Methods and systems for testing communications network components
AssigneeTekelec
InventorsTracy J. McNeely, Stuart D. Blackburn, Hynek Bures
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A communications network test system facilitates autonomous or attendant-free interaction between the administrative interfaces of multiple network devices under test. The test system includes device-specific communication interface packages that map generic commands to device-specific commands. A generic package includes generic procedures that access the device-specific packages to perform common functions, such as startup and cleanup. Test cases can thus be written using the generic commands without requiring the tester to have knowledge of device-specific demands. In addition, multiple devices can be simultaneously tested and monitored using a single test platform.
Claims38
A method for testing a system of communications network devices, the method comprising:
- (a) reading an abstract command language command from a test case, the abstract command language comprising a non-device-specific command;
- (b) translating the first abstract command language command into a device-specific command compatible with an administrative interface associated with a first device under test (DUT);
- and
- (c) communicating the device-specific command to the first DUT.
A method for dynamically testing a system of communications network devices, the method comprising:
- (a) reading a first abstract command language command associated with an operation involving a first device under test (DUT);
- (b) translating the first abstract command language command into a first command line interface command;
- (c) transmitting the first command line interface command to the first DUT;
- (d) receiving a reply message from the first DUT;
- (e) dynamically selecting a second abstract command language command based on contents of the reply message;
- and
- (f) executing the second abstract command language command.
A system for testing communications network devices, the system comprising:
- (a) a device specific communication interface package including information for mapping an abstract command language command to a device specific command;
- (b) an execution manager for translating abstract command language commands to device-specific commands using the device-specific communication interface package;
- and
- (c) a user interface for initiating the execution of an abstract-command-language-based test procedure and displaying subsequent test results.
A system for simultaneously testing a plurality of communications network devices, a test tools server for maintaining test cases and for storing the system comprising:
- (a) a test tools server for storing a plurality of device-specific communication interface packages, each device-specific communication interface package including functions for mapping abstract command language commands to device-specific command line interface commands;
- and
- (b) a test management system client for requesting execution of test cases on the devices under test;
- and
- (c) a test controller for receiving the test cases and the communication interface packages, connecting with a plurality of communications network devices, and executing the test cases to test the network communications devices.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.