Product testing and bug tracking system

• US 20020049962A1
• Filed: 04/06/2001
• Published: 04/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo of America, Inc. (Nintendo Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Nintendo of America, Inc. (Nintendo Company Limited)
• Inventors: Bush, Eric M., Diederich, Dave, Kelbaugh, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,657,872 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/128
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3664 Environments for testing or debugging software

Abstract

An Internet-based, secure communications system is utilized for enabling communications between a video game tester, project coordinator and others with a game developer. A master bug log which compiles all uncovered bugs is accessible by a game developer and other authorized system users via a web server, which stores bug tracking system applications programs and associated data bases. Such a master bug log includes a file attachment capability permitting a digitized image file replicating a video game display screen sequence depicting the bug, to be attached for downloading to, for example, a game developer. Bugs may be sorted, for example, so that a game developer can retrieve only those bugs having a digitized file attachment. Sorting may take placed based on any of a large number of fields entered in the master bug log. The present exemplary embodiments permit customized fields to be added and used as sort criteria. For example, in a racing game, bugs may be categorized and sorted based upon involvement with a particular vehicle or driver. Game and debugging related messages may be exchanged between testers, project coordinators, and corporate contacts. If the game developer normally communicates in, for example, Japanese, e-mail type format messages are translated so that significant game related messages may be promptly analyzed by all parties involved. An editing function is advantageously utilized to permit, for example, a tester to enter a bug description and a project coordinator to edit the tester'"'"'s description. The illustrative embodiments of the present invention advantageously use multiple security layers to preclude one developer from accessing information related to a game under test developed by another developer.

Claims

1. A method for processing and monitoring software bug related information for use in software package development comprising the steps of:

accessing an Internet browser;

accessing a bug tracking system using said Internet browser;

processing user identification information including a password; and

accessing, in response to said user identification information, at least one bug tracking related menu tailored to the user'"'"'s role in the software development process.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the user is a video game tester and wherein said step of accessing said bug tracking related menu includes the step of accessing a bug tracking related menu tailored to video game testers.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the user is a video game project coordinator and wherein said step of accessing said bug tracking related menu includes the step of accessing a bug tracking related menu tailored to video game project coordinators.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the user is a video game developer and wherein said step of accessing said bug tracking related menu includes the step of accessing a bug tracking related menu tailored to video game developers.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the user is a video game translator and wherein said step of accessing said bug tracking related menu includes the step of accessing a bug tracking related menu tailored to video game translators.

6. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of accessing a plurality of bug tracking menus related to identified software under development.

7. A method according to claim 1, further including the steps of:

accessing a master bug log identifying a plurality of bugs in a selected software package under development.

8. A method according to claim 1, further including the steps of:

accessing a database and retrieving data indicative of a plurality of bugs in a selected software package; and

sorting the bugs based upon any one of a plurality of sorting criteria selected by a user.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said sorting criteria includes video game stage.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein said sorting criteria includes a video game character.

11. A method according to claim 8, wherein said sorting criteria includes the status of the bug.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein said sorting criteria includes the type of bug.

13. A method according to claim 8, wherein said sorting criteria includes the reported date of the bug.

14. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of:

transmitting a bug related message using an accessed bug related menu from a first user having a first role in developing said software package to a second user having a second role in developing said software package.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said first user is a software tester and said second user is a software package developer.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein said first user is a software project coordinator and said second user is a software package project coordinator.

17. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of:

attaching to a bug description a digitized video file for visually displaying at least one screen display showing an identified bug.

18. A method according to claim 1, further including the steps of:

generating a bug related communication using a bug tracking related menu;

encrypting said bug related communication; and

transmitting said bug related communication to a recipient via the Internet.

19. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of:

accessing a test plan identifying a plurality of tests to be performed with respect to an identified software package.

20. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of editing bug related information using said at least one bug tracking related menu.

37. A method according to claim 14, wherein said first user is a software project coordinator and said second user is a software package project coordinator.

21. A method of processing and monitoring software bug related information for use in software package development comprising the steps of:

accessing an Internet browser;

accessing a bug tracking system using said Internet browser;

accessing a bug tracking related menu by a first user having a first role in developing said software package;

editing bug related information using said bug tracking related menu; and

transmitting at least the edited bug related information via the Internet to a second user having a second role in developing said software package.

