Browserless Web Server Testing via HTTP Message Comparison

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional web server testing is browser-specific, requiring different browser drivers for each browser type, leading to inefficiencies due to the need for multiple downloads and resolving version/compatibility mismatches.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a browserless testing system that interacts directly with web servers via HTTP requests and responses, eliminating the need for browsers and browser drivers by using a computerized tool that preprocesses and validates HTTP messages without rendering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional browser-specific testing is used, then web server functionality can be validated through browser rendering, but setup time and complexity increase due to multiple browser drivers and version compatibility issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweb server validation accuracyVSAvoidsetup time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential testing function from the browser environment by directly sending HTTP requests to the web server and evaluating responses programmatically, eliminating the need for browser drivers and rendering engines while maintaining validation capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal testing framework that works with any web server regardless of browser compatibility issues, using standardized HTTP protocols instead of browser-specific interfaces, thereby eliminating the need for multiple browser drivers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If conventional browser-specific testing is used, then web server functionality can be validated through browser rendering, but device complexity increases due to multiple browser drivers and configuration requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweb server validation accuracyVSAvoidtesting environment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the complex browser layer and its associated drivers from the testing environment, retaining only the essential HTTP request-response mechanism needed for web server validation, thereby simplifying the testing setup

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical browser interface system with a direct programmatic HTTP communication system, eliminating the need for browser drivers, user interface automation, and rendering engine configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If conventional browser-specific testing is used, then web server functionality can be validated through browser rendering, but ease of operation decreases due to driver downloads and version matching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweb server validation accuracyVSAvoidtesting setup ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the core validation logic from the browser environment, using direct HTTP request sending and response evaluation that requires no driver installation or version matching, making the testing process immediately operable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The testing framework automatically handles HTTP request construction and response evaluation without requiring manual driver configuration or version management, making the system self-sufficient and easy to operate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20220179775A1Browserless testing

Publication Date: 2022.06.09 PAYPAL INC

AI summary

Systems and/or techniques for facilitating browserless testing of web servers are provided. In various embodiments, a system can record a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request message. In various cases, the HTTP request message can be generated by a client device and can be transmitted from the client device to a deployed web server. In various aspects, the system can record a first HTTP response message. In various cases, the first HTTP response message can be generated by the deployed web server based on the HTTP request message, and can be transmitted from the deployed web server to the client device. In various instances, the system can browserlessly transmit the HTTP request message to a web server undergoing testing. In various cases, the web server undergoing testing can generate a second HTTP response message based on the HTTP request message. In various aspects, the system can browserlessly receive the second HTTP response message from the web server undergoing testing. In various instances, the system can compare a first message body of the first HTTP response message to a second message body of the second HTTP response message, without rendering the first HTTP response message and without rendering the second HTTP response message.