Automated Software Testing in an Embedded Real-Time System Johan Andersson and Katrin ...

209 Pages·2007·1.54 MB·English

Final Thesis
Automated Software Testing
in an Embedded Real-Time System
by
Johan Andersson
and
Katrin Andersson
LITH-IDA-EX--07/046--SE
2007-08-17

Linköping University
Department of Computer and Information Science
Final Thesis
Automated Software Testing
in an Embedded Real-Time System
by
Johan Andersson
and
Katrin Andersson
LITH-IDA-EX--07/046--SE
2007-08-17
Supervisor:Mariam Kamkar, Linköping University
Guido Reinartzt, IVU Traffic Technologies AG
Examiner: Mariam Kamkar, Linköping University

Datum
Avdelning, Institution
Date
Division, department
Institutionen för datavetenskap
Department of Computer and
2007-08-16
Information Science
Linköpings universitet
Språk Rapporttyp ISBN
Language Report category
Svenska/Swedish Licentiatavhandling ISRN LITH-IDA- EX--07/046--SE
X Engelska/English X Examensarbete
C-uppsats ISSN
Serietitel och serienummer
D-uppsats Title of series, numbering
Övrig rapport
URL för elektronisk version
http://www.ep.liu.se/
Titel
Title
Automated Software Testing in an Embedded Real-Time System
Författare
Author
Johan Andersson
Katrin Andersson
Sammanfattning
Abstract
Today, automated software testing has been implemented successfully in many systems, howev-
er there does still exist relatively unexplored areas as how automated testing can be implemented
in a real-time embedded system. This problem has been the foundation for the work in this master
thesis, to investigate the possibility to implement an automated software testing process for the
testing of an embedded real-time system at IVU Traffic Technologies AG in Aachen, Germany.
The system that has been the test object is the on board system i.box.
This report contains the result of a literature study in order to present the foundation behind
the solution to the problem of the thesis. Questions answered in the study are: when to automate,
how to automate and which traps should one avoid when implementing an automated software
testing process in an embedded system.
The process of automating the manual process has contained steps as constructing test cases for
automated testing, analysing whether an existing tool should be used or a unique test system
needs to be developed. The analysis, based on the requirements on the test system, the literature
study and an investigation of available test tools, lead to the development of a new test tool. Due
to limited devlopement time and characterstics of the i.box, the new tool was built based on post
execution evaluation. The tool was therefore divided into two parts, a part that executed the test
and a part that evaluated the result.. By implementing an automated test tool it has been proved
that it is possible to automate the test process at system test level in the i.box.
Nyckelord
Keywords
Automated software testing, embedded systems, software test procedure, software testing, on
board integrated system.

A
BSTRACT
Today, automated software testing has been implemented success-
fully in many systems, however there does still exist relatively unex-
plored areas as how automated testing can be implemented in a real-
time embedded system. This problem has been the foundation for the
work in this master thesis, to investigate the possibility to implement
an automated software testing process for the testing of an embedded
real-time system at IVU Traffic Technologies AG in Aachen, Ger-
many. The system that has been the test object is the on board system
i.box.
This report contains the result of a literature study in order to
present the foundation behind the solution to the problem of the the-
sis. Questions answered in the study are: when to automate, how to
automate and which traps should one avoid when implementing an
automated software testing process in an embedded system.
The process of automating the manual process has contained steps
as constructing test cases for automated testing, analysing whether
an existing tool should be used or a unique test system needs to be
developed. The analysis, based on the requirements on the test sys-
tem, the literature study and an investigation of available test tools,
lead to the development of a new test tool. Due to limited devlope-
ment time and characterstics of the i.box, the new tool was built
based on post execution evaluation. The tool was therefore divided
into two parts, a part that executed the test and a part that evaluated
the result.. By implementing an automated test tool it has been
proved that it is possible to automate the test process at system test
level in the i.box.

A
CKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many people have helped us making this report to what is has be-
come. It has been a real pleasure to have gotten the splendid oppor-
tunity to carry out our master thesis at IVU Traffic Technologies AG
in Aachen, Germany, and at the same time been able to put ourselves
right into the adventure it was coming like aliens to another country.
We particularly want to direct our thanks to Dik Lokhorst for having
the confidence in us carrying out this interesting project, to Guido
Reinartz and Dieter Becker for guiding us through the maze of im-
plementing a new testing process, to Wolfgang Carius not only for
always helping us when we bothered him with our troublesome re-
quests, but also for always doing so with a smile, to Peter Börger for
always being able to spare some time and his willingness of using his
impressive programming skills to help us solve problems, to Andrea
Heistermann for her interest in our work, to Oliver Lamm for intro-
ducing us to the world of public transport software, to Andreas Küp-
per for friendly conversations that made us feel like home. We would
also like to thank our college Matthieu Lux for pleasant collaboration
and for many exciting discussions during the lunches, our examiner
Mariam Kamkar for giving us support and guidance, and our oppo-
nents Martin Pedersen and Johan Millving.
Please accept our apologies if we have not included anyone in this
acknowledgement that we should have.
Hurghada, Egypt, July 2007