Method and system for remote software testing

• US 7,546,584 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2003
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Megatrends Incorporated
• Original Assignee: American Megatrends Incorporated
• Inventors: Rovang, Gene
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen; Wei
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOW, CHIH CHING
• Application Number:
  US10/462,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20040255276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,185 Days
• Field of Search: 717/124, 725/87, 709/212
• US Class Current: 717/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3414 Workload generation, e.g. scripts, playback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3495 for systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/36 Preventing errors by testing or debugging software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/875 Monitoring of systems including the internet

Abstract

Systems and methods for testing a computer program executing on a remote computer physically distant from a local computer are provided. The local and remote computers are connected via a network. The remote computer includes a redirection device operative to transmit the video output of the remote computer to the local computer via the network connection. The redirection device may also receive user input commands generated at the local computer and provide the input commands to the remote computer as if the input commands were physically generated by a user at the remote computer. The remote computer also includes a software program to be tested. The local computer includes a remote control software application operative to receive and display the video output transmitted from the remote computer. The remote control application also receives user input commands, such as keyboard or mouse commands, generated at the local computer by an automated testing application and transmits the commands to the redirection device. The commands generated by the automated testing program may be utilized to test the execution of the computer program to be tested executing on the remote computer.

Claims

1. A system for testing a computer program executing on a first computer from a second computer within a network, the system comprising:

the first computer operative to execute the computer program, the first computer comprising an operating system independent video and input/output redirection device operative;

to transmit the video output of the first computer to the second computer, the video output associated with the computer program,

to receive user input commands transmitted from the second computer, and

to provide the user input commands to the first computer as if the user input commands were physically generated at the first computer;

the first computer further operative to execute the user input commands to control the computer program, wherein the user input commands test an interaction between the computer program executed by the first computer and a third computer connected to the network; and

the second computer operative to execute a software application, the software application operative;

to receive the video output of the first computer,

to display the video output of the first computer,

to receive the user input commands generated by an automated testing program executing on the second computer and directed toward the displayed video output of the first computer, wherein the user input commands test an interaction between the computer program executed by the first computer and the third computer, and

to transmit the user input commands to the operating system independent video and input/output redirection device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the input/output redirection device is operative to transmit the video output of the first computer to the second computer as data capable of being displayed in a web browser application, and wherein the software application comprises the web browser application.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the video output of the first computer includes a screen display generated by the computer program and wherein the user input commands generated by the automated testing program are directed toward the screen display.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first computer and the second computer are physically located at two different locations and wherein the first computer and the second computer are connected via a communications network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer program executing on the first computer comprises an operating system program.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer program executing on the first computer comprises a basic input/output system program.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer program executing on the first computer comprises an application program.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the third computer is operative to provide a storage volume and wherein the computer program is operative to access data stored in the storage volume.

9. A method for testing computer programs executing on a plurality of remote computers from a local computer within a network, the method comprising:

executing the computer programs to be tested on the plurality of remote computers;

transmitting, via operating system independent video and input/output redirection devices associated with the plurality of remote computers, video output of each of the plurality of remote computers to the local computer, the video output including a screen display generated by each of the computer programs;

displaying the video output of each of the plurality of remote computers at the local computer, the video output of each of the plurality of remote computers simultaneously displayed in a separate user interface window at the local computer;

receiving user input commands at the local computer, the user input commands generated by an automated testing program and directed toward the screen display generated by the computer program programs executing on the plurality of remote computers;

transmitting the user input commands to the plurality of remote computers; and

executing the user input commands at the plurality of remote computers to test the computer program programs as if the user input commands were physically generated at the plurality of remote computers.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting the video output of the plurality of remote computers to the local computer comprises transmitting the video output of the plurality of remote computers to the local computer in a format displayable within a web browser application, and wherein displaying the video output of the plurality of remote computers at the local computer comprises displaying the video output of the plurality of remote computers at the local computer within a web browser application.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of remote computers and the local computer are physically located at different locations and wherein the plurality of remote computers and the local computer are connected via a communications network.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the computer programs executing on the plurality of remote computers comprise operating system programs.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the computer programs executing on the plurality of remote computers comprise basic input/output system programs.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the computer programs executing on the plurality of remote computers comprise application programs.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the computer programs are operative to access data stored on a storage volume provided by a server computer, and wherein the user input commands generated by the automated testing program cause the computer programs to access the data stored on the storage volume to test an interaction between the plurality of remote computers and the server computer.

16. A computer-controlled apparatus capable of performing the method of claim 9.

17. A computer storage media comprising computer executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of claim 9.