Method and apparatus for exercising an integrated software system

A method for storing inputs in a system having at least one software product, the system including a tool that can be put in a record mode, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

• receiving a plurality of inputs from a user in an order;
• providing the plurality of inputs to the system to perform, when the tool is in the record mode, one or more selected functions;
• generating, when the tool is in the record mode, a unified input queue (UIQ) of the plurality of received inputs to the system in the order received;
• determining timewise durations between the reception of successive ones of the plurality of inputs;
• and
• storing the UIQ so that the UIQ includes information relating to the determined timewise durations between the reception of successive ones of the plurality of inputs.

A method for exercising an integrated system including at least one software product, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving, in an order, a plurality of received inputs to the system from a user during an interactive session between the user and the system;
• storing in a memory the plurality of received inputs in the order received during the interactive session between the user and the system to generate a plurality of stored inputs, each of the plurality of stored inputs corresponding to one of the plurality of received inputs;
• and
• applying the plurality of stored inputs from the memory to the at least one software product, the applying step including a step of controlling a time interval between the application of each successive pair of stored inputs from the memory to the at least one software product, the time interval between the application of each successive pair of stored inputs being proportional to a time interval between reception of the corresponding pair of received inputs.

A computer system for use with a software product which is interactively used by a user, the system comprising:

• an input device for providing inputs to the system;
• means for storing the inputs in a storage device in an order provided by the user in a record mode;
• means for selectively pausing the storing means so that when the storing means is paused, inputs received from the user are not stored in the storage device;
• means, operative when the storing means is paused, for reinitiating the storing means so that inputs received from the user are stored in the storage device in an order provided by the user, the inputs received following reinitiation of the storing means being stored in combination with the inputs received before the storing means is paused;
• means for providing the stored inputs as inputs from the storage device to the interactive program in a play mode;
• means for selectively pausing the providing means so that when the providing means is paused, the stored inputs are not provided from the storage device to the interactive program and the interactive program is operable to receive inputs from the user to the interactive program;
• and
• means, operative when the providing means is paused, for reinitiating the providing means so that stored inputs are again provided from the storage device to the interactive software product, the stored inputs provided following reinitiation of the providing means including inputs stored before the providing means was paused.

A computer system including a software product that is interactively used by a user, the system comprising:

• means for placing the system in a record mode;
• an input device that receives a plurality of inputs from a user;
• means, operative when the system is in the record mode, for providing the plurality of received inputs as inputs to the software product, the software product performing one or more selected functions in response to the plurality of received inputs;
• storage means, operative when the system is in the record mode and having a plurality of locations, for storing the inputs in locations indicating an order in which the inputs are received from the user;
• means for applying to the software product the stored inputs from the storage means in the order;
• and
• means for altering the order so that the applying means provides, after a first input, a next input stored in the storage means, wherein the next input is at a location indicating that at least one intermediate input was received between the first input and the next input.

A tool for use in an integrated system that includes at least one software product, the system successively receiving first, second and third received inputs in an order, a first received time interval expiring between receipt of the first and second received inputs and a second received time interval expiring between receipt of the second and third inputs, the second received time interval being different from the first received time interval, the tool comprising:

• means for placing the tool in a record mode;
• means, operative when the tool is in the record mode, for providing the first, second and third received inputs as inputs to the at least one software product, the at least one software product performing one or more selected functions in response to the received inputs;
• storing means, operative when the tool is in the record mode, for storing the first, second and third received inputs in the order received by the system to respectively create first, second and third stored inputs, the storing means storing information that indicates the first and second received time intervals;
• and
• means for applying the first, second and third stored inputs to the at least one software product in the order in which the first, second and third received inputs were received by the system, a first applied time interval between the application of the first and second stored inputs being proportional to the first received time interval, a second applied time interval between the application of the second and third stored inputs being proportional to the second received time interval.