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`PATENT DATE
`PATENT
`
`(Series
`
`NUMBER
`a! 1987)
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`FILING DATE CLASS
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`
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`SUBCLASS
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`GROUP ART UNIT
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`EXAMINER
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`5:3
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`figé-
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`FILING FEE
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`Foreign priority clalme
`CLAIMS
`RECEIVED
`
`35 USC 119 conditions met
`
`ATTORNEY'S
`
`DOCKET NO.
`
`Verified and Acknowledged
`
`
`
`
`
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`.:...—
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`SYSTEM Toe
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`AQ‘TIVZN)’ on A REMOTE
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`U5. DEPT. of ”MIL-fit. & TM OHIGI— PTO-43“. (M. 10-70)
`
`
`
`PARTS OF APPLICATION
`
`FILED SEPARATELY
`
`.
`
`
`
`Form PTO-436
`Rev. 9 l 90
`
`
`
`V
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`‘ Total Claims
`
`CLAIMS ALLOWED
`Print Claim
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`
`
`‘-
`
`Docket Clerk
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`1‘
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`PREPARED FOR ISSUE
`
`. Assistant Examiner
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`Primary Examiner
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`ISSUE CLASSIFICATION
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`Class
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`: Sheets Drwg.
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`Figs. Drwg.
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`Print Fig.
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`lSSUE
`BATCH
`N UM BER
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`
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`
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`
`
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`WARNING: The information disclosed herein may be restricted. Unauthorized disclosure may be
`prohibited by the United States Code Title 35, Sections 122, 181 and 368.
`‘
`Possession outside the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office is restricted to authorized employees
`and contractors only.
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`001
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`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
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`
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`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
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`001
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`

`

`/ APPROVED FOR LICENSE
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`//7I/
`{£59.99 142.5%
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`\/
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`32'W Emma-1010
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`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
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`002
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`

`

`CLASSIFIE,
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`se.r:viceNow's Exhibit No. 1019 ..
`'
`
`
`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
`
`003
`
`

`

`
`
`INTERFERENCE SEARCHED
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
`
`004
`
`

`

`PATENT APPLICATION SERIAL Nb 517795913
`
`
`
`U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`FEE RECORD SHEET
`
`1&0 HE 12J06/91 07795913
`
`PTO—1556
`
`(5/87)
`
`005
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`ServiceNow's Exhibit No._1010
`
`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
`
`005
`
`

`

`ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
`
`of instructions (a test "script"). The first language comprises a first set of instructions, the
`
`first set of instructions causes a first computer system (a "host" in a preferred embodiment)
`
`to issue a series of commands to a second computer system (a "target") in order to cause
`
`the second computer system to emulate user activity on the second computer system. User
`
`activity includes emulating typing text and/or moving a mouse cursor position. The.
`
`language further comprises a second set of instructions which cause the first computer
`
`system to issue a series of commands to the second computer system in order to cause the
`
`second computer system to respond to the first computer system with its state. This state
`
`includes user interface objects, and applications running in the target, etc. The language
`
`further comprises a third set of instructions, the third set of instructions causing the first
`
`computer system to issue a sequence of commands to the second computer system to
`
`respond in a predefined manner. These instructions indicate that the target computer
`
`system is to respond in within a given period of time, listen for further commands, etc.
`
`This is useful for repeatable and systematic testing of computer systems having a variety of
`
`hardware and software combinations for compatibility testing. Multitasking using
`
`"threads" for control of different targets using different test routines is also provided.
`
`006
`
`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
`
`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
`
`006
`
`

`

`
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT APPLICATION
`
`FOR
`
`INTERPRETER FOR PERFORMING REMOTE TESTING OF COMPUTER SYSTEMS
`
`INVENTORS:
`
`,
`JAY ALAN JESSEN
`PALANIVELU NAGARAJAN ‘v/
`SEAN LUDLOW FLYNN
`JAMES ALAN SCHNEIDER
`
`)
`
`PREPARED BY:
`
`BLAKELY, SOKOLOFF, TAYLOR & ZAFMAN
`17/100 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD
`SEVENTH FLOOR
`LOS ANGELES, CA 90025-1026
`
`(408) 720-8598
`
`File No. 04860.P666
`
`(“a D
`/
`2’
`“Express Mail" mailing labelnurnber
`DateofDeposit
`NWi/(WWW w \JMi
`I hereby certify that this paper or fee is being deposited with the United States Postal Service ”Express Mail Post
`Office to Addressee" service under 37 CFR 1.10 on the date indicated above and is addressed to the Commissioner
`A
`of Patents and Trademarks, Washingt 11, DC. 20231.
`list
`
`
`(Typed or printed name ofpers7mailing p per or fee)
`Maw
`(Signature of person mailing pager or fee)
`
`
`
`007
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`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
`
`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
`
`007
`
`

