JP2001197242A - System and method for automating test of image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for automating a test for an image processing system and its method. SOLUTION: This computer system includes an application development environment 108 and a translator module 112 which is connected to the application development environment, receives a script file from the environment 108 and converts the instruction in the script file into the resource file of a performable byte code, and at least a subset in the byte code is interpreted by the image processing system 104 so as to be generated by user interactive manual processing with the control panel 122 of the system 104.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image processing system, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a method and a system for automating a test of an image processing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Image processing system technology is constantly evolving at a high speed. Printers, plotters, copiers, facsimile machines, and multi-function devices (several combinations of scanners, copiers, printers, and facsimile machines) meet various customer requirements and are available in a wide price range. The cost range of such an image processing system depends on the type of device and the technology used. Even within the type category of image processing systems, some prices are found, mainly based on technology used and manufacturing costs. For example, the cost of a laser printer generally depends on the speed of the print engine, the resolution of the printed image, the ability to print in color, and the network capabilities of the printer.

[0003] Another aspect of the cost of the image processing system described above is the manufacturing cost. One factor in this aspect is the effort involved in producing the product. Generally, image processing systems are mostly produced on automated manufacturing lines,
The components are assembled and assembled to produce the final product. However, one limitation to the automation of such prior art manufacturing activities lies in the testing of such products.
Most image processing systems include a control panel and a display panel that allow a user to manually control, for example, copy quality and scanning parameters. In order to effectively test such control panels and display panels, prior art manufacturing techniques required involvement in a test process where a person pressed a button and read the display. It will be appreciated that the use of humans to perform such tests will slow down production and increase the cost of manufacturing the product. For example, it is not uncommon for a particular test sequence of a scanner assembly to take from 8 to 40 hours, or up to one week, to complete.

[0004] It has been proven that human testing methods are prone to error. It is difficult for humans to accurately perform repetitive tasks over a long period of time. One of the prior art techniques for reducing human error in such tests
One approach has been to rotate test operators into various tasks during their working hours. This has reduced the number of human mistakes, but has not solved the problem.

[0005] The lack of automated testing also affects the correct repair of the image processing system. A field service technician may be called by a customer to quickly identify and repair system problems at the site.
Today, in order to address such customer issues, the necessary tests to identify and remediate the customer issue have been implemented,
Skilled technicians who have higher than normal skills must be used. Even if the technician has advanced training, product manuals and field service guides, the technician's ability to quickly and accurately identify the source of a problem depends on the technician's experience repairing the product. Many. As a result, user satisfaction is reduced when service technicians cannot quickly and accurately resolve product problems.

[0006] Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method for automating the testing of image processing systems that is generally unhindered by the limitations associated with the prior art.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a system and method for automating an image processing system test.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a computer system including an application development environment and an innovative image processing system translation module operatively coupled to the application development environment. Is presented. According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a conversion module receives a script file from an application development environment and converts the instructions in the script file into executable byte codes. At least a subset of the byte codes are interpreted by the image processing system as being created by a user through manual coordination with a control panel of the image processing system.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the script comprises one or more innovative image processing system control functions and corresponding one or more executable byte codes. And a definition library to be converted to. In addition, the conversion module provides multiple script
Bundle the files into one downloadable resource file that is separately accessible and executable by each script. According to one embodiment, each script is assigned an access code that can be entered from the control panel to start execution of a particular script. After one resource file is created, it is converted into a suitable image processing system language wrapper and downloaded to the image processing system.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an innovative image processing system includes a processing module and an interpreter module operatively coupled to the processing module, the resource file comprising: And interprets the byte code as a sequence of manual key presses from the control panel and instructs the processing module to modify the configuration of the image processing system according to the sequence of manual key presses. In this regard, the interpreter acts as a virtual control panel for the processing module, interprets the byte codes received in the resource file and provides the processing module with a command sequence to control the image processing system accordingly.

It should be understood that the innovative transform module coupled to one or more image processing systems including the innovative interpreter module implements the innovative image processing system application development / testing system. . This innovative system allows developers to create and download test applications with innovative instructions that are interpreted by the image processing system as a user's manual interaction with the control panel.

Throughout the figures, the same reference numbers are used to indicate the same features and features.

