Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F11/00—Error detection; Error correction; Monitoring
  • G06F11/22—Detection or location of defective computer hardware by testing during standby operation or during idle time, e.g. start-up testing
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W24/00—Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F9/00—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units
  • G06F9/06—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units using stored programs, i.e. using an internal store of processing equipment to receive or retain programs
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L1/00—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received
  • H04L1/24—Testing correct operation
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L43/00—Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
  • H04L43/50—Testing arrangements
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
  • H04W4/18—Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
  • H04W88/02—Terminal devices

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an error test method for wireless communications terminals, more specifically to a method of testing more efficiently as to whether a developed wireless communications terminal operates properly as intended during the course of developing wireless communications terminals.
• the present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the invention to provide an error test method for wireless communications terminals, in which all the test procedures by a tester are automatically stored in a specific file of a computer and thus later the developer can use the file to perform, in more efficient and accurate manner, cause analysis for the errors occurred during a test.
• an error test method for a wireless communications terminal comprising the steps of: installing an automatic test program in a test wireless communications terminal and a computer connected with each other so as to enable to communicate with each other and executing the automatic test program; transmitting to the computer key input information imposed to the test wireless communications terminal by a tester and additional information on an error occurred during the test of the test wireless communications terminal, the transmission being performed by the automatic test program installed in the test wireless communications terminal; and converting the key input information and the additional information received from the test wireless communications terminal into a log file of desired format and storing the log file in the computer such that the tester can reproduce the key input information and the additional information as they are, the conversion and storing being performed by the automatic test program installed in the computer.
• the additional information includes trace information occurring while the test wireless communications terminal executes the key input values of the tester. This trace information is useful for debugging an error occurring in the test wireless communications terminal.
• key values input by a tester in order to test whether a wireless communications terminal operates properly are automatically stored in a log file. Furthermore, when an error takes place during a test, information required for cause analysis for the error can be added to the log file. Thus, the test job can be performed in a very effective manner and a developer can be provided with accurate information relating to errors occurred.
• the above error test method may include the steps of displaying a comment input window onto the computer when an error occurs in the test wireless communications terminal during the test, and if the tester inputs a comment on the error into the comment input window, storing the comment in the log file.
• the tester adds to the log file his or her comments, which may help the developer understand the occurred error.
• the comments will give the developer more accurate understandings of the error and thus the developer can facilitate cause analysis for the error and figure out solutions thereto.
• the above error test method may further comprise the step of storing in the log file an image data transmitted to the computer, the image data being generated in such a way that the camera module captures the error screen displayed on the screen of the test wireless communications terminal.
• the error test method may further comprise the step of displaying in real-time the contents being stored in the log file on a screen of the computer, simultaneously while the log file is stored in real-time in the computer.
• the log file In addition to storing of the log file, its contents are displayed on a computer screen.
• the error test method may further comprise steps where, in response to a developer's instruction, the program parses the log file, converts data corresponding to the developer's key input values into a command capable of being recognized by the reproduction wireless communications terminal and transmits the command to the reproduction wireless communications terminal, and where the reproduction wireless communications terminal receives and processes the command to reproduce the log file.
• Key input values stored in a log file are automatically converted into commands of the reproduction wireless communications terminal in order to perform a test.
• the error test method may further comprise a step in which the program displays contents of the log file on the screen of the computer while the reproduction wireless communications terminal reproduces the key input values contained in the log file. Since the tester's comments on the situation where an error had occurred or its error screen (window) is displayed together, the developer can make more accurate decision on the errors occurred.
• the above automatic acquisitions of a log file through an error test and automatic reproduction of the log file can be carried out with respect to one or more wireless communications terminals.
• the wireless communications terminal can be placed in the same area as the computer, or remotely placed, for example connected through a communications network such as Internet. That is, the test wireless communications terminal and the reproduction wireless communications terminal are placed at the same area as the computer and inter-connected through a communication cable, or are placed at different areas and connected to either one of the two computers through a communication cable, the two computers being inter-connected through a communications network such as Internet, such that the test and the log file reproduction can be performed in a remote area, as well as in a local area where the computer is placed.
• the program may include a function of improving developer's convenience in reproducing the log file in the reproduction wireless communications terminal.
• the tester's test procedures are stored in a log file of the system.
• an error window and tester's comments can be added and transferred to the developer in the form of a file.
• the developer can reproduce, analyze and correct the error in an easier way.
• an SAV like error occurring during developing and testing a wireless communications terminal, is stored in a certain specific file format and reproduced later for cause analysis for the error, thereby enabling to shorten the time required for development by means of timely correction of the errors and thus commercialize high quality products in proper timing.
