HTTP-based load generator for testing an application server configured for dynamically generating web pages for voice enabled web applications

• US 6,697,964 B1
• Filed: 03/23/2000
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nayak, Narasimha, Danner, Ryan Alan, Dodrill, Lewis Dean, Martin, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): MASKULINSKI, MICHAEL C
• Application Number:
  US09/534,121
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 714/38, 709/203, 709/200, 709/223, 709/217, 709/513, 707/1, 707/10, 707/513, 370/352, 370/428, 713/201, 705/35, 705/51
• US Class Current: 714/38.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3414 Workload generation, e.g. scripts, playback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3457 Performance evaluation by simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/875 Monitoring of systems including the internet

Abstract

A testing system for an application server configured for providing a unified web-based voice messaging system using voice application control between a web browser via an hypertext transport protocol (HTTP) connection. The testing system is configured for outputting HTTP-based application-specific requests to the application server based on execution of prescribed scripts that specify generation of the application-specific requests according to the state-aware application. Each script specifies parameters for a prescribed sequence of requests for a prescribed application operation for the application server, enabling the load generator to provide a sequence of requests, simulating the sequence of requests that would normally be sent by a user of the application server during a user application session. The testing system also includes a HTTP-based user interface that enables a user to select the scripts, as well as the number of instances for simultaneous execution of the selected number of iterations.

Claims

1. A method in an executable system for testing an application server configured for executing a voice web application by sending responses to requests via a Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP) connection, the method comprising:

executing at least one selected script from a plurality of scripts, each script configured for specifying parameters for a prescribed sequence of requests for the voice web application;

outputting, to the application server via the HTTP connection, the prescribed sequence of requests based on execution of the corresponding selected one script; and

receiving a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) request for execution of the at least one selected script, the executing step executing the at least one selected script based on the received HTML request;

wherein the executing step includes executing a prescribed number of instances of the at least one selected script based on a corresponding prescribed instance number;

wherein the step of executing a prescribed number of instances includes generating, for each instance, a request parameter for at least one of the requests based on a corresponding instance number.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of executing a prescribed number of instances includes detecting the corresponding prescribed instance number from the HTML request.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiving step includes receiving a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) address that specifies the at least one selected script and the prescribed number of instances.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the scripts are stored on a storage medium locally accessible by the application server, the method further comprising accessing the at least one selected script according to a prescribed I/O protocol for execution.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating the request parameter includes incrementing the request parameter relative to an execution iteration for the corresponding instance and based on a prescribed increment range.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of generating the request parameter further includes resetting the request parameter to a prescribed initial value based on the execution iteration for the corresponding instance reaching the prescribed increment range.

4. The method of claim 4, wherein the receiving step includes receiving an HTML form that specifies the at least one selected script and the prescribed number of instances.

8. A method in an executable system for testing an application server configured for executing a voice web application by sending responses to requests via a Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP) connection, the method comprising:

executing at least one selected script from a plurality of scripts, each script configured for specifying parameters for a prescribed sequence of requests for the voice web application;

outputting, to the application server via the HTTP connection, the prescribed sequence of requests based on execution of the corresponding selected one script, and receiving a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) request for execution of the at least one selected script, the executing step executing the at least one selected script based on the received HTML request;

wherein the executing step includes executing a prescribed number of instances of the at least one selected script based on a corresponding prescribed instance number;

wherein the step of executing a prescribed number of instances includes;

repeating an iteration of executing the at least one selected script by each of the instances for a prescribed interval; and

selectively incrementing a selected request parameter based on repeating the corresponding iteration for the corresponding instance.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the selectively incrementing step includes resetting the selected request parameter to an initial prescribed value based on the corresponding iteration reaching a prescribed increment range.

10. A method in an executable system for testing an application server configured for executing a voice web application by sending responses to requests via a Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP) connection, the method comprising:

executing at least one selected script from a plurality of scripts each script configured for specifying parameters for a prescribed sequence of requests for the voice web application; and

outputting, to the application server via the HTTP connection, the prescribed sequence of requests based on execution of the corresponding selected one script;

wherein the executing step includes executing, by a prescribed number of instances, a selected group of the scripts in a prescribed order for a prescribed number of iterations, the prescribed order representing a sequence of application operation requests between the executable system and the application server.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of executing the selected group of the scripts in a prescribed order includes:

incrementing for each said instance a first selected request parameter based on a corresponding instance number; and

selectively incrementing within each instance iteration a second selected request parameter based on the corresponding instance number and the corresponding instance iteration relative to a prescribed increment range.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of executing the selected group of the scripts in a prescribed order includes:

generating in a first selected script a first prescribed sequence of requests for storing a prescribed media file by the application server; and

generating in a second selected script a second prescribed sequence of requests for receiving the prescribed media file from the application server in an HTML page having an HTML tag and at least one extensible markup language (XML) element defining data for an playback of the prescribed media file.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

monitoring metrics identifying performance by the application server in sending a plurality of the HTML pages, each having at least one XML element, as respective responses to the requests during at least a portion of the prescribed number of iterations; and

periodically storing statistics of the metrics during execution of the scripts.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising storing a log entry for the testing of the application server in response to a selected one of the statistics reaching a prescribed threshold.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the outputting step includes:

receiving from the application server a first response corresponding to one of the requests, the response including a hypertext markup language (HTML) page having an HTML tag and at least one extensible markup language (XML) element defining data for an audio operation to be performed by an executable media resource; and

outputting a subsequent one of the requests based on reception of the first response.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising periodically storing statistics indicating performance of the application server in generating the respective responses to the requests.

