Test support tool system and method

• US 5,892,947 A
• Filed: 07/01/1996
• Issued: 04/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Carl, Jaya R., DeLong, Rance J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEESO, THOMAS R
• Application Number:
  US08/673,522
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 395/701, 395/704, 395/707, 395/182.19, 395/183.09, 395/183.14, 364/578
• US Class Current: 717/100
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2834 Automated test systems [ATE]; using microprocessors or computers G01R31/317 takes precedence; ATE for detection of defective computer hardware G06F11/2736
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3676 for coverage analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3684 for test design, e.g. generating new test cases

Abstract

A test support tool system and method produce software test programs from a logical description of selected software. Test programs are created by producing a cause-effect graph from the logical description, creating a decision table, producing test cases, and synthesizing test cases into a test program. The test support tool system includes an interface for receiving a logical description of software, a logical database, an analysis and test case generation module, a control module, and a test program synthesis module.

Claims

1. A software development system, comprising:

an interface for receiving a logical software description created with a logical language processor;

a logical database for communication with said interface;

a test case generation mechanism;

a test program synthesis mechanism; and

a computer for controlling the logical database, the test generation module, and the test program synthesis module.

2. A method comprising:

creating a logical description of selected software;

organizing said logical description into a cause-effect graph;

converting the cause-effect chart into a decision table;

producing test cases from said decision table; and

producing a test program by synthesizing said test cases, wherein said logical description is created with a logical language processor.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein said logical description is stored in a logical database.

4. The method according to claim 2 including analyzing the logical description with selected heuristics.

5. The method according to claim 2 wherein said test cases are synthesized into a test program with a rule base.

6. The method according to claim 2 wherein said test program is translated into an imperative language.

7. The method according to claim 2 including running said test program in a selected test environment.

8. The method according to claim 7, including indicating correctness depending upon the results of said test program.

9. The method according to claim 2 including filtering invalid test cases.

10. The method according to claim 2 including determining test case selection based upon empirical observation.

11. A method of automated software test program generation comprising:

making a logical description of selected software;

producing at least a single test case from the logical description; and

synthesizing a test program from the at least a single test case.

12. A computer product comprising a storage medium having computer readable code embodied therein for generating a software test program, the computer product comprising:

a computer readable program code device for receiving and storing a logical description of a selected software design;

a computer readable program code device for converting said logical description into a cause-effect graph;

a computer readable program code device for converting the cause-effect graph into a decision table;

a computer readable program code device for producing test cases from said decision table; and

a computer readable program code device for producing a software test program by synthesizing test cases.