Method and System for Heterogeneous Telecommunications Network Testing

The present invention relates generally to the testing of network environments, and more specifically to a method and system for heterogeneous telecommunications network testing by a plurality of users.

Telecommunication networks have evolved to encompass a variety of services, platforms, applications, data processing system hardware and equipment, referred to as network products. Before deploying network products into a network environment, it is important to first test the network products to ensure their proper operation.

Devices for testing and for facilitating the testing of telecommunication networks and network products are available. For example, the SAGE 930A is a test unit which supports a data processing system command interface for performing in-band, or voice-circuit, testing of network products. A software application which executes in a computer can be used to drive the SAGE 930A through a serial connection. Additionally, with the proliferation of out-of-band (non-voice) ISDN and SS7 implementations in telecommunication networks today, additional types of test units such as the Ameritec AM2 Niagra, Telesynch 1567, and HP500 IDACOM are available to test out-of-band signaling transactions of a telecommunications network. These test units can also be driven by a data processing system software application that communicates to the test unit via commands over a serial connection.

A problem with such test devices is that they typically require a command interface which is dedicated to accomplishing a narrowly defined particular test objective and is therefore both cumbersome and time consuming to use. Batch files which automate a series of commands from a data processing system to the test device can be used to alleviate this problem with test devices; the use of batch files do not require data entry of commands to the connected test device. A single batch file, or small set of batch files, which contains all the commands necessary to accomplish a particular test objective is invoked. The user is then free to perform other tasks while specific testing is automated.

Still other test improvements have been made through the advent of the graphical user interface (GUI). Programmers have created GUIs to make the use of test devices more user-friendly. Complicated test scenarios which would otherwise require many commands, or a multiplicity of synchronized batch files, are now achieved through a simple user interface method. Mouse selections, menu options, buttons, drag and drop techniques, and other GUI methods, are provided for enhancing the quality and efficiency of performing telecommunications network testing.

Local area network (LAN) technology and communication architectures have also enhanced the testing of network products. GUIs are conveniently located, either locally or remotely, to a particular data processing system which drives the actual testing of network products. This methodology is referred to as client/server technology. The GUI is an application, referred to as a client, which executes on a system in the network. A software application which satisfies requests of a client is referred to as a server. The server also executes on a system in the network. The client/server framework preferably allows a client to be located on any system in the network, even on the same system on which the server resides.

The server traditionally synchronizes a multiplicity of clients to server functions, but there are many problems with synchronization within a telecommunications network test environment. Resources, such as available trunks, switches, automatic response units, automatic call distributors, credit card validators, network topology, etc., which are needed by one type of test may circumvent completion of another type of test which needs the same resources. The server must properly synchronize test requests to the various resources available at the time of the test request.

With the many varieties of network products and methodologies for testing of network products currently available, test devices must be proficient in testing a great number of applications and the many varieties of test cases associated with these applications. Thus, a test device has to be capable of learning new test case formats and new test interfaces as required. A test case defines how a particular test will be performed. For example, a test case may simply be a batch file which performs a test, or a test case may be a file of commands or directives maintained with a GUI. Additionally, a test case may be a memory structure which is built by a data processing system upon use of a client or other application. Whatever the embodiment, a test case embodies the action which will take place in order to perform a test.

Yet another problem is managing a multiplicity of tests to be performed on a limited number of test devices. Test labs may have limited test device equipment so that testers typically share the test equipment. Human maintained schedules have been deployed which correspond to network configurations that are to be in place according to that schedule. While there have been some automated synchronization techniques provided, there is currently no method and system for synchronizing all testers of a heterogeneous lab environment with the test which will be performed in the laboratory. Currently, all types of tests which can be performed in telecommunications are accomplished with a plethora of applications, systems, test case types, and methods.

There is thus an unmet need in the art for users in a network environment to be able to share test cases and the results of executed test cases on the network. This need extends to all the test environments in the network environment, such as all the tests available in an entire testing laboratory. There is further an unmet need in the art to allow a single user in the network environment to perform an arbitrary test case or to perform any type of test case which can be performed in an entire laboratory. There is additionally an unmet need to be able to perform any type of test case without knowing the test case formats and methodologies of each and every test case available for execution on the network.

