Method and device for testing electronic equipment

• US 6,598,002 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1999
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sextant Avionique
• Original Assignee: Sextant Avionique
• Inventors: Claverie, Serge
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Charioui, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US09/424,251
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 702/57, 702/66-71, 702/73, 702/74, 702/108, 702/109, 702/117, 702/118, 702/120, 702/121, 702/122-124, 702/183, 702/185, 702/186, 702/188, 702/189, 324/539, 345/440, 345/520, 703/13, 714/46
• US Class Current: 702/68
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/008 on air- or spacecraft, railway rolling stock or sea-going vessels
• 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 11/273 Tester hardware, i.e. output processing circuits G06F11/263 takes precedence

Abstract

A process for testing an electronic equipment linked to a computer coupled to a data entry and display console with a screen, effecting an interface with an operator. The test includes a list of commands to be executed. The process displays a test chart on the screen, made up of groups of cells, a group being associated with a command. For at least one command, its group of cells includes a cell which is to be supplied with a label of the command, a cell which is to be supplied with an expected result of the command, a cell which is reserved for an actual result of the command, and a cell which is reserved for the result of a comparison between the actual result and the expected result. Further, the process displays, after the execution of the command, the actual result and the result of the comparison. Such a process may find particular application to tests of various modules of an aircraft whether they take place in the design, production, or exploitation phase.

Claims

1. A process for testing an electronic equipment linked to a computer coupled to a data entry and display console with a screen effecting an interface with an operator, according to a test comprising a list of commands to be executed, comprising:

displaying a test chart on said screen including several groups of cells, one group per command of said test;

accessing a dictionary containing a list of command types and for each type an associated label when a cell to be supplied with said command type is selected;

supplying said cell to be supplied with said command type;

causing said associated label to appear in said cell of the group to be supplied with said label; and

displaying on said screen, after execution of said command, said actual result and said result of said comparison,

wherein an associated group for at least one command includes;

a cell supplied with a type of said command,

a cell supplied with a label of said command, said label being associated with said type of said command, and said label having a syntax to be complied with and including at least one argument having to be completed by said operator,

a cell supplied with an expected result of said command,

a cell reserved for an actual result of said command, and

a cell reserved for a result of a comparison between said actual result and said expected result.

2. The test process according to claim 1, wherein said label includes at least one argument of a parameter type, independent of said electronic equipment to be tested, and of a variable type, dependent on said electronic equipment to be tested.

3. The test process according to claim 2, further comprising:

accessing at least one database when said cell supplied with said command label and having said argument of variable type is selected,

wherein said database is configured to associate said argument with values said argument can take.

4. The test process according to claim 3, wherein said values of said argument of said variable type are expressed differently according to an identifier chosen by said operator.

5. The test process according to claim 1, further comprising saving contents of said cells of said group after execution of said command.

6. The test process according to claim 5, further comprising processing said contents of said cells of said group after being saved.

7. The test process according to claim 1, further comprising:

numbering said commands of said test,

wherein said group of cells associated with said command further includes a cell supplied with a step of said command.

8. The test process according to claim 1, further comprising executing all of said commands of said test regardless of said result of said comparison.

9. The test process according to claim 1, further comprising accessing at least one complementary test contained in a library configured to contain complementary tests when there is a difference between said actual result and said expected result of said command.

10. The test process according to claim 1, further comprising:

accessing a fault-locating database configured to group together saved commands related to electronic equipments previously tested of which at least one zone exhibited a defect; and

establishing a link between said zone that exhibited said defect and at least one command for which a difference exists between said actual result and said expected result.

11. The test process according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying on said screen a representation of at least one part of said equipment to be tested when an intervention by said operator is necessary to carry out said test; and

signaling to said operator said intervention to be carried out by depicting said intervention on said representation.

