Method and system for remote software testing

• US 20040255276A1
• Filed: 06/16/2003
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Megatrends Incorporated
• Original Assignee: American Megatrends Incorporated
• Inventors: Rovang, Gene
• Granted Patent: US 7,546,584 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3414 Workload generation, e.g. scripts, playback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3495 for systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/36 Preventing errors by testing or debugging software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/875 Monitoring of systems including the internet

Abstract

Systems and methods for testing a computer program executing on a remote computer physically distant from a local computer are provided. The local and remote computers are connected via a network. The remote computer includes a redirection device operative to transmit the video output of the remote computer to the local computer via the network connection. The redirection device may also receive user input commands generated at the local computer and provide the input commands to the remote computer as if the input commands were physically generated by a user at the remote computer. The remote computer also includes a software program to be tested. The local computer includes a remote control software application operative to receive and display the video output transmitted from the remote computer. The remote control application also receives user input commands, such as keyboard or mouse commands, generated at the local computer by an automated testing application and transmits the commands to the redirection device. The commands generated by the automated testing program may be utilized to test the execution of the computer program to be tested executing on the remote computer.

Claims

1. A system for testing a computer program executing on a first computer from a second computer, the system comprising:

a first computer operative to execute the computer program, the first computer comprising an operating system independent video and input/output redirection device operative to transmit the video output of the first computer to a second computer, to receive user input commands transmitted from the second computer, and to provide the input commands to the first computer as if the input commands were physically generated at the first computer; and

a second computer operative to execute a software application for receiving the video output of the first computer, for displaying the video output of the first computer, for receiving user input commands generated by an automated testing program and directed toward the displayed video output of the first computer, and for transmitting the user input commands to the operating system independent video and input/output redirection device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the input/output redirection device is operative to transmit the video output of the first computer to the second computer as data capable of being displayed in a web browser application, and wherein the software application comprises a web browser application.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the video output of the first computer includes a screen display generated by the computer program and wherein the user input commands generated by the automated testing program are directed toward the screen display.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first computer and the second computer are physically located at two different locations and wherein the first computer and the second computer are connected via a communications network.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the computer program executing on the first computer comprises an operating system program

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the computer program executing on the first computer comprises a basic input/output system program.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the computer program executing on the first computer comprises an application program.

8. The system of claim 4, further comprising a third computer operative to provide a storage volume and wherein the computer program is operative to access data stored in the storage volume.

15. The method of claim 4, wherein the computer program is operative to access data stored on a storage volume provided by a server computer, and further comprising generating user input commands at the automated testing program which cause the computer program to access the data stored on the storage volume.

9. A method for testing a computer program executing on a remote computer from a local computer, the method comprising:

executing the computer program to be tested on the remote computer;

transmitting the video output of the remote computer to the local computer, the video output including a screen display generated by the computer program;

displaying the video output of the remote computer at the local computer;

receiving user input commands at the local computer, the user input commands generated by an automated testing program and directed toward the screen display generated by the computer program executing on the remote computer;

transmitting the user input commands to the remote computer; and

executing the user input commands at the remote computer to test the computer program as if the user input commands were physically generated at the remote computer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting the video output of the remote computer to the local computer comprises transmitting the video output of the remote computer to the local computer in a format displayable within a web browser application, and wherein displaying the video output of the remote computer at the local computer comprises displaying the video output of the remote computer at the local computer within a web browser application.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the remote computer and the local computer are physically located at two different locations and wherein the remote computer and the local computer are connected via a communications network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the computer program executing on the remote computer comprises an operating system program

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the computer program executing on the remote computer comprises a basic input/output system program.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the computer program executing on the remote computer comprises an application program.

16. A computer-controlled apparatus capable of performing the method of claim 9.

17. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of claim 9.