U.S. patent application number 15/157921 was filed with the patent office on 2016-10-27 for resource-constrained test automation.
The applicant listed for this patent is International Business Machines Corporation. Invention is credited to Matthew W. Chirgwin, Amy Gilbrook, Bernard Z. Kufluk, Ainhoa G. Larumbe, Jason K. Yong.
Application Number | 20160314065 15/157921 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56506856 |
Filed Date | 2016-10-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160314065 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chirgwin; Matthew W. ; et
al. |
October 27, 2016 |
RESOURCE-CONSTRAINED TEST AUTOMATION
Abstract
Automating testing of a software product under system resource
constraints. One or more SQAs are received and, for each SQA, a
confidence level and an importance are received. For one or more
system resources, an amount of each system resource available for
testing is received. Each amount of system resource available for
testing is apportioned to the SQAs, based on the confidence level
and the importance of each SQA. Each test in a set of tests is
prioritized, based on the number of SQAs associated with the test
and any previous results of the test. For each SQA, a subset of the
set of tests is selected, based on the test priorities, an expected
consumption of system resources by each test, and the apportionment
of the system resources to the SQA; the selected subset of tests is
executed; and the test results for the selected subset of tests is
updated.
Inventors: |
Chirgwin; Matthew W.;
(Eastleigh, GB) ; Gilbrook; Amy; (Hursley, GB)
; Kufluk; Bernard Z.; (Hampshire, GB) ; Larumbe;
Ainhoa G.; (Hampshire, GB) ; Yong; Jason K.;
(Eastleigh, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
International Business Machines Corporation |
Armonk |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56506856 |
Appl. No.: |
15/157921 |
Filed: |
May 18, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15063292 |
Mar 7, 2016 |
9405661 |
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15157921 |
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14693955 |
Apr 23, 2015 |
9424171 |
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15063292 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 11/3692 20130101;
G06F 11/3688 20130101; G06F 11/3664 20130101; G06F 11/3684
20130101; G06F 11/3672 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 11/36 20060101
G06F011/36 |
Claims
1. A computer program product for automating testing of a software
product under system resource constraints, the computer program
product comprising one or more computer readable storage media and
program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable
storage media, the program instructions executable by a computer to
cause the computer to perform a method comprising: receiving one or
more software quality attributes (SQAs) and, for each SQA, a
confidence level and an importance; receiving, for one or more
system resources, an amount of each system resource available for
testing; apportioning each amount of system resource available for
testing to the SQAs in an amount proportional to the importance of
the SQA and in an inverse relation to the confidence level of the
SQA; assigning, to each test in a set of tests, a priority based on
the number of SQAs associated with the test and any previous
results of the test; for each SQA: selecting a subset of tests
associated with the SQA from the set of tests by solving a
multidimensional 0-1 knapsack problem that maximizes the sum of the
priorities of tests in the selected subset of tests, such that, for
each system resource available for testing, the total expected
consumption of the system resource by the tests in the selected
subset of tests does not exceed the amount of the system resource
apportioned to the SQA; executing the selected subset of tests; and
updating the test results for the selected subset of tests; and
updating confidence levels based on the test results for the
selected subset of tests.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of
computer-implemented software testing, and more particularly to
automated testing of software under system resource
constraints.
[0002] Software testing is the process of analyzing a software
product to detect differences between existing and desired
conditions, for example, defects, errors, or bugs, and to evaluate
design features of the software product. In test automation, the
software testing is performed by separate testing software in a
computing environment. A test corresponds to a particular set of
inputs to the software, including data and parameters, and
conditions under which the software to be tested is executed, which
are designed to determine whether one or more features of the
software are working as desired. A test suite is a collection of
tests used to test a software product.
[0003] In certain software development environments, a scarcity of
system resources may constrain the ability to run all tests in a
test suite. Typically, it is the amount of time available for
testing that is limited. However, for example in mobile device
testing, resources such as memory or power may be limited. Under
these conditions, it may be desirable to select a subset of the
tests that approaches the effectiveness of testing with the entire
test suite. The execution of all or some of the tests in a test
suite may be referred to as a test run.