[0013]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a data network 100 that includes a computer system 102 coupled to an image processing system 104 by a communication medium 106. According to one embodiment of the present invention,
Computer system 10 including one or more applications 108, operating system 110 and innovative translator module 112
2 is presented. According to another embodiment of the present invention, an image processing system 104 including a copy module 114, a print module 116, and an innovative interpreter module 118 is shown. As will be described in more detail below, the innovative translator module 112 and interpreter module 118 allow developers to write and run test applications, typically allowing users to access the control panel of the image processing system 104. Manual image processing system test sequences that must be interacted with can be automated. According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, as will be described in more detail below, the developer may select a plurality of images to be translated and interpreted by the image processing system as manual keypad inputs on a control panel of the image processing system 104. Encode the file in an innovative, user-friendly description language that includes the following commands: In this regard, a developer can automate a manual image processing system test application using an innovative description language that includes commands that mimic manual human interaction with the image processing system. Therefore, it should be understood that the present invention provides a fundamental improvement in the cost and reliability of testing image processing systems.

As introduced earlier, the image processing system 1
04 includes a copy module 114, a printer module 116, and an innovative interpreter module 118, which are communicatively coupled as shown. As shown, the copying module 114 includes a processing module 120,
It includes a control panel 122 and a scanner module 124. In the present invention, the control panel 122 includes an input device such as a keypad and a display device. According to one embodiment, control panel 122 is a touch-sensitive display with the keypad actually protruding above the display panel. As will be described in more detail below, control panel 122 allows a user to interact with and control image processing system 104. In practice, some features and system attributes of the image processing system 104 are:
It can only be controlled by keypad input on the control panel 122 and is therefore required for manual testing of prior art imaging systems.

The copy module 114 controls the control panel 12
2 includes a processing module 120 and a scanner module 124. According to one embodiment, processing module 120 includes the necessary logic and memory to control the overall operation of image processing system 104. In this regard, the processing module 120 includes a network printing function,
It controls the functional components of the image processing system 104 to perform scanning and / or copying functions. Other functional elements are control logic, such as the innovative interpreter 1
Although it may include eighteen selected embodiments, it should be understood that the processing module 120 is intended to represent the general controller of the image processing system 104 as a whole. In this regard, processing module 120 includes image processing system 104 and external devices (eg, computer system 102) in response to commands received from control panel 122 and / or external devices (eg, computer system 102). Receives and controls communications with various modules. In an alternative embodiment, processing module 120 includes copy module 11
4, the print module 116
And interpreter module 118 each has its own dedicated processing module or control logic.

The scanner module 124 provides the scanning functions necessary to capture an image (document, image, etc.) of a physical medium for printing or storage in memory.

Printer module 116 is intended to represent any of a variety of printing devices known in the art, including but not limited to print engine subassemblies, laser printers, ink jet printers, plotters, and the like. Is intended. In one embodiment, for example, print module 116 is a network laser printer coupled to copy module 114 by a high speed communication path (eg, an IEEE 1394 standard connection). In an alternative embodiment, the print module 11
6 is a print engine coupled to the copy module 114 by a local bus. Thus, although shown as a sub-assembly of the image processing system 104, the printer module 116 is located remotely and in communication with the processing module 120 of the image processing system 104 to provide printing capabilities of the image processing system 104. It will be appreciated that it may be accessible.

