Test Program Generation Using Unused Resources
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Solution Overview
Problem
Generating test programs for computerized devices is challenging due to the lack of available resources, as existing techniques often interfere with ongoing operations and affect performance by forcing the release of resources, which can lead to errors and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A method that scans previously executed instructions to identify unused resources, modifies their values, and adds instructions to utilize these resources for testing without disrupting the control flow or ongoing operations, ensuring that the changes do not adversely affect the system under test.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing techniques force the release of resources for testing, then testing can be performed, but system performance is affected and errors may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary analysis of instruction sets to identify resources that will not be used in future operations before generating test programs. By determining in advance which resources are safe to modify or reuse, the system can conduct thorough testing without interfering with ongoing operations, thus maintaining both testing accuracy and system performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates copies of instruction sets and analyzes them to identify unused resources, rather than directly modifying executing instructions. This copying approach allows the test generator to safely experiment with resource allocation and value modification without affecting the actual running system, resolving the contradiction between thorough testing and system performance.
2Productivity
If resources are reused for test programs, then testing efficiency improves, but resource availability for ongoing operations may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-analysis by scanning its own generated instruction sets to identify resources that have been allocated but not yet used. This self-service capability allows the test generator to automatically detect and utilize unused resources without external intervention, improving testing efficiency while preserving resource availability for ongoing operations through intelligent resource management.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the test generator scans and modifies instructions, then flexible test program generation is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complexity of instruction analysis and resource tracking into a separate reference model that parallels the executing system. By taking out the analytical functions from the execution path, the system achieves flexible test program generation through the reference model while keeping the actual system relatively simple and unchanged.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for flexible test program generation is described that alters previously used resources. The method includes scanning, by a test generator, a set of instructions that have been executed by a system under test (SUT) using a reference model of the SUT. The method further includes identifying, by the test generator, a resource for using in a test program by determining an allocation of a first value to the resource by a subset of instructions from the set of instructions, wherein the first value of the resource is not used after the allocation. The method further includes modifying the subset of instructions to allocate a second value to the resource, and adding to the set of instructions, at least one instruction that uses the second value to perform a predetermined operation. The SUT is tested based on a result of the predetermined operation that uses the second value.