SUMMARY
[0004] Embodiments of the present invention disclose a
computer-implemented method, computer program product, and system
for automating testing of a software product under system resource
constraints. One or more software quality attributes (SQAs) are
received, and, for each SQA, a confidence level and an importance
are received. For one or more system resources, an amount of each
system resource available for testing is received. Each amount of
system resource available for testing is apportioned to the SQAs,
based on the confidence level and the importance of each SQA. Each
test in a set of tests is prioritized, based on the number of SQAs
associated with the test and any previous results of the test. For
each SQA, a subset of the set of tests is selected, based on the
test priorities, an expected consumption of system resources by
each test, and the apportionment of the system resources to the
SQA; the selected subset of tests is executed; and the test results
for the selected subset of tests is updated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 depicts a functional block diagram of a test
automation (TA) system, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a flowchart depicting operational steps of a TA
program, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a data processing
environment, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a cloud computing
node according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 5 depicts a cloud computing environment according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 6 depicts abstraction model layers according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] Embodiments of the present invention are directed to test
automation (TA) systems that utilize confidence levels and other
testing indicators to allocate system resources available for
testing to predetermined target test areas, or software quality
attributes (SQAs). Such system resources may include time, memory,
or power. The TA system may further prioritize tests, and execute
tests associated with a particular SQA based on their priority,
while not exceeding the resources allocated to the SQA.
[0012] A typical example of software testing is regression testing,
which seeks to find defects after a code change has occurred.
Specifically, it seeks to uncover any degraded or lost features,
including old bugs that may have reappeared. Regression occurs
whenever software functionality that was previously working
correctly stops working as intended as a result of the code change.
Thus, as development and maintenance of a software product
proceeds, the size of a test suite devoted to regression testing
also grows, which may make it infeasible for a TA system to run all
tests in a test suite within existing resource constraints.
[0013] In addition to regression testing, test automation may be
used to test software from the standpoint of performance, load, or
stress. In a load test, for example, a TA system may simulate a
large number of concurrent users in order to evaluate the
performance of the software under expected conditions of heavy
load. A stress test may be designed to understand the upper limits
of capacity within the system and determine the system's robustness
in terms of extreme load.
[0014] In software testing, code coverage measures the extent to
which the source code of a software product is tested by a test
suite. Greater code coverage generally implies more thorough
testing and a higher likelihood of discovering software defects.
Code coverage may include function coverage, statement coverage,
decision coverage, and path coverage, which indicate the percentage
of subroutines, statements, decision branches, and code paths,
respectively, executed by the test suite. Full code coverage,
especially of code paths or decision branches, is usually
impractical or impossible. However, code coverage analysis software
may provide input to TA systems for increasing the code coverage in
targeted SQAs.
[0015] Software quality generally refers to functional quality or
structural quality. Functional quality attributes reflect how well
the software complies or conforms to a given design, based on
functional requirements or specifications that define specific
behaviors. Structural quality refers to how the software meets
non-functional requirements that support the delivery of the
functional requirements, such as robustness or maintainability.
Functional quality is typically measured through software testing.
As mentioned above, certain aspects of structural quality, such as
robustness, may also be measured via software testing.
[0016] SQAs are factors that affect run-time behavior, system
design, and user experience of a software product, and generally
reflect functional or structural quality attributes of the
software. Examples of SQAs include reliability, usability,
efficiency, and portability. The importance or priority of each SQA
may differ from system to system.
[0017] Tests in a test suite may be associated with one or more
SQAs, which the test is designed to target. The SQAs represent the
areas of greatest concern, which have the potential for
application-wide impact.
[0018] In an embodiment of the invention, one or more numerical
values, indicating an estimate of the amount of testing needed, may
be associated with each SQA. These numerical values are referred to
as testing indicators. Examples of testing indicators include a
confidence level, C, representing a level of certainty that an SQA
achieves a specified level of quality, and an importance, I, of an
SQA for the software product. For example, in an embodiment of the
invention, importance I of an SQA may be an integer between 0 and
100. Importance I may be based on factors such as the relative
impact of the SQA to the overall quality of the software product
and its business value. Confidence level C for an SQA may be, for
example, a value between -1 and 5, with -1 representing an unknown
confidence level, if, for example, no relevant development work or
no testing has been done; 0 representing no confidence, for
example, if all associated tests failed, despite development work
having been completed; and 5, representing full confidence, for
example, if all development work has been completed and all
associated tests passed, with no features to be tested thought to
have been missed in the SQA. C may be based on several factors, for
example, automated test results, additional manual test results,
amount of testing completed, proportion of development work
completed to time remaining for its completion. User input may also
play a role in setting a confidence level. Testing indicators may
be combined in a formula that apportions available system resources
among the SQAs.
