Description:Complete Specification:
The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to automated testing of software/hardware systems in a simulation environment.

[0002] Background of the invention

[0003] Various tools are available for testing of automobile systems in a virtual environment. Automation Testing is using an automation tool to execute a test case suite. The automation software can also enter test data for the parameters in the services of an ECU, compare expected and actual results and generate detailed and validated test reports. Test Automation demands considerable investments of resources and money.
[0004] As per a requirement analysis by the applicant, in the field of automobile testing, a percentage of testing requirements are common across various products. For instance, in AUTOSAR the basic software (BSW) has testing requirements that include diagnostics, communication (COM module in BSW) and failure management (error detection and error reporting). As per the requirement analysis, sensors such as Radar, USS sensors and cameras have these common requirements of diagnostics, fault management and communication testing.
[0005] Designing comprehensive test scenarios to cover all possible interaction and edge cases within the base software is complex. Further, testing of different components (such as radar/camera/USS (ultrasonic sensor) ) vary based on specific functionalities, interfaces and nature of data they handle. Usually, coming up with test designs for different systems takes up a lot of time. There is a need to increase the test coverage, and reuse the test cases. The present disclosure aims to save efforts in generating BSW test designs and execution for systems with common requirements. The present method will save time used for writing BSW test cases for common requirements.
[0006] A common shared library will comprise the predefined test sequences, the CAPL/python functions and already generated test designs for different user requirements. The base template (test designs) and functions can be imported from this library and a user specific test design may be generated. These test designs may be linked back to the specific requirements for which they are designed (requirement traceability).

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
[0007] An embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings:
[0008] Figure 1 depicts a method to generate a test design for a system to be tested in a stimulation environment.
[0009] Detailed description of the drawings:

[0010] The present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to accompanying drawings. Throughout all the figures, same or corresponding elements may generally be indicated by same reference numerals. These depicted embodiments are to be understood as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting in any way. It should also be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations, and fragmentary views. In predetermined instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention, or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.
[0011] The method as described in Fig 1 may be implemented by a computing system such as a computer comprising a memory, a processor and a computer program stored on the memory and executable on the processor. The processor executes the program to implement the steps of the method as mentioned below. According to the present invention, a virtual tool such as vTESTstudio may be used create the stimulation environment. vTeststudio provides a development environment to create test sequences that can be executed with CANoe test sequencer in real-time.

[0012] CANoe is an application developed by Vector Informatik GmbH for development, test, analysis, simulation, diagnostics and start-up of the entire ECU networks and individual ECUs. The application is used in automotive in-vehicle electronic networking and also in industries such as heavy trucks, rail transportation etc. It is used worldwide as a tool for ECU development for all type of vehicles.

[0013] The simulation and testing in CANoe is performed with CAPL, a programming language similar to C. The tool can be used to create a simulation of the entire network bus and simulate all the nodes on the buses.

[0014] Referring to Figure (1), the same depicts a method (100) to generate a test design for a system to be tested in a stimulation environment. The method comprises steps (101), (102) and (103). The method step (100) is creating a shared library (110). The shared library (110) comprises a set of pre-defined test sequences (114) for a known system to be tested. The pre-defined test sequences specify the steps to test the system. These outline the set of operations to be performed to verify the functionality or behavior of the system. For instance, in case of a RADAR of a specific configuration, the test sequence may be related to testing of ‘target detection’ at various distances/angles and speeds to validate accuracy.

[0015] The shared library comprises a set of programming functions (111) to be called during implementation of a known test design. According to the present invention, in an example, the set of programming functions maybe within CAPL or python scripting to assist in creating realistic test scenarios. For instance, in case of the RADAR, these functions upon execution may simulate radar related interactions within a network such as CAN (control area network) to validate the RADAR’s behavior under different conditions.

[0016] The shared library (110) further comprises a known test design (112) for a known system to be tested in the simulation environment. For instances, a test design specific to radar and linked to specific requirements of radar may be the known test design.
[0017] The method (102) is to identify a common set of requirements between the system and a known system with the known test design. In an example, the set of common requirements between RADAR (known test deign) and USS (test design to be generated) may be common testing requirements for diagnostics, communication (COM module in BSW) and failure management (error detection and error reporting).
[0018] The method (103) is generating the test design (113) for the system based on the common set of requirements, the pre-defined test sequences, the set of programming functions and the known test designs. Once the set of requirements are identified, a set of base templates(115) from the test designs can be imported. The user specific requirements such as distance, angles and speeds can be set or limited based on the configuration, parameters and variables of the system. Based on this, the test design (113) may be generated. The said generated test design (113) is integrated into the shared library to become the known test design (112).

[0019] The present method will save time used for writing BSW test cases for common requirements.
[0020] A common shared library will comprise the predefined test sequences, the CAPL/python functions and already generated test designs for different user requirements. The base template (test designs) and functions can be imported from this library and a user specific test design may be generated. These test designs may be linked back to the specific requirements for which they are designed (requirement traceability).
, Claims:We Claim:
1. A method (100) to generate a test design for a system to be tested in a stimulation environment, the method comprising the steps of :
-(101) creating a shared library (110) comprising:
-a set of pre-defined test sequences (114) for a known system to be tested,
-a set of programming functions (111) to be called during implementation of a known test design,
-a known test design (112) for the known system to be tested in the simulation environment,

characterized in that method, the step of :
-(102) identifying a common set of requirements between the system and a known system with a known test design, and
-(103) generating the test design for the system based on the common set of requirements, the set of pre-defined test sequences, the set of programming functions and the known test designs.

2. The method (100) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, integrating said test design into the shared library.
3. The method(100) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, modifying the pre-defined test sequences and the set of programming functions based on at least one user requirement.