TESTING OF ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING SYSTEMS

• US 20170046249A1
• Filed: 08/05/2016
• Published: 02/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Basis Technologies International Limited (Basis Technologies Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Basis Technologies International Limited (Basis Technologies Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Oliver, Craig Douglas, Thorpe, Darren John
• Granted Patent: US 10,635,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3668 Software testing software testing in telephone exchanges H04M3/242, testing of hardware G06F11/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

Methods and apparatus application servers, AS for use in live and test enterprise resource planning, ERP, systems, the test ERP system for testing an update to the live ERP system and comprising a system copy of a live ERP system and an update to the live ERP system. A system transaction recorder of the live ERP system captures live system transaction data comprising a plurality of live system transaction inputs and a plurality. A receiver of an AS of the test ERP system receives the system transaction data and a system tester applies the plurality of live system transaction inputs to a plurality of test ERP system transactions corresponding to the plurality of system transactions undertaken in the live ERP system, such that a plurality of test system transaction outputs are produced. An error detector determines whether there has been any error in the test ERP system based on the plurality of test system transaction outputs.

Claims

1. An application server for use in a test enterprise resource planning, ERP, system, the test ERP system for testing an update to a live ERP system and comprising a system copy of a live ERP system and the update to the live ERP system, the application server comprising:

a receiver configured to receive system transaction data from a live ERP system, the system transaction data comprising a plurality of live system transaction inputs and a plurality of live system transaction outputs for a plurality of system transactions undertaken on the live ERP system;

a system tester configured to apply the plurality of live system transaction inputs to a plurality of test system transactions corresponding to the plurality of system transactions undertaken in the live ERP system, such that a plurality of test system transaction outputs are produced; and

an error detector configured to determine whether there has been any error in the test ERP system based on the plurality of test system transaction outputs.

2. An application server according to claim 1, wherein the error detector is configured to determine a plurality of predicted test system transaction outputs based on the plurality of live system transaction inputs and the update to the live ERP system, and to determine whether there has been any error by comparing the plurality of test system transaction outputs to the plurality of predicted test system transaction outputs.

3. An application server according to claim 1, wherein the error detector is configured to determine whether there has been any error by comparing the plurality of test system transaction outputs to the plurality of live system transaction outputs.

4. An application server according to claim 1, wherein the system transaction data comprises live system transaction inputs and live system transaction outputs for less than 100% of the system transactions undertaken on the live ERP system during a specified time period.

5. An application server according to claim 4, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive system operation data comprising system operations undertaken during one or more of the system transactions undertaken on the live ERP system,

and wherein the system tester is configured, based on the received system operation data, to undertake on the test ERP system a test system transaction for one or more live system transactions for which system transaction data has not been received.

6. An application server according to claim 1, wherein the system transaction data further comprises correlation data indicating whether there is a correlation between the live ERP system and a further live ERP system whereby a live system transaction of the live ERP system calls a further live system transaction in the further live ERP system,

the system tester being further configured not to apply the system transaction data to one of a test system transaction corresponding to the live system transaction and a further test system transaction corresponding to the further live system transaction.

7. An application server according to claim 1, wherein the test ERP system comprises a plurality of merged live ERP systems, and wherein the receiver is configured to receive system transaction data from the plurality of live ERP systems,

the application server further comprising a synchroniser configured to ensure the system transaction data is in chronological order before application by the system tester.

8. A method for operation of an application server for use in a test enterprise resource planning, ERP, system, the test ERP system for testing an update to a live ERP system and comprising a system copy of a live ERP system and an update to the live ERP system, the method comprising:

receiving, by a receiver, system transaction data from a live ERP system, the system transaction data comprising a plurality of live system transaction inputs and a plurality of live system transaction outputs for a plurality of system transactions undertaken on the live ERP system;

applying, by a system tester, the plurality of live system transaction inputs to a plurality of test system transactions corresponding to the plurality of system transactions undertaken in the live ERP system, such that a plurality of test system transaction outputs are produced; and

determining, by an error detector, whether there has been any error in the test ERP system based on the plurality of test system transaction outputs.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the error detector determines a plurality of predicted test system transaction outputs based on the plurality of live system transaction inputs and the update to the live ERP system, and determines whether there has been any error by comparing the plurality of test system transaction outputs to the plurality of predicted test system transaction outputs.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the system transaction data comprises live system transaction inputs and live system transaction outputs for less than 100% of the system transactions undertaken on the live ERP system during a specified time period.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the receiver receives system operation data comprising system operations undertaken during one or more of the system transactions undertaken on the live ERP system,

and wherein the system tester, based on the received system operation data, undertakes on the test ERP system a test system transaction for one or more live system transactions for which system transaction data has not been received.

19. A computer program comprising instructions which,

when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the method according to claim 8.

20. A carrier containing the computer program of claim 19, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or non-transitory computer readable storage medium.

12. An application server for use in a live enterprise resource planning, ERP, system, the application server comprising:

a system transaction recorder configured to capture live system transaction data relating to a plurality of system transactions undertaken in the live ERP system, the live system transaction data comprising a plurality of live system transaction inputs and a plurality of live system transaction outputs; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the live system transaction data to an application server in a test ERP system, the test ERP system for testing an update to a live ERP system and comprising a system copy of a live ERP system and an update to the live ERP system.

13. An application server according to claim 12, wherein the system transaction data comprises live system transaction inputs and live system transaction outputs for less than 100% of the system transactions undertaken on the live ERP system during a specified time period.

14. An application server according to claim 13, further comprising an operation recorder configured to capture operation data comprising system operations undertaken during one or more of the system transactions undertaken on the live ERP system,

and wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the system operation data to the application server of the test ERP system.

15. An application server according to claim 12, wherein the system transaction recorder is further configured to capture correlation data indicating whether there is a correlation between the live ERP system and a further live ERP system whereby a live system transaction of the live ERP system calls a further live system transaction in the further live ERP system.

16. A method for operating an application server for use in a live enterprise resource planning, ERP, system, the method comprising:

capturing, by a system transaction recorder, live system transaction data relating to a plurality of system transactions undertaken in the live ERP system, the live system transaction data comprising a plurality of live system transaction inputs and a plurality of live system transaction outputs; and

transmitting, by a transmitter, the live system transaction data to an application server in a test ERP system, the test ERP system for testing an update to a live ERP system and comprising a system copy of a live ERP system and an update to the live ERP system.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the system transaction data comprises live system transaction inputs and live system transaction outputs for less than 100% of the system transactions undertaken on the live ERP system during a specified time period.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising capturing, by an operation recorder, operation data comprising system operations undertaken during one or more of the system transactions undertaken on the live ERP system,

and transmitting, by the transmitter, the system operation data to the application server of the test ERP system.