Method and system for remote software testing

• US 7,945,899 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• 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): NGUYEN, PHILLIP H
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHILLIP H
• Application Number:
  US12/470,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20090235122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 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 method for testing a computer program executing on a first computer from a second computer within a network, the method comprising:

executing the computer program to be tested on the first computer;

transmitting, via an operating system independent video and input/output redirection device, video output of the first computer to the second computer, the video output associated with the computer program;

receiving the video output of the first computer at the second computer;

displaying the video output of the first computer at the second computer;

receiving 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 a third computer connected to the network;

transmitting the user input commands from the second computer to the first computer;

receiving the user input commands transmitted from the second computer;

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

executing the user input commands on the first computer to control the computer program executing on the first computer.

2. The method 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 executed by the second computer.

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

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

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

8. The method 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. Non-transitory computer storage media having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to:

execute a computer program to be tested on a first computer;

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

receive the video output of the first computer at the second computer;

display the video output of the first computer at the second computer;

receive 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 a third computer connected to the network;

transmit the user input commands from the second computer to the first computer;

receive the user input commands transmitted from the second computer;

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

execute the user input commands on the first computer to control the computer program executing on the first computer.

10. The non-transitory computer storage media of claim 9, 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.

11. The non-transitory computer storage media of claim 9, 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.

12. The non-transitory computer storage media of claim 9, wherein the computer program.

13. The computer storage media of claim 9, wherein the computer program executing on the first computer comprises a basic input/output system program.

14. The non-transitory computer storage media of claim 9, wherein the computer program executing on the first computer comprises an application program.

15. The non-transitory computer storage media of claim 9, 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.