System and method for testing hardware or software modules via a computer network

• US 7,444,256 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2003
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United Business Media LLC (Informa PLC)
• Original Assignee: CMP Media LLC (Informa PLC)
• Inventors: Aliphas, Amnon
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Charioui; Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US10/736,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20040267502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,778 Days
• Field of Search: 702/62, 702/68, 702/108, 702/117, 702/119, 702/120, 702/122, 702/123, 702182-186, 702/188, 717/125, 717/134, 709/200, 709/310, 703/21, 714/25, 714/27, 714/32, 714/38
• US Class Current: 702/119
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]

Abstract

The present invention is a system for facilitating the access by an end user to a component to be tested via a global computer network comprising an interface for enabling an end user to access a central computer network in communication with a component to be tested, said component to be tested residing on a second computer, means for interfacing the central computer network with the component to be tested on the second computer, means for enabling the end user to test the component to be tested on the second computer via the interface means and the central computer network, and means for transferring a result executed by the component on the second computer through the central computer network and to the end user.

Claims

1. A method for evaluating performance of an evaluation module via a network, said method comprising:

providing an end user interface for enabling selection of an evaluation module from a plurality of evaluation modules, each of the selected evaluation modules being functioning hardware configured to be tested to evaluate performance criteria, and each of the selected evaluation modules being associated with a customized form of the end user interface;

providing the customized end user interface for enabling access to the selected evaluation module over the network;

transmitting information from the customized end user interface to cause formulation of a test for the selected evaluation module based on a selection of a predefined code or user supplied code, wherein the customized end user interface includes options for selecting either the predefined code or the user supplied code to be compiled;

compiling the test into a resultant code that is executed by the selected evaluation module;

measuring actions performed by the selected evaluation module during execution of the resultant code; and

receiving over the network at the customized end user interface information indicating a performance of the selected evaluation module based on the measured actions of the selected evaluation module.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an end user password from the end user interface over the network for authentication of the end user password.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein transmitting an end user password comprises transmitting a plurality of end user passwords over the network from a plurality of end user interfaces for authentication of the plurality of end user passwords.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising transmitting information from one of the plurality of end user interfaces over the network for selecting of one of the plurality of evaluation modules for testing.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving over the network at the customized end user interface text assistance information containing instructions and at least one troubleshooting link.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving over the network at the customized end user interface audio assistance information playable through an audio application.

7. A method for evaluating performance of a component by testing the component via a network, the method comprising:

providing an end user interface for enabling selection of a component from a plurality of components, each of the selected components comprising at least one evaluation module being functioning hardware configured to be tested to evaluate performance criteria for the selected component, and each of the selected components being associated with a customized form of the end user interface;

reserving a time to access the evaluation module by providing information through the customized end user interface to a scheduling program;

providing the customized end user interface for enabling;

access over a network to the evaluation module, formulation of a test for the evaluation module based on a selection of a predefined code or user supplied code, compilation of the test into a resultant code that is executable by the evaluation module, transfer of the resultant code to the evaluation module, and measurement of actions performed by the evaluation module to execute the resultant code; and

transmitting to the customized end user interface information indicating a performance of the component for the test based on the measurements of the actions performed by the evaluation module.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving an end user password from the end user interface over the network and authenticating the end user password.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the end user password comprises receiving a plurality of end user passwords over the network from a plurality of end user interfaces and authenticating the plurality of end user passwords.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving information from one of the plurality of end user interfaces over the network for selecting of one of the plurality of components for testing.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting to the customized end user interface text assistance information containing instructions and a troubleshooting link and audio assistance information playable through an audio application.