[0019] In an embodiment of the invention, project management tools,
such as Gantt charts, indicating the current status of development
work in SQAs of the software product, may contribute data that may
be used in setting confidence and importance levels, or other
testing indicators, for an SQA.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a TA system 100, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. TA system
100 includes computing device 110, which further includes TA
program 112. Computing device 110 represents the computing
environment or platform that hosts TA program 112. In various
embodiments, computing device 110 may be a laptop computer, netbook
computer, personal computer (PC), a desktop computer, or any
programmable electronic device capable of hosting TA program 112,
in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Computing device
110 may include internal and external hardware components, as
depicted and described in further detail below with reference to
FIG. 3. In other embodiments, computing device 110 may represent a
cloud computing environment, as described in relation to FIGS. 4,
5, and 6, below.
[0021] TA program 112 operates generally to utilize testing
indicators to allocate system resources available for testing, such
as time or memory, to predefined SQAs; prioritize tests associated
with the SQAs; and execute the tests based on their priority,
without exceeding the resources allocated to the SQA. TA program
112 may include resource allocation module 114, test prioritization
module 116, test execution module 118, test/resources update module
120, resources datastore 122, and test datastore 124.
[0022] Resources datastore 122 represents a store of information
about system resources and SQAs targeted by TA program 112, in an
embodiment of the invention. Information about system resources may
include the type of each constrained system resource and the amount
of the resource available for testing. Information about SQAs may
include, for example, testing indicators such as I, indicating the
importance of the SQA for the software product, and confidence
level, C, indicating a certainty that the software product achieves
a desired level of quality relative to an SQA. Resources datastore
122 may reside, for example, on computer readable storage media 308
(FIG. 3). Resources datastore 122 may be initialized, for example,
with manually entered data and may be updated during the execution
of TA program 112 by test/resources update module 120, as described
below.
[0023] Test datastore 124 represents a datastore of tests. As
described above, the tests may include regression tests, load
tests, and tests for code coverage. Test datastore 124 may also
represent a store of information about individual tests. Such
information may include static information, such as the SQAs
associated with the test, as well as information about the test
that is updated after each execution, such as its expected resource
consumption; whether it passed the last time it ran; how many runs
ago the test was last run, i.e., was included in a test run; and
whether the test is blocked, i.e., marked for exclusion from a test
run. Test datastore 124 may reside, for example, on computer
readable storage media 308 (FIG. 3).
[0024] In various embodiments of the invention, resource allocation
module 114 operates generally to receive information about
available system resources, for example, from resources datastore
122, and apportion the resources among the SQAs. For example, where
the constrained resource is time available for testing, resource
allocation module 114 may apportion the total time among SQAs, for
example, as shown in Table 1, based on testing indicator I, C, and
a calculated SQA value a, which is a number indicating the value of
an SQA relative to the other SQAs. For example, a may be defined by
the formula: a=I(10-C). In this formula, a is proportional to I and
is in an inverse relation to C, i.e., a increases with I and
decreases with C. As mentioned above, C may be negative. Total SQA
value, A, is the sum of all individual SQA values a. Total time, T,
is the total time available to run tests. Time allocated, t, is the
time allotted for executing tests associated to an SQA. For
example, allocating test time to SQAs according to the formula
t=(a/A)T guarantees that the sum of the times allocated to all SQAs
equals T.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 ALLOCATE TIME TO SQA'S SQA Time Importance
Confidence Value Allotted SQA (I) (C) (a) (t) Security 100 3 700
90.000 Reliability 50 4 300 38.571 Efficiency 30 5 150 19.286 Error
Recovery 10 -1 110 14.143 Portability 10 1 90 11.571 Scalability 10
5 50 6.429 Total A = 1400 T = 180
[0025] In embodiments in which multiple system resources may be
constrained, such as test execution time and memory, resource
allocation module 114 may allocate the resources to SQAs, such that
the same formula is used for each resource, or such that multiple
formulas are used in apportioning the resources. For example, in
one embodiment, if both time and memory are constrained system
resources, memory may be allocated to an SQA in the same proportion
as time, for example as in Table 1, according to m=(a/A)M, where a
and A are defined as before and M is the total memory available. In
another embodiment, a formula other than the formula a=I(10-C) used
to determine SQA values with respect to time may be used for system
memory.
[0026] In various embodiments of the invention, test prioritization
module 116 operates generally to assign priorities to tests, based
on information about the tests, received, for example, from test
datastore 124. Test prioritization module may transmit test
priorities to test execution module 118 to facilitate selection and
execution of tests within the resources allocated to SQAs by
resource allocation module 114.
