Software Quality Index via Weighted Defect Severity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional quality assurance tools face challenges in quantifying software product quality, comparing quality levels of different software products or versions, and objectively evaluating the efficiency of certification processes for identifying defects within software.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that includes a graphical user interface for identifying defects, associating defect severity levels with weighted values, and generating a product quality index to quantify software quality, along with indices like test effectiveness, defect density, and defect propagation to assess certification processes and software stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional quality assurance tools are used to identify defects, then defect detection capability is provided, but the ability to quantify quality level and compare different software products is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality quantification capabilityVSAvoidquality assessment framework complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The quality assessment framework is segmented into multiple independent indices: product quality index for defect quantification, test effectiveness index for certification process evaluation, defect density weightage index for defect distribution analysis, and defect propagation index for defect tracking across versions. Each index operates independently and can be calculated separately, enabling comprehensive quality measurement without requiring a monolithic complex system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transforms qualitative defect identification into quantitative parameters by assigning weighted values to different defect severity levels and calculating normalized indices. The product quality index converts defect counts into a standardized quality metric comparable across different software products, while other indices transform certification process characteristics into measurable parameters for objective evaluation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If detailed defect analysis is performed to quantify quality, then quality measurement accuracy improves, but the time required for quality assurance processes increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality measurement accuracyVSAvoidquality assurance process time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary classification of defects into severity levels with predefined weighted values during the defect identification phase. This preliminary action enables rapid calculation of the product quality index without requiring time-consuming detailed analysis, as the weighting and normalization are pre-established frameworks that can be applied quickly to new defect data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The quality assurance process incorporates feedback mechanisms where the calculated indices provide immediate quantitative feedback on software quality and certification effectiveness. This feedback enables continuous monitoring and comparison without requiring repeated comprehensive analyses, as the indices can be updated efficiently as new defect data becomes available, reducing the time needed for periodic quality assessments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple quality indices are calculated to provide comprehensive assessment, then evaluation completeness improves, but system complexity and ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality assessment comprehensivenessVSAvoidquality assurance operation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The quality assurance system is designed with multi-functionality, where a single integrated platform calculates multiple quality indices (product quality, test effectiveness, defect density, defect propagation) using the same underlying defect data and processing framework. This universal approach enables comprehensive quality assessment across different dimensions without requiring separate specialized tools for each metric, thereby maintaining operational simplicity while improving assessment comprehensiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9021441B2Methods and systems of determining a quality level of a software instance

Publication Date: 2015.04.28 VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC

AI summary

An exemplary method includes displaying a graphical user interface configured to facilitate identification of one or more defects in a software instance, receiving data representative of at least one instruction via the graphical user interface to associate one of a plurality of defect severity levels each having one of a plurality of weighted values with each of the one or more defects, and generating a product quality index corresponding to the software instance and that indicates a quality level of the software instance compared to a substantially defect-free software instance. In some examples, the generation of the product quality index is based on the defect severity levels and the weighted values associated with the one or more defects.