DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
This invention relates to the field of electronics and computer engineering.

Specifically, this invention relates to a system and method for capturing snapshots whilst mobile application testing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
Plenty of mobile testing tools have been developed and are available. These exist to support mobile development and applications’ development. As more and more companies and start-ups need to develop mobile products and mobile applications, the need for testing has exaggerated. In response to the growing number of mobile devices and platforms correlating to these mobile devices, it is vital that the mobile testing tools be more accommodating to understand and deal with this range. Furthermore, it is necessary that these mobile testing tools be more dynamic and scalable. Plenty of options exist in the mobile testing tool space, each with different strengths and weaknesses.

Due to a variety of workflows and functions in any given mobile application, rigour testing or regression testing is a very critical aspect before launch. Failure to catch bugs or regressions can cost companies thousands of dollars a day, and releasing broken apps can frustrate and alienate users.

Building test cases and human testing may be a robust way of testing application, today. But, it has its limitations in terms of scale, changing parameters instantaneously, recording performances, and the like. Further, it is an arduous, slow, and resource intensive process.

Therefore, there is a need for an automated mobile application testing suite. By automating testing, one can run a suite of tests that would take manual tester hours to complete in minutes or seconds. Speeding up testing can allow expansion of test coverage so that a bug-free application can be released.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
An object of the invention is to provide a system and method for capturing snapshots whilst mobile application testing.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automated a system and method for capturing snapshots whilst mobile application testing.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a system and method for capturing snapshots whilst mobile application testing wherein snapshots are captured at various stages of a testing procedure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a system and method for capturing snapshots whilst mobile application testing which provides speed, scalability, and repeatability.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a system and method for capturing snapshots whilst mobile application testing, wherein the system and method comprises a comparison feature and assists the security tester during the activity.

Another additional object of the invention is to provide a system and method for capturing snapshots whilst mobile application testing, wherein the system and method enables accurate recording of steps of testing along with functions and bugs and errors and analysis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
According to this invention, there is provided a system for capturing snapshots whilst mobile application testing on a rooted mobile device, said system comprising:
- a test configuration mechanism configured to create and deploy tests in a mobile device for a mobile application that is to be tested, each of said tests being configured in relation to steps per objective, in order to provide test identifier data and associated step identifier data;
- a virtual node defining mechanism configured to define virtual nodes per each test, said virtual nodes correlating various stages of a test per application with corresponding areas of said device that are to be scanned and recorded for data collection;
- a mapping mechanism configured for mapping each of said virtual nodes on to said device, depending on device type, so that as the application is being tested, it crosses a virtual node, which then activates a recording mechanism for that specific stage in order to form a snapshot file per specific stage per specific;
- a snapshot capturing mechanism configured to capture a snapshot of an application, at a pre-defined virtual node, as defined by said test configuration mechanism, while it is being run or tested on said device in order to form a ‘snapshot file’;
- a comparator configured to compare any two snapshot files for said device in order to determine changes per file per time per node; and
- a notifier configured to configured to notify changes in a current snapshot file with respect to an earlier snapshot file as per data from said comparator

Typically, said snapshot file comprises data pertaining to state of said mobile device running the application at a pre-defined virtual node.

Typically, said snapshot capturing mechanism is configured to capture state of said mobile device, said state being selected from a group of states consisting of a) files’ related data on said mobile device; b) files’ related metadata on said mobile device; c) data pertaining to additional files’ formed on said mobile device; d) metadata pertaining to additional files’ formed on said mobile device; e) path of files on said mobile device; f) change in path of files on said mobile device; g) performance of mobile device in terms of storage; h) performance of mobile device in terms of power consumption; i) performance of mobile device in terms of location service changes; j) performance of mobile device in terms of notifications’ changes; k) performance of mobile device in terms of network usage changes; l) performance of mobile device in terms of privacy settings’ changes; m) performance of mobile device in terms of access to other applications; n) database changes; o) browser data changes; p) browser settings changes; and q) browser metadata changes.

Typically, said test configuration mechanism is further configured to correlate said steps with mobile device functions.

Typically, said test configuration mechanism is further configured to correlate said system with test identifier data and associated step identifier data.

Typically, said test configuration mechanism is further configured to correlate each step with a planned outcome in relation to device functioning which is configured in terms of outcome data.

Typically, said virtual node defining mechanism is configured to define virtual nodes per each test, said virtual nodes correlating various stages of a test per application with corresponding areas of said device that are to be scanned and recorded for data collection being characterized by multiple stages, said stages being selected from a group of stages consisting of:
a. node defined in relation to stage before the target application installed on the device;
b. node defined in relation to stage after the target application installed on the device before user login into the target application;
c. node defined in relation to stage after user login into the target application;
d. node defined in relation to stage after user logout from the target application; and
e. node defined in relation to stage after target application uninstalled from the device.

Typically, said ‘snapshot file’ is a data file which comprises information of a device per step per objective per test corresponding to an application.

