US Patent 7624304 Defect detection for integers

Various techniques can be used to detect programming defects relating to the use of integers. A data structure can be created to represent ordering relationships in software instructions. Such ordering relationships can represent common unsound programmer assumptions. After annotating the data structure, unvalidated ordering relationships can be identified. Validation can use both explicit and implicit techniques. Filtering can be used to focus on only significant integer expressions, such as those used in buffer operations. For example, buffer accesses that attempt out-of-bounds buffer accesses due to integer overflow can be detected.