`

`
`
`BAKR ND FTHEINVENTIN
`
`1.
`
`Field of the Invention
`
`This invention relates to performing diagnostics on computer systems. More
`
`specifically, this application relates to remotely testing computer systems having a variety
`
`of hardware/software combinations.
`
`2.
`
`B k
`
`n
`
`f R 1
`
`10
`
`Traditional testing of computer systems and their associated software and firmware
`
`typically require that manual tests be designed in order to make sure that each function on
`
`given programs is operating as expected. In addition, such testing must be performed on a
`
`variety of systems running different hardware/software combinations to determine the
`
`compatibility of the underlying system. These tests require substantial user intervention
`
`15
`
`because certain operations on these computer systems must be performed manually. Also,
`
`the results of those operations must be monitored by looking at files, the display of the
`
`system, or other results of performing the operations to determine if the proper result has
`
`been accomplished. This is a time-consuming and tedious process. Sometimes this takes
`
`the form of releasing a pre-release version of the system, a so—called “beta release.” This
`
`20
`
`type of release of a product is one which is distributed to a limited number of individuals,
`
`typically very experienced computer program developers, and/or system programmers, to
`
`determine if there are any remaining errors or other unexpected results in the underlying
`
`system or system software.
`
`Both the initial testing process and the beta testing process, discussed above, are
`
`25
`
`time-consuming and tedious tasks for individuals testing the computer system. They are
`
`also expensive for a manufacturer. Such testing requires that the system be tested on a
`
`wide variety of compatible platforms (for instance, in the Macintosh brand family of
`
`l
`
`M)
`
`v.
`
`008
`
`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
`
`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
`
`008
`
`

`

`computers, the Macintosh SE brand computer system, the Macintosh II, and other systems
`
`using a variety of hardware platforms but having compatible operating system software).
`
`For instance, an error which might occur in one model of machine or in one type of
`
`software combination may not occur on another machine having a different hardware
`
`and/or software combination. Testing each hardware platform in combination with certain
`
`underlying software requires careful testing for proper compatibility.
`
`In addition to a variety of manual tests required for ensuring the functioning of a
`
`computer system, because the tests are performed manually they may become very time-
`
`consuming and tedious. The testing process may also become error~prone, depending on
`
`10
`
`the individuals performing the testing of systems. To ensure that a computer software
`
`product is fully functional before shipping a released product, the so-called “beta release”
`
`process takes a certain period of time. A long delay in testing a final version of a computer
`
`system, including specific hardware and software combinations, may delay the release of a
`
`product so much that competitive advantage may be lost.
`
`15
`
`Some prior art systems used for testing also require that the user input a series of
`
`commands and/or user activity which will generate an expected result. These tests must be
`
`performed flawlessly in order for the testing process to be performed effectively. In
`
`addition, the user must view the tested system’s display and/or other results to determine if
`
`the user action achieved the desired result. Again, to ensure proper functioning, this must
`
`20
`
`be done repetitively. Human beings typically cannot perform repetitive tasks such as these
`
`in an effective manner and monitor all the actions on the tested computer system perfectly.
`
`Also, testing of new computer systems requires repetitive and repeatable testing. This is to
`
`ensure that errors (“bugs”) or other unexpected results are reproducible so that the source
`
`of the error can be determined. Therefore, repeatable testing on various hardware/software
`
`25
`
`platforms is required. These tests should also have a minimum impact on the system being
`
`tested so as to minimize the effect of the testing process (called “corruption”) on the
`
`2
`
`”‘9
`g’
`j
`
`009
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`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
`
`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
`
`009
`
`

`

`computer being tested. These tests should also have a means for recording the results of
`
`the tests so that they may be examined to analyze the error.
`
`In summary, substantial delays and errors are caused in the testing of computer
`
`systems prior to shipping. Also, the testing process may fail to catch all errors in a
`
`particular hardware/software combination.
`
`w.i\
`
`‘.
`
`an.”
`«“th\
`
`O10
`
`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
`
`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
`
`010
`
`

