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

ERIGrid Holistic Test Description for Validating Cyber-Physical Energy Systems

Smart energy solutions aim to modify and optimise the operation of existing energy infrastructure. Such cyber-physical technology must be mature before deployment to the actual infrastructure, and competitive solutions will have to be compliant to standards still under development. Achieving this technology readiness and harmonisation requires reproducible experiments and appropriately realistic testing environments. Such testbeds for multi-domain cyber-physical experiments are complex in and of themselves. This work addresses a method for the scoping and design of experiments where both testbed and solution each require detailed expertise. This empirical work first revisited present test description approaches, developed a newdescription method for cyber-physical energy systems testing, and matured it by means of user involvement. The new Holistic Test Description (HTD) method facilitates the conception, deconstruction and reproduction of complex experimental designs in the domains of cyber-physical energy systems. This work develops the background and motivation, offers a guideline and examples to the proposed approach, and summarises experience from three years of its application.This work received funding in the European Community’s Horizon 2020 Program (H2020/2014–2020) under project “ERIGrid” (Grant Agreement No. 654113)

Creating telecommunication services based on object-oriented frameworks and SDL

This paper describes the tools and techniques being applied in the TINA Open Service Creation Architecture (TOSCA) project to develop object-oriented models of distributed telecommunication services in SDL. The paper also describes the way in which Tree and Tabular Combined Notation (TTCN) test cases are derived from these models and subsequently executed against the CORBA-based implementations of these services through a TTCN/CORBA gateway

A heuristic-based approach to code-smell detection

Encapsulation and data hiding are central tenets of the object oriented paradigm. Deciding what data and behaviour to form into a class and where to draw the line between its public and private details can make the difference between a class that is an understandable, flexible and reusable abstraction and one which is not. This decision is a difficult one and may easily result in poor encapsulation which can then have serious implications for a number of system qualities. It is often hard to identify such encapsulation problems within large software systems until they cause a maintenance problem (which is usually too late) and attempting to perform such analysis manually can also be tedious and error prone. Two of the common encapsulation problems that can arise as a consequence of this decomposition process are data classes and god classes. Typically, these two problems occur together – data classes are lacking in functionality that has typically been sucked into an over-complicated and domineering god class. This paper describes the architecture of a tool which automatically detects data and god classes that has been developed as a plug-in for the Eclipse IDE. The technique has been evaluated in a controlled study on two large open source systems which compare the tool results to similar work by Marinescu, who employs a metrics-based approach to detecting such features. The study provides some valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the two approache

Experiences modelling and using object-oriented telecommunication service frameworks in SDL

This paper describes experiences in using SDL and its associated tools to create telecommunication services by producing and specialising object-oriented frameworks. The chosen approach recognises the need for the rapid creation of validated telecommunication services. It introduces two stages to service creation. Firstly a software expert produces a service framework, and secondly a telecommunications ‘business consultant' specialises the framework by means of graphical tools to rapidly produce services. Here the focus is given to the underlying technology required. In particular, the advantages and disadvantages of SDL and tools for this purpose are highlighted

Towards a Runtime Standard-Based Testing Framework for Dynamic Distributed Information Systems

International audienceIn this work, we are interested in testing dynamic distributed information systems. That is we consider a decentralized information system which can evolve over time. For this purpose we propose a runtime standard-based test execution platform. The latter is built upon the normalized TTCN-3 specification and implementation testing language. The proposed platform ensures execution of tests cases at runtime. Moreover it considers both structural and behavioral adaptations of the system under test. In addition, it is equipped with a test isolation layer that minimizes the risk of interference between business and testing processes. The platform also generates a minimal subset of test scenarios to execute after each adaptation. Finally, it proposes an optimal strategy to place the TTCN-3 test components among the system execution nodes

CLOCIS:Cloud-based conformance testing framework for IoT devices in the future internet

In recent years, the Internet of Things (IoT) has not only become ubiquitous in daily life but has also emerged as a pivotal technology across various sectors, including smart factories and smart cities. Consequently, there is a pressing need to ensure the consistent and uninterrupted delivery of IoT services. Conformance testing has thus become an integral aspect of IoT technologies. However, traditional methods of IoT conformance testing fall short of addressing the evolving requirements put forth by both industry and academia. Historically, IoT testing has necessitated a visit to a testing laboratory, implying that both the testing systems and testers must be co-located. Furthermore, there is a notable absence of a comprehensive method for testing an array of IoT standards, especially given their inherent heterogeneity. With a surge in the development of diverse IoT standards, crafting an appropriate testing environment poses challenges. To address these concerns, this article introduces a method for remote IoT conformance testing, underpinned by a novel conceptual architecture termed CLOCIS. This architecture encompasses an extensible approach tailored for a myriad of IoT standards. Moreover, we elucidate the methods and procedures integral to testing IoT devices. CLOCIS, predicated on this conceptual framework, is actualized, and to attest to its viability, we undertake IoT conformance testing and present the results. When leveraging CLOCIS, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entities in the throes of IoT service development stand to benefit from a reduced time to market and cost-efficient testing procedures. Additionally, this innovation holds promise for IoT standardization communities, enabling them to champion their standards with renewed vigor

Conformance Testing for the AUTOSAR Standard

International audienceThe paper presents why AUTOSAR conformance tests are required, what has been achieved, and how 3 car manufacturers will use conformance tests as part of their vehicle E/E engineering process. Important topics covered are the need for conformance testing when developing a standard, the relationship between conformance and interoperability, the need for interoperability of ECUs in a vehicle, and the need to avoid diverging implementation of a standard

GPRS Function Test using TTCN

Functional and conformance testing of new standardized services and protocols is a challenging task as standards may change during implementation and the test system has to be adapted to the system under test continuously. This paper describes how modular and concurrent TTCN was deployed for validation of the GPRS support nodes and reports on the experience collected