12. A test device comprising:

a computer linked to an electronic equipment; and

a data entry and display console with a screen effecting an interface with an operator,

wherein said computer tests according to a test comprising a list of commands to be executed, said screen displaying a test chart made up of several groups of cells, one group per command of said test, said group of cells of at least one command including;

a cell supplied with a type of said command,

a cell supplied with a label of said command, said label having a syntax to be complied with and including at least one argument having to be completed by said operator,

a cell supplied with an expected result of said command,

a cell reserved for an actual result of said command, and

a cell reserved for a result of a comparison between said actual result and said expected result,

wherein said computer comprises;

a dictionary containing a list of command types, wherein a label is associated with each of said command types to supply said cell supplied with said type of said command,

means for displaying on said screen said label in said cell supplied with said label when said type of said command is supplied, and

means for displaying on said screen said actual result and said result of said comparison when execution of said command is complete.

13. The test device according to claim 12, further comprising at least one database for grouping together values which a variable can take.

14. The test device according to claim 13,

wherein said database contains said values of said variable, and

wherein said values are expressed differently according to an identifier to be chosen by said operator.

15. The test device according to claim 12, further comprising at least one database for saving contents of said cells of said group after execution of said command.

16. The test device according to claim 15, further comprising means for processing contents of said cells of said group after being saved.

17. The test device according to claim 12, wherein said group of cells associated with said command further includes a cell supplied with a step allocated to said command.

18. The test device according to claim 12, further comprising a library containing complementary tests used when a difference exists between said actual result and said expected result of said command.

19. The test device according to claim 12, further comprising a fault-locating database used when a difference exists between said actual result and said expected result of said command, said fault-locating database grouping together saved commands related to previously tested electronic equipments of which at least one zone exhibited a defect, and to establish a link between said zone that exhibited said defect and at least one command for which a difference exists between said actual result and said expected result.

20. The test device according to claim 12, further comprising:

means for displaying on said screen a representation of at least one part of said equipment to be tested when intervention by said operator is necessary to carry out said test; and

means for signaling to said operator said intervention to be carried out by depicting said intervention on said representation.

21. The test device according to claim 12, further comprising a test editor including at least one dialogue window including a dropdown menu configured to aid supplying of at least one cell of said group.

22. A test device comprising:

a computer linked to an electronic equipment; and

a data entry and display console with a screen effecting an interface with an operator,

wherein said computer tests according to a test comprising a list of commands to be executed, said screen configured to display a test chart made up of several groups of cells, one group per command of sadid test, said group of cells of at least one command including;

a cell supplied with a type of said command,

a cell supplied with a label of said command, said label having a syntax to be complied with and including at least one argument having to be completed by said operator,

a cell supplied with an expected result of said command,

a cell reserved for an actual result of said command, and

a cell reserved for a result of a comparison between said actual result and said expected result,

wherein said computer comprises;

a dictionary containing a list of command types, wherein a label is associated with each of said command types to supply the said supplied with said type of said command;

a cell configured to display said label on said screen when said type of said command is supplied; and

a first and second cell configured to display said actual result and said result of said comparison on said screen when execution of said command is complete.

23. The test device according to claim 22, further comprising at least one database configured to group together values which a variable can take.

24. The test device according to claim 23,

wherein said database contains said values of said variable, and

wherein said values are expressed differently according to an identifier to be chosen by said operator.

25. The test device according to claim 22, further comprising at least one database configured to save contents of said cells of said group after said execution of said command.

26. The test device according to claim 25, further comprising a processing unit configured to process contents of said cells of said group after being saved.

27. The test device according to claim 22, wherein said group of cells associated with said command further includes a cell supplied with a step allocated to said command.

28. The test device according to claim 22, further comprising a library configured to contain complementary tests used when a difference exists between said actual result and said expected result of said command.

29. The test device according to claim 22, further comprising a fault-locating database used, when a difference exists between said actual result and said expected result of said command, said fault-locating database configured to group together saved commands related to previously tested electronic equipments of which at least one zone exhibited a defect, and to establish a link between said zone that exhibited said defect and at least one command for which a difference exists between said actual result and said expected result.

30. The test device according to claim 22, further comprising:

a display unit configured to display on said screen a representation of at least one part of said equipment to be tested when intervention by said operator is necessary to carry out said test; and

a signaling unit configured to signal to said operator said intervention to be carried out by depicting said intervention on said representation.

31. The test device according to claim 22, further comprising a test editor including at least one dialogue window including a dropdown menu configured to aid supplying of at least one cell of said group.