Towards more accurate real time testing

The languages Message Sequence Charts (MSC) [1], System Design Language1 (SDL) [2] and Testing and Test Control Notation Testing2 (TTCN-3) [3] have been developed for the design, modelling and testing of complex software systems. These languages have been developed to complement one another in the software development process. Each of these languages has features for describing, analysing or testing the real time properties of systems. Robust toolsets exist which provide integrated environments for the design, analysis and testing of systems, and it is claimed, for the complete development of real time systems. It was shown in [4] however, that there are fundamental problems with the SDL language and its associated tools for modelling and reasoning about real time systems. In this paper we present the limitations of TTCN-3 and propose recommendations which help minimise the timing inaccuracies that would otherwise occur in using the language directly

A New Model-Based Framework for Testing Security of IOT Systems in Smart Cities Using Attack Trees and Price Timed Automata

International audienceIn this paper we propose a new model-based framework for testing security properties of Internet of Things in Smart Cities. In general a model-based approach consists in extracting test cases from a formal specification either of the system under test or the environment of the considered system in an automatic fashion. Our framework is mainly built on the use of two formalisms namely Attack Trees and Price Timed Automata. An attack tree allows to describe the strategy adopted by the malicious party which intends to violate the security of the considered IOT system. An attack tree is translated into a network of price timed automata. The product of the constructed price timed automata is then computed using the well known UPPAALL platform. The obtained timed automata product serves as input for the adopted test generation algorithm. Moreover our framework takes advantage of the use of the standardized specification and execution testing language TTCN-3. With this respect, the obtained abstract tests are translated into the TTCN-3 format. Finally we propose a cloud-oriented architecture in order to ensure test execution and to collect the generated verdicts

The formal, tool supported development of real time systems

The language SDL has long been applied in the development of various kinds of systems. Real-time systems are one application area where SDL has been applied extensively. Whilst SDL allows for certain modelling aspects of real-time systems to be represented, the language and its associated tool support have certain drawbacks for modelling and reasoning about such systems. In this paper we highlight the limitations of SDL and its associated tool support in this domain and present language extensions and next generation real-time system tool support to help overcome them. The applicability of the extensions and tools is demonstrated through a case study based upon a multimedia binding object used to support a configuration of time dependent information producers and consumers realising the so called lip-synchronisation algorithm

Real-time systems development with SDL and next generation validation tools

The language SDL has long been applied in the development of various kinds of systems. Real-time systems are one application area where SDL has been applied extensively. Whilst SDL allows for certain modelling aspects of real-time systems to be represented, the language and its associated tool support have certain drawbacks for modelling and reasoning about such systems. In this paper we highlight the limitations of SDL and its associated tool support in this domain and present language extensions and next generation real-time system tool support to help overcome them. The applicability of the extensions and tools is demonstrated through a case study based upon a multimedia binding object used to support a configuration of time dependent information producers and consumers realising the so called lip-synchronisation algorithm

Automated Testing: Requirements Propagation via Model Transformation in Embedded Software

Testing is the most common activity to validate software systems and plays a key role in the software development process. In general, the software testing phase takes around 40-70% of the effort, time and cost. This area has been well researched over a long period of time. Unfortunately, while many researchers have found methods of reducing time and cost during the testing process, there are still a number of important related issues such as generating test cases from UCM scenarios and validate them need to be researched. As a result, ensuring that an embedded software behaves correctly is non-trivial, especially when testing with limited resources and seeking compliance with safety-critical software standard. It thus becomes imperative to adopt an approach or methodology based on tools and best engineering practices to improve the testing process. This research addresses the problem of testing embedded software with limited resources by the following. First, a reverse-engineering technique is exercised on legacy software tests aims to discover feasible transformation from test layer to test requirement layer. The feasibility of transforming the legacy test cases into an abstract model is shown, along with a forward engineering process to regenerate the test cases in selected test language. Second, a new model-driven testing technique based on different granularity level (MDTGL) to generate test cases is introduced. The new approach uses models in order to manage the complexity of the system under test (SUT). Automatic model transformation is applied to automate test case development which is a tedious, error-prone, and recurrent software development task. Third, the model transformations that automated the development of test cases in the MDTGL methodology are validated in comparison with industrial testing process using embedded software specification. To enable the validation, a set of timed and functional requirement is introduced. Two case studies are run on an embedded system to generate test cases. The effectiveness of two testing approaches are determined and contrasted according to the generation of test cases and the correctness of the generated workflow. Compared to several techniques, our new approach generated useful and effective test cases with much less resources in terms of time and labor work. Finally, to enhance the applicability of MDTGL, the methodology is extended with the creation of a trace model that records traceability links among generated testing artifacts. The traceability links, often mandated by software development standards, enable the support for visualizing traceability, model-based coverage analysis and result evaluation

