Certification Agent Proxy for Partner Product Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current certification processes for partner products are cumbersome and lack centralized management, requiring partners to repeatedly configure and test each version of the original product and partner product, leading to limited visibility for both partners and original developers on certification progress.
Innovation Solution
A certification system with a centralized certification center and partner computing system, utilizing a certification agent as a proxy to initiate, monitor, and report certification tests, allowing for streamlined configuration, execution, and reporting of test results across multiple tests and products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If certification tests are performed within the partner computing system using locally downloaded tools, then the partner product can be tested against original product standards, but the process becomes cumbersome requiring repeated configuration and downloading of test frameworks for each product version
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a certification server as an intermediary between the original product developer and partner developers. This server hosts the certification test framework centrally, eliminating the need for partners to download and configure tools locally. The server acts as a mediator that provides standardized testing capabilities to all partners, simplifying the certification process while maintaining reliability through centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The certification server provides a universal platform that serves multiple partners and multiple product versions simultaneously. Instead of each partner needing their own customized test framework, the server offers a multi-functional system that can certify different partner products against different original product versions using a single centralized infrastructure.
2Ease of operation
If each partner downloads and configures their own certification testing tool, then they can perform certification tests, but they have limited visibility into certification progress and must manually upload logs for review
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the certification server automatically receives test log files from partners' computing systems and provides real-time status updates. The server processes the logs, determines certification results, and communicates outcomes back to partners and original product developers, eliminating the need for manual log uploads and providing continuous visibility into certification progress.
Solution Approach 2:
The certification server automatically processes certification requests and test logs without requiring manual intervention. The system self-services by automatically downloading logs, analyzing results, determining certification status, and notifying relevant parties, thereby maintaining partner independence while eliminating information loss through automated tracking.
3Reliability
If certification processes are repeated for each product version and partner product, then comprehensive coverage is achieved, but the time and effort required increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The certification server pre-configures and hosts test frameworks for multiple original product versions in advance. When a partner needs certification, the server already has the appropriate test frameworks ready, eliminating the need for partners to download and configure tools for each version. This preliminary preparation significantly reduces certification time while maintaining comprehensive coverage across all product versions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple certification processes into a single centralized system. Instead of partners separately managing certification for each product version, the server combines all certification activities into one unified process, automatically selecting and executing the appropriate test framework based on the specific partner product and original product version being certified.
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary systems and methods certify a partner product for use with an originally developed product. A certification agent within a partner computing system transmits, to a certification server that is external to the partner computing system, an indication that the certification agent is ready to run a certification test of a partner product. The certification agent is configured to run the certification test. The certification agent is communicatively coupled to a testbed operating within the partner computing system and in which the partner product is to be tested. The certification agent receives, from the external certification server, an instruction to implement at least a portion of the certification test. In response to receiving the instruction, the certification agent initiates the portion of the certification test within testbed.