• Fig. 1 is a computer module architecture of an automatic test program
• FIGs. 2 and 3 show test systems where a test wireless communications terminal is located in a local area and in a remote area respectively;
• FIG. 4 shows a system environment in which a log file obtained through the test process for a test wireless communications terminal is reproduced with respect to a reproduction wireless communications terminal;
• Fig. 5 shows a module structure of an automatic test program involving in the generation of a log file
• Fig. 6 shows a module structure of an automatic test program involving in local reproduction of a local file
• Fig. 7 shows a module structure of an automatic test program involving in remote reproduction of a log file.
• An error test method for wireless mobile communications terminal may be embodied into a computer program (hereinafter, referred to as an "automatic test program"), which is configured to have functions of automatically storing, in the form of a computer log file, test contents performed in a wireless mobile communications terminal by a tester and the test results, and providing the stored log file to the developer so as to be automatically reproduced.
• an automatic test program includes a computer module and a wireless mobile communications terminal module (hereinafter, referred to as a "terminal module").
• wireless mobile communications terminal may be also referred to as a “wireless communications terminal,” mobile communications terminal,” “communications terminal,” or “wireless terminal,” “mobile terminal,” “terminal,” or the like, which will be used interchangeably.
• Fig. 1 shows a configuration of the computer module of the automatic test program.
• the environment/utility 10 is a module to manage program environment variables and common utilities.
• the user interface (UI) 20 is a module to interface to user's input/ output devices.
• the simulator 30 is a module to reproduce operational states, etc. of a real terminal onto a computer.
• the controller 40 is a module to transmit instructions of the UI 20 to a lower level module and events of a lower level module to the UI 20.
• the log administrator 50 is a module to store in the form of a log file operational contents of a wireless communications terminal by a tester, and their test results and generated events, and to reproduce the stored log file.
• the device administrator 60 is a module in charge of administering a current terminal connected to the computer.
• the codec/ parser 70 is a module having functions of parsing log files and transforming the parsed contents into instructions adaptable to wireless communications terminals and generating instructions required for network communications between terminal and computer.
• the virtual device 80 is a false device module which is to be mapped into a physical real device.
• the port 90 is a module in charge of receiving data of the virtual device 80 or the real device 110 being transmitted via a serial or Internet and transmitting it to a destination.
• the message sender 100 is a module to transmit a message being transmitted via the port 90 to the codec/parser 70.
• This automatic test program can be used to store, in the form of a log, events transmitted to a communications terminal or events generated by the terminal and produce the stored log as it is, during the testing of a local or remote wireless terminals.
• Fig. 2 shows a test environment for test of a wireless mobile communications terminal, in particular illustrating a test system for storing log of a local wireless terminal 210-1.
• a test wireless communications terminal (“test terminal") 210 is located in the same area as the computer 200 and they are connected to each other through a serial cable or a USB cable (hereinafter, referred to as a "communications cable 220").
• a camera module 240 may be installed near the test terminal 210.
• the camera module 240 is connected to the computer 200 and disposed to photograph the display screen of the test terminal 210.
• the computer 200 is installed with an automatic test program.
• the automatic test program includes a module being installed in the test terminal.
• the program module installed in the test terminal receives and processes instructions from the computer 200 and transmits the resultant messages to the computer 200, etc.
• the resultant messages include error message and trace information and the like, which are caused during processing of instructions provided by the computer 200.
• error debugging environment is weak and inconvenient, dissimilar to a computer.
• trace information is utilized.
• the developer in the step of developing the terminal, inserts trace data and position information of a pre-defined format into a position where reference data and trace data may possibly occur.
• Developed software for wireless communication terminals generates binary file through a compile process for applying to a wireless communications terminal.
• This binary file is applied to the terminal to operate the wireless terminal.
• the trace data which the developer has applied for reference in developing and testing, is collected to generate a trace data file for purpose of administering during the compile process. That is, trace data, inserted into the developed software, is stored in a trace data set file, according to position information, which is defined by extracting trace data of each position during the compilation of the wireless terminal software.
• the trace data file is referenced by the system of the invention and utilized during the course of output.
• the wireless terminal outputs the trace data to the automatic test program of the computer 200 through the communications cable 220 of the wireless terminal 210.
• the data format being output is configured such that the ocurred time, the position information of the trace data, and a specific data value are made into a single sentence.
• the automatic test program stores the received position information and trace data in a log file.
