System and method for testing a software engine including a test subsystem simulating output for a base system in a test mode

• US 8,689,053 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Kumar, Balaji, Sawhney, Yogesh, Miller, Anne L.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHELL, JOSEPH O
• Application Number:
  US11/960,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20090164847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,295 Days
• Field of Search: 714/32, 714/33, 714/46, 714/51, 714/3, 714/43, 370/216, 370/241, 455/67.11, 455/67.14, 455/67.7
• US Class Current: 714/43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3688 for test execution, e.g. scheduling of test suites

Abstract

A software engine has a base system in communication with service subsystems and test subsystems. The base system, the service subsystems, and the test subsystems are software applications that exchange data with one another while operating within the software engine. In one exemplary mode of operation, the base system receives outputs from the service subsystems. In another exemplary mode of operation, the base system receives outputs from the test subsystems that simulate the outputs generated by the service subsystems. An exemplary method of testing the software engine is also provided. Specifically, the illustrative method includes receiving an output during a service mode, switching from the service mode to a testing mode, and receiving the simulated output during the testing mode. The method steps may be performed by a computer executing instructions stored on a computer-readable medium.

Claims

1. A software engine including at least one software application stored in a non-volatile medium, comprising:

a base system having at least both a service mode and a testing mode;

at least one of a plurality of service subsystems in communication with said base system during said service mode, wherein said base system is configured to receive a service output from at least one of said service subsystems during said service mode; and

at least one test subsystem in communication with, during said testing mode, said base system and at least one of said service subsystems, and wherein said at least one test subsystem is configured to simulate a test output from a respective one of said service subsystems during said testing mode, said at least one test subsystem being distinct from said service subsystems, wherein the base system is configured to switch between said service mode and said testing mode and receive said service output in said service mode and said test output based in said testing mode, wherein the test output indicates to the base system that the test output is simulated.

2. A software engine as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a user interface in communication with said base system and said at least one test subsystem, wherein said user interface is configured to switch said base system between said service mode and said testing mode.

3. A software engine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said user interface instructs said base system to ignore outputs from at least one of said service subsystems.

4. A software engine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said user interface is in communication with at least one of said service subsystems and disables said at least one service subsystem in response to receiving an output from said at least one test subsystem.

5. A software engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said service subsystems is in communication with another of said service subsystems.

6. A software engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one test subsystem is in communication with another test subsystem in response to said base system being in said testing mode.

7. A software engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the output from the respective one of said service subsystems is simulated without coordinating with outputs from any other of said service subsystems.

8. A software engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said test output is sufficiently similar to said service output such that the base system is unable to distinguish between the test output and service output.

9. A software engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the test output is preloaded into said at least one test subsystem and configured to transmit a plurality of test outputs in a predefined sequence.

10. A method comprising:

establishing communication between a base system and at least one of a plurality of service subsystems;

receiving at least one service output from at least one of the service subsystems during a service mode;

switching from said service mode to a testing mode by establishing communication between the base system and at least one test subsystem, wherein the at least one test subsystem is in communication with a respective one of the service subsystems in the testing mode; and

receiving at least one simulated output from the at least one test subsystem, the at least one test subsystem being distinct from the service subsystems, wherein the at least one simulated output indicates to the base system that the at least one simulated output is simulated.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10, further including severing communication between the base system and at least one of the service subsystems prior to receiving the at least one simulated output from the at least one test subsystem.

12. A method as set forth in claim 10, further including severing communication between the base system and the at least one test subsystem prior to re-commencing the receiving of the at least one service output from at least one of the service subsystems during the service mode.

13. A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein receiving at least one service output from at least one of the service subsystems includes receiving at least one output from the at least one service subsystem at the base system.

14. A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein receiving at least one simulated output from the at least one test subsystem includes receiving at least one simulated output from the at least one test subsystem at the base system.

15. A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein receiving at least one simulated output from the at least one test subsystem is simultaneous with receiving at least one service output from at least one of the service subsystems.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein one of the at least one test subsystem is associated with a respective one of the at least one service subsystems, and further wherein receiving at least one simulated output from the one of the at least one test subsystem is simultaneous with receiving at least one service output from another one of the at least one of the service subsystems not associated with the respective one of the at least one test subsystem.

17. A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein receiving at least one simulated output from the at least one test subsystem is sequential to receiving at least one service output from at least one of the service subsystems.

18. A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein receiving at least one simulated output from the at least one test subsystem includes configuring the at least one test subsystem to simulate at least one output from at least one of the service subsystems.

19. A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the method is performed by a computer executing instructions stored in a computer-readable medium.

20. A software engine including at least one software application stored in a non-volatile medium, comprising:

a base system having at least both a service mode and a testing mode;

at least one of a plurality of service subsystems in communication with said base system during said service mode, wherein said base system is configured to receive a service output from at least one of said service subsystems during said service mode; and

at least one test subsystem in communication with, during said testing mode, said base system and at least one of said service subsystems, and wherein said at least one test subsystem is configured to simulate a test output from a respective one of said service subsystems during said testing mode, said at least one test subsystem being distinct from said service subsystems, wherein the base system is configured to switch between said service mode and said testing mode and receive said service output in said service mode and said test output based in said testing mode, wherein said at least one test subsystem is in communication with another test subsystem in response to said base system being in said testing mode.