Method and system for combining multiple software test generators

Abstract

The present invention allows tests generated by multiple test generators to be merged into a comprehensive test specification, allowing multiple test generators to work together as a single unit, and allowing tests from multiple test generators to be combined to achieve a single defined testing goal. A novel test generation framework is disclosed in which the test compilation and test optimization processes of the prior art are utilized in connection with a novel combining process (a framework) to allow the combining of testing tools of different formats. The test compilation and test optimization processes work with an “intermediate test representation,” which is simply an intermediate step during which models of differing formats are disguised to “hide” their format; and instructions directing the appropriate execution order of the disguised models are developed and utilized. By disguising their format, the test engine can read and run the models and combine the different testing tools and obtain an abstract test representation that is far superior to that available using prior art tools. In the intermediate test representation, some portions of the overall test are “partially specified” when they are received from the test optimization process, in contrast to the abstract test representation which is fully instantiated.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.