It would be advantageous in the art for a single user in a network environment to be able to request and receive the results of any test case performed in the network environment, regardless of what type of test equipment performs the test and the type of test format.

It would further be advantageous in the art for a plurality of users to engage in heterogeneous telecommunications network testing in a network environment.

It would still further be advantageous in the art for a plurality of users in a network environment to be able to share test case results and view such results in a convenient manner.

It would be advantageous in the art for a plurality of users in a network environment to be able to access the results of test cases executed by other users in the network environment.

Therefore, according to the present invention, a method and system for heterogeneous network testing by a plurality of users is disclosed. The present invention requires at least one client machine, an execution server, and at least one custom server in a LAN (local area network) or WAN (wide area network) environment for heterogeneous network testing in which one or more client machines communicate with the execution server which in turn manages one or more custom servers that execute requested test cases. The custom servers may be of various types, including ISDN servers, SS7 servers and CG servers. A user on the network communicates to a client machine via a GUI (graphical user interface) which test case or test cases are to be executed. The requested test cases are retrieved and may be edited by the user on the client machine prior to communicating the test case information from the client machine to the execution server which coordinates the execution of test cases by an appropriate custom server. The results of the executed test case are stored and made available to other users on the network.

The client machine includes a GUI (graphical user interface) for performing tests on a variety of equipment using a variety of test cases. The client machine provides authentication abilities to ensure validation of users of the present invention. The GUI of the client machine provides a user-friendly interface for managing test cases and for conveniently maintaining (e.g. create, change, delete, store, access, etc.) test cases of new or existing test platforms and applications. While test cases can be retrieved from various existing platforms by the client machine, a generic test case can be maintained thereafter. The generic test case is easily directed to an arbitrary environment for performing a test. The client machine has access to file servers containing test cases and database servers for access to test cases. The client machine manages its own set of generic test cases locally or through its own file servers. Multiple users can share test cases maintained by the present invention through their respective client machines to shared file servers.

When a test case is ready for execution, the user selects a single test case or a plurality of test cases for either interactive execution or scheduled execution of the test case. An interactive execution allows the user to see the results of the executed test request as they become available, i.e. "real-time". The results of the executed test are made available to the user before the client machine performs any other functions. When the results of the executed test are provided to the user, they are also provided to a correlated test output file where they may be later retrieved for perusal at some later time. A scheduled execution, on the other hand, runs as a background task and is therefore transparent to the user. The results of the executed test will only be directed to the correlated test output file for convenient perusal as some future time. The user may specify to run the request now or at a later scheduled time.

For every test request issued from a client, a priority is assigned that test request before being transmitted to the execution server. The execution server manages the request according to the priority of the test request and other tests in progress. The execution server supervises prioritization and scheduling of test requests from all client machines on the network. The execution server accesses information about which lab resources are to be used for specific types of test requests in accordance with presently available test resources. The information available to the execution server includes information about which custom server the execution server must transmit the test request to in order to perform the requested test(s) and which circuit(s) on which trunk(s) will be used to perform the telecommunications activity associated with the test request(s). Thus, the information available to the execution server allows network resources to be preallocated for certain types of tests. It is the responsibility of the execution server to synchronize all client machines requested test cases to the currently available resources. The execution server also performs loop through tests prior to testing to assure that resources are actually available, i.e. not in error or failure.

The execution server is the supervisory server for performing all requested test cases in the lab environment. Thus, the execution server conveys protocol for successful completion of test request(s) to custom servers which ultimately perform the requested test case(s). The execution server also manages the optional step of retrieving appropriate billing information upon execution of the requested test cases and then matching associated billing information with the appropriate test case results. The billing information of executed test cases may be accessed if desired by the user.