22. A method according to claim 21, further including the step of

processing first user identification information including a password;

and wherein said step of accessing a bug related menu includes the step of accessing, in response to said user identification information, at least one bug tracking related menu tailored to the user'"'"'s role in the software development process.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein the first user is a video game tester and wherein said step of accessing said bug tracking related menu includes the step of accessing a bug tracking related menu tailored to video game testers.

24. A method according to claim 21, wherein the first user is a video game project coordinator and wherein said step of accessing said bug tracking related menu includes the step of accessing a bug tracking related menu tailored to video game project coordinators.

25. A method according to claim 21, wherein the user is a video game developer and wherein said step of accessing said bug tracking related menu includes the step of accessing a bug tracking related menu tailored to video game developers.

26. A method according to claim 21, wherein the user is a video game translator and wherein said step of accessing said bug tracking related menu includes the step of accessing a bug tracking related menu tailored to video game translators.

27. A method according to claim 21, further including the step of accessing a plurality of bug tracking menus related to identified software under development.

28. A method according to claim 21, further including the step of:

accessing a master bug log identifying a plurality of bugs in a selected software package under development and wherein said editing step includes the step of selecting an edit function from said master bug log.

29. A method according to claim 21, further including the steps of:

accessing a database and retrieving data indicative of a plurality of bugs in a selected software package; and

sorting the bugs based upon any one of a plurality of sorting criteria selected by a user.

30. A method according to claim 28, wherein said sorting criteria includes video game stage.

31. A method according to claim 28, wherein said sorting criteria includes a video game character.

32. A method according to claim 28, wherein said sorting criteria includes the status of the bug.

33. A method according to claim 28, wherein said sorting criteria includes the type of bug.

34. A method according to claim 28, wherein said sorting criteria includes the reported date of the bug.

35. A method according to claim 21, further including the step of:

transmitting a bug related message using an accessed bug related menu from said first user having a first role in developing said software package to said second user having a second role in developing said software package.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein said first user is a software tester and said second user is a software package developer.

38. A method according to claim 21, further including the step of:

attaching to a bug description a digitized video file for visually displaying at least one screen display showing an identified bug.

39. A method according to claim 21, further including the steps of:

generating a bug related communication using a bug tracking related menu;

encrypting said bug related communication; and

transmitting said bug related communication to a recipient via the Internet.

40. A method according to claim 21, further including the step of:

accessing a test plan identifying a plurality of tests to be performed with respect to an identified software package.

41. A method of processing and monitoring software bug related information for use in software package development comprising the steps of:

accessing a bug tracking system via the Internet;

retrieving from a database associated with said bug tracking system a list of bugs associated with an identified software package; and

sorting said list of bugs in accordance with any of one a plurality of user selected sort criteria.

42. A method according to claim 41, further including the steps of:

processing user identification information including a password; and

accessing, in response to said user identification information, at least one bug tracking related menu tailored to the user'"'"'s role in the software development process.

43. A method according to claim 42, wherein the user is a video game tester and wherein said step of accessing said bug tracking related menu includes the step of accessing a bug tracking related menu tailored to video game testers.

44. A method according to claim 42, wherein the user is a video game project coordinator and wherein said step of accessing said bug tracking related menu includes the step of accessing a bug tracking related menu tailored to video game project coordinators.

45. A method according to claim 42, wherein the user is a video game developer and wherein said step of accessing said bug tracking related menu includes the step of accessing a bug tracking related menu tailored to video game developers.

46. A method according to claim 42, wherein the user is a video game translator and wherein said step of accessing said bug tracking related menu includes the step of accessing a bug tracking related menu tailored to video game translators.

47. A method according to claim 41, further including the step of accessing a plurality of bug tracking menus related to identified software under development.

48. A method according to claim 41, wherein the step of retrieving a list of bugs includes the step of accessing a master bug log menu identifying a plurality of bugs in a selected software package under development and wherein said sorting step includes the step of sorting in response to the selection of a sort function on said master bug log menu.

