Operator interface controls for creating a run-time operator interface application for a test executive sequence

• US 20040113947A1
• Filed: 12/16/2002
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Ramchandani, Mahesh A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,143,361 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/263 Generation of test inputs, e.g. test vectors, patterns or sequences ; with adaptation of the tested hardware for testability with external testers

Abstract

A plurality of operator interface controls for use in a run-time operator interface application for executing one or more test executive sequences is described. Each operator interface control may have associated functionality for managing execution of a test executive sequence and/or functionality for displaying information regarding execution of a test executive sequence. One or more of the operator interface controls may be included in a run-time operator interface application, which may aid the user in easily creating the run-time operator interface application.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for creating a run-time operator interface application for a test executive sequence, the method comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface that provides access to a plurality of operator interface controls, wherein each operator interface control has associated functionality for one or more of managing execution of the test executive sequence and/or displaying information regarding execution of the test executive sequence;

including one or more of the operator interface controls in the run-time operator interface application in response to user input to the graphical user interface, wherein the one or more operator interface controls are operable to perform one or more of managing execution of the test executive sequence and/or displaying information regarding execution of the test executive sequence during execution of the run-time operator interface application; and

storing one or more files representing the run-time operator interface application.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein each operator interface control includes associated program instructions operable to perform one or more of managing execution of the test executive sequence and/or displaying information regarding execution of the test executive sequence.

3. The method of claim 2,

wherein the program instructions associated with each operator interface control comprise pre-existing program instructions.

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein each operator interface control includes one or more associated methods operable to perform one or more of managing execution of the test executive sequence and/or displaying information regarding execution of the test executive sequence.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

deploying the plurality of operator interface controls on a first computer system;

wherein said displaying the graphical user interface comprises displaying a graphical user interface of an application development environment on the first computer system, wherein the graphical user interface of the application development environment provides access to the plurality of operator interface controls.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the test executive sequence is associated with a first test executive application;

wherein the method further comprises installing the first test executive application on a first computer system, wherein said installing the first test executive application on the first computer system comprises installing the plurality of operator interface controls on the first computer system.

7. The method of claim 1,

wherein the plurality of operator interface controls includes a first operator interface control;

wherein the first operator interface control is operable to respond to a first event during execution of the run-time operator interface application to perform one or more of managing execution of the test executive sequence and/or displaying information regarding execution of the test executive sequence.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring one or more of the one or more operator interface controls in response to user input;

wherein each of the one or more operator interface controls has one or more associated properties;

wherein, for each operator interface control, said configuring the operator interface control comprises receiving user input to configure one or more properties associated with the operator interface control.

9. The method of claim 8,

wherein, for each operator interface control, said configuring the operator interface control further comprises displaying a property panel for configuring the operator interface control;

wherein said receiving user input to configure one or more properties associated with the operator interface control comprises receiving user input to the property panel.

10. The method of claim 1,

wherein the test executive sequence is associated with a first test executive application;

wherein the plurality of operator interface controls includes a first operator interface control;

wherein the first operator interface control is operable to call the first test executive application during execution of the run-time operator interface application to perform one or more of managing execution of the test executive sequence and/or displaying information regarding execution of the test executive sequence.

11. The method of claim 1,

wherein the plurality of operator interface controls includes a first operator interface control and a second operator interface control;

wherein the first operator interface control is aware of the second operator interface control.

12. The method of claim 1,

wherein said including one or more of the operator interface controls in the run-time operator interface application includes including a first operator interface control and a second operator interface control in the run-time operator interface application;

wherein the first operator interface control is operable to affect the second operator interface control during execution of the run-time operator interface application.

13. The method of claim 12,

wherein the first operator interface control is operable to cause the second operator interface control to display steps of the test executive sequence during execution of the run-time operator interface application.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

executing the run-time operator interface application.

15. The method of claim 14,

wherein said executing the run-time operator interface application comprises executing program instructions associated with one or more of the operator interface controls in the run-time operator interface application to perform one or more of managing execution of the test executive sequence and/or displaying information regarding execution of the test executive sequence.

