Parallel text execution on low-end emulators and devices

• US 20050005198A1
• Filed: 01/29/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Rosenman, Victor, Vakrat, Yaniv
• Granted Patent: US 7,296,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test

Abstract

A method for testing computing devices includes providing a suite of test programs on a server for execution by a plurality of the computing devices that are coupled to the server. A respective unique identifier is assigned to each of the plurality of the computing devices, for use in communicating with the server. The test programs are downloaded from the server for execution by the computing devices coupled thereto, so that at least first and second computing devices among the plurality execute different first and second test programs from the suite substantially simultaneously. The server receives messages from the computing devices with respect to execution of the test programs, each of the messages containing the respective unique identifier, and controls the execution of the test programs in the suite based on the messages.

Claims

1. A method for testing computing devices, comprising the steps of:

providing a suite of test programs on a server for execution by a plurality of said computing devices that are coupled to said server;

assigning a respective unique identifier to each of said plurality of said computing devices, for use in communicating with said server;

downloading said test programs from said server for execution by said computing devices coupled thereto, so that at least first and second computing devices among said plurality execute different first and second test programs from said suite substantially simultaneously;

receiving messages at said server from said computing devices with respect to said execution of said test programs, each of said messages containing said respective unique identifier; and

controlling said execution of said first and second test programs in said suite based on said messages.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said computing devices comprise MIDP-compliant devices, and

wherein said test programs comprise MIDlets, which are packaged in respective JAD files and JAR files, and

wherein allocating said test programs comprises downloading said JAD files and said JAR files to said MIDP-compliant devices.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of evaluating said JAD files, wherein said JAR files are downloaded responsively to said step of evaluating said JAD files.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said test programs comprises a bundle of tests, and

wherein receiving said messages comprises receiving requests from said computing devices to determine a next test to execute in said bundle, and

wherein controlling said execution comprises making a selection at said server, based on said respective unique identifier contained in said requests, of said next test to execute on each of said computing devices, and sending responses to said computing devices indicating said selection.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said respective unique identifier of each of said computing devices comprises an IP address.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein assigning said respective unique identifier comprises receiving an initial request from each of said computing devices to download one of said test programs, and assigning said respective unique identifier in response to said initial request.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said computing devices are coupled to said server via a common test host, an identifier of said common test host being shared by each of said computing devices in said respective unique identifier thereof.

8. A computer software product, comprising a computer-readable medium in which computer program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method for testing computing devices, comprising the steps of:

accessing a suite of test programs stored therein for execution by a plurality of said computing devices that are coupled to said computer;

assigning a respective unique identifier to each of said plurality of said computing devices, for use in communicating with said computer;

downloading said test programs from said computer for execution by said computing devices coupled thereto, so that at least first and second computing devices among said plurality execute different first and second test programs from said suite substantially simultaneously;

receiving messages from said computing devices with respect to said execution of said test programs, each of said messages containing said respective unique identifier; and

controlling said execution of said first and second test programs in said suite based on said messages.

9. The computer software product according to claim 8, wherein said computing devices comprise MIDP-compliant devices, and

wherein said test programs comprise MIDlets, which are packaged in respective JAD files and JAR files, and

wherein downloading said test programs comprises downloading said JAD files and said JAR files to said MIDP-compliant devices.

10. The computer software product according to claim 9, wherein downloading said test programs further comprises the steps of downloading said JAD files to said MIDP-compliant devices, and thereafter, responsively to evaluation messages received at said computer from said MIDP-compliant devices, downloading said JAR files to said MIDP-compliant devices.

11. The computer software product according to claim 8, wherein each of at least some of said test programs comprises a bundle of tests, and

wherein receiving said messages comprises receiving requests from said computing devices to determine a next test to execute in said bundle, and

wherein in controlling said execution said computer is instructed to make a selection based on said respective unique identifier contained in said requests, of said next test to execute on each of said computing devices, and to send responses to said computing devices indicating said selection.

12. The computer software product according to claim 8, wherein said respective unique identifier of each of said computing devices comprises an IP address.

13. The computer software product according to claim 8, wherein assigning said respective unique identifier comprises receiving an initial request from each of said computing devices to download one of said test programs, and said computer is instructed to assign said respective unique identifier in response to said initial request.

14. The computer software product according to claim 8, wherein said computing devices are coupled to said computer via a common test host, wherein said computer is further instructed to assign said respective unique identifier such that an identifier of said common test host is shared by each of said computing devices in said respective unique identifier thereof.

15. A server for testing computing devices, comprising:

a communication interface for coupling a plurality of said computing devices thereto, such that a respective unique identifier is assigned to each of said plurality of said computing devices for use in communicating with said server via said communication interface; and

a processor adapted to provide a suite of test programs for execution by said computing devices that are coupled to said server, and to download said test programs via said communication interface for execution by said computing devices coupled thereto, so that at least first and second computing devices among said plurality execute different first and second test programs from said suite substantially simultaneously, said processor being further adapted to receive messages via said communication interface from said computing devices with respect to execution of said test programs, said messages containing said respective unique identifier, and to control said execution of said test programs in said suite based on said messages and said respective unique identifier therein by communicating responses to said messages via said communication interface, each of said responses being addressed to a respective one of said computing devices that is associated with said respective unique identifier.

16. The server according to claim 15, wherein said computing devices comprise MIDP-compliant devices, and

wherein said test programs comprise MIDlets, which are packaged in respective JAD and JAR files, and

wherein said test programs are downloaded as said JAD and JAR files to said MIDP-compliant devices.

17. The server according to claim 15, wherein each of at least some of said test programs comprises a bundle of tests, and

wherein said messages comprise requests from said computing devices to determine a next test to execute in said bundle, and

wherein said server is further adapted to control said execution by making a selection, based on said respective unique identifier contained in said requests, of said next test to execute on each of said computing devices, and wherein said responses indicate said selection.

18. The server according to claim 15, wherein said respective unique identifier of each of said computing devices comprises an IP address.

19. The server according to claim 15, wherein said respective unique identifier is assigned responsively to an initial request from each of said computing devices to download one of said test programs.

20. The server according to claim 15, wherein said computing devices are coupled to said communication interface via a common test host, an identifier of said common test host being shared by each of said computing devices, said identifier of said common test host being included in said respective unique identifier thereof.