor-based system;   using the captured output data as expected output data in testing the first processor-based system;   altering the first processor-based system as a function of the testing of the first processor-based system; and   saving the captured input data and the captured output data for additional testing of the first processor-based system.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein one or more of the captured input data and the captured output data are used in a test of a second processor-based system. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first processor-based system comprises a production system and the second processor-based system comprises a test or reference system. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 capturing input data and output data in a first processor-based system;   serializing the input data and output data into an XML format;   determining that the captured output data in the first processor-based system is incorrect;   making changes to the first processor-based system;   using the captured input data to verify that the first processor-based system generates correct output data;   saving the captured input data for use as test input data in additional testing of the first processor-based system;   altering the first processor-based system as a function of the additional testing of the first processor-based system; and   saving the correct output data generated after the changes to the first processor-based system for use as expected output in additional testing of the first processor-based system.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein one or more of the input data and the correct output data are used in a test of a second processor-based system. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first processor-based system comprises a production system and the second processor-based system comprises a test or reference system. 
     
     
         15 . A machine readable medium comprising instructions for executing a process comprising:
 capturing data in a first processor-based system;   serializing the captured data into an XML format;   transmitting the XML-formatted data to a second processor-based system;   deserializing the XML-formatted data into a non-XML format;   processing the deserialized data on the second processor-based system to determine a cause of an error on the first processor-based system; and   altering one or more of the first processor-based system and the second processor-based system as a function of the processing of the deserialized data on the second processor-based system;   wherein the processing of the deserialized data on the second processor-based system relates to a support of the first processor-based system; and   wherein the first processor-based system comprises a production system and the second processor-based system comprises a test or reference system for the production system.   
     
     
         16 . The machine readable medium of  claim 15 , comprising instructions for:
 comparing an output of the first processor-based system with an output of the second processor-based system;   classifying the output of the first processor-based system as an old error when the output of the second processor-base system is correct, and the output of the first processor-based system does not equal the output of the second processor-based system;   classifying the output of the first processor-based system as a new error when the output of the first processor-based system is correct, and the output of the first processor-based system does not equal the output of the second processor-based system; and   classifying the output of the first processor-based system as a new error when the output of the first processor-based system is incorrect and the output of the second processor-based system is incorrect, and the output of the first processor-based system equals the output of the second processor-based system.   
     
     
         17 . The machine readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the computer readable medium comprises one or more of a debugger, a call trace with data, a programmable data recorder, and a source code generator. 
     
     
         18 . The machine readable medium of  claim 15 , comprising instructions for:
 capturing data in the first processor-based system over a period of time that have caused errors in the first processor-based system;   serializing the data into an XML format;   storing the data in the XML format in a data repository;   deserializing the data into an XML format; and   using the deserialized data in unit tests on the second processor-based system.   
     
     
         19 . The machine readable medium of  claim 15 , comprising capturing data that caused an error in the production system so that the data that caused an error in the production system can be used in testing the software fixes that are implemented to address the production error. 
     
     
         20 . The machine readable medium of  claim 19 , comprising localizing the error in the production system.