Method and system for implementing virtual users for automated test and retest procedures
Inventors
Gauf, Bernard • Bindas, Scott • Stubbs, William Richard
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9983965-B1
Publication Date
2018-05-29
Expiration Date
Abstract
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a computer implemented method and system for automated test and retesting using an interactive interface provided by a computer processor comprising: an input configured to receive a set of rules for a virtual user, the set of rules comprising a plurality of conditional statements for the virtual user; a memory component configured to store the set of rules; and a rules engine, comprising at least one processor, configured to generate a plurality of test flows based on the set of rules wherein the test flow tool provides modeling capability through an interface comprising a canvas configured to manage one or more rules and a palette that contains a collection of modeling components; and further configured to automatically execute the plurality of test flows on a system under test.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a computer implemented system for automated test and retesting using an interactive interface. The system receives a set of rules executed by a virtual user of a plurality of virtual users, where the set of rules comprises conditional statements and defines a type of virtual user that emulates an operator having one or more duties and interacts with a system under test in a specific manner.
The plurality of virtual users allow for variations of datasets and support multiple inputs and multiple paths that the system under test can take to reach a single goal when different scenarios are presented, so that the inputs and outputs are not predefined. A memory component stores the set of rules and a rules engine generates a plurality of test flows based on the set of rules.
The test flow tool provides modeling capability through an interface comprising a canvas configured to manage one or more rules and a palette that contains a collection of modeling components. The generated test flows represent a specific set of operations available to a specific virtual user and define how the specific virtual user interacts with the system under test.
The rules engine automatically executes the plurality of test flows on the system under test, where each test flow comprises a collection of one or more computer-based actions arranged to satisfy a specific test goal as performed by a specific virtual user based on the one or more duties associated with the emulated operator. The set of rules further comprises a plurality of priority settings for each virtual user, and each rule includes a corresponding priority rule that defines an execution order sequence proceeding along a path based on the order of stimulus presented by the system under test, where the stimulus is not predefined.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims, a system claim and a method claim. Each independent claim centers on rule-based virtual users with conditional statements and priority settings that drive stimulus-based execution order across multiple possible paths, combined with generating and automatically executing model-based test flows via a canvas/palette interface.
Rule-defined emulated operators and non-predefined inputs and outputs
Receiving a set of rules executed by a virtual user of a plurality of virtual users, where the set of rules comprises a plurality of conditional statements, defines a type of virtual user from a plurality of types of virtual users, and emulates an operator having one or more duties interacting with a system under test in a specific manner; the plurality of virtual users allow for variations of datasets and support multiple inputs and multiple paths to a single goal so that the inputs and outputs are not predefined.
Model-based test flow generation with canvas and palette
Generating, by a rules engine comprising at least one processor, a plurality of test flows based on the set of rules, where a test flow tool provides modeling capability through an interface comprising a canvas configured to manage one or more rules and a palette that contains a collection of modeling components; the plurality of test flows represent a specific set of operations available to a specific virtual user and define how the specific virtual user interacts with the system under test.
Automatic execution of rule-generated test flows
Automatically executing the plurality of test flows on a system under test, where each test flow comprises a collection of one or more computer-based actions arranged to satisfy a specific test goal as performed by a specific virtual user based on the one or more duties associated with the emulated operator.
Priority-driven stimulus-based execution order along possible paths
The set of rules further comprises a plurality of priority settings for the set of rules associated with each virtual user, where each rule has a corresponding priority rule that defines an execution order sequence that automatically proceeds along a path that a specific virtual user takes in interacting with the system under test from a plurality of possible paths based on an order of stimulus presented by the system under test, where the stimulus is not predefined.
Across both independent claims, the inventive concept combines rule-based virtual users that emulate operators with conditional statements and duties, a canvas/palette interface for generating model-based test flows, automatic execution of those test flows on a system under test, and priority settings that establish an execution order sequence driven by stimulus order, progressing along possible paths with non-predefined inputs and outputs.
Stated Advantages
Allows automated test and retesting using virtual users that support variations of datasets and multiple inputs and multiple paths to a single goal.
Avoids predefined inputs and outputs by using rule-based conditional behavior and stimulus-based priority-driven execution order.
Provides modeling capability via an interface comprising a canvas and a palette for managing rules and modeling components for generating test flows.
Automatically executes generated test flows on a system under test for a specific test goal.
Documented Applications
Distributed or multi-user endurance testing using virtual users and rule-based test flows.
Scriptless point-and-click, code, and capture-playback automation using a test flow tool with modeling capability through a canvas and palette.
Organizing multiple virtual users into hierarchical virtual teams with dependent actions.
Model-driven automated software testing with analysis outputs such as reports and plots comparing expected versus actual results.
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