Method for downloading and managing test tool of test system

• US 6,581,021 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2001
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Original Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Inventors: Liu, Yi Bo, Chen, Tong S., Lin, Kuang Shin
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALLING, MEAGAN S
• Application Number:
  US09/882,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20010053961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 702/123, 702/121
• US Class Current: 702/123
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/05 by combined monitoring of two or more different engine parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test

Abstract

A method for downloading and managing a test tool of a test system is proposed, which is applied to the test system having a test service server and a tested machine. A test tool required for performing a test for the tested machine is available as being downloaded from the test service server through a network, which connects the tested machine and the test service server, so as to examine if the tested machine works properly. As such, the test service server acts as a reservoir for the test tools and is used to activate start-up for the test, allowing the tested machine to be initiated with test conditions and user conditions for using the test tool being inputted to the test tool.

Claims

1. A method for downloading and managing a test tool of a test system having a test service server and a tested machine connected with the test service server through a network, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) activating a management process for the test tool in the test service server, and providing the test tool through the network via the test service server for performing a test for the tested machine, the management process activating step (a) further comprises the steps of;

(a1) defining an outlook bar in the test service server for creating a dynamic link library (DLL) document upon developing the test tool;

(a2) writing a route of the DLL document of the test tool to a register database of the test service server upon loading the test tool, for allowing the user to browse the DLL document for further understanding the test tool;

(a3) reactivating the management process for the test tool for searching a message of the test tool upon completing the loading of the test tool in the register database, and for reloading the DLL document of the test tool if the message is found; and

(b) activating start-up of the test for the tested machine, and downloading the test tool from the test service server through the network, for allowing a user to input a test condition and a user condition for using the test tool to the test tool for performing the test for the tested machine.

2. The method for downloading and managing a test tool of a test system of claim 1, wherein the management process for the test tool in the test service server is used to depict instructions of the test tool, process of the test, layout of tools and maintenance of versions.

3. The method for downloading and managing a test tool of a test system of claim 1, wherein the management process activating step (a) comprises the steps of:

(a4) reactivating the management process for the test tool upon completing the loading of the test tool, and searching a message of the test tool in the register database of the test service server;

(a5) determining if the message of the test tool is available;

if the message is not available, it moves on to step (a8);

if the message is available, it moves on to step (a3);

(a6) checking if a dynamic link library (DLL) document of the test tool exists;

(a7) determining if the DLL document is available;

if the document is not available, it moves on to step (a8);

if the document is available, it moves on to step (a5);

(a8) reloading the DLL document;

(a9) displaying an outlook bar,

(a10) displaying the DLL document in the outlook bar; and

(a11) ending the process.

4. The method for downloading and managing a test tool of a test system of claim 1, wherein the management process activating step (a) comprises the steps of:

(a4) displaying a procedure interface in a browser of the tested machine;

(a5) inputting a message by the user to the procedure interface of the browser for creating a start-up window; and

(a6) determining if to create the start-up window or to exit, and taking corresponding actions.

5. The method for downloading and managing a test tool of a test system of claim 4, wherein the determining step (a6) comprises the steps of:

(a6i) ending the step if to exit;

if to create the start-up window,

(a6ii) writing the inputted message to a specific document;

(a6iii) preparing the document for copying according to the test tool;

(a6iv) copying the document and updating a schedule; and

(a6v) ending the step.

6. The method for downloading and managing a test tool of a test system of claim 1, wherein the management process activating step (a) comprises the steps of:

(a4) displaying a procedure interface in a browser of the tested machine;

(a5) inputting a message by the user to the procedure interface of the browser for creating a start-up window;

(a6) determining if to create the start-up window or to exit, if to exit, it moves on to step (a7);

if to create the start-up window, it moves on to step (a4);

(a7) writing the inputted message to a specific document;

(a8) preparing the document for copying according to the test tool;

(a9) copying the document and updating a schedule; and

(a10) ending the process.

7. A method for downloading and managing a test tool of a test system having a test service server and a tested machine connected with the test service server through a network, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) activating a management process for the test tool in the test service server, and providing the test tool through the network via the test service server for performing a test for the tested machine, wherein the management process activating step (a) further comprises the steps of;

(a1) reactivating the management process for the test tool upon completing the loading of the test tool for searching a message of the test tool in the register database;

(a2) determining if the message of the test tool is available, and taking corresponding actions; and

(b) activating start-up of the test for the tested machine, and downloading the test tool from the test service server through the network, for allowing a user to input a test condition and a user condition for using the test tool for performing the test for the tested machine.

8. The method for downloading and managing a test tool of a test system of claim 7, wherein the determining step (a2) comprises the steps of:

(a2i) ending the procedure if the message is not available;

(a2ii) checking if a dynamic link library (DLL) document of the test tool exists if the message is available; and

(a2iii) determining if the DLL document is available, and taking corresponding actions.

9. The method for downloading and managing a test tool of a test system of claim 8, wherein the DLL document checking step (a2ii) comprises the steps of:

(a2ii ) ending the procedure if the DLL document is not available;

if the DLL document is available,

(a2ii2) reloading the DLL document;

(a2ii3) displaying ai outlook bar;

(a2ii4) displaying the DLL document in the outlook bar; and

(a2ii5) ending the procedure.