Test Stream Pre-requisite Instruction Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing test management solutions fail to effectively handle unpredictable test results, leading to reduced test coverage and increased overhead due to the need for post-requisite cleanup instructions, which can render test streams less random and limit the number of test instructions.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to insert pre-requisite instructions at random locations in the test stream to clean up only the unpredictable data used by subsequent test instructions, minimizing the use of post-requisite instructions and maintaining a more random test stream with improved test coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If post-requisite cleanup instructions are added to handle unpredictable test results, then test reliability is improved, but test stream randomness is reduced and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by inserting pre-requisite instructions before test instructions that may generate unpredictable results. These pre-requisite instructions initialize data areas with predictable values beforehand, preventing unpredictable test results from occurring in the first place. This approach eliminates the need for post-requisite cleanup instructions while maintaining test reliability, thus preserving test stream randomness and reducing overall complexity.
2Reliability
If post-requisite cleanup instructions are added to handle unpredictable test results, then test reliability is improved, but the number of test instructions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
By performing the cleanup action preliminarily (before the test instruction rather than after), the patent eliminates the need for additional post-requisite instructions. This allows more test instructions to be included in the test stream within the same resource constraints, thereby improving test coverage while maintaining reliability through the pre-initialization of data areas.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual testing is used to maintain randomness in test execution, then test coverage of unpredictable scenarios is improved, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by automatically analyzing the test stream to identify instructions that generate unpredictable results and inserting the necessary pre-requisite instructions automatically. This eliminates the need for manual testing intervention while maintaining test stream randomness, thereby achieving the desired adaptability without the high resource consumption associated with manual testing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of manual testing with an automated systematic approach. The system automatically instruments the test stream with pre-requisite instructions based on static analysis, substituting human effort with an automated process that achieves the same goal of maintaining randomness while consuming fewer resources.
Data Source
AI summary
In an approach to cleanup of unpredictable test results, one or more computer processors generate a data area associated with a first test instruction in a test stream. The one or more computer processors determine whether the generated data area overlaps with an unpredictable data area. In response to determining the generated data area overlaps with an unpredictable data area, the one or more computer processors determine a second test instruction associated with the overlapped unpredictable data area, where the second test instruction precedes the first test instruction in the test stream. The one or more computer processors select a location in the test stream between the first test instruction and the second test instruction. The one or more computer processors insert one or more pre-requisite instructions in the selected location, where the one or more pre-requisite instructions load the overlapped unpredictable data area with pre-defined data.