A custom server is responsible for performing specific types of test cases. A custom server may have a plurality of test devices connected to it, or it may be directly connected to the environment it will test. Typically, a custom server receives and executes one type, or category, of test cases. For example, one custom server may handle all ISDN test cases. Another custom server in the network may handle all SS7 test cases. Yet another custom server may handle all test cases for a particular manufacturer of connected test devices. There may be many custom servers in the network, each of which handles some set of test cases as logically determined by the administrator of the lab and currently available lab resources. The administrator is preferably a person who has knowledge of how best to plan use of a telecommunications network lab. The physical layout of the lab topology may be optimized by appropriate use of custom servers on the telecommunications network.

Each custom server test execution is initiated by the execution server. The custom server performs test cases, and saves test results of the test case which it communicates back to the execution server. A custom server may include a GUI which provides tracing mechanisms and service manager support functions dependent on the type of custom server and its processing. In one embodiment, the custom server manages a client's interactive test request by routing test output back to the client directly as the test case executes. In another interactive test request embodiment, the custom server completes the test case and the test output, communicates status back to the execution server, and then the execution server communicates output back to the client.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide for heterogeneous telecommunications network testing in a network environment by a plurality of users.

It is accordingly a further object of the invention to provide for heterogeneous telecommunications network testing in a network environment by a plurality of users which can share test case results and view such results in a convenient manner.

It is accordingly another object of the invention for a plurality of users on the network to be able to access the results of test cases executed by other users on the network. It is accordingly a further object of the invention to provide for heterogeneous telecommunications network testing in a network environment by a single user which can request and receive the results of any test case capable of being performed on the entire network.

This and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention in which numerals used throughout the description correspond to those found in the drawing figures.

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, and further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of client/server test architecture, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a more detailed block diagram of client/server test architecture of the present invention, according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows an event in which a user invokes the client machine, according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows an event in which the user retrieves a desired test case, according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows an event in which the user executes a requested test case, according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 depicts a flow chart illustrating the operation of the client machine, according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 depicts a flow chart illustrating the operation of the execution server, according to the present invention; and

FIG. 8 depicts a flow chart illustrating the operation of the custom server, according to the present invention.

The present invention describes a method and system for heterogeneous network testing of network products by a plurality of users. In addition to the heterogeneous telecommunications network testing discussed herein, the present invention is suitable for use in any network environment. Users who request testing of network products need not know how to use more than one application and need not be familiar with the differing formats of test cases for different types of network product environments, because the present invention can be used as a single application for performing myriad tests on the network.

In the client/server test architecture of the present invention, a single client machine or multiple client machines may access and drive one or more custom servers deployed on a network via an execution server to perform any test capable of being performed on the network. Various types of Custom Servers, such as ISDN servers, SS7 servers and CG servers, are deployed in a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN) environment such that the client may access and drive any number of custom servers deployed on the network. The client simply communicates which test cases are to be executed to a client machine. client machine may be any kind of machine, such as a PC (personal computer), a processor card, UNIX platform, etc. This test case information is communicated from the client machine to an execution server which coordinates the execution of test cases by the appropriate custom server of a plurality of custom servers. A new custom server is deployed as needed to perform test cases. The custom server resources on the network are pooled to avoid unnecessary duplication of servers so that less equipment can be used. Client machines on the network may pool and share test results and equipment. In this manner, the present invention allows for a robust network test environment.

Referring to FIG. 1, a simplified block diagram of the client/server test architecture of the present invention is shown. Client/Server Test Architecture 10 is comprised of a bus 12 which connects the major components of the architecture: Custom Server 14, Execution Server 16 and Client Machine 18. Client/Server Test Architecture 10 may be used in either a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network) environment, or any other computer environment. Bus 12 can be configured in any topology desired, such as a ring or daisy chain topology, independent of the LAN or WAN topology of the system so long as there is a communications link between Client Machine(s) 18 and Execution Server 16 and a communications link between Execution Server 16 and Custom Server(s) 14.