`

`SHMJVIARY AND QBJEQIS QFTHE INYENTIQN
`
`One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an automated means for
`
`testing a wide variety of computer systems in a standardized way.
`
`Another of the objects of the present invention is to provide a means for testing
`
`computer systems in a relatively systematic and error—free environment.
`
`Another of the objects of the present invention is to provide a means for testing a
`
`computer system repetitively such that any errors in a variety of computer
`
`hardware/software combinations may be reproduced and thus more easily eliminated.
`
`Another of the objects of the present invention is to provide a cost effective means
`
`10
`
`to test a wide variety of computer software/hardware combinations.
`
`Another of the objects of the present invention is to provide a means for remotely
`
`testing at least one computer system to minimize the interference (the corruption) of the
`
`computer system by the apparatus perforating the test.
`
`Another object of)the present invention is to provide a means for remotely testing a
`plurality of computer systems by emulating user manipulation of user interface objects on
`
`15
`
`the systems and monitoring the results of the manipulation remotely.
`
`Another of the objects of the present invention is to provide a means for remotely
`
`monitoring the user interface and operating system of a computer system.
`
`These and other objects of the present invention are provided for by a system for
`
`20
`
`interpreting a first sequence of instructions. A first language comprises instructions
`
`making up part of the first sequence of instructions (a test “script”). The first set of
`
`instructions of the language causes a first computer system (a "host" in a preferred
`
`embodiment) to issue a series of commands to a second computer system (a "target") in
`
`order to cause the second computer system to emulate user activity on said second
`
`25
`
`computer system. User activity includes emulating typing text and/or moving a mouse
`
`cursor position. The language further comprises a second set of instructions. The second
`
`set of instructions causes the first computer system to issue a series of commands to the
`
`011
`
`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
`
`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
`
`011
`
`

`

`second computer system in order to cause the second computer system to respond to the
`
`first computer system with the state of the display of the second computer system. This
`
`includes user interface objects, and applications running in the target, etc. The language
`
`further comprises a third set of instructions, the third set of instructions causing the first
`
`computer system to issue a sequence of commands to the second computer system to
`
`respond in a predefined manner. These instructions indicate that the target computer
`
`system is to respond in within a given period of time, listen for further commands, etc.
`
`The preferred embodiment therefore allows a user to generate a test "script" or command
`
`language program which defines a series of tests which may be performed on the target
`
`10
`
`15
`
`computer. This is useful for repeatable and systematic testing of computer systems having
`
`a variety of hardware and software combinations for compatibility testing. Faults in the
`
`system(s) may be isolated, thus allowing corrective measures to be taken. This is a distinct
`
`improvement over prior art manual testing by individual testers.
`
`These and other objects of the present invention are provided for by an interpretive
`
`language capable of being interpreted by a first computer system (a "host") to cause a
`
`second computer system to perform specified actions. The language includes a first set of
`
`descriptors which define abstractions of user interface objects on the second computer
`
`system (the "target") and a first set of commands which direct emulated user actions to be
`
`performed on the user interface objects in the second computer system. The system also
`
`20
`
`includes a second set of commands which request information regarding the user interface
`
`objects in the second computer system. The information is in the form of abstractions of
`
`the user interface objects and avoids transmitting bitmap images of the target computer
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`system to the host computer system so that the abstractions may be checked against
`
`expected results. Therefore, repeatable and systematic testing of computer systems may be
`
`25
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`accomplished.
`
`These and other objects of the present invention are further provided for a system
`
`for testing computer systems which comprises a first target computer system having a first
`
`/ 5
`(:2
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`012
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`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
`
`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
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`012
`
`

`

`hardware/software combination and a second target computer system having a second
`
`hardware/software combination. A host computer system comprises means for directing a
`
`first thread to control the actions of the first target computer system using a first sequence
`
`of instructions and a second thread to control the actions of the second target computer
`
`system using a second sequence of instructions independent of the first target computer
`
`system. Thus, multiple computers having different hardware/software combinations may
`
`be tested using different test script routines using different processes ("threads”) in the host
`
`computer system. The first and second sequences of instructions (the test "scripts") emulate
`
`user activity on the first and second target computer systems and cause the first and second
`computer systems to report the state of user interface objects on displays coupled to the first
`
`lO
`
`and second computer systems. Therefore, the results of emulated user activity may be
`
`tested for. A means for communicating, such as a local area network, couples the host
`
`computer system to the first and second target computer systems.
`
`013
`
`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
`
`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
`
`013
`
`

