Test precondition items for automated analysis and test generation
AssigneeThe MathWorks, Inc.
InventorWilliam J. Aldrich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides methods and systems for using a design element in a graphical model to represent and identify a precondition for use by a verification tool in verifying an executable form of the design represented by the graphical model. The precondition design element provides a specification of a verification constraint without affecting the behavior of the design. The constraint is to be applied by the verification tool in verifying the design. As such, the precondition design element of the present invention provides a mechanism and formalism in a model-based design approach that is used to constrain automatically generated tests or verification of the design represented by the graphical model.
Claims34
A computer-implemented method for providing an element associated with a model-based design represented by a graphical model to identify a precondition for verification of the model-based design, the method comprising:
- providing, in a modeling environment, a graphical model representing an executable model-based design;
- identifying a portion of the graphical model to associate with a precondition for verification of the model-based design, the precondition comprising a constraint to apply in verification of the model-based design, the precondition allowing the verification to be performed only when a variable in the model-based design satisfies the constraint;
- providing an element in the graphical model to represent the precondition associated with the identified portion of the graphical model, wherein:
- the element includes information indicating the constraint to apply in a verification of the model-based design, and
- during simulation of the model-based design of the graphical model including the element representing the precondition, the element representing the precondition is automatically ignored;
- and
- displaying the element in the graphical model on a display device.
A computer-implemented method for verifying an executable model-based design represented by a graphical model associated with a precondition for executing the verification, the method comprising:
- providing a graphical model representing a model-based design, the graphical model having an element identifying a precondition associated with a portion of the model-based design, the precondition specifying a constraint to be applied by a verification tool in verifying the model-based design, the precondition allowing the verification to be performed only when a variable in the model-based design satisfies the constraint;
- processing the graphical model into an executable form of the model-based design for verification by the verification tool;
- providing the element in a form of the constraint applied by the verification tool when the model-based design is executed, wherein simulation of the model-based design of the graphical model including the element representing the constraint automatically ignores the element representing the constraint;
- and
- displaying the element in the graphical model on a display device.
A system for providing an element associated with a graphical model representing a model-based design to identify a precondition for verification of the model-based design, the system comprising:
- a processing unit configured to process:
- a modeling environment providing a graphical model representing a model-based design;
- a mechanism for providing an element in the graphical model representing a precondition with a portion of the graphical model, the element having information specifying a constraint of the precondition to apply in a verification of the model-based design, the precondition allowing the verification to be performed only when a variable in the model-based design satisfies the constraint, wherein simulation of the model-based design of the graphical model including the element representing the precondition automatically ignores the element representing the precondition;
- and
- a verification tool obtaining an executable form of the model-based design of the graphical model, and a form of the constraint of the precondition applicable by the verification tool to an execution of the model-based design;
- and
- a display device for displaying the element in the graphical model.
A device readable medium holding device readable instructions for a computer-implemented method for providing an element associated with a model-based design represented by a graphical model to identify a precondition for verification of the model-based design, the method comprising:
- providing, in a modeling environment, a graphical model representing a model-based design;
- identifying a portion of the graphical model to associate with a precondition for verification of the model-based design, the precondition comprising a constraint to apply in verification of the model-based design, the precondition allowing the verification to be performed only when a variable in the model-based design satisfies the constraint;
- providing an element in the graphical model to represent the precondition associated with the identified portion of the graphical model, wherein:
- the element having includes information indicating the constraint to apply in a verification of the model-based design, and
- during simulation of the model-based design of the graphical model including the element representing the precondition, the element representing the precondition is automatically ignored;
- and
- displaying the element in the graphical model on a display device.
A device readable medium holding device readable instructions for a computer-implemented method for verifying a model-based design represented by a graphical model associated with a precondition for executing the verification, the method comprising:
- providing a graphical model representing a model-based design, the graphical model having an element identifying a precondition associated with a portion of the model-based design, the precondition specifying a constraint to be applied by a verification tool in verifying the model-based design, the precondition allowing the verification to be performed only when a variable in the model-based design satisfies the constraint;
- processing the graphical model into an executable form of the model-based design for verification by the verification tool;
- providing the element in a form of the constraint applicable by the verification tool in execution of the executable form, wherein simulation of the model-based design of the graphical model including the element representing the constraint automatically ignores the element representing the constraint;
- and
- displaying the element in the graphical model on a display device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.