State constrained web browser navagition system providing a simple transaction configuration tool

• US 20020046363A1
• Filed: 03/30/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Bell, Mark A., Nelson, Ellen M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,120,676 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/31
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3414 Workload generation, e.g. scripts, playback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3476 Data logging G06F11/14, G06F11/2205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3495 for systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/805 Real-time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/81 Threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/875 Monitoring of systems including the internet
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/045 for graphical visualisation of monitoring data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/067 using time frame reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0829 Packet loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0227 Filtering policies mail message filtering H04L51/212
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0281 Proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols

Abstract

A software product tests and monitors an Internet server system. Advantageously, the software product communicates with a web browser without the need for other client software to configure transactions. The user of the web browser is guided through web pages to record, edit, and playback transactions. Recording may occur over a secure connection. The software product performs automated tests using the transactions in addition to measuring both system performance data and business performance data. The software product generates alarms when thresholds are exceeded. The test data, performance data, and alarms are correlated in time and presented graphically to the user.

Claims

1. A software product for a computer system to configure a transaction for a user operating a web browser wherein the transaction is used for automated testing of an Internet server system, the software product comprising:

test instructions configured direct a processor to interact with the web browser and the Internet server system to record web browser activity to generate the transaction, edit the transaction, perform an automated test of the Internet server system using the transaction, display test results to the user from the automated test, and save the transaction for subsequent automated testing of the Internet server system; and

a storage medium configured to store the test instructions.

2. The software product of claim 1 wherein the test instructions are further configured to direct the processor to interact with the web browser and the Internet server system through a firewall.

3. The software product of claim 1 wherein the test instructions are further configured to direct the processor to record the web browser activity to generate test measurements.

4. The software product of claim 3 wherein one of the test measurements is a sequence of web pages.

5. The software product of claim 1 wherein the test instructions are further configured to direct the processor to add test measurements to the transaction including transaction time and transaction data transfer rate.

6. The software product of claim 1 wherein the test instructions are further configured to direct the processor to record the browser activity as a series of steps and to edit the transaction to specify test measurements for each step.

7. The software product of claim 6 wherein one of the test measurements for each step is elapsed time.

8. The software product of claim 6 wherein one of the test measurements for each step is a required string in an Internet server system response.

9. The software product of claim 6 wherein one of the test measurements for each step is a prohibited string in an Internet server system response.

10. The software product of claim 6 wherein the test instructions are further configured to direct the processor to record pauses for the steps and edit the transaction to redefine the pauses.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising recording the browser activity as a series of steps and editing the transaction to specify test measurements for each step.

11. A method of operating a computer system to configure a transaction for a user operating a web browser wherein the transaction is used for automated testing of an Internet server system, the method comprising:

interacting with the web browser and the Internet server system to record web browser activity to generate the transaction;

interacting with the web browser to edit the transaction;

interacting with the Internet server system to perform an automated test of the Internet server system using the transaction;

interacting with the web browser to display test results to the user from the automated test; and

saving the transaction for subsequent automated testing of the Internet server system.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein interacting with the web browser and the Internet server system comprises interacting through a firewall.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising recording the web browser activity to generate test measurements.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein one of the test measurements is a sequence of web pages.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising adding test measurements to the transaction including transaction time and transaction data transfer rate.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein one of the test measurements for each step is elapsed time.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein one of the test measurements for each step is a required string in an Internet server system response.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein one of the test measurements for each step is a prohibited string in an Internet server system response.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising record pauses for the steps and editing the transaction to redefine the pauses.