Method and system for testing websites

• US 20030005044A1
• Filed: 10/31/2001
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Software Research, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Software Research, Inc.
• Inventors: Miller, Edward F., Bral, Rita
• Granted Patent: US 7,231,606 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3664 Environments for testing or debugging software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/14 Tree-structured documents parsing G06F40/205; validation G06F40/226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/289 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data consumer application, e.g. in same machine, in same home or in same sub-network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A method and system is provided for testing and analyzing websites via a test-enabled web browser. In the representative embodiment a user controls a test-enabled web browser via a set of pull-down menus, thereby choosing between alternative testing and analysis functional capabilities, selecting files in which to store recordings (scripts), choosing files into which to place test results and messages, and setting various parameters that affect how the testing and analysis functions are performed. When the user requests it, the representative embodiment provides for deep recording of user interactions as they relate to a specific web page currently on display in the browser view area, for extracting key information from the current web page sufficient to validate that a future playback does or does not produce the same effects on the chosen website page, for playing back a prior recording to confirm that a website page continues to pass the user-defined tests, and for providing detailed analyses based on the specific contents of the current website page. The general result of systematic use of the test-enabled browser on websites is improved content quality, demonstrated website server behavior for deep tests, quicker delivery by the website server, and better serviceability for e-business.

Claims

1. A network browser, wherein the improvement comprises capabilities to perform analysis and testing of websites residing on the Internet.

2. A test-enabled web browser, comprising:

standard browsing components;

testing components; and

a graphical user interface to provide user access to said standard browsing components and said testing components.

3. A test-enabled browser as recited in claim 2, wherein said testing components comprises at least one of a script record component, a script playback component, a content validation component, a download timing monitor component, a load test component, and a quality analysis component.

4. A test-enabled browser as recited in claim 2, wherein said standard browsing components comprises DLL components.

5. A test-enabled browser as recited in claim 4, wherein the DLL components pertain to IE technology.

6. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for testing of websites residing on the Internet, said computer readable medium comprising:

first computer program code for performing test operations; and

second computer program code for performing DLLs of IE,

wherein said first and second computer program code together implement a test-enabled web browser.

7. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 6, wherein said first computer program code comprises computer program code for performing one or more of:

script recording, script playback, content validation, download timing monitoring, load testing, and quality analysis.

8. A method for testing websites, said method comprises:

(a) receiving a trigger;

(b) performing test-based processing associated with the trigger; and

(c) thereafter performing browser-based processing associated with the trigger.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the test-based processing enables the automated analysis and testing of websites.

10. A method for testing a website residing on a network using a test-enabled To browser, said method comprising:

(a) accessing a website to be tested using the test-enabled browser;

(b) selecting a test or evaluation to be performed; and

(c) performing the test or evaluation using the test-enabled browser.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said performing (c) of the test or evaluation comprises:

extracting details of a web page using a Document Object Model pertaining to the web page.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein said method further comprises:

expressing the details of the web page in a recorded script language.

13. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said performing (c) of the test or evaluation comprises:

examining a web page using a rendering of the web page by the test-enabled browser.

14. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said performing (c) of the test or evaluation comprises:

recording a script pertaining to an interaction sequence with the web page.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said performing (c) of the test or evaluation comprises:

subsequently playing back the script to confirm content of the web page and/or perform validations.

16. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said performing (c) of the test or evaluation comprises:

adaptively playing back the script.

17. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the web page includes a plurality of component parts, and

wherein said performing (c) of the test or evaluation comprises:

determining download timings for at least the component parts of the web page.

18. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein a web server hosts the web page, and

wherein said performing (c) of the test or evaluation comprises:

inducing a load on the web server by concurrently playing multiple scripts.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein said inducing launches a separate test-enabled browser for each of the scripts, and each of the test-enabled browsers plays a script.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein all the test-enabled browsers play the same script.

21. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein all the test-enabled browsers are operating on a common computer being operatively connectable to the network.

22. A method, apparatus, system, graphical user interface or computer readable medium as shown or described in this application.