Typically, said ‘snapshot file’ is a data file which comprises details of each and every file present on the device.

Typically, said system comprises an analytical engine configured to perform analysis of target application which is under testing by collecting information about the files, data, permissions, hardware, browser, history, operating software associated with said target application

Typically, said system comprises a stage defining mechanism communicably coupled with the snapshot capturing mechanism in order to define stages at which snapshots are to be taken further wherein different stages are as follows:
a. node defined in relation to stage before the target application installed on the device;
b. node defined in relation to stage after the target application installed on the device before user login into the target application;
c. node defined in relation to stage after user login into the target application;
d. node defined in relation to stage after user logout from the target application; and
e. node defined in relation to stage after target application uninstalled from the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:
This invention will now be described in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate various steps, in a flowchart, relating to snapshots are capturing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
According to this invention, there is provided a system and method for capturing snapshots whilst mobile application testing.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate various steps, in a flowchart, relating to snapshots are capturing.

In accordance with an embodiment of this invention, there is provided a test configuration mechanism configured to create and deploy tests in a mobile device for a mobile application that is to be tested. Tests are configured in relation to steps per objective. Steps are correlated with the mobile device functions. Thus, the system and method of this invention is fed with test identifier data and associated step identifier data. Each step is further correlated with a planned outcome in relation to device functioning which is configured in terms of outcome data.

Thus, for each test that is configured, virtual nodes are defined by means of a virtual node defining mechanism. These virtual nodes correlate the following stages with corresponding areas of a device that are to be scanned and recorded for data collection:
a. node defined in relation to stage before the target application installed on the device;
b. node defined in relation to stage after the target application installed on the device before user login into the target application;
c. node defined in relation to stage after user login into the target application;
d. node defined in relation to stage after user logout from the target application; and
e. node defined in relation to stage after target application uninstalled from the device.

With a mapping mechanism configured for the system and method of this invention, each of these virtual nodes are mapped on to the device, depending on device type, so that as the application is being tested, it crosses a virtual node, which then activates a recording mechanism for that specific stage in order to form a snapshot file per specific stage per specific.

In accordance with another embodiment of this invention, there is provided a snapshot capturing mechanism configured to capture a snapshot of an application while it is being run or tested on a device. A ‘snapshot file’, for the purposes of this invention, is a data file which comprises information of a device per step per objective per test corresponding to an application.

Every snapshot file contains details of each and every file present on the device. Typically, a snapshot file comprises data pertaining to state of said mobile device running the application at a pre-defined virtual node.

Various data items are captured in a snapshot file, as under:
a) files’ related data on said mobile device; b) files’ related metadata on said mobile device; c) data pertaining to additional files’ formed on said mobile device; d) metadata pertaining to additional files’ formed on said mobile device; e) path of files on said mobile device; f) change in path of files on said mobile device; g) performance of mobile device in terms of storage; h) performance of mobile device in terms of power consumption; i) performance of mobile device in terms of location service changes; j) performance of mobile device in terms of notifications’ changes; k) performance of mobile device in terms of network usage changes; l) performance of mobile device in terms of privacy settings’ changes; m) performance of mobile device in terms of access to other applications; n) database changes; o) browser data changes; p) browser settings changes; and q) browser metadata changes.

The system and method of this invention performs analysis of target application which is under testing by collecting information about the files that the target application installs on the device, databases it creates, application permission, Network Information, OS Information, Hardware Information, Installed Browsers and Browser History etc.

In at least one embodiment, the snapshot file is configured to contain details of the device including device name, device type, time, installed applications, installed software, platform, hardware details, network details, application’s permissions, application’s files, application databases, and the like at various stages of a test that is being conducted on the device for a given application.

This provides device details before an application is installed along with every step of the application process towards the application’s defined objective in a chronological format.

In at least one other embodiment, an analytical engine performs analysis of target application which is under testing by collecting information about the files the target application Installs on the Device, Databases it creates, Application Permissions, Network Information, OS Information, Hardware Information, Installed Browsers, Browser History etc.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of this invention, there is provided a stage defining mechanism communicably coupled with the snapshot capturing mechanism in order to define stages at which snapshots are to be taken. In at least one embodiment, different stages are as follows:
a. node defined in relation to stage before the target application installed on the device;
b. node defined in relation to stage after the target application installed on the device before user login into the target application;
c. node defined in relation to stage after user login into the target application;
d. node defined in relation to stage after user logout from the target application; and
e. node defined in relation to stage after target application uninstalled from the device.

In accordance with still another embodiment of this invention, there is provided a comparator configured to compare any two snapshot files (from 5 different stages as explained above) on same device and doing in-depth analysis of file size change, file permissions change, file contents change, database change, etc). Comparison is done line-by-line, word-by-word for each file for a given point of time.

