Synchronization mechanism for tools that drive UI-based applications

Abstract

Various new and non-obvious apparatus and methods for synchronizing a request to perform a target action on a user interface element within a user emulation test program are disclosed. The disclosed exemplary apparatus and methods should not be construed as limiting in any way. One of the disclosed embodiments is used when a user emulation test program is unable to access at least one background thread, or is working in an environment where at least one thread may essentially be in a busy state. The method comprises choosing a target element, establishing time-out criteria, a calling entity invoking a target action to be performed on the target element, attempting to perform the target action on the target element, and returning control to the calling entity when either the target action is successfully performed on the target element or when the previously-mentioned time-out criteria is met, in which case a synchronization error condition is generated. In one embodiment, attempting to perform the target action can consist of: waiting until a window associated with the target element is ready for user input; the thread associated with the target element is in the wait state and the reason for this state is wait for user input; or waiting until two readings of a performance counters associated with the target process are essentially similar, and then attempting to perform the target action. Also, the target action can be attempted, in some embodiments, to be performed repeatedly until it is either successfully performed or until the time-out criteria is met.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.