GB2361328A

GB2361328A - Platform for automatic testing

Info

Publication number: GB2361328A
Application number: GB0008754A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tong S Chen; Kuang-Shin Lin; Peng Li
Original assignee: Inventec Corp
Current assignee: Inventec Corp
Priority date: 2000-04-10
Filing date: 2000-04-10
Publication date: 2001-10-17
Also published as: GB0008754D0

Abstract

This specification describes an automatic testing platform, which uses an interactive document (IAD) as the kernel and coordinates test modules via a control platform module. A resource table (RT) is employed to define all sorts of shared resources and allows the platform and the test items to accomplish automatic testing synchronously though the retrieval of the IAD. The IAD, as a logic module, defines the standards of data processing and transmission in the whole testing system and provides the corresponding management. The control platform drives each test item to accomplish the test mission through the manipulation of the RT. When the test is completed, the control platform stores the test result codes to the IAD, and adjusts the report interface provided by the IAD to generate a corresponding test report.

Description

2361328 1 EXTENSIBLE PLATFORM FOR AUTOMATIC TESTING This invention relates

to an automatic testing platform and, in particular, to an automatic testing platform that can be extended to multiple machine models.

C> According to current technology, each test item has to be performed and finished manually, and the transition between items has to be done manually too. This kind of testing involves too many human factors and thus results in tedious manipulation, low efficiency, low accuracy, imprecise operation, and, most important of all, inconsistency in the final test report.

In view of the foregoing, the present invention provides an extensible automatic testing platform to resolve the defects owing to the need of human participation, such as tedious manipulation, low efficiency, low accuracy, imprecise operation, and inconsistency in the final test report. This invention does not only simplify the operation, but also increases the efficiency and precision, which further standardizes the operation and provides a gauged test report. The system uses an interactive document (IAD) as the kernel and synchronously completes testing via the coordination between a control platform module and a test module. The IAD, as a logic module, defines the standards of data processing and transmission in the whole test system and provides the corresponding management so that individual changes on either end would not influence other modules. At the same time, the IAD also guarantees the legitimacy of the data flow and control flow between the platform and each test item. A resource table (RT) is employed to define all sorts of shared resources and allows the platform and the test item to access the IAD. The control platform drives each test item to accomplish the test mission through the manipulation of the RT. When the test is completed. the control platform stores the test result codes to the IAD, and adjusts the report interface provided by the IAD to generate a corresponding test report.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent ftom the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention. are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention. and wherein:

Fig. 1 is the block diagram of a functional module provided by the present invention; Fig. 2 is a test flow chart according to the present invention;' Fig. 'D is the flow chart of a resource table according to the present invention; Fier. 4 is the flow chart of an information feedback mechanism provided by the present invention; Fig. 5 is the flow chart of a report wizard according to the present invention; Fig. 6 is the flow chart of a control platform according to the present invention; and Fig. 7 is the floW chart of a test item module according to the present invention.

The block diagram of a functional module of this invention is shown in Fig. 1. A platform 10 and a test item 20 are built over the container/component structure to allow the exchange of a data flow 30 and a control flow 40 between each component within and C> among modules. The function and task flow of each module are explained as follows:

A control platform module is an execution platform of the test items 20, the platform 10 and the test items 20 take the container/component structure, with the platform 10 being the container to mana.e the loading and removing of each component.

CI tll 3 Pursuant to the changeability of the test items 20, the test item module adapts the standard multi-state pointer structure to define the output resources of the test items 20. Every test item 20 completes the test content independently through the standard local interface protocol.

The logic module takes an interactive document (IAD) 50 as the kernel of the whole system. When the system is in the initialization stage, the module initializes test items and drives each test item to access a local resource table (LRT) 60 and to obtain a global resource table (GRT) 70 from the control platform. The IAD 50 provides a channel for the data flow 30 and the control flow 40 between the platform 20 and the test item 20, which channel allows the exchange of the data flow 'DO and the control flow 40 between each component within and among modules built over the container/component structure.

A resource table (RT) 80 defines the shared resources between the platform 10 and the test items 20. It comprises a local resource table (LRT) 60 and a global resource table (GRT)70. In general, a platform 10 in the IAD 50 corresponds to a GRT 70, while each test item 20 corresponds to a LRT 60. The operation of the RT 80 consists of two parts, namely, the storage and retrieval of data. When the test item is initialized according to the IAD 50, the test item 20 stores the IAD 50 and writes to the LRT 60 thereby.

The module function of a report wizard (RW) 90 is to feed back the test item result by the control platform into the IAD 50. The IAD 50 then triggers the RW 90 to generate a report.

Fig. 2 is a test flow chart according to the present invention, which comprises three main steps: system initialization. system execution and system termination.

First, the system goes through the initialization procedure: the control platform is initialized (step 100); the IAD is initialized (step 110); the IAD then initializes each test item (step 120); and the IAD writes to the GRT (step l 30) and each LRT (step 140).

4 Secondly, the system goes through the execution procedure: the control platform first retrieves the LRT (step 150), then the control platform drives the test item to perform testing (step 160).

Finally, the system goes through the termination procedure: the output results from the Z> control platform are collected to the IAD (step 170), and the IAD generates a test report thereby (step 180).

Fig. 3 is the flow chart of a resource table according to the present invention. First, the IAD initializes each test item (step 190), then the storage function is adjusted by the IAD (step 200) and writes to the first item in the LRT (step 210). Then the system determines if any resource is accessed (step 220). If there is any resource being accessed, then the LRT is added to the LRT group (step 23)0); otherwise, the pointer is moved to the next item (step 240) and the system repeats step 200.

In the GRT is defined the resources necessary for information feedback of the test items, wherein the flow chart of the information feedback mechanism is shown in Fig. 4.

When the test item finishes testing (step 250), it sends a request to the IAD (step 260) to determine if it is authorized to access the GRT(step 270). If it is not authorized, then the system displays an error messaae and exits (step 280); otherwise, the test item can access the index of the GRT (step 290), map an entry point table (step -3)00), and adjusts the feedback function (step J3 10) to generate the test result code (step 320).

Fig. 5 is the flow chart of a report wizard according to the present invention. The platform feeds the test result into the IAD (step 330). The IAD then initializes the RW (step 340) and reports for storing data (step 350). One can choose whether the data are to be stored in Excel format (step 3) 60). If the Excel format is chosen, the Excel generator is adjusted (step '370); otherwise, other formats are further provided for selection (step 380).

If no other formats are selected. the system directly generates a report in the text format (step '390). Otherwise, the user is prompted to enter a new document format (step 400), the system then adjusts the generator (step 410) to finish the task flow of the RW.

Fig. 6 is the flow chart of a control platform according to the present invention. First, the platform is initialized (step 420). Then all test items are loaded (step 430) and the IAD is triggered (step 440). The IAD is loaded with a component list (step 450) and then initialized (step 460). The LRT group is obtained from the IAD (step 470), and test items are executed according to the LRT group (step 480). The test results are output to the IAD (step 490), the IAD then generates a report (step 500).

Fig. 7 is the flow chart of a test item module according to the present invention. Pursuant to the changeability of the test items, the test item module adapts the standard multi-state pointer structure to define the output resources of the test items. All test items complete the content of each test item independently through the standard local interface protocol. The test item module is described hereinafter:

First is the execution of initialization (step 510). By the storage interface method (step 520), it is determined whether any resource should be employed (step 530). If not, the system awaits for resource employing (step 540). Otherwise, the operation test procedure is performed (step 550) and resources are obtained from the GRT (step 560). The system further sends out a control message to the platform (step 570), issues result codes (step 580), and finishes the task flow of the test item module.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

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Claims

An extensible automatic testing platform, which comprises:

a control platform module as an execution platform of test items, the platform being a container for the management of loading and removing each component; a test item module, which, pursuant to the changeability of the test items, takes a standard multi-state pointer structure to define the output resources of the test items, each of the test items completing the test content independently through a standard local interface protocol; a resource table (RT) for defining shared resources between the platform and the test items; a logic module with an interactive document (IAD) as the kernel, which provides a channel for the data flow and control flow between the platform and the test items; and a report wizard (RW) module, wherein the feedback result of the test item from the control platform is input to the IAD and the IAD initializes the RW to generate a test report.

2. The extensible automatic testing platform of claim 1, wherein the RT further omprises a local resource table (LRT) and a global resource table (GRT).

The extensible automatic testine platform of claim 2, wherein the GRT defines the necessary resources for information feedback from the test item.

n 4 The extensible automatic testine, platform of claim 1. wherein the platform 7 corresponds to one of the GRTs.

5. The extensible automatic testing platform of claim 1, wherein the test item corresponds to one of the LRTs.

6. The extensible automatic testing platform of claim 1, wherein the IAD is built over a container/component structure.

7. The extensible automatic testing platform of claim 6, wherein the container/component structure provides the exchange of the data flow and the control flow between each component among and within modules.

8. The extensible automatic testing platform of claim 1, wherein the test report can be made in a new text format defined by the user.

9. An extensible automatic testing platform, which takes an interactive document (IAD) as the kernel to coordinate a control platform and a test item module, and defines all sorts of shared resources via a resource table (RT) so that the platform and the test item can access the IAD to synchronously complete automatic testing.

10. The extensible automatic testing platform of claim 9, wherein the control platform works as an execution platform of the test item, the platform being a container for the management of loading and removing each component.

11. The extensible automatic testing platform of claim 9, wherein the test item module, pursuant to the changeability of the test items, takes a standard multi-state pointer structure to define the output resources of the test items, each of the test items completing the test content independently through a standard local interface protocol.

12. The extensible automatic testing platform of claim 9, wherein the RT defines 1 shared resources between the platform and the test items.

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3 The extensible automatic testing platform of claim 9, wherein the RT further 8 comprises a local resource table (LRT) and a global resource table (GRT).

14. The extensible automatic testing platform of claim 13), wherein the GRT defines the necessary resources for information feedback from the test item.

15. The extensible automatic testing platforTn of claim 9, wherein the platform corresponds to one of the GRTs.

16. The extensible automatic testing platform of claim 9, wherein the test item corresponds to one of the LRTs.

17. The extensible automatic testing platform of claim 9, wherein the IAD provides a channel for the data flow and control flow between the platform and the test items.

1 18. The extensible automatic testing platform of claim 9, wherein the IAD is built over a container/component structure.

19. The extensible automatic testing platform of claim 18, wherein the container/component structure provides the exchange of the data flow and the control flow between each corn onent among and within modules.

p C1 20. The extensible automatic testing platform of claim 9, which further comprises a report wizard (RW) module, wherein the feedback resul t of the test item from the control platform is input to the IAD and the IAD initializes the RW to generate a test report.

21. An extensible automatic testing platform, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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