17. A system configured for testing an application server configured for executing a voice web application, the system including:

a storage medium for storing scripts, each script configured for specifying parameters for a prescribed sequence of requests for the voice web application; and

an executable runtime environment configured for selectively executing at least one of the scripts, the executable runtime environment outputting, to the application server via a Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP) connection, the prescribed sequence of requests based on execution of the corresponding selected one script;

wherein the executable runtime environment is configured for concurrently executing a prescribed number of instances for execution of said at least one of the scripts, the executable runtime environment configured for repeating an iteration of executing the at least one selected script in each corresponding instance for a prescribed interval.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising an HTTP-based user interface configured for receiving a user request that specifies the selected script, the prescribed number of instances, and the prescribed interval.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the executable runtime environment is configured for selectively incrementing within each instance a first request parameter for at least one of the requests based on a corresponding instance number, the executable runtime environment also configured for selectively incrementing, within each said iteration of the corresponding instance, a second request parameter relative to the iteration for the corresponding instance and based on a prescribed increment range.

20. A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions for testing an application server configured for executing a voice web application by sending responses to requests via a Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP) connection, the sequences of instructions including instructions for performing the steps of:

executing at least one selected script from a plurality of scripts, each script configured for specifying parameters for a prescribed sequence of requests for the voice web application; and

outputting, to the application server via the HTTP connection the prescribed sequence of requests based on execution of the corresponding selected one script; and

receiving a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) request for execution of the at least one selected script, the executing step executing the at least one selected script based on the received HTML request,

wherein the executing step includes executing a prescribed number of instances of the at least one selected script based on a corresponding prescribed instance number;

wherein the step of executing a prescribed number of instances includes generating, for each instance, a request parameter for at least one of the requests based on a corresponding instance number.

21. The medium of claim 20, wherein the step of executing a prescribed number of instances includes detecting the corresponding prescribed instance number from the HTML request.

22. The medium of claim 21, wherein the receiving step includes receiving a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) address that specifies the at least one selected script and the prescribed number of instances.

23. The medium of claim 21, wherein the receiving step includes receiving an HTML form that specifies the at least one selected script and the prescribed number of instances.

24. The medium of claim 20, wherein the scripts are stored on a storage medium locally accessible by the application server, the medium further comprising instructions for performing the step of accessing the at least one selected script according to a prescribed I/O protocol for execution.

25. The medium of claim 20, wherein the step of generating the request parameter includes incrementing the request parameter relative to an execution iteration for the corresponding instance and based on a prescribed increment range.

26. The medium of claim 25, wherein the step of generating the request parameter further includes resetting the request parameter to a prescribed initial value based on the execution iteration for the corresponding instance reaching the prescribed increment range.

27. A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions for testing an application server configured for executing a voice web application by sending responses to requests via a Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP) connection, the sequences of instructions including instructions for performing the steps of:

executing at least one selected script from a plurality of scripts, each script configured for specifying parameters for a prescribed sequence of requests for the voice web application; and

outputting, to the application server via the HTTP connection, the prescribed sequence of requests based on execution of the corresponding selected one script; and

receiving a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) request for execution of the at least one selected script, the executing step executing the at least one selected script based on the received HTML request;

wherein the executing step includes executing a prescribed number of instances of the at least one selected script based on a corresponding prescribed instance number;

wherein the step of executing a prescribed number of instances includes;

repeating an iteration of executing the at least one selected script by each of the instances for a prescribed interval; and

selectively incrementing a selected request parameter based on repeating the corresponding iteration for the corresponding instance.

28. The medium of claim 27, wherein the selectively incrementing step includes resetting the selected request parameter to an initial prescribed value based on the corresponding iteration reaching a prescribed increment range.

29. A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions for testing an application server configured for executing a voice web application by sending responses to requests via a Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP) connection, the sequences of instructions including instructions for performing the steps of:

executing at least one selected script from a plurality of scripts, each script configured for specifying parameters for a prescribed sequence of requests for the voice web application; and

outputting, to the application server via the HTTP connection, the prescribed sequence of requests based on execution of the corresponding selected one script;

wherein the executing step includes executing, by a prescribed number of instances, a selected group of the scripts in a prescribed order for a prescribed number of iterations, the prescribed order representing a sequence of application operation requests between the executable system and the application server.

30. The medium of claim 29, wherein the step of executing the selected group of the scripts in a prescribed order includes:

incrementing for each said instance a first selected request parameter based on a corresponding instance number; and

selectively incrementing within each instance iteration a second selected request parameter based on the corresponding instance number and the corresponding instance iteration relative to a prescribed increment range.

31. The medium of claim 29, wherein the step of executing the selected group of the scripts in a prescribed order includes:

generating in a first selected script a first prescribed sequence of requests for storing a prescribed media file by the application server; and

generating in a second selected script a second prescribed sequence of requests for receiving the prescribed media file from the application server in an HTML page having an HTML tag and at least one extensible markup language (XML) element defining data for an playback of the prescribed media file.

32. The medium of claim 31, further comprising instructions for performing the steps of:

monitoring metrics identifying performance by the application server in sending a plurality of the HTML pages, each having at least one XML element, as respective responses to the requests during at least a portion of the prescribed number of iterations; and

periodically storing statistics of the metrics during execution of the scripts.

33. The medium of claim 32, further comprising instructions for performing the step of storing a log entry for the testing of the application server in response to a selected one of the statistics reaching a prescribed threshold.

34. The medium of claim 29, wherein the outputting step includes:

receiving from the application server a first response corresponding to one of the requests, the response including a hypertext markup language (HTML) page having an HTML tag and at least one extensible markup language (XML) element defining data for an audio operation to be performed by an executable media resource; and

outputting a subsequent one of the requests based on reception of the first response.

35. The medium of claim 34, further comprising instructions for performing the step of periodically storing statistics indicating performance of the application server in generating the respective responses to the requests.