[0027] Test prioritization module 116 may prioritize tests, for
example as illustrated in Table 2. Test prioritization may be based
on various factors, such as whether the last execution of a test
passed or failed and how long ago a test was last run. In Table 2,
for example, test priority may be determined by the following
equation:
test priority=passed*last run*blocked*number of SQAs*weighting
factor
where passed=1 if a test last passed, passed=2 if it last failed;
last ran is the number of runs ago a test was last run; blocked=0
or 1, depending on whether a test should be excluded or not, for
example if it has been determined to be faulty; and number of SQAs
is the number of SQAs associated with the test. If some SQAs
associated with the test are more or less important, the weighting
factor may be included in the formula.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 PRIORITIZE TESTS Passed Runs Ago Execu-
Prior- Test Last Time Last Ran Blocked SQAs tion Time ity 1 Yes 1
No Security 5 1 2 No 2 No Reliability, 2 8 Efficiency 3 Yes 1 No
Error 3 1 Recovery
[0028] In embodiments in which multiple resources may be
constrained, such as test execution time and memory, test
prioritization module 116 may consider the type and/or amount of
each resource required by a test, when prioritizing tests. For
example, a formula to compute test priorities may include a
weighting factor related to the type of resource that a test
consumes.
[0029] Test execution module 118 operates generally to receive
prioritized tests from test prioritization module 116, as well as
an apportionment of available system resources among the SQAs from
resource allocation module 114, and to select and execute tests
associated with each SQA, based on the test priorities, the
expected consumption of system resources by the tests, and the
amount of each resource apportioned to the SQA. Test execution
module 118 may also report results from the tests and transmit this
information to test/resources update module 120.
[0030] For example, in an embodiment of the invention, test
execution module 118 may successively execute the highest priority
test remaining that does not exceed any of the still available
constrained resources.
[0031] In other embodiments, test execution module 118 may select
and execute tests based on one or more known priority-based job
scheduling algorithms that account for resource constraints.
[0032] In other embodiments, test execution module 118 may attempt
to select a subset of tests associated to an SQA whose total
consumption of each resource does not exceed the amount allocated
to the SQA, such that the sum of the test priorities is maximal. If
only one system resource is constrained, then this is an example of
a 0-1 knapsack problem, which, for example, for execution time, may
be written in the form:
maximize j = 1 n s j p j ##EQU00001## subject to j = 1 n s j t j
.ltoreq. T ##EQU00001.2##
where s.sub.j=0 or 1, p.sub.j are the test priorities, t.sub.j are
the test execution times, and T is the total amount of time
available for testing, for j=1, . . . , n. As exact solutions to
knapsack problems tend to be time-consuming, heuristic approaches
are generally used. For example, tests may be selected in order of
highest to lowest ratio of their priority to their execution time,
so long as the total execution time is not exceeded.
[0033] In some embodiments of the invention, in which multiple
system resources are constrained, the problem of selecting and
executing a subset of tests associated to an SQA whose total
consumption of each resource does not exceed the amount allocated
to the SQA, such that the sum of the test priorities is maximal, is
an example of a multidimensional 0-1 knapsack problem. Such
problems may be written in the form:
maximize j = 1 n s j p j ##EQU00002## subject to j = 1 n s j r ij
.ltoreq. R i ##EQU00002.2##
where s.sub.j=0 or 1, p.sub.j are the test priorities, r.sub.ij
represent the individual amount of the ith resource allotted to the
jth test, and R.sub.i is the total amount of the ith resource
available for testing, for j=1, . . . , n. Multidimensional 0-1
knapsack problems are also generally solved via heuristic
approaches. For example, tests may be selected in order of highest
to lowest ratio of their priority to their aggregate resource
consumption, so long as the total of each resource does not exceed
the amount of the resource still available. Aggregate resource
consumption is defined as:
i R _ i r ij ##EQU00003##
where R.sub.i is the remaining amount of the ith resource.
Alternatively, tests may be selected in order of highest to lowest
product of their priority with their effective capacity, defined
as:
min i { R _ i r ij } ##EQU00004##
where r.sub.ij and R.sub.i are defined as before.
[0034] In other embodiments, test execution module 118 may consider
other factors, such as precedence constraints, in selecting a test
to be executed. For example, the determination whether to run a
first test may depend on the results of a second test, in which
case the second test may be scheduled to run first.
[0035] In certain embodiments, test execution module 118 may
dynamically schedule tests, or modify a preselected set of tests,
based on the actual amount of each constrained system resource that
may become available when each test in a test run completes.
[0036] Test execution module 118 may output a report, listing the
tests that were selected to be executed and the test results. The
report may be saved in test datastore 124 and may be transmitted by
TA program 112, for example, to a cloud computing node 10 (FIG.
5).