16. The method of claim 14,

wherein said executing the run-time operator interface application comprises executing program instructions associated with a first operator interface control in the run-time operator interface application;

wherein said executing the program instructions associated with the first operator interface control comprises selecting the test executive sequence in response to user input.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

automatically displaying test executive steps of the test executive sequence in response to said selecting the test executive sequence.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

invoking execution of the test executive sequence after said selecting the test executive sequence.

19. The method of claim 14,

wherein the test executive sequence is operable to perform one or more tests of a unit under test (UUT).

20. The method of claim 1,

wherein said including the one or more of the operator interface controls in the run-time operator interface application includes including a first operator interface control in the run-time operator interface application;

wherein the first operator interface control includes associated program instructions operable to automatically display test executive steps of the test executive sequence during execution of the run-time operator interface application.

21. The method of claim 20,

wherein the first operator interface control comprises a list control;

wherein said displaying the test executive steps of the test executive sequence comprises displaying the test executive steps as a list in the list control.

22. The method of claim 1,

wherein said including the one or more of the operator interface controls in the run-time operator interface application includes including a first operator interface control in the run-time operator interface application;

wherein the first operator interface control includes associated program instructions operable to invoke execution of the test executive sequence during execution of the run-time operator interface application.

23. The method of claim 22,

wherein said including the one or more of the operator interface controls in the run-time operator interface application further includes including a second operator interface control in the run-time operator interface application;

wherein the second operator interface control includes associated program instructions operable to stop execution of the test executive sequence during execution of the run-time operator interface application.

24. The method of claim 1,

wherein said including the one or more of the operator interface controls in the run-time operator interface application includes including a first operator interface control in the run-time operator interface application;

wherein the first operator interface control includes associated program instructions operable to automatically display an execution hierarchy for the test executive sequence during execution of the run-time operator interface application.

25. The method of claim 1,

wherein said including the one or more of the operator interface controls in the run-time operator interface application includes including a first operator interface control in the run-time operator interface application;

wherein the first operator interface control includes associated program instructions operable to automatically display a report generated in response to executing the test executive sequence.

26. The method of claim 1,

wherein said including the one or more of the operator interface controls in the run-time operator interface application includes including a first operator interface control in the run-time operator interface application;

wherein the first operator interface control includes associated program instructions operable to automatically display execution results generated by execution of the test executive sequence.

27. The method of claim 1,

wherein said including the one or more of the operator interface controls in the run-time operator interface application includes including a first operator interface control in the run-time operator interface application;

wherein the first operator interface control includes associated program instructions operable to select the test executive sequence during execution of the run-time operator interface application.

28. The method of claim 27,

wherein said including the one or more of the operator interface controls in the run-time operator interface application further includes including a second operator interface control in the run-time operator interface application;

wherein the second operator interface control includes associated program instructions operable to display steps of the test executive sequence in response to said program instructions associated with the first operator interface control selecting the test executive sequence.

29. The method of claim 1,

wherein said including the one or more operator interface controls in the run-time operator interface application comprises including the one or more operator interface controls in a user interface for the run-time operator interface application.

30. The method of claim 1,

wherein one or more of the operator interface controls included in the run-time operator interface application have user interfaces displayable during execution of the run-time operator interface application.

31. The method of claim 1,

wherein the run-time operator interface application comprises a graphical program;

wherein said including the one or more of the operator interface controls in the run-time operator interface application comprises including the one or more of the operator interface controls in the graphical program.

32. The method of claim 1,

wherein the plurality of operator interface controls comprises a plurality of ActiveX controls.

33. A computer-implemented method for creating a run-time operator interface application for a first test executive sequence, the method comprising:

installing a test executive application on a first computer system;

installing a plurality of operator interface controls on the first computer system, wherein each operator interface control has associated functionality for one or more of managing execution of a test executive sequence and/or displaying information regarding execution of a test executive sequence;

installing an application development environment application on the first computer system;

creating the first test executive sequence using the test executive application; and

creating the run-time operator interface application using the application development environment application, wherein said creating the run-time operator interface application includes including one or more of the operator interface controls in the run-time operator interface application.

34. The method of claim 33,

wherein the one or more operator interface controls included in the run-time operator interface application are operable to perform one or more of managing execution of the first test executive sequence and/or displaying information regarding execution of the first test executive sequence during execution of the run-time operator interface application.