12. A method for evaluating a component, the method comprising:

providing an end user interface for enabling selection of a component from a plurality of components, each of the selected components comprising an evaluation module being functioning hardware configured to be tested to evaluate performance criteria for the selected component, and each of the selected components being associated with a customized form of the end user interface;

reserving a time to access the evaluation module by providing information through the customized end user interface to a scheduling program;

providing the customized end user interface for enabling;

access over a network to the evaluation module, formulation of a test for the evaluation module, based on a selection of a predefined code or user supplied code, compilation of the test into a set of instructions that is executable by the evaluation module, determination of performance of the component based on actions performed by the evaluation module when executing the set of instructions;

transmitting to a first processor a request to execute the set of instructions on the evaluation module; and

routing to a second processor, coupled to the first processor, the set of instructions to be executed by the evaluation module based on the request; and

receiving a result that indicates actions performed by the evaluation module when executing the set of instructions.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting an end user password over the network for authentication of the end user password.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein transmitting comprises transmitting a plurality of end user passwords over the network for authentication of the plurality of end user passwords.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting information over the network to cause selection of one of the plurality of components for testing.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein a client, coupled to the first processor, transmits the request over a network and causes the routing.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising causing the second processor to route the set of instructions to either the evaluation module or a component of software emulating the evaluation module based on a condition of communications to the first processor.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the evaluation module is coupled to an additional component of hardware.

19. The method of claim 12, comprising transmitting to the first processor information indicating a condition of communications to the first processor.

20. A method for evaluating performance of a component by testing the component, the method comprising:

providing an end user interface for enabling selection of one of a plurality of components, wherein each of the selected components comprises an evaluation module that is functioning hardware configured for testing the selected component to evaluate performance criteria, and each of the selected components being associated with a customized form of an end user interface;

reserving a time to access the selected component by providing information through the customized end user interface to a scheduling program;

transmitting a request to perform a test based on a selection of a predefined code or user supplied code, wherein the customized end user interface includes options for selecting either the predefined code or the user supplied code to be compiled;

providing the customized end user interface for causing a compilation of the test into a set of instructions, causing an execution of the set of instructions at the evaluation module, and causing a measurement of actions performed by the evaluation module when executing the set of instructions; and

receiving information indicating a performance of the selected component based on the measurements of the actions performed by the evaluation module when executing the set of instructions.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising transmitting an end user password over a network for authentication of the end user password.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein transmitting comprises transmitting a plurality of end user passwords over the network for authentication.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising transmitting information over the network to cause the selecting of one of the plurality of components.

24. A method for facilitating remote access by an end user to measure performance of a component based on evaluating the component via a network, the method comprising:

providing an end user interface for enabling selection of a component from a plurality of components, each of the selected components comprising an evaluation module being functioning hardware configured to be tested to evaluate performance criteria for the selected component, and each of the selected components being associated with a customized form of the end user interface;

providing the customized end user interface for enabling;

access over a network to the evaluation module, formulation of a test for the evaluation module, based on a selection of a predefined code or user supplied code from predefined and user source code options available on the customized end user interface, compilation of the test into a resultant code that is executable by the evaluation module, determination of performance of the component based on actions performed by the evaluation module when executing the resultant code; and

transmitting information indicating the performance of the component for the test to the customized end user interface.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising receiving an end user password from the end user interface over the network and authenticating the end user password.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein receiving the end user password comprises receiving a plurality of end user passwords over the network from a plurality of end user interfaces and authenticating the plurality of end user passwords.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising receiving information from each of the plurality of end user interfaces over the network for selecting of one of the plurality of components for testing.

28. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform a method for evaluating performance of a component by testing the component via a network, the method comprising:

presenting an end user interface to enable selection of one or more components from a plurality of components, each of the selected components comprising at least one evaluation module for evaluating performance criteria of the selected component, and each of the selected components being associated with a customized form of the end user interface;

reserving a time to access the evaluation module using a scheduling program through the customized end user interface;

creating a test for the evaluation module based on a selection of a predefined code or user supplied code;

compiling the test into a resultant code;

transferring the resultant code to the evaluation module;

executing the resultant code by the evaluation module; and

receiving, by the customized end user interface, information indicating a performance of the component based on a measurement of actions performed by the evaluation module in response to executing the resultant code.