49. A method according to claim 41, wherein said sorting criteria includes video game stage.

50. A method according to claim 41, wherein said sorting criteria includes a video game character.

51. A method according to claim 41, wherein said sorting criteria includes the status of the bug.

52. A method according to claim 41, wherein said sorting criteria includes the type of bug.

53. A method according to claim 41, wherein said sorting criteria includes the reported date of the bug.

54. A method according to claim 41, further including the step of:

transmitting a bug related message using an accessed bug related menu from a first user having a first role in developing said software package to a second user having a second role in developing said software package.

55. A method according to claim 54, wherein said first user is a software tester and said second user is a software package developer.

56. A method according to claim 54, wherein said first user is a software project coordinator and said second user is a software package project coordinator.

57. A method according to claim 41, further including the step of:

attaching to at least one bug in said list of bugs, a digitized video file for visually displaying at least one screen display showing an identified bug.

58. A method according to claim 41, further including the steps of:

generating a bug related communication using a bug tracking related menu;

encrypting said bug related communication; and

transmitting said bug related communication to a recipient via the Internet.

59. A method according to claim 41, further including the step of:

accessing a test plan identifying a plurality of tests to be performed with respect to an identified software package.

60. A method according to claim 41, further including the step of editing bug related information using at least one bug tracking related menu.

62. A system according to claim 51, wherein said web server is operable in response to received user identification information to access at least one bug tracking related menu tailored to the user'"'"'s role in the software development process.

63. A system according to claim 62, wherein the user is a video game tester and wherein said web server is operable to access a bug tracking related menu tailored to video game testers.

64. A method according to claim 62, wherein the user is a video game project coordinator and wherein said web server is operable to access a bug tracking related menu tailored to video game project coordinators.

65. A system according to claim 62, wherein the user is a video game developer and wherein said web server is operable to access a bug tracking related menu tailored to video game developers.

66. A method according to claim 62, wherein the user is a video game translator and wherein said web server is operable to access a bug tracking related menu tailored to video game translators.

70. A method according to claim 68, wherein said sorting criteria includes video game stage.

71. A system according to claim 68, wherein said sorting criteria includes a video game character.

72. A method according to claim 68, wherein said sorting criteria includes the status of the bug.

73. A system according to claim 68, wherein said sorting criteria includes the type of bug.

74. A method according to claim 68, wherein said sorting criteria includes the reported date of the bug.

61. A software bug related processing and tracking system comprising:

a first computer system for use by a software developer including a processing system for executing an Internet browser;

an encryption system coupled to said first computer for encrypting data transmitted via the Internet by said first computer;

a second computer system for use by a software tester including a processing system for executing an Internet browser;

a third computer system for use by a software project coordinator including a processing system for executing an Internet processor; and

a web server for storing a bug tracking system and for permitting an authorized software developer, an authorized software tester, and an authorized project coordinator to access said bug tracking system and to communicate with each other via said bug tracking system.

67. A system according to claim 61, wherein said web server includes an associated data base storing a plurality of bug tracking menus related to identified software under development, and wherein said web server is operable to access said plurality of bug tracking menus related to identified software under development.

68. A method according to claim 61, wherein said web server includes an associated data base storing a master bug log identifying a plurality of bugs in a selected software package under development.

69. A system according to claim 61, wherein said web server includes a database storing data indicative of a plurality of bugs in a selected software package;

and wherein said web server is operable to sort the bugs based upon any one of a plurality of sorting criteria selected by a user.

75. A system according to claim 61, wherein said web server is operable to transmit a bug related message using an accessed bug related menu from a first user having a first role in developing said software package to a second user having a second role in developing said software package.

76. A method according to claim 75, wherein said first user is a software tester and said second user is a software package developer.

77. A system according to claim 75, wherein said first user is a software project coordinator and said second user is a software package project coordinator.

78. A method according to claim 61, wherein said web server is operable to attach to a bug description a digitized video file for visually displaying at least one screen display showing an identified bug.

79. A system according to claim 61, wherein said web server is operable to access a test plan identifying a plurality of tests to be performed with respect to an identified software package.

80. A system according to claim 61, wherein said web server is operable to edit bug related information in response to user input via at least one bug tracking related menu.