Patent ID: 7055140

Claim:
A debugging tool for debugging an application program having at least one software breakpoint function and a call statement for calling said software breakpoint function, said software breakpoint function being adapted to return program control to a next program statement following said call statement when said debugging tool is not running, said debugging tool comprising: (a) a software breakpoint monitoring processor for monitoring said application program and recognizing said software breakpoint function, said software breakpoint function being a void function free from program instructions for performing any application program operation; (b) a software breakpoint action determinator for determining an action to be performed based on said software breakpoint function; (c) a software breakpoint action implementor for implementing said action; (d) said software breakpoint monitoring processor, upon recognizing said software breakpoint function, calls said software breakpoint action determinator; (e) said software breakpoint action determinator, in response to being called by said software breakpoint monitoring processor and upon determining said action to be performed, provides instructions to said software breakpoint action implementor; and (f) said software breakpoint action implementor, upon receiving said instructions from said software breakpoint action determinator, implements said action.