Methods and apparatus for testing software with real-time source data from a projectile

• US 8,543,990 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2008
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: McGuire, Patric M., Siddens, Steven T., Lance, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rivera, Anibal
• Application Number:
  US12/152,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20080288927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,959 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/135
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/32 Devices for testing or checking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3684 for test design, e.g. generating new test cases

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for testing software with real-time source data from a projectile according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with a real-time data source, a signal processor, a recordable medium, and a testing platform. The signal processor receives real-time data from a real-time data source during a test and saves it to a storage medium before providing the real-time data to the testing platform for permanent storage. During a subsequent test, the testing platform may upload the saved real-time data to the signal processor foregoing the need to generate new real-time data from the real-time data source.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for testing software by simulating a real-time environment, comprising:

receiving an input signal from a real-time data source during a first software test at a first time, wherein the input signal comprises real-time data acquired by the real-time data source from a projectile during flight and the input signal is assigned a first time stamp associated with the first software test, and wherein the real-time data includes the time the projectile was fired and the amount of time elapsed during flight of the projectile;

saving the input signal to a recordable medium for storage; and

supplying the saved input signal to a real-time system during a second software test at a second time later than the first time, wherein the saved input signal is to be used in place of real-time data from the real-time data source, wherein the supplying includes changing the first time stamp of the input signal to a second time stamp associated with the second software test to appear as though the saved input signal has been generated in real-time during the second software test.

2. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the input signal comprises radar image data of the projectile.

3. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the input signal is to be converted from an analog signal to a digital signal.

4. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the real-time data source comprises a projectile tracking system separate from the projectile.

5. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the real-time data source comprises a target for the projectile.

6. A computer system for testing software in a real-time environment, wherein the computer system is configured to:

process an input signal coming from an real-time data source during a first software test at a first time, wherein the input signal comprises real-time data acquired by the real-time data source from a projectile during flight and the input signal is assigned a first time stamp associated with the first software test, and wherein the real-time data includes the time the projectile was fired and the amount of time elapsed during flight of the projectile;

save the processed input signal to a storage medium; and

transmit the saved input signal to a real-time system during a second software test at a second time later than the first time, wherein the saved input signal is to be supplied to the real-time system in place of real-time data from the real-time data source, wherein the transmitting includes changing the first time stamp of the input signal to reflect a second time stamp associated with the second software test to appear as though the saved input signal has been generated in real-time during the second software test.

7. The computer system according to claim 6, wherein the input signal comprises radar image data of the projectile.

8. The computer system according to claim 6, wherein processing the input signal comprises converting the input signal from an analog signal to a digital signal.

9. The computer system according to claim 6, wherein the real-time data source comprises a projectile tracking system separate from the projectile.

10. The computer system according to claim 6, wherein the real-time data source comprises a target for the projectile.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions executable by a computer, wherein the instructions cause the computer to execute a method for testing software in a real-time environment comprising:

receiving an input signal from a real-time data source during a first software test at a first time, wherein the input signal comprises real-time data acquired by the real-time data source from a projectile during flight and the input signal is assigned a first time stamp associated with the first software test, and wherein the real-time data includes the time the projectile was fired and the amount of time elapsed during flight of the projectile;

saving the input signal to a recordable medium for storage; and

supplying the saved input signal to a real-time system during a second software test at a second time later than the first time, wherein the saved input signal is to be used in place of real-time data from the real-time data source, wherein the supplying includes changing the first time stamp of the input signal to a second time stamp associated with the second software test to appear as though the saved input signal has been generated in real-time during the second software test.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 11, wherein the receiving of the input signal comprises converting the input signal from an analog signal into a digital signal.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 11, wherein the input signal comprises radar image data of the projectile.