`

` BRIEF DESCRIPTI N F DRAWlN
`
`The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation of the
`
`figures of the accompanying in which like references indicate like elements and in which:
`
`Figure 1, ows the coupling of computer systems used in the preferred
`
`embodiment.
`
`Figure 2 shows a menu screen for initiating a test script from the host machine to be
`
`performed on a target machine.
`
`Figure 3 slogys some user interface objects which may be referred to and
`
`manipulated by theiliOSt machine on a target machine.
`Figure 4 slfows the structure of a “pull-down” menu which may be referenced and
`
`10
`
`manipulated on a target machine by a host machine.
`Figures 5 5nd 6 sfl/iow additional menu items which may be referenced and
`
`manipulated in a target machine by a host machine.
`Figure 7 “shows two windows which may be examined for matching user interface
`I
`Figure 8 shows a flow diagram of a host machine process used to update a cursor
`
`traits.
`
`position in a targetrmachine.
`
`Figure 9Jshows a flow diagram of a host machine process used to resize a window
`
`in a target machine,”A
`,
`.
`f
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`2/
`_
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`,/
`
`.
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`.
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`.
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`.
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`.
`
`Flgure 10 :20th an example ofre51zmg a Window in atarget machine.
`
`Figure 11 ' ows a communication scheme utilized by the target machine for
`
`15
`
`20
`
`communicating with the host.
`
`O14
`
`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
`
`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
`
`014
`
`

`

`ETAILED DESQRIPTIQN
`
`flap
`' The present invention covers a method and apparatus for remotely testing and
`,
`B\
`monitoring computer systems. In the following description, for the purposes of
`
`explanation, specific data structures, information, packets, protocols, user interface
`
`objects, and other details used by the preferred embodiment are set forth in order to provide
`
`a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be appreciated, however, by one
`
`skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.
`
`In other instances, well-known Circuits and devices are shown in block diagram form in
`
`order to not unnecessarily obscure the present invention.
`
`10
`
`lin
`
`fh Prfrr Em imn-Fiur 1
`
`The preferred embodiment is a testing environment wherein a “host” computer
`
`system issues commands to “target” computer systems, the target computer systems
`
`returning the results of those operations back to the host The coupling of the systems in
`
`15
`
`the preferred embodiment is graphically represented with reference to Figure 1. For
`
`instance, on a network such as 110 shown in Figure 1, a host 100 may be coupled to the
`
`network for communication with various target machines such as 121 through 125. The
`
`host computer system 100 communicates with each of target machines 121 through 125
`
`over network 110 for instructing the targets to perform various tasks. Each of the target
`
`20
`
`machines 121 through 125 can communicate over network 110 for providing results of
`
`those tasks back to host 100 when host 100 initiates a communication. In a preferred
`
`embodiment, host 100 and target machines 121 through 125 are members of the Macintosh
`
`brand family of personal computers manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino,
`
`California. In a preferred embodiment, network 110 is the Appletalk brand local area
`
`25
`
`network (LAN). It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, however, that any type of
`
`machine which has a network capability may communicate with other machines in a
`
`network such as 110 in a similar manner. Network 110 may be one of the other types of
`
`015
`
`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
`
`ServiceNow's Exhibit No. 1010
`
`015
`
`

