System for testing a performance of user interactive-commands using an emulator-overlay for determining the progress of the user timing response

• US 5,220,658 A
• Filed: 10/23/1991
• Issued: 06/15/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Mesnard, Robert M., Kerr, Randal H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Lawrence E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lim, Krisna
• Application Number:
  US07/783,431
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 395/100, 395/800, 395/500, 364/144, 371/16.2
• US Class Current: 703/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3414 Workload generation, e.g. scripts, playback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3419 by assessing time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3438 monitoring of user actions tracking the activity of the user H04L67/535
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3476 Data logging G06F11/14, G06F11/2205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/815 Virtual middleware or OS functionality using virtual machines to implement generic software techniques for error detection or fault masking G06F11/1484

Abstract

A system for testing certain attributes (i.e., performance and usability) of an interactive system program. A memory device stores data representative of interactive commands generated by a user. A device is also provided for executing an emulator overlay connected to the memory device for receiving data therefrom and modifying it in subsequent transmission. The emulator overlay has a time measuring device associated with it for determining performance of an interactive system program. A device is also provided for storing and executing an interactive system program connected to the emulator overlay. Finally, another memory device is provided for storing the data representative of system program performance. The system is capable of capturing human factors data, including screen images and associated keystrokes entered during a user session, measuring time intervals between the screen images and keystrokes, and providing such data to a system analyst to determine usability of host computer resident software.

Claims

1. A system for testing performance of an interactive multi-screen system program comprising:

a) storage means for storing data representative of interactive commands for a user;

b) emulator overlay means connected to said storage means for receiving said data from the data storage means and modifying the data for subsequent transmission, said emulator overlay means having a time measuring means associated therewith for determining performance of the interactive system program and for generating data representative of the interactive commands for the user, said user interactive commands data comprising;

i) the time required for said user to progress from one screen to another screen;

ii) the keystrokes entered by said user on each screen; and

iii) the time required for the interactive system to respond to the keystrokes and be ready for additional keystroke which will be entered by said user;

c) means for executing the interactive system program operatively connected to said emulator overlay; and

d) means for storing said data representative of the system program performance for the interactive commands for the user.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for executing an emulator overlay comprises:

i) a smart terminal; and

ii) communications means between said smart terminal and said means for executing an interactive system program

3. The system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said time measurement means measures a time interval at said smart terminal representative of the period between issuing one of said interactive commands and being permitted to issue another command.