As shown, the printer module 1
16 includes a storage device 126. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the innovative test application generated by the translator module 112 is downloaded and stored in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, as described in more detail below. Available from In the present invention, storage device 126 may be any of a variety of storage devices including, but not limited to, hard disk drives and other magnetic media drives, compact disks (CDs) or digital versatile disks (DVDs), optical media drives, and the like. It is intended to indicate any of the media. Since such devices are known, there is no need to discuss them in further detail herein. However, it should be understood that in alternative embodiments, the image processing system 104 can access the test application from any of a plurality of storage devices, including external storage devices, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, image processing system 104 includes an innovative interpreter module 118 that identifies and selects selected byte codes in a test application as manual key inputs on control panel 122. including. As described above, the image processing system 1
Some features and functions of 04 can only be controlled by control panel 122 (i.e., can only be controlled manually). Such constraints require that such features and functions be manually tested, thereby increasing the production time and costs associated with manufacturing image processing system 104. As will be described in more detail below, the innovative interpreter module 118 acts as a “virtual keypad” and allows the application developer to use the interpreter module 118 to control the control panel 122.
, And provides the instructions to a processing module 120 that controls the features and functions of the image processing system 104 according to the interpreted commands. That is, the interpreter module 118 automates the otherwise manual test sequence.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, one or more applications 108, an operating system 110, each coupled as shown, an innovative translator module 1 incorporating the teachings of the present invention.
12, a computer system 102 is shown.
As will be described in more detail below, the translator module 112, when executed by the image processing system interpreter module 118, mimics a user's manual interaction with the image processing system control panel. Or receive a script file containing multiple innovative script commands. Since the description language does not require a special mechanism or function, the script can be appropriately developed in any description environment or application development environment. According to one embodiment, computer system 102 includes an application development tool in application 108 that is suitably used by a developer to write a script file. In an alternative embodiment, the computer 102 has a script program developed on another computer system (not shown).
Receive the file.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the description language is designed to mimic a user's interaction with control panel 122 to control or obtain state information from image processing system 104. Includes a set of innovative commands and their associated arguments. More specifically, the innovative description language includes a series of instructions defining key operations that can be entered by a user at control panel 122 to control various features and functions of image processing system 104; Some of its features and functions can be manually controlled only by the control panel 122. According to one embodiment, the innovative description language includes the following commands: press (argument) :: Simulate manual control panel input. active (argument) :: Determines whether the argument is active. get (argument) :: Retrieves state information associated with the argument. set (argument) :: Sets the state information defined by the argument. debug (argument) :: Debugs the argument. sleep (argument) :: Stop at the argument.

Innovative combinations of description language commands and arguments are stored in a definition file that must be included (declared as instructions) in each script described in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the definition. The asm file defines all acceptable keystrokes, system variables, state constants and system functions as unique execution instructions. In one embodiment, the executable instructions are positive integers (bytes
Code). definitions. By using asm files and their equivalents, developers can write script files in a user-friendly language using low-level bytecode without encoding the script files. it can.

A list of examples of innovative script commands, key operations, system variables, state constants, etc. and their corresponding byte codes are provided in Tables 1 and 2 of the present application. However, the specific commands needed to replace the user's manual interaction with the control panel 122 of the image processing system 104 are specific to the image processing system, the type of image processing system, and / or the manufacturer of the image processing system. Please understand that it is good. Therefore, the innovative script commands shown in Tables 1 and 2 are to be considered merely examples, and within the spirit and spirit of the present invention, when executed, a user with the control panel of the image processing system. An alternative / additional description command that mimics the interactive processing of is expected.

[Table 1]

[Table 2]

Innovative Translator Module 11
2 apart from the computer system 102, the application 108 and the operating system 1
10 is intended to represent any of several alternative computer systems, applications and operating systems known in the art. Thus, it will be appreciated that the innovative translator module 112 does not require any special features or functions that are generally not present on any computer system.

As used herein, translator module 112 creates a script file developed for use with an image processing system, such as image processing system 104, that incorporates the teachings of the present invention. In this regard, the translator module 112
Compile script files, bundle one or more resource files into a single resource file, and resource into a printer-specific execution language
Performs one or more of three independent functions, including file wrapping. As described in more detail below, translator module 112 compiles the received script file and translates the high-level language instructions into a second, generally low-level language executable by the image processing system. . Translator module 112 receives the script file and generates a compiled resource file of executable instructions. Next, the translator module 112
However, one or more compiled resource files can be bundled to generate a single resource file representing multiple script files.
As described below, each individual resource file can be uniquely accessed within the common resource file using the access code assigned to each resource file by the translator module 112 during the bundling process It is. In addition, the translator module 112 converts the bundled resource file into an image processing system-specific application program.
Wrap in format. Examples of such wrapping include PCL ^™ and PJL printer languages. According to one embodiment, after being compiled, bundled, and wrapped, the wrapper, in which the resource files are embedded, is provided by the operating system 110 and the communication medium 106 to one or more image processing systems (1).
04).

In the present invention, communication medium 106 may be a unique data bus, an industry standard data bus, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or a global area network (eg, It is intended to represent any of a number of representative communication links including, but not limited to, the Internet. In this regard, some image processing systems with the innovative interpreter module 126 have been developed over the common computer platform 102 using the innovative translator module 112 via the communication medium 106. It is expected that you will be able to receive the test application. A single computer system 102 and image processing system 104 have been shown for purposes of illustration, not limitation.

Having described the operating environment of the present invention with reference to FIG. 1, the elements and general operation of the translator module 112 and interpreter module 118 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. I do.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of a translator module 112 that includes the teachings of the present invention. As shown, translator module 112 includes control logic 202, input / output (I
/ O) Includes resources 204, translators 206, one or more script files 208 and resource files 210. Translator 206 is shown to include a compiler function 212, a bundler function 214, and a wrapper function 216, each of which is described in more detail below. According to the teachings of the present invention,
Script file 208 is intended to represent an application script written using the innovative description language of the present invention. Similarly, resource file 210 may be a script file (eg, def
ines. asm file) and one or more resource files utilized by the compiler, bundler or wrapper functions (212-216). It should be understood that script files and resource files are shown as separate functional elements for ease of explanation. It is likely that such files will be implemented as instructions stored in memory / storage accessible by control logic 202, possibly via input / output interface 204. Such alternative embodiments are envisioned within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In the present invention, control logic 202 and input / output resources are intended to represent various control logic and input / output interfaces known in the art. In one embodiment, for example, control logic 202 is a processor and the input / output interface is a network interface. In an alternative embodiment, the control logic 202 comprises a programmable logic array (PLA), a rewritable gate array (FPGA).
Alternatively, it is an application specific IC (ASIC). In the present invention, control logic 202 receives a script file from a development tool (for example) and selectively invokes one or more functions of translator 206.
After the appropriate functions of the translator 206 have been performed, the control logic 202 sends the translator 2 to the identified image processing system via the input / output interface 206.
Download the wrapped and bundled resource file (ie, application image) generated by 06. In one embodiment, control logic 202 includes a graphical user user that selects which application images to download to which image processing system via input / output interface 204.
Provide an interface (GUI) to the user.

As described above, the translator 206
Includes one or more of a compiler function 212, a bundler function 214, and a wrapper function 216. According to the example embodiment shown, translator 206
Includes all three functions, but alternative embodiments with more or fewer functional elements are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. When invoked by the control logic 202, the compiler function 212 receives a high-level language script file and translates the file into a second low-level language. According to one embodiment, the compiler function 212 converts the script file into executable bytecode of the resource file.

After compiling all of the script files into resource files, the control logic synchronizes the key sequence entered on the control panel of the image processing system with the resource files in a one-to-one mapping. Call. That is, each resource file has a unique key sequence or access key that allows each resource file to be uniquely identified from the control panel 122 of the image processing system 104.
A code is assigned. Further, the bundler function 214
Converts the identified resource file to a single resource
Bundle to file. According to one embodiment, control logic 202 provides a user interface that allows a user to easily select a bundled resource file. In an alternative embodiment, control logic 202 identifies all available resource files and instructs bundler function 214 to bundle all identified resource files. resource·
After the file has been assigned a unique name and bundled, the control logic 202 calls the wrapper function 216. The wrapper function 216 is an image processing system (104)
The bundled resource file is embedded in a language specific to the image processing system (eg, the PCLXL or PJL language shown above) for download and execution. When the bundled resource file is processed by the wrapper, the resource file is downloaded by the control logic 202 via the input / output interface 204 to the identified image processing system. According to one embodiment, an image processing system command (ie, an appropriate image processing system language (eg, PJL)) is issued to the image processing system by the control logic 202 and embedded (wrapped). Download the resource file to a storage device accessible by the print module, for example, storage device 126.

As described above, the translator module 112 obtains a script file written in an innovative and user-friendly language, and downloads and executes the script file using an image processing system including the innovative interpreter module 118. Generate a suitable test application.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of an interpreter module according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown, interpreter module 118 includes control logic 302, input / output interface 304, interpreter 306, and memory 308, coupled as shown. As before, control logic 302, input / output interface 304, and memory 308 are each intended to represent any of a wide range of such functional elements known in the art. Therefore, it is not necessary to further describe the other processes of the interaction with the interpreter 306. Processor module 120
Receives a command from the control panel 122 and invokes the selected resource file, the resource file is retrieved from the storage 126 and loaded into the memory 308 of the interpreter 118 via the input / output interface 304 and the control logic 302. You. In response, control logic 302 executes a resource file that provides instructions to processing module 120 to configure and execute a series of tests. In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, when control logic 302 encounters a command that would otherwise require a human to interact with control panel 122,
Interpreter 306 issues a series of key sequences instead of manual adjustment by control panel 122. In this regard, the interpreter 306 is a "virtual control panel", providing the control panel 122 with automated proxy processing, automating what would otherwise have to be done manually by a human.

Having introduced the general operation and functional architecture of the present invention, reference is now made to FIGS.
Expand on examples of operating methods. The operation of the present invention will be developed with reference to FIGS.

Turning to FIG. 4, a flowchart of an example of a method for developing an executable test application that includes the teachings of the present invention is provided. As shown, the process begins at step 402, where a developer writes a script file that embodies the teachings of the present invention. As aforementioned,
The developer utilizes innovative commands, key operations, system variables and state constants to mimic a user's manual interaction with the control panel 122. According to one embodiment, the user includes a call to a definition file (eg, defines.asm) that associates the innovative script command with the corresponding byte code.

At step 404, a script embodying the teachings of the present invention is sent to the conversion module 112.
As described above, the conversion module 112 compiles the received script file into a low-level language resource file. After compiling, translator 112 bundles the identified resource files into a single resource file. As described above, the bundler function 214 associates each individual resource file with a unique control panel key sequence, thereby causing each resource file in the image processing system 104 to be associated.
Make files individually accessible. In this regard, the bundler function 214 may, at step 408, compile the script (or
Access the library in the resource file).

At step 410, the bundler resource
The file is wrapped in a language specific to the image processing system and downloaded to the image processing system. More specifically, translator 112 creates an image file using a language specific to the image processing system, and calls a wrapper function 216 that embeds the bundled resource file in the image file. The image file is stored on a storage device accessible by the image processing system (eg, 1
26). After being downloaded,
Control logic 20 of translator module 112
2 issues commands to the image processing system in a language specific to the image processing system to unwrap the embedded resource file, thereby enabling the resource file to be executed from the control panel 122.

Turning to FIG. 5, a flowchart of an example of a method for automatically testing an image processing system in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is shown. By way of example, the method of FIG. 5 is based on the MOP available from Hewlett-Packard Company, for example.
In order to test the IER ^™ brightness / contrast copy control, it is developed in a situation in which a test sequence that previously required the user to manually interact with the control panel 122 is automatically executed. 6 to 9 for ease of explanation.
, Refer to the automatic correction of the brightness / contrast setting of the image processing system 104.

Referring to FIG. 5, the method first receives, at step 502, a key sequence entered at the control panel 122 at the processing module 120,
Start the test sequence. As described above, the key sequence is an access code that is uniquely assigned to one of the bundled resource files containing the searched test sequence.

In response, at step 504, processing module 120 issues a command to print module 116 to identify the identified resource file (ie,
(Including the brightness / contrast test script). At step 506, print module 116 determines whether the requested resource file is available on storage medium 126. If the resource file is not available, processing module 120 notifies the user via a display on control panel 122 that the requested resource file is not available. In an alternative embodiment, processing module 120 first accesses an alternative storage medium communicatively coupled by communication medium 106, for example, prior to providing the notification of step 514. Further, in an alternative embodiment, processing module 120 includes
The user is provided with a list of available resource files by the display of the control panel 122, and the user can make alternative selections.

At step 506, if the resource file is available, then at step 508, the resource file is
The file is retrieved and downloaded to the appropriate image processing system module. In this case, the brightness / contrast control is associated with the function of the scanner module 124, and thus, at step 508, a resource file is downloaded to the scanner module.

At step 510, the resource file is loaded into memory for execution. Step 51
At 2, the interpreter module 118
Begin executing the file and interpret the selected byte code as a key sequence entered on the control panel until an end key sequence is identified. That is, the interpreter module 118 executes the test sequence contained in the resource file to test alternative types of brightness and control settings, and
Test quality and reliability of 4. After the resource file test sequence is completed, the process ends.

Referring briefly to FIGS. 6-9, the display of control panel 122 during the automatic test sequence is shown graphically. Referring to FIG. 6, the copy quality function 602
A control panel for brightness 604, contrast 606, and image selection 608 is shown as being configured by the interpreter module 118 executing a brightness / contrast resource file.

FIG. 7 illustrates the next step in the test application, in which the interpreter module 118
The luminance “1” and the contrast “5” are automatically selected, and a print job is started with those settings.

