System and method to locate and correct software errors within a protocol stack for wireless devices

• US 20090106599A1
• Filed: 12/24/2008
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cheng, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 8,108,727 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/36 Preventing errors by testing or debugging software
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

The present invention provides a method to test a protocol stack operable to be loaded to a wireless terminal. This involves the creation of simulation scripts from prior test case logs associated with a prior test case executed on a physical wireless terminal. When the prior test case is failed on a physical device, the simulation scripts are used to locate and correct errors in protocol stack. The simulation scripts are then stored within and retrieved from a library. These simulations scripts are loaded within a simulation environment within computer systems such as a personal computer. The simulation scripts are executed on the protocol stack within the simulation environment to produce a set of results. These results are then compared to a reference log, wherein a favorable comparison indicates a satisfactory simulation. Should an unfavorable comparison result, the protocol stack may be revised. The above process may then be repeated on the revised protocol stacks following the detection, location and correction of errors within the protocol stack.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a library module that stores a simulation script;

a simulation environment module that generates a simulation environment corresponding to the simulation script; and

a regression testing module that analyzes operation of a protocol stack of a wireless terminal within the simulation environment and produces simulation results corresponding to a plurality of execution steps of the protocol stack of the wireless terminal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the simulation script is derived from a prior test case log of at least one additional wireless terminal implemented within a wireless communication system.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the prior test case log is associated with a failure of the at least one additional wireless terminal implemented within the wireless communication system.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the apparatus modifies the protocol stack of the wireless terminal thereby generating a revised protocol stack of the wireless terminal based on the simulation results.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a comparison module that compares the simulation results with a reference log; and

wherein;

a favorable comparison indicates a satisfactory performance of the protocol stack of the wireless terminal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the reference log corresponds to at least one additional plurality of execution steps of at least one additional protocol stack of at least one additional wireless terminal implemented within a wireless communication system.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the apparatus modifies the protocol stack of the wireless terminal thereby generating a revised protocol stack of the wireless terminal when the simulation results fail to compare favorably with the reference log.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the regression testing module analyzes operation of the revised protocol stack of the wireless terminal within the simulation environment and produces at least one additional simulation results corresponding to at least one additional plurality of execution steps of the revised protocol stack of the wireless terminal.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the apparatus identifies the protocol stack of the wireless terminal as a satisfactory protocol stack when the simulation results compare favorably with the reference log; and

the satisfactory protocol stack is then implemented within hardware of the wireless terminal.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the simulation environment module stops or operates the simulation environment corresponding to the simulation script at a speed that is different than real time.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the simulation script corresponds to at least one of Global Certification Forum (GCF) and PCS Type Certification Review Board (PTCRB) required testing, interoperability (IOT) lab testing, and live network testing.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a library module that stores a simulation script;

a simulation environment module that generates a simulation environment corresponding to the simulation script; and

a regression testing module that analyzes operation of a protocol stack of a wireless terminal within the simulation environment and produces simulation results corresponding to a plurality of execution steps of the protocol stack of the wireless terminal; and

wherein;

the simulation script is derived from a prior test case log of at least one additional wireless terminal implemented within a wireless communication system;

the prior test case log is associated with a failure of the at least one additional wireless terminal implemented within the wireless communication system; and

the simulation environment module stops or operates the simulation environment corresponding to the simulation script at a speed that is different than real time.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a comparison module that compares the simulation results with a reference log; and

wherein;

a favorable comparison indicates a satisfactory performance of the protocol stack of the wireless terminal;

the apparatus modifies the protocol stack of the wireless terminal thereby generating a revised protocol stack of the wireless terminal when the simulation results fail to compare favorably with the reference log; and

the regression testing module analyzes operation of the revised protocol stack of the wireless terminal within the simulation environment and produces at least one additional simulation results corresponding to at least one additional plurality of execution steps of the revised protocol stack of the wireless terminal.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

the apparatus identifies the protocol stack of the wireless terminal as a satisfactory protocol stack when the simulation results compare favorably with the reference log; and

the satisfactory protocol stack is then implemented within hardware of the wireless terminal.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the simulation script corresponds to at least one of Global Certification Forum (GCF) and PCS Type Certification Review Board (PTCRB) required testing, interoperability (IOT) lab testing, and live network testing.

16. A method, comprising:

retrieving a simulation script from a library module;

generating a simulation environment corresponding to the simulation script; and

performing regression testing to analyze operation of a protocol stack of a wireless terminal within the simulation environment and to produce simulation results corresponding to a plurality of execution steps of the protocol stack of the wireless terminal.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

comparing the simulation results with a reference log; and

wherein;

a favorable comparison indicates a satisfactory performance of the protocol stack of the wireless terminal.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

modifying the protocol stack of the wireless terminal thereby generating a revised protocol stack of the wireless terminal when the simulation results fail to compare favorably with the reference log; and

performing additional regression testing to analyze operation of the revised protocol stack of the wireless terminal within the simulation environment and produces at least one additional simulation results corresponding to at least one additional plurality of execution steps of the revised protocol stack of the wireless terminal.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

stopping or operating the simulation environment corresponding to the simulation script at a speed that is different than real time.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the simulation script corresponds to at least one of Global Certification Forum (GCF) and PCS Type Certification Review Board (PTCRB) required testing, interoperability (IOT) lab testing, and live network testing.