Method and system for remote software testing

• US 8,539,435 B1
• Filed: 04/04/2011
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• 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
• Application Number:
  US13/079,141
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 717/125, 717/126, 714/38, 714/46
• US Class Current: 717/100
• 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 remote computer includes a redirection device operative to transmit the video output of the remote computer to the local computer via a 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 generated at the local computer by an automated testing application and transmits the commands to the redirection device.

Claims

1. A system for testing a computer program executing on a first computer from a second computer, 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, via a connection between the first computer and a network, video output of the first computer to the second computer, the video output associated with the computer program,

receive, via the connection between the first computer and the network, a user input command transmitted from the second computer; and

provide the user input command to the first computer as if the user input command was physically generated at the first computer; and

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

receive, via a connection between the second computer and the network, the video output of the first computer,

display the video output of the first computer,

receive, from an automated testing program executing on the second computer, the user input command generated by the automated testing program, the user input command directed toward the video output of the first computer displayed, and

transmit, via the connection between the second computer and the network, the user input command 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 command generated by the automated testing program is 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, further comprising a third computer 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 a computer program executing on a remote computer from a local computer, the method comprising:

executing, by the remote computer, the computer program to be tested;

transmitting, by a redirection device of the remote computer via a connection between the remote computer and a network, video output of the remote computer to the local computer, the video output associated with the computer program;

displaying, at the local computer, the video output of the remote computer;

receiving, at the local computer from an automated testing program executing on the local computer, a user input command generated by the automated testing program, the user input command directed toward the video output associated with the computer program executing on the remote computer;

transmitting, by the local computer via a connection between the local computer and the network, the user input command to the remote computer;

receiving, by the redirection device of the remote computer via the connection between the remote computer and the network, the user input command transmitted by the local computer; and

executing, by the remote computer, the user input command to test the computer program as if the user input command was physically generated at the remote computer.

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

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

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the computer program executing on the remote computer comprises an operating system program.

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

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the computer program executing on the remote computer comprises an application program.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the computer program executed by the remote computer is operative to access data stored on a storage volume provided by a server computer, the server computer connected to the remote computer via the network, and wherein the method further comprises transmitting, by the local computer to the remote computer, a further user input command generated by the automated testing program executing on the local computer, the further user input command controlling aspects of the computer program executed by the remote computer for accessing the data stored on the storage volume provided by the server computer.

16. Computer storage media having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a first computer, cause the first computer to:

execute a computer program to be tested;

transmit, via a connection between the first computer and a network, video output of the first computer to a second computer, the video output associated with the computer program;

receive, from the second computer via the connection between the first computer and the network, a user input command generated by an automated testing program executing on the second computer and directed toward the video output of the first computer transmitted to the second computer, wherein the user input command tests an interaction between the computer program executed by the first computer and a third computer connected to the first computer via the network; and

execute the user input command received from the second computer as if the user input command was physically generated at the first computer to test the interaction between the first computer and the third computer.

17. The computer storage media of claim 16, wherein the video output of the first computer includes a screen display generated by the computer program and wherein the user input command generated by the automated testing program is directed toward the screen display.

18. The computer storage media of claim 16, 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 the network.

19. The computer storage media of claim 16, wherein the computer program executing on the first computer comprises an operating system program.

20. The computer storage media of claim 16, 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.