KR100580071B1 - Detcting method for memory error - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for detecting a memory error, further comprising allocating a separate area for identifying a memory error in an area immediately after the memory area allocated to the variable, and specifying a predetermined value previously promised in the additionally allocated memory area. Record the value of this additionally allocated memory area at the appropriate time and check whether it is a specific value promised, and if the value changes, an error in memory usage has occurred. Detecting can reduce the enormous amount of time required for debugging, shortening software development time and improving software stability.

Software, Memory Error, Debugging

Description

Memory error detection method {Detcting method for memory error}

1 is a flowchart according to an embodiment of a memory error detection method according to the present invention;

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a memory error detection method, and more particularly, to a technique for easily detecting an error in memory use in software development.

One of the most frequent errors during programming of the software is a memory usage error. In order for software to work, many variables are typically allocated and used in memory. Memory for this variable is allocated to RAM, where stored data is erased when the power is turned off. Unless otherwise noted, these variables are assigned to contiguous addresses in memory, which means that each variable must be used exactly within the allocated memory area.

The reason is that if a variable is accidentally used over an area larger than the allocated size, it will invade the area of another variable that is next in memory. In this case, if the affected variable is a key function of the overall operation of the software, it is likely that an abnormal phenomenon such as a system in which the software is mounted is stopped or malfunctions is likely to occur immediately.

In addition, if the affected variable does not play a key role or is not frequently used, it may cause a malfunction after a considerable time, so debugging becomes very difficult in this case.

However, until now, there has been no special way to identify such memory usage errors in the programming process of software development, and only the programmer has to program carefully to prevent the occurrence of problems. However, there are many difficulties in completely avoiding such memory usage errors when programming complex software consisting of a large number of variables and functions.

Therefore, the inventor further allocates a separate area for checking for a memory error in an area immediately after the RAM memory area allocated to the variable, and records a predetermined value previously promised in this additionally allocated memory area. Next, at the appropriate time point, this additionally allocated memory area value was checked to check if it was a promised specific value, and then a memory error detection method was performed to confirm that the memory was misused when the value changed.

The present invention has been invented under the above-described object, and an object thereof is to provide a memory error detection method that can easily and easily detect an error in memory use in a programming process during software development.

According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, the memory error detection method according to the present invention in the error check variable for each variable for the memory error check in succession to the memory area assigned to each variable included in the software Allocate memory for each variable and initialize the error check variable for each variable to a predetermined value, and check the error check variable value for each variable at an appropriate time to check whether the checked value has changed from the initialized value. If changed, the memory error information for the memory allocated to the variable is characterized in that the output.

Therefore, by detecting whether or not the promised specific value recorded in the area immediately following the memory area allocated to the variable has been changed, it is possible to easily and easily detect an error in memory use during the programming process during software development.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily understand and reproduce the present invention.

1 is a flow chart according to an embodiment of a memory error detection method according to the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the memory error detection method according to the present invention includes a memory allocation step (S110), an initialization step (S120), a check step (S130), and an error information output step (S140).

In the memory allocating step (S110), memory for each error check variable for each variable for memory error checking is sequentially allocated to a memory area allocated to each variable included in software.

That is, in this memory allocation step (S110), an error check variable for memory error check is declared in a memory area immediately adjacent to the variable to which the memory area is allocated. At this time, the variables can read and write the values, and when the power is turned off, the variables stored in the memory are allocated to RAM, and the memory start address and the size of the memory to be allocated are assigned. desirable.

At this time, the variable included in the software is preferably a key variable that has a significant impact on the operation of the software. The reason is that there are many variables included in the software, and it is very time-consuming and labor-intensive for the programmer to add error checking variables to check memory errors for each of these variables. Because it grows. Therefore, this problem can be solved by adding the error check variable for checking the memory error only for the key variables that have a significant influence on the software operation, without adding the error check variable for checking the memory error for all variables.

Meanwhile, when compiling or linking the corresponding software in the memory allocation step S110, an error check variable for each variable may be added to the corresponding software in a batch through a compiler or a linker. Can also be. That is, in this case, it is possible to add the error check variable for each variable collectively through a specific software to improve user convenience.

On the other hand, if the error check variable is too small in size, there is a possibility that the error check may not be confirmed. The reason for this is that when the size is small, there is a high possibility that an error check variable value changed by a memory error coincides with a predetermined value (initial value). However, when the size of the error check variable is increased in order to reduce such a possibility, the memory usage for checking the memory error increases. Therefore, the size of the error check variable for memory error checking should be set to an appropriate size.

The initialization step (S120) initializes the error check variable for each variable to a predetermined value, respectively.

That is, this initialization step (S120) is initialized by recording a predetermined value promised in advance in the memory area allocated to the error check variable for each variable by the memory allocation step (S110).

At this time, when compiling or linking the corresponding software in the initialization step (S120), the error check variables of each variable are collectively initialized to predetermined values through a compiler or a linker. It can also be implemented.

The checking step (S130) checks the error check variable value for each variable to determine whether the checked value is changed to a value different from the value initialized in the initializing step (S120).

During the programming of the software, developers often compile and link to create an executable file to execute the software.

