Automated Verification Subsystem for Financial Trading Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

The generation and updating of comprehensive test cases for financial trading systems are error-prone and require substantial efforts, as they involve complex financial transactions and evolving use cases, making automated testing challenging and time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A Verification Subsystem is implemented to automatically parse and map defined use cases into test cases, executing them in trading environments to validate financial transactions, thereby simplifying the testing process and reducing manual effort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual testing is used to ensure comprehensive test coverage, then testing accuracy is improved, but time consumption and labor costs increase substantially

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting accuracyVSAvoidtime consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates automated test cases that replicate manual testing procedures. The system generates test cases from use case descriptions and automatically executes them against the trading system, copying the verification steps that would otherwise be performed manually. This allows comprehensive testing to be performed automatically and repeatedly without human intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical testing operations with an automated computer-based verification system. The system automatically parses use case descriptions, generates test cases, executes them against the trading system, and validates results without requiring manual human operation. This substitution of mechanical manual testing with automated electronic processes reduces time consumption while maintaining testing accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If comprehensive test cases are manually generated and updated, then test coverage is improved, but the complexity and error-proneness of the process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetest coverageVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the complex testing process into distinct modular components: use case description parsing, test case generation, test case execution, and result validation. Each component is handled by a separate automated module in the verification system. This segmentation transforms the complex manual process into manageable automated steps, reducing overall process complexity while maintaining comprehensive test coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an automated intermediary system that acts as a mediator between use case descriptions and actual test execution. The verification system automatically translates high-level use case descriptions into detailed test cases and executes them, serving as an intermediary that eliminates the complex manual translation and execution process. This intermediary automated layer reduces both process complexity and error-proneness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If automated testing is implemented to reduce time and costs, then productivity is improved, but the complexity of the testing system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal verification system that can handle multiple testing functions through a single integrated platform. The system can parse various use case descriptions, generate different types of test cases, execute tests against the trading system, and validate results automatically. This multi-functional universal system improves productivity by consolidating multiple testing operations into one automated system, reducing the need for multiple separate complex tools.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8874479B2Systems and methods for testing a financial trading system
Publication Date: 2014.10.28 MIAMI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS INC
  • US8874479B2 patent drawing
  • US8874479B2 patent drawing
  • US8874479B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method is provided for testing a trading system having a verification subsystem and trading environments. Each of the environments has a network interface, memory, and a matching engine executed by a processor. The method includes retrieving, by the verification subsystem, at least one defined use case. Each defined use case includes command lines. The method also includes parsing the command lines based on defined parsing rules to produce parsed command lines. Each parsed command line includes a verb specifying financial transactions. Each parsed command line also includes data fields. The method further includes mapping the verb and fields of each command line based on defined mapping relationships to generate a test case. The method also includes executing the test case to generate messages to be executed by the trading system. The method also includes reading parameters of the trading system for comparison to specified validation values.