• the trace data of a wireless terminal may be retrieved and extracted from the trace data set file and displayed to the user. In this way, trace data being stored in the log file can be useful for the developer to debug errors.
• FIG. 3 shows a test system for storing a log of a remote wireless communications terminal.
• a local wireless communications terminal 210-1 is connected with a local computer 200-1 through a serial port
• a remote wireless communications terminal 210-2 is connected to a remote computer 200-2 through a serial port
• the local computer 200- 1 is connected with the remote computer 200-2 via the Internet 230, thereby providing an environment capable of data communications.
• the local wireless terminal 210-1 and the remote wireless terminal 210-2 have identical binary and various setup information.
• the test environment of Fig. 3 is the same as that of Fig. 2, except that test data and its result are transmitted via the communications network 230.
• test system of Fig. 2 or 3 if a tester establishes conditions required for a test by executing an automatic test program on the computer and then performs a test for a test terminal, all the test processes are transferred to the automatic test program and automatically storedin the form of a log file.
• Contents being stored in the log file basically include key values input into the test terminal 210 by the tester.
• trace information transmitted to the computer 200 by the test terminal 210 is included in the contents of the log file.
• the log file includes tester's comments on errors occurred and image data photographing contents displayed on the screen of the test terminal 210, etc.
• the log file is generated in the following manner in the environment of Fig. 2. First, an automatic test program is executed on the computer 200 and a wireless communications terminal 210 to be tested is connected to the computer 200 using a serial cable or a USB cable. Thereafter, a port setup with the connected test terminal 210 is adjusted onto the display window provided by the automatic test program of the computer 200, and then it is tested as to whether the computer 200 and the test terminal 210 are properly connected with each other.
• meta information (a tester, a model of the test terminal, a binary version, a generation data, etc.) required in the automatic test program is input and then a test of the test terminal is carried out.
• the input meta information is stored in a log file and serves as information relating to the performed test.
• the internal module of the test terminal 210 transmits to the computer 200 key inputs into the test terminal 210 by the tester during the test and trace information generated during executing the input key values.
• the automatic test program module of the computer 200 receives such data and stores it in the form of a log file.
• the key input values and trace information of the test terminal 210 transferred to the port 90 via the cable are transmitted into the codec/ parser 70 in the occurred order through the message sender 100.
• the codec/parser 70 transforms the data transmitted by the test terminal 210 into a desired file format, for example, into an extensible markup language (XML) format, and transmits it to the log administrator 50 through the message sender 100, the port 90 and the virtual device 80.
• the log administrator 50 newly makes a log file according to the meta information and records sequentially the transmitted information into the log file in an XML format.
• the automatic test program stores in real time data transmitted from the test terminal, in the form of a log file of for example an XML format.
• the automatic test program displays on the computer 200 an input screen (window) into which the tester can input comments on the error, which are added into the log file.
• the tester's comments will be useful to the developer during the courses of reproducing the log file, and understanding and bugging the errors occurred.
• the automatic test program may provide a function capable of adding the data of the error screen to the log file. That is, if an error takes place, the camera module 240 captures contents displayed on the screen of the test terminal 210. The image data captured by the camera module 240 is transmitted to the automatic test program of the computer 200. The automatic test program receives the image data of the error screen (window) and adds it to the log file. In this course of action, the automatic test program may display the received image data on the screen of the computer 200 via the UI 20 and the tester may perform further jobs on the screen, for example, addition of comments on the image data. The image data of the error screen is stored in the log file, being associated with information on the error occurred.
• the contents being stored are transmitted to the user interface 20 and displayed in real time on the computer screen.
• the log file is stored in a storage means such as a hard disk of the computer 200.
• the log file acquired as above is transmitted to the developer of a wireless communications terminal.
• the developer reproduces the log file and analyzes the errors occurred to examine causes for the error.
• the reproduction of log file is carried out in a system where one or more reproduction wireless communications terminals 210a, 210b and 210c ('reproduction terminal') are connected to the computer 200 so as to enable to communicate with each other.
• Reproduction of a log file may be carried out in a reproduction terminal 210a, 210b and 210c located in the same area as the computer 200 (local reproduction).
• a reproduction terminal 210a, 210b and 210c is connected to a remote computer 200, which is connected to a local computer 200 through Internet (remote reproduction).
• This reproduction of log file automatically reproduces the key input contents by a tester when the log file has been generated.
• the developer can reach the conditions under which an error takes place, without having to do manual and tedious key input work.
• the developer can refer to the comments on the error (provided by the tester) and the contents of error screen to thereby efficiently examine causes for error and figure out solutions to the error.
