Automated Test Case Generation from Business Process Models
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Solution Overview
Problem
The testing of software applications is a time-consuming and resource-intensive process, particularly for end-to-end applications, where manually generating and evaluating tens of thousands of test cases is burdensome due to the complexity and size of the applications.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for generating functional test cases using a structured business process model (BPM) that includes flow objects and linking objects, validated against rules, to identify functional flow paths and generate test cases for each scenario, thereby automating the test case creation process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual test case generation is used for end-to-end software applications, then test cases can be created from software requirements, but the process becomes extremely burdensome and time-consuming when the application complexity and size grow
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically generating test cases from business process models without requiring manual intervention. The automated test case generation system extracts test cases directly from the BPMN model, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring continuous manual effort for test case creation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual process of creating test cases with an automated computational system. The system uses software algorithms to parse business process models, identify flow paths, and generate test cases automatically, substituting the manual mechanical activity with an automated digital process.
2Reliability
If manual test case creation is performed for complex software applications, then test cases can be evaluated against the application system, but the complexity and size of applications makes the process unmanageable
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the complex application into manageable business processes represented as separate BPMN models. Each business process is modeled as an independent unit with defined flow paths, allowing the system to handle complexity by dividing it into smaller, manageable segments that can be processed and tested individually.
Solution Approach 2:
The business process model serves as an intermediary between the application requirements and the test cases. Instead of directly creating test cases from complex application code, the system uses the BPMN model as an intermediate representation that simplifies the relationship between requirements and test cases, making the overall process more manageable.
3Productivity
If automated test case generation techniques are used, then test case creation can be streamlined, but the process still requires significant planning and resources
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by generating the complete business process model before test case creation. The BPMN model is created once to represent all business processes, and then multiple test cases can be automatically extracted from this pre-prepared model, eliminating the need for repeated planning and model creation during the testing process.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, medium and method for testing an end-to-end software application is disclosed. A structured business process model (BPM) representative of a set of business requirements for an end-to-end software application to be tested is first generated. The generated structured BPM is validated in association with one or more validation rules. A functional flow layout representative of a node structure embodying all possible scenarios to be handled by the software application is then generated. A plurality of functional flow paths is identified from the functional flow layout, wherein each functional flow path is associated with one or more corresponding scenarios of the possible scenarios. One or more test cases for each identified functional flow path is then generated.