Test executive system with tree structure for summarizing results

• US 20030078679A1
• Filed: 10/23/2001
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Sutton, Christopher K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,055,138 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/273 Tester hardware, i.e. output processing circuits G06F11/263 takes precedence

Abstract

An electronic test system with a multi-level tree structure for summarizing the results of the test. The levels of the tree correspond to the hierarchical levels in the execution of a test procedure. The highest level, or first level, represents the result for the whole test procedure. Level two represents the results of various tests. Level three represents the results of various measurements performed in a test, and level four represents the results for various datapoints for a given measurement. Preferably, each level in the tree structure is characterized by a graphical element. The graphical element provides the information on the status of the result at that level. In the tree structure, the results at a higher level are determined by summarizing the results at the adjacent sub-level.

Claims

1. An electronic test system comprising:

a memory for storing a test and test results;

an electronic processor communicating with said memory for controlling the execution of said test and displaying said test results; and

a graphical user interface output device communicating with said electronic processor for displaying information, said information comprising test results organized into a tree structure comprising a hierarchical configuration having multiple levels including a highest level and one or more sub-levels, with the results of each sub-level summarized to the next higher level.

2. An electronic test system as in claim 1 wherein each said level in said tree structure is characterized by a graphical element.

3. An electronic test system as in claim 2 wherein said graphical element is an icon representing the status of the result at each said level.

4. An electronic test system as in claim 3 wherein alphanumeric characters are associated with said icon.

5. An electronic test system as in claim 3 wherein said status is one of the following states:

pass, fail, marginal, and not-yet-tested.

6. An electronic test system as in claim 5 wherein said icon includes a code selected from the group consisting of symbols, alphanumeric characters, designs and colors.

7. An electronic test system as in claim 6 wherein said icon is color coded to indicate the status of said result.

8. An electronic test system as in claim 7 wherein the color green is assigned to a pass result, the color yellow is assigned to a marginal result, the color red is assigned to a failed result, and no color is assigned to a not-yet-tested result.

9. An electronic test system as in claim 6 wherein said icon is design coded to indicate the status of said result.

10. An electronic test system as in claim 9 wherein a “

smiling face”

icon is assigned to a pass result, a “

surprised face”

icon is assigned to a marginal result, a “

sad face”

icon is assigned to a failed result, and a “

question mark”

icon is assigned to a not-yet-tested result.

11. An electronic test system as in claim 1 wherein each said level includes an alphanumeric string of characters designating the function of each said level.

12. An electronic test system as in claim 1 wherein said levels include a test procedure level and a test level which is a sub-level of said test procedure level.

13. An electronic test system as in claim 12 wherein said test procedure level is said highest level, equivalent to a trunk in said tree structure, and said test sub-level is equivalent to a first generation branch in said tree structure.

14. An electronic test system as in claim 13 wherein said tree structure further comprises a measurement sub-level equivalent to a second generation branch in said tree structure.

15. An electronic test system as in claim 14 wherein said tree structure further comprises a datapoint sub-level equivalent to a third generation branch in said tree structure.

16. An electronic test system as in claim 1 wherein said tree structure is expandable to display said one or more sub-levels.

17. An electronic test system as in claim 1 wherein said result at each of said levels is determined by applying a summary of each said sub-level of said level.

18. An electronic test system as in claim 1 wherein the least optimal result at each said sub-level is summarized to the next higher level.

19. A method for displaying the results of an electronic test comprising the steps of:

performing a test procedure to determine a plurality of test results;

displaying said test results in a tree structure comprising a hierarchical configuration having multiple levels including a highest level and one or more sub-levels; and

summarizing said results in each said sub-level to the next higher level in said tree structure.

20. A method as in claim 19 wherein said step of displaying comprises displaying a plurality of icons, each of said icons corresponding to one of said test results.

21. A method as in claim 20 wherein said step of displaying comprises displaying a text string in each said level, said text string defining the function of each said level.

22. A method as in claim 20 wherein said step of displaying comprises a step of assigning a code to said result according to whether the status of said result is pass, fail, marginal, or not-yet-tested.

23. A method as in claim 22 wherein said step of assigning comprises a step of selecting a code from the group consisting of symbols, designs, colors, and alphanumeric characters.

24. A method as in claim 23 wherein said step of assigning comprises assigning the color green to said pass result, assigning the color yellow to said marginal result, assigning the color red to said fail result, and assigning no color to said not-yet-tested result.

25. A method as in claim 23 wherein said step of assigning comprises assigning a “

smiling face”

icon to said pass result, assigning a “

surprised face”

icon to said marginal result, assigning a “

sad face”

icon to said fail result, and assigning a “

question mark”

icon to said not-yet-tested result.

26. A method as in claim 19 wherein the step of displaying further comprises displaying a tree structure with said highest level corresponding to said result of said test procedure.

27. A method as in claim 26 wherein the step of displaying further comprises displaying a tree structure with said sub-level directly below said test procedure level corresponding to the result of a test in said test procedure.

28. A method as in claim 27 wherein the step of displaying further comprises displaying a tree structure with said sub-level directly below said test level corresponding to the result of a measurement in said test.

29. A method as in claim 28 wherein the step of displaying further comprises displaying a tree structure with said sub-level directly below said measurement level corresponding to the result for a datapoint in said measurement.

30. A method as in claim 19, further comprising the step of expanding said tree structure to display said one or more sub-levels.

31. A method as in claim 19 wherein said step of summarizing comprises determining the result displayed at a higher level by summarizing said results at said sub-level directly below said higher level.

32. A method as in claim 19 wherein said step of summarizing corresponds to summarizing the least optimum results at said sub-levels to said higher level.