Test Support Apparatus for Dynamic Virtual Environment Construction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost of maintaining a test environment with the same configuration as a commercial environment for information systems makes it impractical to efficiently perform tests during system updates.
Innovation Solution
A test support apparatus and system that dynamically constructs a test environment on a virtual system by specifying a set of test programs and environments associated with updated configuration information, deploying a partial information system, and executing the specified test program.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a test environment with the same configuration as the commercial environment is maintained, then testing reliability is improved, but maintenance cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the test environment construction by identifying and isolating only the specific configuration items that were updated in the commercial environment. Instead of maintaining a complete replica, the system divides the test setup into minimal necessary components, constructing only the specific test environment corresponding to the updated configuration items, thereby reducing maintenance costs while preserving testing reliability for the affected components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by tailoring the test environment configuration to match only the specific updated configuration items rather than replicating the entire commercial environment. The test environment is locally optimized to have the same configuration as the commercial environment only where necessary (for updated items), while differing in other aspects, thus reducing overall resource consumption and maintenance cost.
2Reliability
If a complete test environment is constructed, then testing completeness is improved, but construction time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the test environment construction process by identifying only the specific configuration items that require testing based on update detection. The system divides the construction task into minimal necessary steps, building only the specific test environment components related to updated configurations, thereby significantly reducing construction time while maintaining testing completeness for the affected areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by constructing only the necessary portion of the test environment required for effective testing of updated configurations. Instead of building the complete test environment, the system performs partial construction focused on the specific updated configuration items, achieving sufficient testing completeness without the time overhead of full environment setup.
3Adaptability or versatility
If configuration information is updated, then system functionality is improved, but test environment maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms that automatically detect configuration information updates in the commercial environment and trigger corresponding test environment adjustments. The system monitors configuration changes, identifies affected test components, and automatically updates or reconstructs only the necessary test environment elements, thereby managing maintenance complexity systematically even as system functionality evolves through frequent updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the test environment to self-adjust in response to configuration updates through automated detection and construction processes. The system automatically identifies updated configuration items, determines the impact on test environments, and performs necessary reconstructions without manual intervention, reducing the perceived maintenance complexity for users while adapting to improved system functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A test support apparatus includes a specifying unit that refers to a database in which each of a plurality of pieces of configuration information constituting an information system and a set of a test program and a test environment corresponding to each piece of the configuration information are registered in association with each other and specifies the set of the test program and the test environment associated with the detected configuration information when an update of some of the plurality of pieces of configuration information constituting the information system is detected, a construction unit that constructs the specified test environment on a virtual system, a deployment unit that deploys a partial information system related to the detected configuration information to the constructed test environment, and a test execution unit that executes the specified test program on the partial information system deployed in the test environment.