Automated testing of distributed real-time systems regarding configuration information

Time-dependent cause-effect graph extended by messages and communication channels is used to describe test cases for distributed discrete systems. Send messages stimulate test object through communications channels. Received messages from test object are used for test data comparison. We have improved significantly the test methods for distributed real-time systems by considering the configuration of the test object. It simplifies the test planning process and delivers more exact information during test execution and evaluation. To enable independency of system description from special Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) systems, we have defined a reference model for test objects, consisting of modules and connections. The description of test objects is used to identify and display messages from selected connections in context-sensitive protocol analysis, event lists and pulse diagrams. This supports the activities of development engineers during system verification.