Using shared pins in a concurrent test execution environment

A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon, computer executable instructions that, if executed by a computer system cause the computer system to perform a method for scheduling tests using automated test equipment (ATE), said method comprising:

• determining if any of a plurality of splits used by a first test contains at least one shared resource, wherein the first test is sequenced for execution in a first test flow branch and wherein a second test is sequenced for execution in a second test flow branch, wherein the first test flow branch is operable to execute concurrently with the second test flow branch;
• determining if the first test should execute before the second test if the split containing the at least one shared resource is associated with at least one resource required by both the first test and the second test;
• and
• responsive to a determination that the first test should execute before the second test, reserving the split containing the at least one shared resource for sole access by the first test and executing the first test.

A tester system comprising:

• a system controller for controlling a test plan and coupled to a bus;
• and
• tester hardware coupled to said bus and operable to test a plurality of devices under test,
• wherein the system controller communicates to the tester hardware through the bus and further wherein the system controller comprises a processor configured to:
• determine if any of a plurality of splits used by a first test is associated with at least one shared resource, wherein the first test is sequenced for execution in a first test flow branch and wherein a second test is sequenced for execution in a second test flow branch, wherein the first test flow branch is operable to execute concurrently with the second test flow branch;
• determine if the first test should execute before the second test if the split containing the at least one shared resource is associated with resources required by both the first test and the second test;
• and
• responsive to a determination that the first test should execute before the second test, reserve the split containing the at least one shared resource for sole access by the first test before beginning execution of the first test, wherein no other test is allowed access to the split while it is reserved.

A tester system comprising:

• a system controller for controlling a test plan and coupled to a bus;
• and
• tester hardware coupled to said bus and operable to test a plurality of devices under test,
• wherein the system controller communicates to the tester hardware through the bus and further wherein the system controller comprises a processor configured to:
• execute a first test in a first test flow branch;
• execute a second test in a second test flow branch, wherein the second test flow branch executes concurrently with the first test flow branch;
• and
• allocate a resource so that the first test and the second test can share the resource, wherein the resource is solely allocated to one of the first test and the second test at any time;
• wherein the first test flow branch comprises tests related to a first core of a device under test (DUT) and wherein the second test flow branch comprises tests related to a second core of the DUT, wherein the first core of the DUT performs a function different from the second core of the DUT.