Optimum functional test method to determine the quality of a software system embedded in a large electronic system
First Claim
1. An electronic media for a stored program for electronic systems wherein said stored program performs the method of performing validation testing to determine the quality of a software system embedded in a large electronic system having associated test equipment, said method comprising the steps of:
- defining a set of functional requirements for said software system;
constructing a Markov chain, said constructing step further comprising the steps of,identifying a plurality of states through which said software system transitions when performing said functional requirements;
defining a plurality of stimuli which cause said software system to transition from one of said plurality of states to another;
identifying a response, comprising at least one state transition, which occurs in response to each of said plurality of stimuli for each of said plurality of states; and
calculating the probability of occurrence of each of said state transitions;
identifying a plurality of usage cases, each of said usage cases comprising a set of state transitions beginning at an invocation state and ending at a termination state of said software system;
building a Usage Model for said software system, said Usage Model comprising a plurality of usage cases;
calculating the probability of occurrence of each of said usage cases;
building a Usage Profile for said software system by listing said usage cases in order of descending probability of occurrence;
automatically compiling said Usage Profile, said stimuli, and said responses into an automated test program;
providing a stored program media containing the programming for said associated test equipment with said automated test program to generate a set of test cases;
executing said set of test cases on said software system;
determining the end of said set of test cases; and
analyzing and reporting said software system quality.
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Abstract
A method of performing software validation testing on large electronic systems applies Usage Concepts specially modelled as Markov chains to forrealize the expected use of the system, to define the system behavior, and to introduce statistical measurements. The functional requirements of the software system are defined in a Markov chain by identifying a plurality of states through which the software system transitions when performing the functional requirements. Stimuli and responses which cause the software system to transition from one state to another are identified, and the probability of each state transition is calculated. Usage cases beginning at an invocation state and ending at a termination state of the software system are defined and listed in order of descending probability of occurrence in a Usage Profile. The Usage Profile, stimuli, and responses are automatically compiled into an automated test program, and associated test equipment is automatically programmed to generate a set of test cases. The set of test cases are then executed on the software system. The end of the set of test cases is determined, and the method analyzes and reports the software system quality.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An electronic media for a stored program for electronic systems wherein said stored program performs the method of performing validation testing to determine the quality of a software system embedded in a large electronic system having associated test equipment, said method comprising the steps of:
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defining a set of functional requirements for said software system; constructing a Markov chain, said constructing step further comprising the steps of, identifying a plurality of states through which said software system transitions when performing said functional requirements; defining a plurality of stimuli which cause said software system to transition from one of said plurality of states to another; identifying a response, comprising at least one state transition, which occurs in response to each of said plurality of stimuli for each of said plurality of states; and calculating the probability of occurrence of each of said state transitions; identifying a plurality of usage cases, each of said usage cases comprising a set of state transitions beginning at an invocation state and ending at a termination state of said software system; building a Usage Model for said software system, said Usage Model comprising a plurality of usage cases; calculating the probability of occurrence of each of said usage cases; building a Usage Profile for said software system by listing said usage cases in order of descending probability of occurrence; automatically compiling said Usage Profile, said stimuli, and said responses into an automated test program; providing a stored program media containing the programming for said associated test equipment with said automated test program to generate a set of test cases; executing said set of test cases on said software system; determining the end of said set of test cases; and analyzing and reporting said software system quality. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification