JPH0241529A - Testing system for man-machine interface mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To decrease an operator's intervention, and also, to simplify the constitution of a test program and to facilitate a continuous running test by executing a test on a man-machine interface mechanism of an interface processor of a data processing system from a body processor. CONSTITUTION:Key data which has been inputted from a keyboard KB 1 in advance through a data control mechanism 34 and has been stored in an external storage device 5, or data which has been generated automatically by a body processor SP 4 is inputted successively to a man-machine interface mechanism 31 of a test object from the body processor SP 4. Subsequently, by confirming successively its response signal by the body processor SP 4 side, a function of the man-machine interface mechanism 31 is tested. In such a way, an operator's intervention can be decreased, the test time is shortened, and continuous running can be executed easily.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Table of Contents] Overview Industrial Application Fields Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention Means for Solving the Problems Action Examples Effects of the Invention [Summary] Input devices, e.g. keyboard An interface processor (PP) equipped with a man-machine interface mechanism that processes (processes) input data from (KB), inputs it to the main processor (SP), etc., and displays the processing results in the main processor (SP). The purpose of the present invention is to provide a test method for a man-machine interface mechanism that requires less operator intervention, simplifies the configuration of the test program, and facilitates continuous running tests. , an interface processor (PP) equipped with a man-machine interface mechanism that operates based on data from human-powered devices and outputs processing results; and a specific data process (for example,
In a data processing system (for example, a workstation) comprising a main body processor (SP) that performs Japanese processing), the data processing system (for example, a workstation) is configured such that the main body processor (SP) performs processing without inputting data from the input device to the man-machine interface mechanism. means for transferring the data to the main memory; means for transferring and storing the data transferred to the main memory to an external storage device; , means for transmitting data from the input device to the man-machine interface mechanism to be tested; (SP).

[Industrial application field]

The present invention processes (processes) input data from an input device, for example, a keyboard (KB), and
The present invention relates to a test method for a man-machine interface mechanism in an interface processor (PP) equipped with a man-machine interface mechanism for inputting data to a main body processor (SP) and displaying processing results in the main body processor (SP).

With the recent spread of workstations (WS), Japanese language processing and the like have come to be performed on these workstations (WS).

Not limited to workstations (WS), but generally in Japanese language processing systems such as word processors, data input from an input device, such as a keyboard (KB), is converted into characters (alphabetic characters, hiragana, katakana, control characters, etc.). ) The interface processor (PP) is equipped with a man-machine interface mechanism that converts the information into information and inputs it to the main processor (SP), and the main processor (SP) processes the Japanese language as instructed by the operator. Regarding the above man-machine interface mechanism,
Since the keyboard (KB) does not work unless the keys are manually operated, in order to test the relevant part, manual key operations are required, resulting in poor operability, and testing mechanisms such as adding a monitoring mechanism for erroneous operation by one person. However, with the spread of workstations, there has been a need for a test method for man-machine interface mechanisms that is easy to operate.

[Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a conventional test method for a man-machine interface mechanism.

First, the operation of the workstation shown in this figure, which performs, for example, Japanese language processing, will be explained below.

When the operator (tester) inputs, for example, ``'' from the keyboard CKB) 1 through the KB-interface 32, the Main processor (SP)
4 is notified that the Japanese language will be input.

After receiving the notification, the main processor (SP) 4 sends information to the interface processor (PP) 3 to permit the Japanese input.

As a result, from the man-machine interface mechanism 31,
The above-inputted data for the manual input of the key "°" is input to the main body processor (SP) 4, and the main body processor (SP) 4 processes the key "°".

The character code for the interface processor (P
P) 3 is sent to the man-machine interface [131.

The man-machine interface mechanism 31 analyzes the character code, displays the character "" on the display 2, and returns the displayed character code to the main body processor (SP).

Similarly, when the operator inputs "wa", the character "wa" is displayed on the display 2, and the code of the displayed character is sent back to the main body processor (SP) 4.

Here, when the operator presses the "Convert" key, the displayed "cute" is erased from the display 2 screen by control B of the man-machine interface mechanism 31, and the main processor (SP) 4 is , and the character code corresponding to ``Kawa''.

Control information indicating the "conversion" is sent.

The main processor (SP) 4 performs a "conversion" process on "kawa" based on the control information, for example, "
The character code corresponding to "River" is sent to the man-machine interface 1m31 along with a display command.

As a result, the man-machine interface mechanism 31 performs "
"River" is displayed on display 2.

Similarly, when the operator presses the "conversion" key again, the control information indicating the "conversion" is transferred to the main body processor (SP
) 4, the main processor (SP) 4 performs the "conversion" process once again, and sends, for example, a character code corresponding to "river" to the man-machine interface mechanism 31.

Here, when the operator inputs the next character, the man-machine interface mechanism 31 sends a control signal indicating that the above-mentioned "river" has been determined to the main body processor (SP) 4.
At the same time, it also sends an end signal for the Japanese input,
Subsequently, a signal indicating that the above-mentioned Japanese language will be input for the next character input is sent out. Thereafter, the same operation is repeated.

In this way, predetermined information is exchanged between the interface processor (PP) 3 and the main processor (SP) 4 in response to key inputs from the operator.

Therefore, the above interface process 7 (PP) 3
A function of the man-machine interface mechanism 31 (for example,
In order to test the health of the above interface processor (PP) (consisting of firmware),
It is necessary to sequentially check the response signal from the main processor (SP) 4 side.

The conventional test means used in this case will be explained below.

(11 When a test start command is input from a console (not shown) connected to main processor (SP) 4, in main processor (SP) 4,
A specific test program is executed from the main body processor (SP) 4 to the interface processor (PP).
An input instruction message is sent to the man-machine interface mechanism 31 of No. 3 along with a display command, and the input message is displayed on the display 2.

(2) The operator (tester) inputs the keyboard (KB) according to the input instruction message on the display 2.
Input from l.

(3) The man-machine interface mechanism 31 operates according to the data corresponding to the key human power, and performs specific processing on the key data, for example 1. Alphabetic output.

The main processor (SP) performs hiragana output, katakana output, etc., and outputs the processed character data as output data.
Notify 4.

(4) The main processor (SP) 4 receives data from the interface processor (PP) 3, and returns a display command and character code for the received Japanese data.

(5) The interface processor (PP) 3 displays the character corresponding to the above character code according to the display command, and the main processor (SP) 4
Returns the character code displayed.

The main processor (SP) 4 confirms the operation of the man-machine interface mechanism 31 by repeating the above operation.

Therefore, in the conventional test method, 1) the operator presses a key in accordance with an input instruction message from the main body processor (SP) 4, which requires much operator intervention, resulting in poor test efficiency.

2) There are many input errors by the operator, and the main processor (S
P) In the test program running on the 4 side, provide a mechanism (for example, a timeout detection mechanism, etc.) to determine whether it is an operator (tester) operational error or a malfunction of the man-machine interface mechanism to be tested. This makes the configuration of the test program complicated.

3) Continuous running tests are not possible as operator intervention is required.

4) The operator (tester) cannot test one interface processor (PP) L at a time.

3) Since it is a manual testing method, testing takes time.

There were other problems.

In view of the above conventional drawbacks, the present invention processes (processes) input data from an input device, for example, a keyboard (KB), inputs it to a main body processor (SP), etc., and processes it in the main body processor (SP). Interface processor (PP) with man-machine interface mechanism to display results
To provide a test method for a man-machine interface mechanism in which a continuous running test can be easily performed by reducing operator intervention and simplifying the configuration of a test program when testing the man-machine interface mechanism. The purpose is to

(Means for solving problems) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle configuration of the test method of the present invention.

The above problems are solved by a test method configured as follows.

A data processing device (PP) 3 equipped with a man-machine interface mechanism 31 that operates based on data from an input device 1 and outputs processing results, and performs specific data processing based on the processing results of the man-machine interface mechanism 31. In a data processing system comprising a data processing device (SP) 4, means 3 for transferring data from the input device 1 to the main memory 41 of the data processing device 4 without inputting the data to the man-machine interface mechanism 31;
4. (2) means for storing data transferred to the main memory 41 in the external storage device 5; (2) reading data from the external storage device 5 into the main memory 41; Testing of the man-machine interface mechanism 31 of the data processing device (PP) 3 of the data processing system, comprising a means (3) and 49 for transferring data from the input device 1 to the man-machine interface mechanism 31 to be tested. is configured to be performed from the data processing device (SP) 4.

[Effect]

That is, according to the present invention, input data from an input device, for example, a keyboard (KB) is processed (processed) and inputted to the main body processor (SP), etc.
) to test the man-machine interface mechanism in an interface processor (PP) equipped with a man-machine interface mechanism for displaying processing results at
The data entered from the keyboard (Kn) is transferred to the main processor (SP) and stored in the main memory (memory) of the main processor (SP) without being used as input to the man-machine interface mechanism that is the subject of the above test. , store the data from the main memory (memory) to an external storage device, read out the previously stored data from the external storage device to the main memory, and input it to the human-machine interface Iutlt to be tested by the operator from the keyboard (KB). A data control mechanism is provided to transfer data as input by the key data, and via this data control mechanism, key data input in advance from the keyboard (KB) and stored in an external storage device, or , the data automatically generated by the main processor (SP) and stored in the external storage device is inputted sequentially from the main processor (SP) to the man-machine interface mechanism to be tested, and the response signal is sent to the main processor (SP). Since the function of the man-machine interface mechanism is tested by sequential confirmation on the SP side, operator intervention can be reduced 1, test time can be shortened, and continuous running is easy. In addition, regardless of the presence or absence of an input device, testing can be performed simply by connecting the external storage device, thereby improving testing efficiency.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

The above-mentioned FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle configuration of the test method of the man-machine interface mechanism of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) shows the keyboard (KB
) shows the process of writing data from the main body processor (SP) 4 into the main memory 41, and (b) shows the process of inputting the data from the main body processor (SP) 4 to the man-machine interface mechanism 31, Figures 1 and 2
Data control mechanism 34 in the figure. Data transfer route■,
■, and writing/reading means for the external storage device 5■
are the means necessary to carry out the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals indicate the same objects throughout the figures.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a test method for the man-machine interface mechanism of the present invention will be explained.

Even if the present invention is implemented, the following operations are performed between the interface processor (PP) 3 and the main body processor (SP) 4 in response to input data from the keyboard (KB) 1 to the man margin interface mechanism 31. The operations related to Japanese language processing are not particularly different from the conventional method, so they will be omitted, and the test method of the present invention will be explained here, focusing on the means for inputting data to the man-machine interface mechanism 31 to be tested. .

(a) Operation of transferring input data from the keyboard (KB) 1 to the main memory 41 of the main processor (SP) 4 (
(See FIG. 2(a)): (1) When a test mode instruction is input from an input device (keyboard, not shown) connected to the main processor (SP) 4, the main processor (SP)
) When a specific test program is executed in 4, switching information (command) is sent to the interface processor (PP) 3 via the control I line (indicated by a dotted line).
is input, and the data control mechanism 34 of the present invention does not input the input data from the keyboard (KB) 1 to the man-machine interface mechanism 31, but instead outputs the input data from the interface processor (PP) 3 as an output signal ■. It is set as follows.

(2) In accordance with instructions from the main processor (SP) 4, the man-machine interface mechanism 31 displays a message for creating test data on the display l.

(3) The operator (tester) should follow the message and
A series of key data necessary for testing the man-machine interface mechanism 31 is inputted from the keyboard (B) 1.

(4) Key data input from the keyboard (KB) 1 is transferred to the main body processor (SP) 4 via a route 3 indicated by a bold line.

(5) Repeat the operations of ■ and ■ above and store the series of test data in the main memory 4 of the main processor (SP) 4.
Accumulate to 1.

(6) In the main processor (SP) 4,
For the input data stored in the main memory 41, there is a start code indicating the start of test data, a blank code for synchronizing with the test program (that is, corresponding to the test item), and a code indicating the end of the test data. An end code is added and stored in the external storage device 5.

By storing test data in the external storage device 5,
A test according to the present invention can be executed simply by connecting the external storage device 5 to another workstation.

(b) The data in the main memory 41 of the main body processor (SP) 4 is used to control the man-machine interface mechanism 3.
Operation to test 1 (see Figure 2 (b)): (7) Switch information (command) to interface processor (PP) 3 via the control line (shown by dotted line) from main processor (SP) 4. is input, and the aforementioned data control mechanism 34 is set to input the data from the main body processor (SP) 4 to the man-machine interface mechanism 31 of the interface processor (PP) 3.