A user on the network uses Client Machine 18 to request that a particular type of test case be performed; as indicated by the dashed lines of FIG. 1 any number of users may access the system via a plurality of Client Machines 18. The test case request is received by Execution Server 16 which manages communications with Custom Server 14 which actually executes the requested test case. Any number of Custom Servers 14 may be used as indicated by the dashed lines of FIG. 1; types of Custom Servers 14 include ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) servers, CG (Call Generator) servers and SS7 (Signaling System 7) servers, a type of CSS7 (Common Channel Signaling System 7) servers. Custom Server 14 may be any type of server required to execute the test cases requested by the user. Each Custom Server 14 has its own types of tests it will run and thus different test cases may be run on different Custom Servers 14.

Referring to FIG. 2, a more detailed block diagram of the Client/Server Test Architecture 20 of the present invention is shown. The elements shown in FIG. 2 are connected by Bus 12 and include ISDN Custom Server 22, Terminal Server 22a, Execution Server 16, CG Custom Server 26, SS7 Custom Server 28, and Client Machine 18. Many types of custom servers may exist in the test network; in FIG. 2, ISDN Custom Server 22, CG Custom Server 26 and SS7 Custom Server 28 are shown. Each Custom Server 22, 26, 28 manages test execution of specific types of test equipment. The custom server must be capable of multitasking, meaning it must be capable of generating a process thread. Each custom server can run on a variety of operating systems such as Microsoft NT, OS/2, UNIX, and Macintosh operating systems.

ISDN Custom Server 22 provides shared access to a number of Telesync boxes; for instance, 24 Telesync TSI1565 boxes or any number of Telesync boxes can be used. Terminal Server 22a provides the RS232 serial connection used by ISDN Custom Server 22. SS7 Custom Server 28 provides shared access to an SS7 message generator unit for the origination of SS7 test cases and in that regard manages SS7 protocols, releasing the call from the originator. The number of RS232 serials ports utilized by SS7 Custom Server 28 may be expanded up to the number of RS232 ports available on the Server Machine 28. CG Custom Server 26 provides shared access to bulk call generators 26a for in-band originations and voice path verification for SS7 test cases. The number of bulk call generators 26a may be expanded up to the number of RS232 ports that are available on the Server Machine 26.

Execution Server 16 ensures that users logged onto Client Machines 32 can simultaneously access and drive a number of Custom Servers 22, 26, and 28 which manage the execution of requested test cases. Execution Server 16 probes a test request generated by Client Machine 32 and routes that test request to the appropriate Custom Server(s) which actually performs the requested test case. The operation of Execution Server 16 is transparent to the user logged onto Client Machine 32. Execution Server 16 must be a multitasking machine, meaning it must be a machine capable of generating multiple process threads. Execution Server 16 can run on a variety of operating systems including Microsoft NT, OS/2, UNIX, or Macintosh.

Referring to FIG. 3, a user of the present invention invokes Client Machine 18. Validation of the user's name, password and custom server identification is performed by User Server 34 as the user logs onto the Client Machine 18. The user refers to the desired Custom Server 14 shown in FIG. 1 by either name, number or other appropriate identifier, depending on how User Server 34 is configured. The name, number or other identifier of the desired Custom Server 14 is stored in local memory of the Client Machine 18 and may be accessed and verified by reference to a look-up table in local memory. Communication between the user and Client Machine 18 may be accomplished with a GUI (graphical user interface).

Referring to FIG. 4, after invoking Client Machine 18 the user retrieves the requested test case. The user may ask Client Machine 18 to retrieve the requested test case via a GUI. The user may retrieve test case information, such as edited or unedited test case execution data and test case header, from shared or local database storage. The test case execution data is the specific data on how to execute the telephone call while the test case header conveys generic information about the test case, such as the test case type, comments on the test case, test case identification, when the test case was created, who created the test case, etc. The test case execution data and test case header are stored in databases, such as a relational databases. The user may request an ISDN Custom Server test case, a SS7 Custom Server test case, or a voice path test case for the CG Custom Server.

Shared storage is typically storage on the network, LAN or WAN, such as on a machine running under NT, UNIX or OS/2 operating system while local storage is typically storage on Client Machine 18 itself. The type of storage medium for both shared and local storage of unedited test cases includes but is not limited to disk or memory such as ROM (read only memory), PROM (programmable read only memory), cache, tape, and CD ROM (compact disk read only memory). The type of storage medium for both shared and local storage of edited test cases includes but is not limited to disk or memory such as RAM (random access memory) and cache.

