# US 8,543,990 B2 · Methods and apparatus for testing software with real-time source data from a projectile > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,543,990 B2 - Document ID: US8543990B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/152,647 - Filed: 2008-05-14 - Published: 2008-11-20 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2007-05-14 - Assignees: Raytheon Company - Applicants: Patric M. McGuire; Steven T. Siddens; David A. Lance - Inventors: Patric M. McGuire; Steven T. Siddens; David A. Lance - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8543990B2 ## CPC - G06F 11/3684: {for test design, e.g. generating new test cases} - F41G 3/32: Devices for testing or checking - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - F41G: WEAPON SIGHTS; AIMING (optical aspects thereof G02B) ## Abstract Methods and apparatus for testing software with real-time source data from a projectile according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with a real-time data source, a signal processor, a recordable medium, and a testing platform. The signal processor receives real-time data from a real-time data source during a test and saves it to a storage medium before providing the real-time data to the testing platform for permanent storage. During a subsequent test, the testing platform may upload the saved real-time data to the signal processor foregoing the need to generate new real-time data from the real-time data source. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method for testing software by simulating a real-time environment, comprising: receiving an input signal from a real-time data source during a first software test at a first time, wherein the input signal comprises real-time data acquired by the real-time data source from a projectile during flight and the input signal is assigned a first time stamp associated with the first software test, and wherein the real-time data includes the time the projectile was fired and the amount of time elapsed during flight of the projectile; saving the input signal to a recordable medium for storage; and supplying the saved input signal to a real-time system during a second software test at a second time later than the first time, wherein the saved input signal is to be used in place of real-time data from the real-time data source, wherein the supplying includes changing the first time stamp of the input signal to a second time stamp associated with the second software test to appear as though the saved input signal has been generated in real-time during the second software test. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the input signal comprises radar image data of the projectile. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the input signal is to be converted from an analog signal to a digital signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the real-time data source comprises a projectile tracking system separate from the projectile. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the real-time data source comprises a target for the projectile. ### Claim 6 A computer system for testing software in a real-time environment, wherein the computer system is configured to: process an input signal coming from an real-time data source during a first software test at a first time, wherein the input signal comprises real-time data acquired by the real-time data source from a projectile during flight and the input signal is assigned a first time stamp associated with the first software test, and wherein the real-time data includes the time the projectile was fired and the amount of time elapsed during flight of the projectile; save the processed input signal to a storage medium; and transmit the saved input signal to a real-time system during a second software test at a second time later than the first time, wherein the saved input signal is to be supplied to the real-time system in place of real-time data from the real-time data source, wherein the transmitting includes changing the first time stamp of the input signal to reflect a second time stamp associated with the second software test to appear as though the saved input signal has been generated in real-time during the second software test. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The computer system according to claim 6, wherein the input signal comprises radar image data of the projectile. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The computer system according to claim 6, wherein processing the input signal comprises converting the input signal from an analog signal to a digital signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The computer system according to claim 6, wherein the real-time data source comprises a projectile tracking system separate from the projectile. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The computer system according to claim 6, wherein the real-time data source comprises a target for the projectile. ### Claim 11 A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions executable by a computer, wherein the instructions cause the computer to execute a method for testing software in a real-time environment comprising: receiving an input signal from a real-time data source during a first software test at a first time, wherein the input signal comprises real-time data acquired by the real-time data source from a projectile during flight and the input signal is assigned a first time stamp associated with the first software test, and wherein the real-time data includes the time the projectile was fired and the amount of time elapsed during flight of the projectile; saving the input signal to a recordable medium for storage; and supplying the saved input signal to a real-time system during a second software test at a second time later than the first time, wherein the saved input signal is to be used in place of real-time data from the real-time data source, wherein the supplying includes changing the first time stamp of the input signal to a second time stamp associated with the second software test to appear as though the saved input signal has been generated in real-time during the second software test. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 11, wherein the receiving of the input signal comprises converting the input signal from an analog signal into a digital signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 11, wherein the input signal comprises radar image data of the projectile.