Hassan Reza

A Model-Based Approach for Testing GUI Using Hierarchical Predicate Transition Nets

Testing graphical user interface (GUI) has shown to be costly and difficult. Existing approaches for testing GUI are event-driven. In this paper, we propose a model based testing method to test the structural representation of GUIs specified in high class of Petri nets known as hierarchical predicate transitions nets (HPrTNs). In order to detect early design faults and fully benefit from HPrTNmodels, we have extended the original coverage criteria proposed for HPrTNs by event-based criteria defined for GUI testing

Model Based Testing Using Software Architecture

Software testing is an ultimate obstacle to the final release of software products. Software testing is also a leading cost factor in the overall construction of software products. On the one hand, model-based testing methods are new testing techniques aimed at increasing the reliability of software, and decreasing the cost by automatically generating a suite of test cases from a formal behavioral model of a system. On the other hand, the architectural specification of a system represents a gross structural and behavioral aspect of a system at the high level of abstraction. Formal architectural specifications of a system also have shown promises to detect faults during software back-end development. In this work, we discuss a hybrid testing method to generate test cases. Our proposed method combines the benefits of model-based testing with the benefits of software architecture in a unique way. A simple Client/Server system has been used to illustrate the practicality of our testing technique.

A Model Based Testing Technique to Test Web Applications Using Statecharts

In this paper, we discuss a model based software testing method for testing of the Web applications using StateCharts. To this end, we briefly describe the test coverage technique, editorial tools for drawing StateCharts, modeling concurrency in Web applications, and test metrics. A simple Web application has been used to show the feasibility of our approach.

Quality-oriented software architecture

This paper proposes a method to select the software architecture for a family of systems that meets user requirements. The method is based on a set of universally accepted design principles and tactics that aims to establish a systematic correlation between the quality requirements of a system and an architectural style that best implements it. The proposed method can also be a valuable assistant to a novice software engineer in selecting an optimal architectural style because the selection of an appropriate architectural style plays an important role in success or failure of a system.

A Safety Analysis Method Using Fault Tree Analysis and Petri Nets

In this paper, we describe a safety analysis method that utilizes two models, namely, Petri Nets to model the behavioral aspects of a system, and Fault Tree Analysis to model failure and hence unacceptable behaviors of a system. Using Petri nets and Fault Tree Analysis, we should be able to perform both forward and backward reachability analyses that are related to acceptable and unacceptable behaviors of a system. To show the feasibility of our proposed method, a case study, railroad crossing system, has been conducted.

A Framework for Testing RESTful Web Services

While web services greatly reduce the cost and complexity of integrating systems; they also introduce a number of additional challenges for testing because web services require standards, API, communication protocols and architecture that are not fully supported by traditional software testing methods and tools. In this paper, we discuss a software framework for providing a variety of test inputs for web service depended software, including predetermined test cases, replay of previous data, and generation of random test cases through data perturbation from a provided template.

A method to test concurrent systems using architectural specification

Abstract In this paper, we discuss a testing method for integration testing of complex and concurrent systems. Integration testing is considered the least well understood and hence is the most problematic level of testing related to concurrent system development. This is so, because integration testing is not completely unit (or code) neither testing nor it is completely system testing. To achieve this goal of improving integration testing, our proposed method exploits architectural specification of concurrent and distributed systems defined in the high level Petri nets, known as Hierarchical Predicate Transition Nets (HPrTNs). More specifically, our testing method implements the separation of concerns strategy to handle both the essential complexity associated with the front-end software development of inherently concurrent and distributed systems, i.e. architectural specification, and the difficulty and cost associated with the back-end development of these systems, namely, software testing.

A Method to Test Component Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Used in Safety Critical Systems

In this paper we discuss a method to test component off-the-shelf (COTS) using a hybrid approach based on software fault tree analysis and UML communication diagram. UML communication diagrams can be used to show message passing among components. It can also be used for integration testing. Software fault tree analysis is safely analysis techniques that can be used for modeling safety and dependability aspects of safety critical systems. A simple example is used to show the feasibility of our proposed method.

A Methodology for Architectural Design of Concurrent and Distributed Software Systems

Concurrent and distributed software applications are complex software systems that exploit highly parallel and distributed infrastructure to improve the quality of systems in cost-effective way. In order to assist the development of affordable concurrent and distributed software systems, a more effective approach of utilizing single-based architectural description languages (ADLs) is needed. In this paper, we describe an architectural modeling framework that can be used for specifying and analyzing distributed and concurrent software applications. Our key contribution is an architectural specification framework that integrates four important concepts: (1) an architectural description language known as syntactic theory (ST), (2) a high level Petri nets modeling language known as Hierarchical Predicate Transition Nets (HPrTNs), (3) a Pattern-Based Refinement Technique (PBRT), and (4) a systematic process for deriving architectural specifications from requirement specifications. Moreover, the method is heterogeneous modeling approach that specifies software architecture of a distributed and concurrent system in a top-down manner. The immediate benefits of our heterogeneous approach include: increased system analyzability, comprehensibility, reusability, and flexibility. We describe a case study to show the applicability of our approach.

An architectural design selection tool based on design tactics, scenarios and nonfunctional requirements

This paper discusses a method and its supporting tool to select the software architecture for a family of software systems (commonly known as architectural styles) that meets the needs of the user. Our approach emphasizes the importance of basing architecture on non-functional requirements (NFRs). To this end, we have utilized a scenario-based approach that will determine NFRs of software architecture. NFRs are then mapped to optimal software architecture of a system by a set of table. Tables are applied to properly bridge the gap between NFRs and its corresponding software architecture