If the user retrieves unedited test case execution data, or a test case header from either shared or local storage, the unedited file may only be read and not written. It can be written to the shared or local storage for edited test cases after being copied to a new file name. If, however, the user retrieves an edited file, it may be further edited and stored at will. In this manner, the integrity of the unedited or "baseline" test case is preserved. After the user has retrieved and used a test case, it may be stored back to the appropriate storage medium. If the user has retrieved an edited test case from Shared Storage 38 or Local Storage 40 or has edited a previously edited or unedited test case from Shared Storage 36 or Local Storage 42, the test case can only be stored in local or shared storage for edited test cases 38 or 40. If, however, the user has retrieved, used and not edited an unedited test case, the unedited test case need not be stored at all since it is already available in shared or local storage of unedited test cases 36 or 42.

Referring to FIG. 5, after the user has retrieved the desired test case, the user next requests that a test case, either edited or unedited, be executed. If the user wishes to execute an edited test case, the edited test case must be supplied to Execution Server 16 from Shared Storage of Edited Test Cases 38 or Local Storage of Edited Test Cases 40 via Client Machine 18, as described above in conjunction with FIG. 4. If, however, the user is executing an unedited test case, the test case may be supplied to Execution Server 16 directly from Shared Storage of Unedited Test Cases 36 or Local Storage of Unedited Test Cases 42 indirectly via Client Machine 18. The user can request that a test case or list of test cases be executed immediately or at some later time (batch). If the test cases are submitted to run in batch, Execution Server 16 will start the execution at the requested time without further intervention by the user.

Execution Server 16 provides the header and test case information to Custom Server 14 which actually executes the test case requested by the user. As previously noted, Custom Server 14 may be ISDN Custom Server 22, CG Custom Server 26 or SS7 Custom Server 28 shown in FIG. 2. Once Custom Server 14 completes execution of the requested test case, the test results are communicated to Execution Server 16 by Custom Server 14. Execution Server 16 stores the test results in Local Storage of Test Results 44 and, if the test case was submitted for immediate execution, the test results are immediately communicated back to Client Machine 18 in a "real-time" fashion. On the other hand, if the user requested a batch execution, the user must retrieve the test results from Local Storage of Test Results 44. As with other storage mediums previously discussed, Local Storage of Test Results 44 may be any storage medium such as memory, disk or cache. Local Storage of Test Results 44 may be placed on the LAN or WAN network so that it may be accessed by other users on the system if so desired.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 depict flow charts illustrating the operations carried out by Client Machine 18, the operations carried out by Execution Server 16, and the operations carried out by Custom Server 14, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 6, a flow chart illustrating the operation of Client Machine 18 is shown. First, as shown in Blocks 50 and 52, the user invokes Client Machine 18 and validation is performed as the user logs onto Client Machine 18, as described in conjunction with FIG. 3. Next, the main window of the GUI (graphical user interface) is displayed as shown in Block 54. The Client Machine 18 then waits for user action in GUI object(s) in Block 56. In Decision Block 58, the user must decide whether to access test case(s).

If the user does decide to access test case(s), then the user interfaces with the GUI to access the desired test cases for subsequent use as shown in Block 70, and then Client Machine 18 must again wait for user action in GUI object(s) in Block 56. If, on the other hand, the user does not wish to access test case(s), Decision Block 60 inquires as to whether the user wishes to manage the accessed test case(s). If the user does wish to manage the accessed test case(s), then Block 72 indicates that the user can use the GUI to manage the accessed test case(s) by editing, browsing, deleting or performing other desired functions to the accessed test case(s).