[0037] In an embodiment of the invention, test/resources update
module 120 operates to receive test results from test execution
module 118 and update information about tests and/or resources, for
example, in resources datastore 122 or test datastore 124. For
example, after a test is run, test/resources update module 120 may
update factors in test datastore 124 used by test prioritization
module 116 to prioritize the test. The updated factors may then be
used by test execution module 118 in the same test run or in
subsequent test runs. Test/resources update module 120 may also
update a test's expected resource consumption. Test/Resources
update module 120 may also record the actual amount of each
constrained resource remaining, for example, in resources datastore
122, for use by test execution module 118 in selecting tests.
[0038] In some embodiments, test/resources update module 120 may
use feedback from the testing to modify the testing indicators in
resources datastore 122, for example, by updating confidence levels
according to test pass/fail rates.
[0039] In some embodiments, test/resources update module 120 may
operate in conjunction with test execution module 118 to
dynamically modify test priorities and/or testing indicators during
a test run. For example, by setting the "runs ago last run" value
of Test 2 in Table 2 to 1 after running the test with regard to SQA
Reliability, its priority with regard to SQA Efficiency may be
decreased.
[0040] FIG. 2 is a flowchart depicting operational steps of TA
program 112, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
invention. TA program 112 may receive one or more SQAs (step 210)
from resources datastore 122. For each SQA, TA program 112 may
receive, from resources datastore 122, a confidence level and an
importance (step 212). For one or more system resources, TA program
112 may receive, from resources datastore 122, an amount of each
system resource available for testing (step 214). Resource
allocation module 114 may apportion available resources among the
SQAs, based on the their confidence level and importance (step
216). Test prioritization module 116 may prioritize each test in a
set of tests, based on the number of SQAs associated with the test,
and any previous test results of the test, retrieved from test
datastore 124 (step 218). For each SQA, test execution module 118
may select tests associated with the SQA, based on their priorities
set by test prioritization module 116 (step 218), their expected
resource consumption from test datastore 124, and the apportionment
of resources to the SQA from resources datastore 122 (step 220).
Test execution module 118 may execute the selected tests (step
222). Test/resources update module 120 may update the test results
in test datastore 124 for the selected tests (step 224).
[0041] FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram 300 of components of
computing device 110 of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention. It should be appreciated that FIG. 3
provides only an illustration of one implementation and does not
imply any limitations with regard to the environments in which
different embodiments may be implemented. Many modifications to the
depicted environment may be made.
[0042] Computing device 110 may include one or more processors 302,
one or more computer-readable RAMs 304, one or more
computer-readable ROMs 306, one or more computer readable storage
media 308, device drivers 312, read/write drive or interface 314,
network adapter or interface 316, all interconnected over a
communications fabric 318. Communications fabric 318 may be
implemented with any architecture designed for passing data and/or
control information between processors (such as microprocessors,
communications and network processors, etc.), system memory,
peripheral devices, and any other hardware components within a
system.
[0043] One or more operating systems 310, and one or more
application programs 328, for example, TA program 112, are stored
on one or more of the computer readable storage media 308 for
execution by one or more of the processors 302 via one or more of
the respective RAMs 304 (which typically include cache memory). In
the illustrated embodiment, each of the computer readable storage
media 308 may be a magnetic disk storage device of an internal hard
drive, CD-ROM, DVD, memory stick, magnetic tape, magnetic disk,
optical disk, a semiconductor storage device such as RAM, ROM,
EPROM, flash memory or any other non-transitory, computer-readable,
tangible storage device, which can store a computer program and
digital information.
[0044] Computing device 110 may also include a R/W drive or
interface 314 to read from and write to one or more portable
computer readable storage media 326. Application programs 328 on
computing device 110 may be stored on one or more of the portable
computer readable storage media 326, read via the respective R/W
drive or interface 314 and loaded into the respective computer
readable storage media 308.
[0045] Computing device 110 may also include a network adapter or
interface 316, such as a TCP/IP adapter card or wireless
communication adapter (such as a 4G wireless communication adapter
using OFDMA technology). Application programs 328 on computing
device 110 may be downloaded to the computing device from an
external computer or external storage device via a network (for
example, the Internet, a local area network or other wide area
network or wireless network) and network adapter or interface 316.
From the network adapter or interface 316, the programs may be
loaded onto computer readable storage media 308. The network may
comprise copper wires, optical fibers, wireless transmission,
routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge
servers.
[0046] Computing device 110 may also include a display screen 320,
a keyboard or keypad 322, and a computer mouse or touchpad 324.
