Virtual Test Device for Voice Application Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Testing voice and messaging applications in telecommunications networks is challenging due to the use of unrelated external devices, which introduces anomalies and provides unreliable results, as developers lack control over the testing environment and devices used.

Innovation Solution

A software development system with a virtual test device embedded within the developer environment, allowing for controlled testing of voice and messaging applications, eliminating the need for external devices and enabling traceable and replicable results.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If external unrelated electronic devices are used for testing voice and messaging applications, then testing can be performed, but the testing results become unreliable and anomalies are introduced into the environment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting result reliabilityVSAvoidtesting environment control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual test device that is a software-based copy of a physical electronic device. This virtual device runs within the development environment and replicates the functionality needed for testing voice and messaging applications without requiring external hardware. The virtual device eliminates anomalies introduced by external devices while maintaining testing capability, directly resolving the reliability issue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual test device acts as an intermediary between the development environment and the application under test. Instead of using external unrelated devices that introduce environmental anomalies, the virtual device provides a controlled intermediate layer that enables testing while maintaining environment stability and result reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If external electronic devices are used for testing, then testing can be performed, but developers lack control over the testing environment and devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting environment controlVSAvoidtesting result consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By creating a virtual test device as a software copy within the development environment, developers gain complete control over the testing environment. The virtual device can be configured, started, stopped, and monitored directly through the development system, eliminating the lack of control when using external devices and ensuring consistent, reliable testing results.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the test device functionality directly into the development environment by embedding the virtual test device within the software system. This integration combines previously separate components (development environment and testing hardware) into a unified controlled system, giving developers complete oversight and control while maintaining result consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If a virtual test device is embedded in the software development system, then testing control and result reliability are improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting result accuracyVSAvoidsoftware system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual test device is implemented as a software copy rather than physical hardware, which reduces the need for additional external equipment. While it adds software components to the development system, it eliminates the complexity of managing external hardware devices, connections, and environmental variables, providing net simplification despite the software addition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual test device is self-contained within the software development system, requiring no external hardware support or additional physical infrastructure. It serves itself by implementing all testing functionality through software, reducing the overall system complexity compared to maintaining external devices and their associated hardware environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11474934B1Software development systems for creation and testing of voice and messaging applications and related methods and computers

Publication Date: 2022.10.18 BANDWIDTH INC

AI summary

A software development system is provided for creating and testing applications. The software development system includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium and a processor in communication with the medium. The processor is configured to create voice and/or messaging applications for use in a telecommunication system; provide the created voice and/or messaging applications to a voice/messaging server in a test environment through the telecommunications system, wherein the voice/messaging server in the test environment loads the created voice and/or messaging application into the server to test the created voice and/or messaging application therein; directly interact with the created voice/messaging application loaded onto the server in the test environment using a virtual test device embedded in the software development system to execute test scripts associated with the created voice/messaging application in the test environment; and directly receive test results associated with the created voice/messaging application from the server at the software development system.