Since the memory area allocated for the error check variable is not used during the execution of the software, if an error does not occur when the memory is used, it will always be maintained at the value initialized in the initialization step S120.

However, if a memory error occurs during the execution of the software, that is, the variable and the error check variable corresponding to the variable are located at consecutive addresses in the memory area of RAM, the memory allocated to the variable is exceeded. In this case, data is recorded in the memory area allocated for the error check variable, and thus the initialization value set in the initialization step S120 is changed to another value.

Therefore, through the checking step (S130), it is possible to check the error check variable value at an appropriate time point, and to confirm that a memory error has occurred when compared with a previously promised initialization value.

At this time, the routine for checking the error check variable value may be included in the source code of the corresponding software, or may be implemented as a separate program. Since a technique of reading data from a predetermined memory area of a RAM and comparing it with a predetermined value is a conventional technique that has been widely known and implemented before this application, a detailed description of a routine for checking an error check variable value will be given. It will be omitted.

On the other hand, when checking the error check variable value for each variable in the inspection step (S130), it may be implemented to check the error check variable value of the variable before the use of a predetermined variable. That is, in this case, the software checks the error check variable value of the variable just before each variable is used, and detects whether a memory error has already occurred before the variable is used. .

On the other hand, when checking the error check variable value for each variable in the check step (S130), it may be implemented to check the error check variable value of each variable at any point in time. In other words, in this case, it is easy to cope with this by checking if a memory error occurs at any time desired by the programmer.

On the other hand, when checking the error check variable value for each variable in the checking step (S130), it may be implemented to check the error check variable value of each variable by placing a breakpoint on each variable using a debugging (Debugging) technique. have. That is, in this case, the error check variable value of each variable is checked in the debugging process to verify the error of the program so that the memory error can be known.

On the other hand, when checking the error check variable value for each variable in the check step (S130), it can be implemented to check the error check variable value of the variable when the access to the variable set the memory access authority is attempted. That is, in this case, the user can recognize the memory error that occurs when trying to access the variable by using the memory access authority setting device or the memory protection device supported by the CPU of the terminal running the software. .

The error information outputting step S140 outputs memory error information on the memory allocated to the variable when an error check variable value of a predetermined variable is changed in the checking step S130.

That is, the error information output step (S140) outputs memory error information such as outputting a screen informing the programmer when a memory error occurs so that the programmer can know.

Since the error check variable added to the software is not used when the corresponding software is executed, it is preferable that the error check variable is deleted from the source code when the development of the corresponding software is completed.

On the other hand, the memory error detection method according to the present invention can be utilized in the development or operation of software mounted on various electronic devices, such as a mobile communication terminal, PDA, personal computer.

Thus, by the above it is possible to achieve the object of the memory error detection method according to the present invention presented above.

As described above, the memory error detecting method according to the present invention additionally allocates a separate area for confirming a memory error to an area immediately after the memory area allocated to the variable, and promises the memory area in advance. Record the specific value and then check the value of this additionally allocated memory area at the appropriate time and check if it is the promised specific value. Then, if the value changes, an error in memory usage has occurred. It can be detected easily and simply, which can reduce the enormous time required for debugging, which can shorten the software development period and improve the stability of the software.

While the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, which are referred to by the accompanying drawings, it is apparent that various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention within the scope covered by the following claims from this description. .

Claims (10)

A memory allocation step of allocating a memory for an error check variable for each variable for memory error check in succession to a memory area allocated to each variable included in software; An initialization step of initializing the error check variable for each variable to a predetermined value; A checking step of checking an error check variable value for each variable to determine whether the checked value has changed from a value initialized in the initializing step; An error information output step of outputting memory error information on a memory allocated to the variable when an error check variable value of a predetermined variable is changed in the checking step; Memory error detection method comprising a. The method of claim 1, And error checking variables for each variable are added to the corresponding software in a batch through a compiler when compiling the corresponding software in the memory allocation step. The method of claim 2, Memory error detection method, characterized in that for initializing the software in the initialization step (Compile) Compiler (Compiler) through each of the variable error checking variable for each variable to a predetermined value. The method of claim 1, In the memory allocation step, the error check variable for each variable is added to the corresponding software in a batch through a linker when linking the corresponding software. The method of claim 4, wherein Memory error detection method, characterized in that for initializing the error check variable for each variable in a batch through the linker (Linker) of the software, respectively to a predetermined value. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, When checking the error check variable value for each variable in the checking step, memory error detection method characterized in that for checking the error check variable value of the corresponding variable before using the predetermined variable. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, When the error check variable value check for each variable in the checking step, the error check variable value of each variable at any point of time, characterized in that for checking the error value. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, When checking the error check variable value for each variable in the checking step, a memory error detection method for checking the error check variable value of each variable by placing a breakpoint on each variable using a debugging technique (Debugging) . The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, When the error check variable value check for each variable in the checking step, when the access to the variable set the memory access authority is attempted, the error check variable value of the variable characterized in that it checks. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The variable included in the software is a memory error detection method, characterized in that the key variables that have a significant impact on the operation of the software.

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