Patent Document ID: 5583988
Application ID: 08208559

Base Claim:
1. A method for performing runtime checking operations in a compiled programming development environment, comprising the steps of: a) compiling a source code file into executable object code comprising machine language instructions, wherein said source code file includes aggregate data items and pointers and also includes expressions which manipulate said aggregate data items and pointers, wherein said step of compiling comprises: creating data structures for aggregate data items and pointers in the source code file; and inserting calls to runtime checking functions for one or more expressions in the source code file which manipulate said aggregate data items and pointers; and b) executing the executable object code, wherein said step of executing comprises: executing one or more of said runtime checking functions to determine if invalid operations occur in said expressions which manipulate said aggregate data items and pointers; and reporting an error to the user if an invalid operation is found to occur after said step of executing one or more of said runtime checking functions.

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Claim 17:
17. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of executing said runtime checking functions comprises: accessing a data structure associated with a pointer; and determining if said data structure associated with said pointer indicates that said pointer has a null value; wherein said step of reporting an error includes reporting an error if said data structure indicates said pointer has a null value.