7e Nederlandse testdag, Eindhoven, 8 November 2001 : proceedings

These are the proceedings of the seventh edition of the Nederlandse Testdag (a.k.a. Dutch Testing Day), held on November 8, 2001 in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. The increase in the complexity of software and hardware systems was the predominant concern in the software design of the last decades. This increase is still going on today. and mastering this complexity is possible, only by investigating, discussing and evaluating methods and techniques for testing such systems. The Nederlandse Testdag serves as a forum in which researchers from the industry and the academia discuss and present their latest experiences and theories in the area of testing. The initiative for organising the Nederlandse Testdag is, and has always been, the result of the combined efforts of the Dutch academia and the industry. The Nederlandse Testdag is an annual event which was first held in 1995. This year's edition again consists of one invited presentation by Jens Grabowski, on ITCN-3. and six regular presentations, both from the academia and from the industry. The presentations capture a broad field of the entire testing spectrum. In the presentation by Martin Gijsen (CMG), test automation for Graphical User Interface (GUI), dedicated and embedded systems according to the TestFrame methodology is explained. Klaas Mateboer (Collis) presents the test-tool Conclusion. René de Vries (University of Twente) reports on specification testing in practice and illustrates this by means of an example. In the presentation by Loe Feijs (Eindhoven University of Technology), testing is related to game-theory. Marcel Verhoef (Chess) and Bertil Oving (NLR) present their experiences using real-time simulation, UML and VDM to obtain more reliable spacecraft avionics. Finally, Ben van Buitenen (Baan), provides an insight in service pack testing: how to efficiently test customised software components and packages. The organisation of the Nederlandse Testdag is grateful for the sponsorship it received from the Eindhoven University of Technology, the Eindhoven Embedded Systems Institute, and the financial support from Dutch Research School IPA. We are very much indebted to CMG and Telelogic's willingness to sponsor this event financially. Over the years, both companies have profiled themselves as companies investing both time and resources in advancing the current state in testing. Finally, the organisation thanks Marcella de Rooij and EIize Russell for their organisational assistance

7e Nederlandse testdag, Eindhoven, 8 November 2001 : proceedings

These are the proceedings of the seventh edition of the Nederlandse Testdag (a.k.a. Dutch Testing Day), held on November 8, 2001 in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. The increase in the complexity of software and hardware systems was the predominant concern in the software design of the last decades. This increase is still going on today. and mastering this complexity is possible, only by investigating, discussing and evaluating methods and techniques for testing such systems. The Nederlandse Testdag serves as a forum in which researchers from the industry and the academia discuss and present their latest experiences and theories in the area of testing. The initiative for organising the Nederlandse Testdag is, and has always been, the result of the combined efforts of the Dutch academia and the industry. The Nederlandse Testdag is an annual event which was first held in 1995. This year's edition again consists of one invited presentation by Jens Grabowski, on ITCN-3. and six regular presentations, both from the academia and from the industry. The presentations capture a broad field of the entire testing spectrum. In the presentation by Martin Gijsen (CMG), test automation for Graphical User Interface (GUI), dedicated and embedded systems according to the TestFrame methodology is explained. Klaas Mateboer (Collis) presents the test-tool Conclusion. René de Vries (University of Twente) reports on specification testing in practice and illustrates this by means of an example. In the presentation by Loe Feijs (Eindhoven University of Technology), testing is related to game-theory. Marcel Verhoef (Chess) and Bertil Oving (NLR) present their experiences using real-time simulation, UML and VDM to obtain more reliable spacecraft avionics. Finally, Ben van Buitenen (Baan), provides an insight in service pack testing: how to efficiently test customised software components and packages. The organisation of the Nederlandse Testdag is grateful for the sponsorship it received from the Eindhoven University of Technology, the Eindhoven Embedded Systems Institute, and the financial support from Dutch Research School IPA. We are very much indebted to CMG and Telelogic's willingness to sponsor this event financially. Over the years, both companies have profiled themselves as companies investing both time and resources in advancing the current state in testing. Finally, the organisation thanks Marcella de Rooij and EIize Russell for their organisational assistance