Device drivers 312 interface to display screen 320 for imaging, to
keyboard or keypad 322, to computer mouse or touchpad 324, and/or
to display screen 320 for pressure sensing of alphanumeric
character entry and user selections. The device drivers 312, R/W
drive or interface 314 and network adapter or interface 316 may
comprise hardware and software (stored on computer readable storage
media 308 and/or ROM 306).
[0047] The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a
computer program product. The computer program product may include
a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer
readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to
carry out aspects of the present invention.
[0048] The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible
device that can retain and store instructions for use by an
instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium
may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage
device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an
electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or
any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of
more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium
includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk,
a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable
programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static
random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only
memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a
floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or
raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon,
and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable
storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being
transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely
propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves
propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g.,
light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical
signals transmitted through a wire.
[0049] Computer readable program instructions described herein can
be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a
computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or
external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a
local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network.
The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical
transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls,
switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter
card or network interface in each computing/processing device
receives computer readable program instructions from the network
and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage
in a computer readable storage medium within the respective
computing/processing device.
[0050] Computer readable program instructions for carrying out
operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions,
instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine
instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware
instructions, state-setting data, or either source code or object
code written in any combination of one or more programming
languages, including an object oriented programming language such
as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, and conventional procedural
programming languages, such as the "C" programming language or
similar programming languages. The computer readable program
instructions may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on
the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on
the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on
the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote
computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type
of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area
network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external
computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet
Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry
including, for example, programmable logic circuitry,
field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays
(PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by
utilizing state information of the computer readable program
instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to
perform aspects of the present invention.
[0051] Aspects of the present invention are described herein with
reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of
methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products
according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood
that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block
diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations
and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable
program instructions.
[0052] These computer readable program instructions may be provided
to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose
computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to
produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via
the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing
apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts
specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in
a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a
programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to
function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable
storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an
article of manufacture including instructions which implement
aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block
diagram block or blocks.
[0053] The computer readable program instructions may also be
loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing
apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps
to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or
other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that
the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable
apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified
in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
[0054] The flowchart and block diagrams in the figures illustrate
the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible
implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products
according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this
regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent
a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one
or more executable instructions for implementing the specified
logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the
functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in
the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in
fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may
sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the
functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of
the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations
of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can
be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that
perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations
of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
[0055] The programs described herein are identified based upon the
application for which they are implemented in a specific embodiment
of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that any
particular program nomenclature herein is used merely for
convenience, and thus the invention should not be limited to use
solely in any specific application identified and/or implied by
such nomenclature.
[0056] Based on the foregoing, a computer system, method, and
computer program product have been disclosed. However, numerous
modifications and substitutions can be made without deviating from
the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present
invention has been disclosed by way of example and not
limitation.
[0057] It is understood in advance that although this disclosure
includes a detailed description on cloud computing, implementation
of the teachings recited herein are not limited to a cloud
computing environment. Rather, embodiments of the present invention
are capable of being implemented in conjunction with any other type
of computing environment now known or later developed.
[0058] Cloud computing is a model of service delivery for enabling
convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of
configurable computing resources (e.g. networks, network bandwidth,
servers, processing, memory, storage, applications, virtual
machines, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and
released with minimal management effort or interaction with a
provider of the service. This cloud model may include at least five
characteristics, at least three service models, and at least four
deployment models.
[0059] Characteristics are as follows:
[0060] On-demand self-service: a cloud consumer can unilaterally
provision computing capabilities, such as server time and network
storage, as needed automatically without requiring human
interaction with the service's provider.
[0061] Broad network access: capabilities are available over a
network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use
by heterogeneous thin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile
phones, laptops, and PDAs).
[0062] Resource pooling: the provider's computing resources are
pooled to serve multiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with
different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and
reassigned according to demand. There is a sense of location
independence in that the consumer generally has no control or
knowledge over the exact location of the provided resources but may
be able to specify location at a higher level of abstraction (e.g.,
country, state, or datacenter).
[0063] Rapid elasticity: capabilities can be rapidly and
elastically provisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly
scale out and rapidly released to quickly scale in. To the
consumer, the capabilities available for provisioning often appear
to be unlimited and can be purchased in any quantity at any
time.
[0064] Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and
optimize resource use by leveraging a metering capability at some
level of abstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g.,
storage, processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource
usage can be monitored, controlled, and reported providing
transparency for both the provider and consumer of the utilized
service.
