Methods and structure for improved testing of embedded systems
First Claim
1. In an automated test environment having a system under test and a host system, a method for testing said system under test comprising the steps of:
- connecting the system under test directly to a host system;
providing a mailbox interface within said system under test for exchange of information between said system under test and said host system;
providing a shared memory area on said system under test accessible to said host system through the direct connection between the system under test and the host system;
downloading from said host system to said system under test program instructions to be executed by said system under test wherein the program instructions define a test sequence, wherein the downloaded program instructions are stored into said shared memory area, and wherein the downloading step is performed in accordance with a protocol; and
exchanging information between the host system and the system under test while executing the program instructions, the exchanges regarding processing of said test sequence using said mailbox interface in accordance with said protocol,wherein said protocol is independent of the particular said test sequence to be executed and independent of the particular said system under test.
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Abstract
Methods and structure for standardized communication between a test operator, a host system, and an embedded system under test. Test program instructions are designed, written for, and executed on, an embedded system under test in accordance with standard API functions for message exchange. Still further, the invention provides for standards in the user interface to select a desired test, to start the test with defined parameters and to present reply and status information to the test operator. These user interactions are defined in a test configuration language of the present invention and preferably incorporated with the executable image file to define an integral test vehicle file. The present invention thereby reduces test sequence development time by providing standard API functions for message exchange between a host system test application and the system under test and provides for standardized user interaction in a flexible, easily maintained design language.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. In an automated test environment having a system under test and a host system, a method for testing said system under test comprising the steps of:
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connecting the system under test directly to a host system; providing a mailbox interface within said system under test for exchange of information between said system under test and said host system; providing a shared memory area on said system under test accessible to said host system through the direct connection between the system under test and the host system; downloading from said host system to said system under test program instructions to be executed by said system under test wherein the program instructions define a test sequence, wherein the downloaded program instructions are stored into said shared memory area, and wherein the downloading step is performed in accordance with a protocol; and exchanging information between the host system and the system under test while executing the program instructions, the exchanges regarding processing of said test sequence using said mailbox interface in accordance with said protocol, wherein said protocol is independent of the particular said test sequence to be executed and independent of the particular said system under test. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification