Error detection/correction and fault detection/recovery – Data processing system error or fault handling – Reliability and availability
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-31
2001-11-20
Iqbal, Nadeem (Department: 2184)
Error detection/correction and fault detection/recovery
Data processing system error or fault handling
Reliability and availability
C370S251000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321347
ABSTRACT:
RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is related to patent applications Ser. Nos. xxx (COS-96-033, COS-96-034 & COS-96-035) assigned to the same assignee as the present application and having the same inventors as the present application.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of networks and more particularly to a network testing system and method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Computer systems running complex interrelated software modules require testing as new revisions of the software modules are introduced and as problems or “bugs” are discovered in existing software modules. An example of such a computer system is shown in FIG.
1
. This example shows a small part of a telephone network
20
. In this figure, a public telephone
22
is connected to a central office—service switching point (CO/SSP)
24
. The CO/SSP
24
, as part of its call processing, sends a call record over a signaling network
26
to a service control point (SCP)
28
. The SCP
28
passes the call records on to a fraud detection system
30
. When a new version of the fraud detection system
30
has been developed, it is necessary to test the new version of the fraud detection system
30
before adding it to the telephone network. This requires simulating the flow of call records that the new version of the fraud detection system has been designed to analyze. Ideally, this simulation data would be generated by the actual network elements in a laboratory setting. Often, this is not practical due to a number of reasons, including, limited funds, limited laboratory resources, staggered development cycles of dependent network elements, etc.
Test tools are often used to generate, transmit, receive and analyze test data when the actual network elements are not available. Test tools that perform these functions typically are built to emulate one highly specialized situation. These types of test tools are highly useful, but these tools can typically only emulate one narrow application. As networks evolve, data records and communication flow structures change and new data records and communication flow structures are added or existing structures modified. When this happens, conventions test tools need to be rewritten. Constant rewrites are time consuming and expensive.
Thus there exists a need for a network testing system and method that is not tied to particular test situation, is inexpensive and can easily be modified for different test situations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A network testing system that overcomes these and other problems includes a message compiler accepting a plurality of data inputs to create a test message. A communicator is provided which is capable of transmitting the test message to a component under test. The test message is compliant with any of a plurality of protocols. The communicator is also capable of emulating a communication session using an emulation module.
Using the network testing system users can create test data and transmit the test data in a manner emulating the communication session that would be used in an operating environment. As data structures and communication session structures change, the network testing system can be easily, inexpensively and quickly updated to match the new structures.
The present invention is applicable to any industry that develops inter-related software modules, including: communication companies, business and operating software companies, networking companies, defense companies, semiconductor companies, etc. Programmers need to test how their programs will work with other programs before releasing their software. This requires creating test data, simulating how programs communicate with each other and analyzing the results. The present invention allows a programmer to perform all these tasks and is easily updated to accommodate changes in data formats and communication interfaces. This greatly simplifies the effort required by programmers to test their programs.
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Beeker Scott A.
Falvey Cornelius J.
Mullally Mark P.
Iqbal Nadeem
MCI Communications Corporation
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