Run-time graphical programming tool for testing non-deterministic events

• US 20030046626A1
• Filed: 08/30/2001
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Empirix Incorporated (Empirix Holdings I, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Empirix Incorporated (Empirix Holdings I, Inc.)
• Inventors: Savage, Peter, Seeley, Albert, Hand, Wesley C. Jr., Noorda, Eric, Campbell, Kathy, Trumpler, Mark, David, Nathan W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,957,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/738
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3664 Environments for testing or debugging software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3684 for test design, e.g. generating new test cases
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/22 Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals

Abstract

A method is disclosed for testing applications that include non-deterministic behavior. The presently disclosed method generates test code for testing deterministic behavior of an application. When instances of non-deterministic behavior of the application being tested are encountered, the method provides acceptable alternate behaviors, such that the non-deterministic behavior can be effectively tested. The method may be implemented as a software test tool that utilizes a graphical programming interface to make the test generation simple and easy to use.

Claims

1. A method of providing a test tool for generating test scripts comprising the steps of:

providing test code for testing deterministic behavior of an application; and

providing test code for testing non-deterministic behavior within said application by providing test code for each of one or more acceptable alternate behaviors associated with said non-deterministic behavior.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing test code for testing one or more acceptable alternate behaviors is done graphically.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of providing test code for testing one or more acceptable alternative behaviors comprises a graphical interface wherein icons represent said acceptable alternate behaviors.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of using arrows to graphically represent the paths to icons representing said acceptable alternate behaviors.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said tool is used for testing Interactive Voice Response (IVR) applications.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing test code for testing one or more acceptable alternate behaviors is provided separately and is referenced by said test code.

7. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable code thereon comprising:

instructions for generating test code for testing deterministic behavior of an application; and

instructions for generating test code for testing of non-deterministic behavior by testing one or more acceptable alternative behaviors associated with said non-deterministic behavior.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein said test code for testing one or more acceptable alternate behaviors is provided through a graphical interface.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein said test code for testing one or more acceptable alternative behaviors is utilized by a graphical interface wherein icons represent said acceptable alternate behaviors.

10. The computer program product of claim of claim 8 wherein arrows are used to graphically represent the paths to icons representing said acceptable alternate behaviors.

11. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein said application comprises an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) application.

12. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein said test code for testing one or more acceptable alternate behaviors is provided as a separate entity and is referenced by said test code.