Use of object oriented test libraries for generic re-use of test code in type approval computer controlled test systems

Cel

TestLib is aimed to explore the use of C++ object libraries for the automated generation of reusable test software code in automated test system for telecommunication devices. Expected outcomes of this experiment are directly applicable to a very wide community involved in test software development or measurement automation under computer control. By applying the techniques involved in this experiment software engineering and test engineering specialities will interact within the test software development process in a highly efficient way through task specialisation. Software re-use will allow development effort to be reduced in a 30 to 40 percent.

THE EXPERIMENT

A generic instrumentation drivers library will be developed. Efforts will be made for obtaining backwards compatibility with emerging driver description architecture supplied by instrumentation hardware vendors. Tests and measurement definitions will be made by means of a visual programming environment to simplify the way test and measurement procedures programming are performed. Test software code will be generated based on the above definitions by means of a high level code compiler. The generation of a relational data base for allocating and handling all test code components and definitions will be automated. A library containing all the necessary functions will be implemented. Following this new approach, ETS 300086 type approval test standard for mobile radio terminals will be implemented under the baseline project. This implementation will feed a Test Engine Core application software being developed under the baseline project to generate the final type approval test application.
The software development team is composed by four engineers.

EXPECTED IMPACT AND EXPERIENCE

This process improvement experiment is based on the idea of making a more rational usage of the different engineering specialities involved in test software development, by applying software science knowledge to the service of the test engineering side of the process. Software engineers should provide the background to test engineers that allow them to design and develop new computer controlled test system in a self-sufficient manner without the need of a strong and difficult inter-relationship, which results in an inefficient development process. If software engineers provide this framework to test experts, these could concentrate their efforts in using high level and friendly syntax command language to describe how measurements should be made and how computer controllable instrumentation behave and interact. Based on a "test engine core" application of generic nature different test codes would be fed into this engine to generate the final test application. This engine core would be re-usable in many different ATS's to handle test flow or sequencing. In the midterm, it will be possible to design and generate a commercial CASE tool, based on this same principle, which will allow other industries, not in the software business, to directly benefit from the possibility of developing their own codes for instrumentation control and testing, without the need of involving their software experts in the software generation process, reducing the investment currently required and raising the feasibility of ATS projects.

Dziedzina nauki

Program(-y)

FP4-ESSI 2 - Software Best Practice initiative within the framework of the specific research and technological development programme in the field of Information Technologies, 1994-1998

Temat(-y)

1.28 - Process Improvement Experiments

Zaproszenie do składania wniosków

Data not available

System finansowania

ACM - Preparatory, accompanying and support measures

Koordynator

Integracion y Sistemas de Medida

Wkład UE

Brak danych

Adres

C/Pedro De Valdivia 34
28006 Madrid
Hiszpania

Koszt całkowity