In FIG. 8, when the interpreter module starts a print job with these settings, the interpreter module 118 modifies the brightness control 604 to "4" and the contrast control 606 is set to position "2". You.

In FIG. 9, interpreter module 118 includes brightness and contrast controls 604 and 6
06 is modified to test the positions of "2" and "4" respectively, and another print job is started.

After all print jobs have been completed, the user may need to review the print jobs to evaluate the quality of the test results. However, it should be understood that this is an offline job and the user does not have to sit at the image processing system 104 and interactively select system settings. In this regard, the innovative description language, translator and interpreter modules effectively reduce the cost of manufacturing and testing an image processing system that includes the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a storage medium / device storing a plurality of execution instructions, including instructions for implementing the teachings of the present invention, according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 illustrates the host system (ie, computer system 10).
2 or at least a subset of instructions that, when executed by the image processing system 104, implement one or more of the inventive translator module 112 or interpreter module 118 of the present invention. 1 schematically illustrates a storage medium / device 1000.

In the present invention, the storage medium 1000 may be any of several storage devices and / or storage media known to those skilled in the art, such as, for example, volatile memory devices, non-volatile memory devices, magnetic storage media, optical storage media, and the like. It is intended to represent either. Similarly, the execution instruction is, for example, C +
+, Visual Basic, Java ^™, etc., are intended to represent any of several software languages known in the art. In addition, storage media /
It should be understood that device 1000 need not be co-located with image processing system 104 or computer system 102. More precisely, storage medium / device 1000 may reside in a remote server communicatively coupled to or accessible by an image processing system or computer system that implements the teachings of the present invention. Therefore, since alternative storage media and software embodiments are expected to be within the spirit and spirit of the present invention, the software implementation of FIG.
It should be considered an example.

The present invention has been described in terms of structural and methodical features with certain language. However, the invention is not limited to the specific features described, as the means disclosed herein include the preferred modes of carrying out the invention. While the teachings of the present invention have been described within the context of an image processing system, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the teachings of the present invention may be properly implemented with numerous electronic devices without departing from the spirit and spirit of the present invention. It will be understood that The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper spirit of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image processing system application development and test system according to one embodiment of the present invention that includes the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a translator according to one embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram of the example of a module.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of an interpreter module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an example of a method for developing and downloading a resource file of an image processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example of a method for performing an automated test sequence according to one embodiment of the present invention that includes the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a graphical representation of a control panel display of an image processing system showing automatic change of a manual system setting according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a graphical representation of a control panel display of an image processing system illustrating automatic change of a manual system setting in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a graphical representation of a control panel display of an image processing system illustrating automatic change of a manual system setting in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a graphical representation of a control panel display of an image processing system illustrating automatic change of a manual system setting in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an example of a storage medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions that, when executed, implement the teachings of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 image processing system test system 102 computer system 104 image processing system 108 application development environment 112 translator module 118 interpreter module 120 processor module 122 control panel 214 bundler function 216 wrapper function 1000 storage medium

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Michael P. Plen Star, North Mountain Vista Lane, 83669, Idaho, USA 1875

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A translator module coupled to an application development environment, receiving a script file from the application development environment, and converting instructions in the script file into an executable byte-code resource file. A computer system, wherein at least a subset of the byte codes are interpreted by the image processing system as generated by manual user interaction with a control panel of the image processing system. 2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the translator module selectively invokes a bundler function to uniquely associate each of the one or more resource files with a control panel key sequence. 3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the translator module selectively invokes a bundler function to bundle the two or more transformed resource files into a single resource file. 4. The bundler function of claim 3, wherein the bundler function uniquely associates the key sequence of the control panel with each of the two resource files, each of the two resource files remaining individually accessible. Computer system. 5. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the translator module further includes a wrapper function for embedding the resource file in an image file described in a language specific to the image processing system. 6. The computer system according to claim 5, wherein the wrapper function downloads the image file to an image processing system coupled by communication. 7. A storage medium having stored thereon a plurality of executable instructions for executing the translator module of claim 1 when executed by a host computer system. 8. An image processing system test system including an image processing system communicatively coupled to the computer system of claim 1. 9. The image processing system includes a processor module for receiving a resource file; and an interpreter module coupled to the processor module for executing byte code of the resource file, wherein the selected byte code is 9. The image processing system test system of claim 8, wherein the image processing system test system is interpreted as manual interaction with a control panel of the image processing system.