The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Apr. 30, 2019

Filed:

Dec. 07, 2015
Applicant:

International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);

Inventors:

Gaurav Batra, Cedar Park, TX (US);

Demetrice Browder, Round Rock, TX (US);

Douglas J. Griffith, Spicewood, TX (US);

Sreenivas Makineedi, Round Rock, TX (US);

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 9/30 (2018.01); G06F 11/36 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 9/30058 (2013.01); G06F 9/30061 (2013.01); G06F 9/30145 (2013.01); G06F 11/364 (2013.01); G06F 11/368 (2013.01); G06F 11/3676 (2013.01); G06F 11/3688 (2013.01);
Abstract

A system and method tests computer software using tracking bits in branch instructions to track portions of the software that have been tested. The tracking bits are bits of a branch programming instruction and may be repurposed hint bits used in the prior art to control pre-fetch of instructions. A branch tracking unit sets bits in a branch instruction of an application or program being tested. The branch tracing unit sets a first bit if a branch is taken and sets a second tracking bit if the branch is not taken. The modified program instructions can be analyzed after running the test inputs to determine if any branches in the software have not been exercised by the test inputs.


Find Patent Forward Citations

Loading…