(8) Thereafter, data necessary for the test program executed in the main processor (SP) 4 is read into the main memory 41 from the external storage device 5 described above.

(9) In synchronization with the execution of the test program, the test target data is transferred to the interface processor (SP) 3.
The man-machine interface ItI 31 is transferred.

α0) In the man-machine interface mechanism 31,
The result of processing the test data (such as converting key data into character information as described above) is sent to the main processor (SP) 4 via the 5p-pp interface 33.

The main processor (SP) 4 checks whether the processing result is normal or not. Main processor (SP)
4 recognizes the test data input to the man-machine interface mechanism 31, so its operation can be easily confirmed by the output data from the man-machine interface mechanism 31.

The main processor (SP) performs the work from αυ (8) to 0Φ.
4 is repeated to confirm the function of the man-machine interface mechanism 31.

In the above embodiment, by the operation described in (a), the operator (tester) first inputs a series of test data and stores it in the external storage device 5. Although the method described above is based on a method of testing using test data, the method is not limited to this method, and a series of test data can be automatically generated on the main body processor (SP) 4 side and stored in the external storage device 5. It goes without saying that this is a good thing. In this case, it is also possible to eliminate the need for manually inputting test data.

Thus, the present invention provides an input device, such as a keyboard (
Process (process) the input data from the main processor (SP), input it to the main processor (SP), etc.
In an interface processor (PP) equipped with a man-machine interface mechanism that displays processing results,
To test the man-machine interface mechanism, a series of test data can be manually input to the main body processor (
Either test data is stored in an external storage device via the main memory of the main processor (SP), or test data automatically generated on the main body processor (SP) side is stored in the external storage device, and the test data is stored in the external storage device. The test data is input from the input mechanism (data control mechanism) to the human-machine interface mechanism to be tested as if it were input from an input device (keyboard), and the output results are checked and tested. It has its characteristics.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above in detail, the test method of the man-machine interface mechanism of the present invention is an interface processor (P
P) and a main body processor (SP) that performs specific data processing (for example, Japanese language processing) based on the processing results of the man-machine interface mechanism (for example, a workstation), in which the input device means for transferring data from the main memory to the main memory of the main body processor (SP) without inputting it to the man-machine interface mechanism; and means for transferring and storing the data transferred to the main memory to an external storage device. , means for reading data from the external storage device into the main memory and transferring the data on the main memory to the man-machine interface mechanism to be tested as data from the input device, Since the test of the man-machine interface mechanism of the interface processor (PP) of the processing system is performed from the main processor (SP), the data input twice is accumulated and the accumulated data is used. The test can be performed without operator intervention, and the test time is short and constant.

Continuous running tests can be performed easily. Alternatively, an effect such as being able to perform a test regardless of the presence or absence of an input device can be obtained, and the test efficiency can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the basic configuration of a test method for a man-machine interface mechanism according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a conventional test method for a man-machine interface mechanism. It is. 5 is an external storage device. ■, ■ are test data input routes ■ are read, write, or means between main memory and external storage device. ■ and ■ are control signals from the main processor (SP). are shown respectively. In the drawing, 1 is the keyboard (KB) and 2 is the display. 3 is an interface processor (PP). 31 is a man-machine interface mechanism. 32 is a KP interface. 33 is a 5p-pp interface. 34 is a data control mechanism. 4 is the main processor (SP). 41 is main memory or memory.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A data processing device (PP) (3) equipped with a man-machine interface mechanism (31) that operates according to data from an input device (1) and outputs processing results; In a data processing system comprising a data processing device (SP) (4) that performs specific data processing based on the processing result of step 31), the input device (1)
The data from the above man-machine interface mechanism (3
1) without inputting the above data processing device (4).
means (34, [1]) for transferring data to the main memory (41) of the main memory (41);
means ([2]) for storing data in the main memory (41);
) and transfers the data in the main memory (41) to the man-machine interface mechanism (31) to be tested as data from the input device (1) ([3] , 34), and the test of the man-machine interface mechanism (31) of the data processing device (PP) (3) of the data processing system is performed from the data processing device (SP) (4). A test method for man-machine interface mechanisms.