Chatbot Version Comparison via Record-and-Play Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for testing chatbots are complex and inefficient, often requiring extensive knowledge of chatbot inner functionality and programming logic, and involve duplicate code in establishing connections and verifying conversation outcomes.

Innovation Solution

An application-level record-and-play approach to chatbot testing, where a conversation between a user and a chatbot is modeled, converted into a tag-based conversation file, and used to create test cases for different versions of the chatbot or application, allowing for easy creation of test cases without deep knowledge of chatbot internals and reducing implementation complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional chatbot testing methods are used, then testing can be performed, but the complexity of implementation increases and ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechatbot testing effectivenessVSAvoidtesting implementation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a simplified copy of the chatbot conversation in the form of a conversation file that records the essential interaction flow without requiring knowledge of the underlying programming logic. This copy can be used for testing different chatbot versions, eliminating the need to replicate complex testing setups for each version while maintaining testing effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a messaging application as an intermediary layer between the tester and the chatbot system. This intermediary handles the complex communication protocols and connection establishment automatically, allowing testers to interact with chatbots through simple message exchange without dealing with the underlying technical complexity of chatbot architecture and programming logic

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If traditional chatbot testing methods are used, then testing can be performed, but the ease of operation decreases due to requiring extensive knowledge of chatbot internals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetest case validityVSAvoidtest case creation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The conversation file serves as a simplified representation that captures the essential testing scenarios without requiring testers to understand chatbot internal workings. The file stores conversation flow, user inputs, and expected outcomes in a human-readable format that can be created and modified by anyone with basic knowledge of chatbot interactions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The messaging application serves multiple functions: it acts as the test execution environment, the communication interface, and the result verification system. This universal platform handles connection establishment, message routing, and outcome verification automatically, making test case creation accessible to users without specialized chatbot programming knowledge while ensuring test validity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10860802B2Chatbot version comparison
Publication Date: 2020.12.08 MICRO FOCUS LLC
  • US10860802B2 patent drawing
  • US10860802B2 patent drawing
  • US10860802B2 patent drawing

AI summary

According to an example, a system may receive a conversation with a first chatbot version through a messaging application, generate a first conversation file from the conversation, execute the first conversation file with a second chatbot version to generate a second conversation file, and compare the first conversation file with the second conversation file.