If the user does not wish to manage the accessed test case(s), Decision Block 62 inquires as to whether the user wishes to select test case(s) for execution. If the user does not wish to select test case(s) for execution, Decision Block 64 inquires as to whether the test case(s) results should be shown. If the user desires the test case results be shown, then at Block 74 the test case results are accessed from Local Storage of Test Results 44. At Block 76, the test case results are displayed and the flow chart goes back to Block 56. Conversely, if the user does not wish the test case results to be shown, then Decision Block 66 inquires as to whether to quit the flow. If the user does not want to quit the flow is directed back to Block 56, but is the user does want to quit then the GUI is terminated at Block 68. It should be noted that the decision blocks 58, 60, 62, 64 and blocks 70, 72, 74, 76 represent optional paths of the flow chart of FIG. 6.

If the user does wish to select test case(s) for execution, then the user specifies the execution criteria to be used for selection in the GUI, as shown in Block 78. After specifying the execution criteria, the user invokes the test case(s). Decision Block 82 inquires as to whether the execution of the test case(s) is to be an interactive run. An interactive run means that the selected test case is to be executed immediately in "real-time" and not at some future time. A non-interactive or batch run is a run in which the test execution criteria is scheduled at some future time and may be executed in the background, invisible to the GUI and therefore to the user. If the test execution is not to be an interactive run, then Block 86 simply assigns the test case a priority based upon the test case's position in a batch queue. If, however, the test execution is to be an interactive run, then Block 84 assigns the test case an interactive priority determined by a priority formula.

Interactive runs are assigned a priority determined by the priority formula while non-interactive or batch runs are assigned a priority based upon batch priority. Interactive runs always have a higher priority than batch runs. Thus, for example, in a priority buffer having 256 positions, the lower positions 1-128 may be reserved for batch runs while the higher positions 129-256 may be reserved for interactive runs. The batch priority determines the position of the test case in the batch queue. The priority formula for interactive runs is slightly more complex. The priority formula is determined by subtracting the number of test cases the user wishes to run from a base priority value. The base priority value is a predetermined value given all test cases that are to be executed interactively. The Base priority value for a user is set when the user logs on as shown at Blocks 50 and 52 of FIG. 6.

At Block 88, the test case request is communicated to Execution Server 16. Next, Decision Block 90 inquires as to whether the user desires an interactive run. If the user does not wish an interactive run but instead desires a batch run, then the GUI of Client Machine 18 indicates to the user when the test case results are available in Local Storage of Test Results 44 as shown in Block 92. On the other hand, if the run is interactive, then the user waits for the results of the test case execution as shown in Block 94. Next, at Block 96 Execution Server 16 will provide the results of the test case execution to Client Machine 18. At Block 98, the results of the test case execution are displayed to the results window of the Client Machine GUI. Finally, the flow returns the user to Block 56.

Referring to FIG. 7, a flow chart illustrating the operation of Execution Server 16 is shown. Once the process flow of Execution Server 16 is started, one of three different paths may be chosen: the main process thread may be spawned as shown in Block 100, at least one communications handler thread may be spawned as shown in Block 122, and the next priority test case may be retrieved as shown, in Block 128. It should be noted that the main process thread spawned in Block 100 and the communications handler thread spawned in Block 122 are process threads that may be spawned asynchronously, i.e. at different times.

Referring to the first path, at Block 100 the main process thread is spawned. This is followed by an implicit wait while the next process queue is retrieved as shown in Block 102. Next, at Decision Block 104, the inquiry is whether Execution Server 16 has yet received status information on requested test cases from Client Machine 18. If no, Decision Block 106 inquires as to whether the user has a test case request. If the user has no test case request, the process returns to Block 102; if, however, the user has a test case request, then the test case request is placed into the process list according to its priority value vis-a-vis the priority assigned to other test requests.

If Execution Server 16 has received status information on requested test cases from Client Machine 18, then billing information concerning the transaction, such as billing information on a telephone call which has been placed, must be analyzed. At Decision Block 110, the question is whether billing information has been requested by the user. If the user has requested billing information, then Execution Server 16 obtains the billing information from a custom service (IVS). If needed, Execution Server 16 will make the appropriate number of calls, for example 32 calls if the billing block is comprised of 32 calls, to flush the billing record as shown in Block 112. The results of the billing record are returned to the user in the interactive mode or saved to storage in the batch mode as shown in Block 114. The flow continues on to Decision Block 116. If the user has not requested billing information, the flow also continues to Decision Block 116.