`

`LAN’s commercially available in the market, such as Ethernet, a token ring, or a star LAN
`
`system in alternative embodiments.
`
`The preferred embodiment is a system in which tasks are described in a high level
`
`script or command language interpreted and executed by host machine 100. On the basis of
`
`the commands written in this script language, host machine 100 directs target machines 121
`
`through 125 to perform certain actions and respond to the host with the results of those
`
`actions. Communication is provided in a manner well-known to those skilled in the art,
`
`between host 100 and targets 121 through 125 using Appletalk brand network protocols
`
`(for instance, the Appletalk Transaction Protocol or ATP) such as those referred to in the
`
`10
`
`publication “Inside Appletalk, Second Edition” by Gursharan E. Sidhu, Richard F.
`
`Andrews, and Alan B. Oppenheimer (1990) available from Addison-Wesley Publishing
`
`Company, Inc. (hereinafter “Inside Appletalk”). The majority of the underlying host and
`
`target programs (known as the “host” and “agent” respectively) of the preferred
`
`embodiment is written in the C++ programming language and compiled using the MPW
`C++ compilation tools available from Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, California.
`
`15
`
`Portions are implemented in 680x0 assembly language. It can be appreciated by one skilled
`
`in the art that any other type of high level language, such as FORTRAN, Pascal, or low
`
`level language such as assembly language, may be used to implement the system in
`
`alternative embodiments.
`
`20
`
`The architecture of the preferred embodiment is based on a theater metaphor. Each
`
`individual test which is written for target machines such as 121 through 125 shown in
`
`Figure 1 is executed by “actors” or subtasks in the host. Each of the actors plays different
`
`roles, performing different tests by interpreting and executing actions indicated by different
`
`“scripts” (command language routines) for target machines coupled to network 110. There
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`is also a “director” in the system of the preferred embodiment which stages, oversees, and
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`directs the test execution of each of the actors. An actor may be any entity that plays a role
`
`in a testing process. The most common types of actors which are used in the preferred
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`embodiment are those which emulate user action in the target system. Other actors which
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`are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the preferred embodiment are those which
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`include a human tester entering commands on the keyboard directly on each of the target
`
`machines, or any external functions which can communicate with the director or the actors
`
`running the tests. Each of the actors runs as an independent task in a multitasking mode
`
`along with the director. Actors in the system of the preferred embodiment are different
`
`processes or “threads” which are controlled by the script associated with the actor and the
`
`director.
`
`Because each of the target machines 121 through 125 may be different models of
`
`the same computer system with different hardware and/or software configurations, it is
`
`possible to test computer software on each of the systems using the same set of tests, but in
`
`different hardware/software environments. Therefore, compatibility testing of the program
`
`with various configurations of hardware and software may be performed. In addition, the
`
`preferred embodiment provides for rigorous repetitive testing of each of the target machines
`
`using the scripts for each of the actors. Therefore, faults may be detected from multiple
`
`iterations of a script, wherein a manual testing of individual machines may not otherwise
`
`uncover such flaws.
`
`The system of the preferred embodiment comprises two major components:
`
`the
`
`host system, and the target system(s). The host system provides all the “acting” and
`
`“directing” functions as described above. The host interprets the scripts and issues
`
`commands to the target machines to perform emulated user operations based on those
`
`scripts. Also, the host issues queries to determine the state of the target machines and
`
`receives messages from the target machines responding with the requested information. In
`
`this manner, various user actions may be emulated on the target machines and the results
`
`examined by the host for faults. The target machines receive the messages transmitted by
`
`the host, perform the action as if a user was operating the target machine, and sample
`
`certain data structures within the target machine reporting back to the host machine to
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`indicate whether given operations were successful or not. These functions will be
`
`discussed in more detail below. The program running on the target machine, known as an
`
`“agent,” is installed on the target machine in a predefined directory (the “System Folder” in
`
`the Macintosh brand operating system) so that it will be recognized and loaded during
`
`power up initialization of the target machine. In the Macintosh brand operating
`
`environment, the agent program is loaded into the central processing unit as an initialization
`
`routine known as an “INIT” or “system extension.” In alternative embodiments on IBM
`PC brand compatible computer systems, such a routine may be loaded as a “TSR”
`
`(“terminate and stay resident”) program which resides in the memory of the target system
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`and performs given actions as directed by the host.
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`glgmmand Line Invocation
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`The host machine operates in two modes for initiating execution of scripts via actors
`
`onto target machines: a command line mode; or an interactive window interface controlled
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`mode. The command line scheme may be used to launch actors in the preferred
`
`embodiment using a command line such as:
`
`vu —a “Actorl” -t “*zTargetMac” -s Scriptvu
`
`which starts the actor thread “Actorl” in the host to control the target machine “TargetMac”
`
`using the script “Script.vu.” Each of the parameters in the above example command line
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`are defined as follows. The “-a” option specifies the name of the actor. This name is an
`
`alphanumeric string. From that point on, the test running on the target machine may be
`
`referred to by this string. So, in the example given above, the test running on the target
`
`machine may be referred to as the process “Actorl.” This may be used for checking the
`
`results of given tests, or performing single line commands. The “—t” option indicates the
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`target address of the target machine. In this case, the target is “*zTargetMac.” The target
`
