Systems, methods, and apparatuses for testing mobile device applications

• US 9,195,574 B1
• Filed: 12/02/2013
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobile Labs LLC
• Original Assignee: Mobile Labs LLC
• Inventors: Ryan, Michael, Orlando, Stephen, Beatrice, Karen, Straight, Mackenzie, Dudar, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): APONTE, FRANCISCO JAVIER
• Application Number:
  US14/093,859
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 717124-127
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3664 Environments for testing or debugging software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3668 Software testing software testing in telephone exchanges H04M3/242, testing of hardware G06F11/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3688 for test execution, e.g. scheduling of test suites
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3696 Methods or tools to render software testable

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to systems and methods for facilitating optimization of mobile application testing. In one embodiment, a mobile application testing system (MATS) allows simultaneous communication to a plurality of devices regardless of device type and operating system. Accordingly, the MATS performs mobile testing without “jail-breaking” or removing various components of the user device. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the MATS enables users to securely test mobile applications by supporting data routing behind a security firewall utilizing a transition of communications protocols. Further, various protocols provide a data tunnel allowing multiple concurrent testing sessions for multiple users via an authentication scheme. Additionally, concurrent testing sessions may include single app testing on multiple devices or a plurality of apps testing on a plurality of devices.

Claims

1. An apparatus for testing software applications for a plurality of devices, comprising:

a housing;

a hub maintained within the housing and operatively connected to a management server, the hub comprising a plurality of mobile device connections for operatively connecting to a plurality of devices; and

the management server maintained within the housing for performing and managing testing functionality corresponding to the plurality of devices and comprising a processor operatively configured to;

receive a request from a specific user machine for testing a particular software application installed on a particular device of the plurality of devices;

retrieve device information from a device agent running on the particular device, wherein the device information includes an object inventory of platform-specific objects associated with the particular software application and each of the plurality of platform-specific objects corresponds to at least one application function;

generate a common object model based on the object inventory of platform-specific objects and the particular operating platform associated with the particular device;

receive a platform-specific functional application testing command from the specific user machine for testing the particular software application on the particular device, the platform-specific functional application testing command comprising at least one object and a testing action;

determine, from the common object model, a platform-specific object associated with the particular software application corresponding to the at least one object defined in the platform-agnostic testing command; and

generate and transmit the platform-specific functional application testing command to the device agent via the hub for testing the particular software application on the particular operating platform of the particular device, wherein the platform-specific functional application testing command is translated from an automated platform-agnostic testing command received based on the object inventory of the plurality of platform-specific objects, at least one of the plurality of platform-specific objects corresponding to the at least one application function, and based on a single testing command of a plurality of testing commands that represent a particular functionality of the mobile software application to be executed on at least one object of the plurality of objects.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operatively configured to:

receive platform-specific test event data from the device agent of the particular device in response to the platform-specific testing command; and

provide the platform-specific test event data to the specific user machine for display to a user.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the platform-specific test event data includes one or more of the following:

event information, event responses, screen captures, reporting data.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the screen captures are object-based.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operatively configured to generate a generic pathway for exchanging data between the device agent of the particular device and the specific user machine.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the generic pathway is generated via a multiplexor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the platform-specific functional application testing command to the device agent for testing the particular software application on the particular device further comprises transmitting the platform-specific functional application testing command to a particular communication socket on a hub, wherein the particular communication socket is associated with the particular device and routes the platform-specific functional application testing command to the particular device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the management server comprises a USB server for facilitating a transition of communications protocols between the plurality of devices and users of the apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hub comprises a USB hub capable of connecting to the plurality of mobile devices via USB connections.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display means operatively coupled to the management server for displaying an interface for performing testing functionality.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises wheels affixed to a bottom surface of the housing for transporting the apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises one or more shelves having dividers affixed therein for cradling the plurality of devices.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an input/output means for enabling a user to interact with the management server of the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the input/output means is selected from one or more of the following:

a keyboard, a mouse, a touch-screen interface, a voice command device.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one application function comprises accelerometer functionality of the particular software application.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one application function comprises home button functionality of the particular software application.

17. An apparatus for testing software applications for a plurality of devices, comprising:

a housing comprising;

a body defining at least one opening for accessing an interior of the housing, the interior of the housing comprising one or more shelves, wherein at least one shelf of the one or more shelves comprises a plurality of dividers for holding and separating a plurality of mobile devices to be tested;

one or more doors mounted to the housing, wherein the one or more doors are configured to selectively enable access to the interior of the housing; and

a management server maintained within the housing for performing and managing testing functionality corresponding to the plurality of mobile devices;

an automation host operatively connected to the management server for receiving an automated platform-agnostic testing command from the management sever and translating the automated platform-agnostic testing command to a platform-specific functional application testing command, based on object inventory of a plurality of platform-specific objects, at least one of the plurality of platform-specific objects corresponding to the at least one application function, and based on a single testing command of a plurality of testing commands that represent a particular functionality of the mobile software application to be executed on at least one object of the plurality of objects; and

a hub maintained within the housing and operatively connected to the management server, the hub comprising a plurality of mobile device connections for operatively connecting to the plurality of devices.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein:

the housing further comprises;

one or more handles mounted the housing for moving the housing;

at least two wheels operatively connected to the body for moving the housing;

at least one hole for accepting one or more substantially vertical rods; and

the one or more doors comprise a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism comprising;

a) the one or more substantially vertical rods; and

b) a rotating lock configured to move the one or more substantially vertical rods into the at least one hole when the locking mechanism is in a locked position.