CATA: A Computer-Aided Test Analysis System

The computer-aided test analysis system helps engineers design systems for testability, both in manufacturing and field maintenance situations. CATA provides test program specifications automatically, and supplies both the information paths through the system and a top-down organization of test procedures. CATA can be applied at various levels of description (from behavioral to register transfer) and in various test contexts (e.g., board or system production). As a result, engineers can determine the expected degree of diagnosis resolution in terms of fault-isolable hardware; they will also be guided toward the necessary system modifications. Software procedures for CATA are written in Pascal and supported by a Vax 11-780 computer.