Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for training an automated software test

US6349393B1 · kind B1 · utility

20Cited by
5References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 29, 1999
Grant dateFeb 19, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 29, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F11/3672
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An automated software test is provided which includes a functional model of a system to be tested. The automated software test is utilized to operate a system under test in accordance with specified facts, goals and rules. Quasi-random actions are taken within the system in accordance with specified rules and facts until a defined goal has been accomplished. Training the automated software test is accomplished by specifying a particular goal, i.e. identifying a particularly known defect, and thereafter running the test in a quasi-random fashion until the particular goal has been achieved. The number and nature of actions required to achieve that goal are logged and the process is then repeated until the shortest path required to achieve that goal has been determined. The log of actions which eventually reach a particularly defect may also be utilized a probable cause tree structure for future analysis.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.