35. The method of claim 33,

wherein said installing the test executive application on the first computer system includes performing said installing the plurality of operator interface controls on the first computer system.

36. A memory medium comprising:

a plurality of controls for inclusion in a run-time operator interface application for a test executive sequence;

wherein each control includes program instructions operable to perform one or more of the following during execution of the run-time operator interface application;

manage execution of the test executive sequence; and

/or

display information regarding execution of the test executive sequence.

37. The memory medium of claim 36,

wherein the memory medium includes one or more files;

wherein the one or more files represent the plurality of controls.

38. The memory medium of claim 36,

wherein each control includes program instructions implementing one or more methods for performing said managing execution of the test executive sequence and/or displaying information regarding execution of the test executive sequence.

39. The memory medium of claim 36,

wherein each control includes program instructions implementing one or more properties for configuring operation of the control.

40. The memory medium of claim 36,

wherein the plurality of controls includes a first control and a second control;

wherein the first control is aware of the second control.

41. The memory medium of claim 36,

wherein the plurality of controls includes a first control and a second control;

wherein the first control is operable to affect the second control during execution of the run-time operator interface application.

42. The memory medium of claim 41,

wherein the first control is operable to cause the second control to display steps of the test executive sequence during execution of the run-time operator interface application.

43. The memory medium of claim 36,

wherein the test executive sequence is operable to perform one or more tests of a unit under test (UUT).

44. The memory medium of claim 36,

wherein the plurality of controls includes a first control;

wherein the first control includes program instructions operable to automatically display test executive steps of the test executive sequence during execution of the run-time operator interface application.

45. The memory medium of claim 44,

wherein the first control comprises a list control;

wherein said displaying the test executive steps of the test executive sequence comprises displaying the test executive steps as a list in the list control.

46. The memory medium of claim 36,

wherein the plurality of controls includes a first control;

wherein the first control includes program instructions operable to invoke execution of the test executive sequence during execution of the run-time operator interface application.

47. The memory medium of claim 46,

wherein the plurality of controls further includes a second control;

wherein the second control includes program instructions operable to stop execution of the test executive sequence during execution of the run-time operator interface application.

48. The memory medium of claim 36,

wherein the plurality of controls includes a first control;

wherein the first control includes program instructions operable to automatically display an execution hierarchy for the test executive sequence during execution of the run-time operator interface application.

49. The memory medium of claim 36,

wherein the plurality of controls includes a first control;

wherein the first control includes program instructions operable to automatically display a report generated in response to executing the test executive sequence.

50. The memory medium of claim 36,

wherein the plurality of controls includes a first control;

wherein the first control includes program instructions operable to automatically display execution results generated by execution of the test executive sequence.

51. The memory medium of claim 36,

wherein the plurality of controls includes a first control;

wherein the first control includes program instructions operable to select the test executive sequence during execution of the run-time operator interface application.

52. The memory medium of claim 51,

wherein the plurality of controls further includes a second control;

wherein the second control includes program instructions operable to display steps of the test executive sequence in response to said program instructions of the first control selecting the test executive sequence.

53. The memory medium of claim 36,

wherein the plurality of controls includes one or more controls operable to call a test executive application during execution of the run-time operator interface application to perform one or more of managing execution of the test executive sequence and/or displaying information regarding execution of the test executive sequence.

54. The memory medium of claim 36,

wherein the plurality of controls comprises a plurality of ActiveX controls.

55. A computer-implemented method for displaying a test executive sequence, wherein the test executive sequence includes a plurality of test executive steps, the method comprising:

including a first control in the run-time operator interface application in response to user input, wherein the first control includes associated program instructions operable to automatically display the plurality of test executive steps in the test executive sequence during execution of the run-time operator interface application;

executing the run-time operator interface application, wherein said executing the run-time operator interface application includes executing the program instructions associated with the first control; and

displaying the plurality of test executive steps in the test executive sequence in a user interface of the first control.

56. The method of claim 55,

wherein the program instructions associated with the first control comprise pre-exisitng program instructions.

57. The method of claim 55,

wherein the first control comprises a list control;

wherein said displaying the plurality of test executive steps in the test executive sequence in a user interface of the first control comprises displaying the plurality of test executive steps as a list in the list control.