[0065] Service Models are as follows:
[0066] Software as a Service (SaaS): the capability provided to the
consumer is to use the provider's applications running on a cloud
infrastructure. The applications are accessible from various client
devices through a thin client interface such as a web browser
(e.g., web-based e-mail). The consumer does not manage or control
the underlying cloud infrastructure including network, servers,
operating systems, storage, or even individual application
capabilities, with the possible exception of limited user-specific
application configuration settings.
[0067] Platform as a Service (PaaS): the capability provided to the
consumer is to deploy onto the cloud infrastructure
consumer-created or acquired applications created using programming
languages and tools supported by the provider. The consumer does
not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure including
networks, servers, operating systems, or storage, but has control
over the deployed applications and possibly application hosting
environment configurations.
[0068] Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): the capability provided
to the consumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and
other fundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to
deploy and run arbitrary software, which can include operating
systems and applications. The consumer does not manage or control
the underlying cloud infrastructure but has control over operating
systems, storage, deployed applications, and possibly limited
control of select networking components (e.g., host firewalls).
[0069] Deployment Models are as follows:
[0070] Private cloud: the cloud infrastructure is operated solely
for an organization. It may be managed by the organization or a
third party and may exist on-premises or off-premises.
[0071] Community cloud: the cloud infrastructure is shared by
several organizations and supports a specific community that has
shared concerns (e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and
compliance considerations). It may be managed by the organizations
or a third party and may exist on-premises or off-premises.
[0072] Public cloud: the cloud infrastructure is made available to
the general public or a large industry group and is owned by an
organization selling cloud services.
[0073] Hybrid cloud: the cloud infrastructure is a composition of
two or more clouds (private, community, or public) that remain
unique entities but are bound together by standardized or
proprietary technology that enables data and application
portability (e.g., cloud bursting for load-balancing between
clouds).
[0074] A cloud computing environment is service oriented with a
focus on statelessness, low coupling, modularity, and semantic
interoperability. At the heart of cloud computing is an
infrastructure comprising a network of interconnected nodes.
[0075] Referring now to FIG. 4, a schematic of an example of a
cloud computing node is shown. Cloud computing node 10 is only one
example of a suitable cloud computing node and is not intended to
suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of
embodiments of the invention described herein. Regardless, cloud
computing node 10 is capable of being implemented and/or performing
any of the functionality set forth hereinabove.
[0076] In cloud computing node 10 there is a computer system/server
12, which is operational with numerous other general purpose or
special purpose computing system environments or configurations.
Examples of well-known computing systems, environments, and/or
configurations that may be suitable for use with computer
system/server 12 include, but are not limited to, personal computer
systems, server computer systems, thin clients, thick clients,
hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems,
microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumer
electronics, network PCs, minicomputer systems, mainframe computer
systems, and distributed cloud computing environments that include
any of the above systems or devices, and the like.
[0077] Computer system/server 12 may be described in the general
context of computer system-executable instructions, such as program
modules, being executed by a computer system. Generally, program
modules may include routines, programs, objects, components, logic,
data structures, and so on that perform particular tasks or
implement particular abstract data types. Computer system/server 12
may be practiced in distributed cloud computing environments where
tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked
through a communications network. In a distributed cloud computing
environment, program modules may be located in both local and
remote computer system storage media including memory storage
devices.
[0078] As shown in FIG. 4, computer system/server 12 in cloud
computing node 10 is shown in the form of a general-purpose
computing device. The components of computer system/server 12 may
include, but are not limited to, one or more processors or
processing units 16, a system memory 28, and a bus 18 that couples
various system components including system memory 28 to processor
16.
[0079] Bus 18 represents one or more of any of several types of bus
structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a
peripheral bus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor or
local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of
example, and not limitation, such architectures include Industry
Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA)
bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standards
Association (VESA) local bus, and Peripheral Component
Interconnects (PCI) bus.
[0080] Computer system/server 12 typically includes a variety of
computer system readable media. Such media may be any available
media that is accessible by computer system/server 12, and it
includes both volatile and non-volatile media, removable and
non-removable media.
[0081] System memory 28 can include computer system readable media
in the form of volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM)
30 and/or cache memory 32. Computer system/server 12 may further
include other removable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile
computer system storage media. By way of example only, storage
system 34 can be provided for reading from and writing to a
non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media (not shown and typically
called a "hard drive"). Although not shown, a magnetic disk drive
for reading from and writing to a removable, non-volatile magnetic
disk (e.g., a "floppy disk"), and an optical disk drive for reading
from or writing to a removable, non-volatile optical disk such as a
CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media can be provided. In such
instances, each can be connected to bus 18 by one or more data
media interfaces. As will be further depicted and described below,
memory 28 may include at least one program product having a set
(e.g., at least one) of program modules that are configured to
carry out the functions of embodiments of the invention.
