Patent ID: 6139198
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A process implemented in a computer system for selectively tracing a method within a class of an object in an object-oriented programming language environment, wherein said class comprises data and one or more methods for operating on said data, said process comprising the steps of:creating a trace subclass of said class to be traced, wherein said trace subclass is derived from said class, supports all methods of said class, and further includes program code executable to enable run-time tracing of a method of said class;determining whether to trace a desired method of said class;if tracing said desired method of said class, then performing the following steps:a) creating a trace instance of said trace subclass; andb) sending a message to said trace instance for invoking said desired method, wherein said trace instance looks to said trace subclass for said desired method and the invoking and run-time tracing of said desired method is accomplished through said trace subclass; andif not tracing said desired method of said class, then performing the following steps:a) creating an instance of said class; andb) sending a message to said instance for invoking said desired method, wherein said instance looks to said class for said desired method, thereby avoiding run-time overhead time requirements associated with tracing said desired method.