`name is specified in the following format: “<zone>: <target user name>.” The “*” as
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`used in the Appletalk brand networking system, is the current zone that the host machine
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`resides in. Further, the target user name, in this case, “TargetMac” is the second field.
`
`The specification of named entities in networks such as zones and user names are discussed
`
`in more detail in the publication “Inside Appletalk,” at pages 7—1 to 8-24. It will be
`
`appreciated by one skilled in the art that other types of networking systems may be used in
`
`alternative embodiments which use unique network addresses or names for target
`
`machines. In an alternative embodiment, the network path name may be replaced with the
`
`Internet address of the target machine. This address will be of the form “<network
`
`number>: <note I.D.>: <socket number>.”
`
`The “-3” option, as shown on the command line above, is used for indicating the
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`name of the script (or command) file to be executed on the target machine by the actor.
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`Script files contain a sequence of instructions which cause actions to occur on the target
`
`machine for either causing specific user actions to be emulated, checking the state of the
`
`target machine, or performing other functions such as modifying variables within the script
`
`file (for example, error counts) for performance of the test. Script files will be discussed in
`more detail below.
`~
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`15
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`Other options which may be specified on the “vu” command line include the
`
`following:
`
`-c: This option indicates compile only. It is used for checking the syntax of the
`
`script file without executing it. Error messages are reported to the user of
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`the host using the standard output file (for instance, the display). Using this
`
`option does not require the user to specify a target machine.
`
`-1 <log file name>: This is used for specifying the name of a log file. Any output
`
`messages from the script file which would normally go to the standard
`
`output file of the host (such as the display) or error warning messages will
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`be placed into the file entitled <log file name> on the host.
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`-dt: This option indicates that a diagnostic trace is to be performed when executing
`
`the script file. This option may only be used when a log file has been
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`specified using the -1 option discussed above. Any errors or other warning
`
`messages will be placed into the file specified by the -1 option.
`
`-0 <output file name>: This option is used to redirect the output of print or display
`
`statements from the standard output file (typically the display) to a specified
`
`file. This may be used for redirecting the output of individual actors to
`
`specified files. Therefore, separate files may be maintained as outputs for
`
`separate actors.
`
`-m <mouse speed>: This option is used to specify the speed of a mouse movement
`on the target machine. A mouse moves in predefined time intervals known
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`10
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`as steps. <mouse speed> specifies the number of pixels that the mouse will
`
`move in each step on the target machine. If all mouse movements are
`
`desired by the user to be moved in one step, the speed should be set to zero.
`
`The default setting for the speed is 50.
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`15
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`-k <key stroke rate>: This option is used to set the maximum rate of keystrokes on
`the target machine in characters per second. The default setting is 20.
`
`-p <patience setting>: This option is used to set the overall execution speed of the
`
`actor (and therefore commands) on the target machine. Actions get slower
`
`as patience increases. The default setting for patience is one.
`
`-fail <n>: This command is used to specify the maximum number of command
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`failures that are to be allowed in the course of script execution. If the
`
`number of failures exceeds <n>, script execution will abort. The default
`
`setting is infinite, so script execution will not stop until the script has been
`
`completed or the user aborts execution.
`
`-timeout <t>: This option is used to set the maximum time to wait for a
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`transaction with a target machine to complete. If the transaction fails to
`
`complete within <t>, then the transaction is considered to have failed. The
`
`default setting is 20. The maximum value is 255.
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`-retries <r>: This sets the maximum number of times the actor retries a
`
`transaction with the target machine. The default setting is 3. The maximum
`
`number is 255. If 255 is given, in the preferred embodiment, the number of
`
`retries will be considered to be infinite. When this occurs, the actor will
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`keep trying to reaquire the target.
`
`-cs: This makes the actors suing matching case sensitive. The default for this
`
`setting is that suing matching is not case sensitive. For instance, in default
`operating mode, "‘USER” and “user” would be considered the same entity
`
`by an actor, but would not be the same when the “—cs” option is used.
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`10
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`-libs <search path>: This is used to specify the path or the directories in which the
`
`host is to access task libraries. The system of the preferred embodiment
`
`looks for declared libraries in the current directory from which the program
`
`is operating. If not found, the search path specified by this command is
`I
`
`used.
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`15
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`Each of the options mentioned above may be specified with a number suffix to
`
`indicate which actor the commands apply to. If a command is specified without a number
`
`suffix, then that command applies to all the actors currently running. For instance, if a
`
`script is run with a “-s” option, then that script will be run on all the actors currently
`
`defined. With the exception of the “—t,” “-1,” and “-0” options, any command given
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`without a number is applied to all actors currently specified. For example, three actors may
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`be initiated using the following script commands:
`
`vu
`
`a
`
`a
`
`~al
`—t1
`-sl
`-ol
`
`—a2
`—t2
`-s2
`—o2
`—m2
`~k2
`
`-a3
`-t3
`-s3
`-o3
`—m3
`-k3
`
`“Admin” 8
`“*:gozer” a '
`“AdminTest.vu” a .
`“AdminTest.out” a
`
`“B