Back to results
US 6,002,869 AGranted
System and method for automatically testing software programs
AssigneeNovell, Inc.
InventorDavid N. Hinckley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeNovell, Inc.
InventorDavid N. Hinckley
Estimating the term…
A test automation system for performing functional tests of a software program. The system includes a plurality of test functions each configured to test a discrete component of the software program. a user-defined test specification associated with the program provides state definitions that specify a desired test approach for each type of test procedure to be performed on the program. A test engine creates all test cases appropriate for a user-selected test type and controls the software program, applying the test functions and state definitions in accordance with the test specification. All test-specific and software program-specific data are located in the user-defined test functions and specifications while all generic test system processing resides in the test engine. The test specifications are preferably implemented in modifiable text files to maintain concurrency with an evolving software program. The test engine creates all possible permutations and combinations for performing a desired test. These test specification includes such items as the states that the software program may possess, the test functions required to transfer between one state and other possible states, information pertaining to the values that specific inputs may have, etc. During operation, the test engine generates test histories indicating the results of the test performed in accordance with one of the test specifications. The contents of the test histories include determination made by the test functions executed in accordance with an associated test specification.
A computer based test automation system for functionally testing a software program, comprising:
A computer based system for functionally testing a software program, comprising:
A computer based test engine for performing test procedures on a software program, said program having a plurality of states, the test engine comprising:
A method of testing software having a plurality of states, the method comprising the steps of:
A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having a computer program logic thereon for enabling a processor in a computer system to automatically perform tests on a software program, the computer system having a memory, accessible to said processor, in which is stored a test specification file containing state definitions associated with the software program, said software program having a plurality of states the product comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.