Error detection/correction and fault detection/recovery – Data processing system error or fault handling – Reliability and availability
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-08
2002-02-26
Ray, Gopal C. (Department: 2181)
Error detection/correction and fault detection/recovery
Data processing system error or fault handling
Reliability and availability
C717S152000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06351826
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus and method for automatically verifying communication software, and more particularly, to an automatic verification apparatus and method which can automatically execute a regression test for communication software.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 26
schematically illustrates a conventional communication system
200
. The communication system
200
has a CPU
210
, a plurality of terminal connectors
220
, and a communication software
230
, as major elements. Each of the terminal connectors
220
converts electric signals transmitted to and from the associated terminal
240
into digital signals, and supplies the digital signals to the CPU
210
. The CPU controls each terminal
240
according to the communication software
230
. Two or more terminal connectors
220
are connected to a common CPU
210
. The number of the terminal connectors
220
is determined depending on the type and the number of the terminals
240
connected to the terminal connectors
220
.
In developing a communication system, it is common to modify the existing system by, for example, adding a new function, rather than to develop a totally new system. Whenever the existing functions are modified, or new functions are added to the existing functions are modified, or new functions are added to the existing communication software, it is essential to verify or recheck the items or elements which were already tested in the original software. For example, the communication system
200
illustrated in
FIG. 26
was already subjected to a test A for operating each terminal
240
with a procedure A. If the communication software
230
is modified, it must be verified if the modified communication system
200
correctly operates with the procedure A, with which the pre-modified system
200
operates. Therefore, each terminal
240
must be test-operated with the same procedure A in order to reconfirm that the improved communication system
200
operates correctly. The process for verifying the operation result is called a “regression test”. The efficiency of the development of a communication system greatly depends on how efficiently the regression test is performed.
There are some problems in the conventional process for developing a communication system (including hardware). These problems may adversely affect the efficiency of the regression test. One major problem is that the modified communication software can not be tested unless there is a communication hardware in the test environment. Another problem is that the test is performed only in the vicinity of the hardware. Therefore, there is a strong demand for a technique which allows the communication software to be tested without hardware, or to be tested from a remote place via networks.
In addition, since it is inefficient to manually repeat the same test operation for each terminal every time a modification is made to the existing communication system, a demand for a technique for automatically repeating the test operation for each terminal has also arisen.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide an automatic verification apparatus which can automatically execute a regression test for communication software. The automatic verification apparatus comprises a virtual terminal manager for performing a pseudo-operation of a terminal connector, a virtual terminal performing a pseudo-operation of a terminal, a scenario recording unit for recording the pseudo-operation performed by the virtual terminal as a scenario, a scenario executing unit for automatically executing the recorded pseudo-operation of the terminal, and a scenario verification unit for automatically verifying if the result of the automatic execution is correct whenever the recorded pseudo-operation of the terminal is automatically executed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5703788 (1997-12-01), Shei et al.
patent: 5809108 (1998-09-01), Thompson et al.
patent: 6023586 (2000-02-01), Gaisford et al.
patent: 6067639 (2000-05-01), Rodrigues et al.
“Cross Test Support System of Communication Software” Tomoyasu Suzuki et al., pp. 5-187 to 5-188, Information Processing Society of Japan, National Convention, Sep. 20-22, 1996.
Frank Robert J.
Oki Electric Industry Co. Ltd.
Ray Gopal C.
Sartori Michael A.
Venable
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