• the following functions may be provided additionally in order to perform the reproduction in convenient and efficient way. That is, i) a temporary interruption function capable of temporarily interrupting reproduction during the reproduction of a log file, ii) a function of reproducing a log file in a stepwise way, for example, one script every time when a specific key is pressed, iii) a function of inputting a break point into a specific position of a log file and reproducing the log file until the break point, iv) a function of appointing a certain portion of a log file and number of times for reproducing of the certain portion and repeatedly reproducing the certain portion of the log file at a pre-determined number of times, v) a function of displaying on the computer screen the comments by the tester and the error screen, and vi) a function of displaying on the computer screen the trace contents during the log reproduction, etc.
• a log file reproducer 40, 50 parses a log file of XML format and transmits the parsed data to a codec/parser 70.
• the codec/ parser 70 converts data corresponding to key input values into a command capable of being recognized by a wireless terminal 210, and transmits the command to a virtual device 80 via a device administrator 60.
• the virtual device 80 transmits the command to a physical real device 110 using its own port 90 such that the command is transmitted to the wireless terminal 210.
• the wireless terminal 210 receives commands from the computer 200 and then processes the command through an internal module thereof.
• Commands being transmitted to the wireless terminal 210 are key input values by a tester among data contained in a log file, and thus all key input values by means of the tester until an error occurred can be automatically executed in the wireless terminal 210, so that the developer does not need to input all the key values one by one.
• the automatic test program includes a module for the computer 200 (computer module) and also a module for the wireless terminal 210 (terminal module).
• the computer module converts data written in the log file into a command recognizable in the wireless terminal 210 and then transmits the command to the wireless terminal 210.
• the terminal module processes the command transmitted from the computer 200.
• the prepared log file can be used for testing a wireless terminal placed in the same area as the tester's computer 200, and also for testing a wireless terminal remotely placed as shown in Fig. 7. Similar to the local reproduction of a log file, in case of a remote reproduction, one or more wireless terminals can be simultaneously tested at one time. Reproduction functions and procedures in a remote wireless terminal 210 can be carried out using a log file in the same way as in the local test.
• the automatic test program is executed onto a remote computer 200-2.
• the remote computer 200-2 is connected to a wireless terminal 210 using a serial or USB cable 220.
• the remote computer program adjusts port setup with the wireless terminal 200-2 and thereafter tests whether or not it is connected with the wireless terminal 210.
• a local computer 200-1 generates a virtual device to be tested.
• a log file prepared by the computer program of the local computer 200- 1 is opened.
• the log file reproducer 40, 50 reads a log file to be reproduced and provides it to a codec/parser 70.
• the codec/parser 70 converts the received log file data into a command recognizable by the wireless terminal 210 and returns the command to the log file reproducer.
• the command prepared as above is made into a packet format that can be transmitted through a network.
• the above -prepared network packets are transferred to the remote computer 200-2.
• the remote computer 200-2 receives and decodes the packet transmitted through a network such as Internet 230 from a local computer 200-1 and converts the decoded packet into a command that can be recognized by a wireless communications terminal.
• This command is transmitted to a wireless communications terminal 210 connected to the remote computer 200-2 and is processed in the internal module of the remote wireless terminal 210.
• test procedures carried out by a tester are stored in a log, that is, the entire key operations by the tester during the test are automatically stored in a computer log file.
• an error window and tester's comments and the like are added to the log file, which is transferred to the developer in the form of a file. Therefore, the developer can reproduce the error, analyze the causes for the error, and correct the error in easier way.
• a camera is used to capture error contents displayed on the screen of the wireless terminal and the captured image data is added to the log file.
• these steps have been carried out in a manual way. According to the invention, however, these procedures are automatically performed using a program configured so as to carry out them.
• the log file generated as above is transmitted to the developer of the wireless communications terminal concerned. The developer can reproduce the log file to track down of the occurred error and consequently accurately examine causes for the error.
• the present invention can be applied to development of various types of wireless communications terminal such as mobile phones, PDAs, mobile WiMax phones, wireless telephones, or the like, to thereby transfer to the developer all the error test procedures and the test results, including a program made during the development, and functions and operations of a developed product.
• the errors can be corrected in more convenient way, thereby enabling to shorten the required time for development significantly as compared with conventional cases.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
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• Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
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Cited By (9)

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Citations (3)

• 2005
  • 2005-11-25 KR KR1020050113252A patent/KR100618319B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2006
  • 2006-11-24 WO PCT/KR2006/004959 patent/WO2007061241A1/en active Application Filing

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