Automated Media Services Validation Engine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional system-level testing in large network systems is cumbersome due to the need for multiple test engineers to coordinate and validate test data across distributed sites or subsystems, especially when these sites are geographically and network-distant, making it difficult to ensure data propagation and validation of updates.
Innovation Solution
A testing system that generates test transactions and validates results in a simulated environment, allowing for automated identification and retrieval of test values, comparison with known values, and deployment of configuration settings, thereby simplifying the validation process across multiple support systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional system level testing is performed with multiple test engineers coordinating across distributed sites, then validation of test data propagation can be achieved, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-validation by automatically comparing test results against expected outcomes without requiring manual intervention from test engineers at distributed sites. The validation engine autonomously determines whether test data propagated correctly through the network
Solution Approach 2:
A centralized validation engine performs multiple functions including generating test transactions, collecting results from distributed support systems, comparing outcomes against expected values, and determining test pass/fail status, replacing the need for multiple specialized test engineers
2Reliability
If test engineers manually access distant support systems to retrieve and validate test results, then validation can be performed, but the process becomes cumbersome due to geographic and network distance
Solution Approach 1:
A centralized validation engine acts as an intermediary that automatically collects test results from distant support systems through network communications, eliminating the need for test engineers to manually access each distributed system
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates and validates copies of test data and expected results in a centralized location, allowing validation to occur without requiring direct access to the original distant support systems
3Reliability
If multiple test engineers coordinate operations across distributed subsystems, then comprehensive validation can be achieved, but device complexity and coordination overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The validation function is segmented into distinct automated components: test transaction generation, result collection from distributed systems, comparison against expected outcomes, and pass/fail determination, each performed by the centralized validation engine without requiring human coordination
Solution Approach 2:
A single centralized validation engine performs all validation functions across distributed support systems, replacing the complex coordination structure of multiple test engineers with a unified automated system
Data Source
AI summary
A testing system and application performs validation testing on a media services delivery system by generating test transactions and validating test results at a plurality of support systems updated by the test transactions in a test environment. Support systems are independent systems that may be geographically and network distant, thus are cumbersome to access for validating corresponding updates based on a test transaction. The test system is accessible via an Internet or network portal for accessing an application that generates a test transaction, invokes a system under test for implementing the test transaction, and validates the results of the support system updates with known values for successful test completion. The test system automates the identification, retrieval and comparison of test generated values with known values corresponding to a successful transaction, and is operable to perform a suite of tests in succession from a set of predetermined test transactions and corresponding known values.