In accordance with a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, if a snapshot of device before target application gets installed on the device and a snapshot of same device after the target application gets installed on the device will yield different results because after installing the target application it will create some files, folders, database, tokens, session id’s etc. The system and method of this invention will compare these two snapshots and provide a report with an exact difference. Even a file size gets changes by 1 byte will be captured by the comparator of this invention. Additional features comprise File explorer, Database explorer, etc.

This also facilitates a tester in fining any change on the device caused by the target application under testing and it’s details such as sensitive data, tokens, PIN, session ID, and the like that is left on the device by the target application that is being tested, inadequate permissions created on the files by the target application.

While this detailed description has disclosed certain specific embodiments for illustrative purposes, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, and it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.

,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM,

1. A system for capturing snapshots whilst mobile application testing on a rooted mobile device, said system comprising:
- a test configuration mechanism configured to create and deploy tests in a mobile device for a mobile application that is to be tested, each of said tests being configured in relation to steps per objective, in order to provide test identifier data and associated step identifier data;
- a virtual node defining mechanism configured to define virtual nodes per each test, said virtual nodes correlating various stages of a test per application with corresponding areas of said device that are to be scanned and recorded for data collection;
- a mapping mechanism configured for mapping each of said virtual nodes on to said device, depending on device type, so that as the application is being tested, it crosses a virtual node, which then activates a recording mechanism for that specific stage in order to form a snapshot file per specific stage per specific;
- a snapshot capturing mechanism configured to capture a snapshot of an application, at a pre-defined virtual node, as defined by said test configuration mechanism, while it is being run or tested on said device in order to form a ‘snapshot file’;
- a comparator configured to compare any two snapshot files for said device in order to determine changes per file per time per node; and
- a notifier configured to configured to notify changes in a current snapshot file with respect to an earlier snapshot file as per data from said comparator

2. A system for capturing snapshots whilst mobile application testing as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said snapshot file comprising data pertaining to state of said mobile device running the application at a pre-defined virtual node.

3. A system for capturing snapshots whilst mobile application testing as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said snapshot capturing mechanism being configured to capture state of said mobile device, said state being selected from a group of states consisting of a) files’ related data on said mobile device; b) files’ related metadata on said mobile device; c) data pertaining to additional files’ formed on said mobile device; d) metadata pertaining to additional files’ formed on said mobile device; e) path of files on said mobile device; f) change in path of files on said mobile device; g) performance of mobile device in terms of storage; h) performance of mobile device in terms of power consumption; i) performance of mobile device in terms of location service changes; j) performance of mobile device in terms of notifications’ changes; k) performance of mobile device in terms of network usage changes; l) performance of mobile device in terms of privacy settings’ changes; m) performance of mobile device in terms of access to other applications; n) database changes; o) browser data changes; p) browser settings changes; and q) browser metadata changes.

4. A system for capturing snapshots whilst mobile application testing as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said test configuration mechanism is further configured to correlate said steps with mobile device functions.

5. A system for capturing snapshots whilst mobile application testing as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said test configuration mechanism is further configured to correlate said system with test identifier data and associated step identifier data.

6. A system for capturing snapshots whilst mobile application testing as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said test configuration mechanism is further configured to correlate each step with a planned outcome in relation to device functioning which is configured in terms of outcome data.

7. A system for capturing snapshots whilst mobile application testing as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said virtual node defining mechanism configured to define virtual nodes per each test, said virtual nodes correlating various stages of a test per application with corresponding areas of said device that are to be scanned and recorded for data collection being characterized by multiple stages, said stages being selected from a group of stages consisting of:
a. node defined in relation to stage before the target application installed on the device;
b. node defined in relation to stage after the target application installed on the device before user login into the target application;
c. node defined in relation to stage after user login into the target application;
d. node defined in relation to stage after user logout from the target application; and
e. node defined in relation to stage after target application uninstalled from the device.

8. A system for capturing snapshots whilst mobile application testing as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said ‘snapshot file’ is a data file which comprises information of a device per step per objective per test corresponding to an application.

9. A system for capturing snapshots whilst mobile application testing as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said ‘snapshot file’ is a data file which comprises details of each and every file present on the device.

10. A system for capturing snapshots whilst mobile application testing as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said system comprising an analytical engine configured to perform analysis of target application which is under testing by collecting information about the files, data, permissions, hardware, browser, history, operating software associated with said target application

11. A system for capturing snapshots whilst mobile application testing as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said system comprising a stage defining mechanism communicably coupled with the snapshot capturing mechanism in order to define stages at which snapshots are to be taken further wherein different stages are as follows:
a. node defined in relation to stage before the target application installed on the device;
b. node defined in relation to stage after the target application installed on the device before user login into the target application;
c. node defined in relation to stage after user login into the target application;
d. node defined in relation to stage after user logout from the target application; and
e. node defined in relation to stage after target application uninstalled from the device.

Dated this 13th day of February, 2017.
CHIRAG TANNA
of LEGALANCE
APPLICANT’s PATENT AGENT