[0082] Program/utility 40, having a set (at least one) of program
modules 42, may be stored in memory 28 by way of example, and not
limitation, as well as an operating system, one or more application
programs, other program modules, and program data. Each of the
operating system, one or more application programs, other program
modules, and program data or some combination thereof, may include
an implementation of a networking environment. Program modules 42
generally carry out the functions and/or methodologies of
embodiments of the invention as described herein.
[0083] Computer system/server 12 may also communicate with one or
more external devices 14 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a
display 24, etc.; one or more devices that enable a user to
interact with computer system/server 12; and/or any devices (e.g.,
network card, modem, etc.) that enable computer system/server 12 to
communicate with one or more other computing devices. Such
communication can occur via Input/Output (I/O) interfaces 22. Still
yet, computer system/server 12 can communicate with one or more
networks such as a local area network (LAN), a general wide area
network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g., the Internet) via
network adapter 20. As depicted, network adapter 20 communicates
with the other components of computer system/server 12 via bus 18.
It should be understood that although not shown, other hardware
and/or software components could be used in conjunction with
computer system/server 12. Examples, include, but are not limited
to: microcode, device drivers, redundant processing units, external
disk drive arrays, RAID systems, tape drives, and data archival
storage systems, etc.
[0084] Referring now to FIG. 5, illustrative cloud computing
environment 50 is depicted. As shown, cloud computing environment
50 comprises one or more cloud computing nodes 10 with which local
computing devices used by cloud consumers, such as, for example,
personal digital assistant (PDA) or cellular telephone 54A, desktop
computer 54B, laptop computer 54C, and/or automobile computer
system 54N may communicate. Nodes 10 may communicate with one
another. They may be grouped (not shown) physically or virtually,
in one or more networks, such as Private, Community, Public, or
Hybrid clouds as described hereinabove, or a combination thereof.
This allows cloud computing environment 50 to offer infrastructure,
platforms and/or software as services for which a cloud consumer
does not need to maintain resources on a local computing device. It
is understood that the types of computing devices 54A-N shown in
FIG. 5 are intended to be illustrative only and that computing
nodes 10 and cloud computing environment 50 can communicate with
any type of computerized device over any type of network and/or
network addressable connection (e.g., using a web browser).
[0085] Referring now to FIG. 6, a set of functional abstraction
layers provided by cloud computing environment 50 (FIG. 5) is
shown. It should be understood in advance that the components,
layers, and functions shown in FIG. 6 are intended to be
illustrative only and embodiments of the invention are not limited
thereto. As depicted, the following layers and corresponding
functions are provided:
[0086] Hardware and software layer 60 includes hardware and
software components. Examples of hardware components include:
mainframes 61; RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture
based servers 62; servers 63; blade servers 64; storage devices 65;
and networks and networking components 66. In some embodiments,
software components include network application server software 67
and database software 68.
[0087] Virtualization layer 70 provides an abstraction layer from
which the following examples of virtual entities may be provided:
virtual servers 71; virtual storage 72; virtual networks 73,
including virtual private networks; virtual applications and
operating systems 74; and virtual clients 75.
[0088] In one example, management layer 80 may provide the
functions described below. Resource provisioning 81 provides
dynamic procurement of computing resources and other resources that
are utilized to perform tasks within the cloud computing
environment. Metering and Pricing 82 provide cost tracking as
resources are utilized within the cloud computing environment, and
billing or invoicing for consumption of these resources. In one
example, these resources may comprise application software
licenses. Security provides identity verification for cloud
consumers and tasks, as well as protection for data and other
resources. User portal 83 provides access to the cloud computing
environment for consumers and system administrators. Service level
management 84 provides cloud computing resource allocation and
management such that required service levels are met. Service Level
Agreement (SLA) planning and fulfillment 85 provide pre-arrangement
for, and procurement of, cloud computing resources for which a
future requirement is anticipated in accordance with an SLA.
[0089] Workloads layer 90 provides examples of functionality for
which the cloud computing environment may be utilized. Examples of
workloads and functions which may be provided from this layer
include: mapping and navigation 91; software development and
lifecycle management 92; virtual classroom education delivery 93;
data analytics processing 94; transaction processing 95; and test
automation 96.
[0090] The foregoing description of various embodiments of the
present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration
and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive nor to limit
the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and
variations are possible. Such modification and variations that may
be apparent to a person skilled in the art of the invention are
intended to be included within the scope of the invention as
defined by the accompanying claims.
* * * * *