At Decision Block 116, the issue becomes whether test cases have been scheduled. If they have been scheduled, the flow is directed back to Block 102. If, however, test cases have not been scheduled, Decision Block 118 inquires whether the user is logged onto Client Machine 118. If the user is not logged on, the process is routed back up to Block 102, but if the user is logged on status is returned to Client Machine 18 before returning to Block 102.

Referring to the second path of FIG. 7, at Block 122 at least one communications handler thread is spawned. Next, in Block 124 Execution Server 16 waits for a communications entity and places this communications entity into the process queue at Block 126. The communications entity monitors messages received from Client Machine 18 and Custom Server(s) 14 on the network. The flow then returns to Block 124.

Referring to the third path of FIG. 7, the next highest priority test case is retrieved from the process list at Block 128; there is an inherent wait while the test case is retrieved. Next, at Block 130 a loop-through test is performed to assure available of a communications channel, such as a T1 trunk. Decision Block 132 inquires as to whether there are enough resources available to complete execution of the requested test case. If there are not enough resources, the flow is routed up to the Start Box until there are adequate resources available.

If there are adequate resources available to complete execution of the requested test case, Decision Block 134 asks how many times the particular test case request has been bypassed and not executed. If the test case request has been bypassed a certain number of times or more (the number of times is determined by the administrator of the network system), then the priority of the test case request is effectively ignored and that test case request is automatically communicated to the appropriate Custom Server 14 as shown in Block 136. The flow then returns back to Start. If the test case request has not been bypassed a minimum number of times, then at Decision Block 138 the test case request is compared against a priority list to determine whether the test case request has a lower priority than another test.

Referring to FIG. 8, a flow chart illustrating the operation of Custom Server 14 is shown. First, a service manager thread is spawned as shown in Block 140. In Block 142 the Custom Server environment is then initialized. Once the service manager is spawned and the Custom Server environment is initialized, one of three different paths may be chosen: a request monitor thread may be may be spawned as shown in Block 144, at least one execution server request handler thread may be spawned as shown in Block 162, and at least one test case transaction manager thread may be spawned as shown in Block 168. It should be noted that the process threads spawned in Blocks 144, 162 and 168 may be spawned asynchronously, i.e. at different times.

Referring to the first path, in Block 144 a request monitor thread is spawned. In Block 146, the Custom Server 14 waits for a test case request. Next, Decision Block 148 inquires as to whether to run traces which allow the user to see in real-time what processes are running on the network in the background of the GUI. If traces are to be run, then the user specifies which traces to turn on in Block 160. If traces are not to be run, then the flow proceeds to Decision Block 150 where the inquiry is whether to stop traces. If traces are to be stopped, Block 162 requires that the user specify which traces to turn off; if, on the other hand, traces are not to be stopped then Decision Block 152 asks whether Custom Server diagnostics are to be shown. Custom Server diagnostics provide status information on the Custom Server 14 such as the types of test cases being run, the number of test cases being run, the status of the test cases being run and the users logged onto the network. If diagnostics are to be shown, then diagnostics are displayed as shown in Block 164 before returning to Block 146. If diagnostics are not to be shown, then Decision Block 154 inquires whether to quit the flow. If the flow is not to be quit, then it returns to Block 146. If the flow is to be quit, then all spawned threads are terminated at Block 156 and the monitor function is terminated at Block 158.

Referring to the second path, at Block 162 at least one execution server request handler thread is spawned. Next, the Custom Server 14 waits for a test case execution request from Execution Server 16 as shown in Block 164. Finally, test case execution requests are queued up as shown in Block 166.

In the third path of the flowchart of FIG. 8, at least one test case transaction manager thread is spawned as shown in Block 168. Next, as shown in Block 170, the next test case is obtained from the process queue during which there is an implicit wait. The test case is executed as shown by Block 172. In Block 174, the results of the test case execution are saved with the test case data and the status is communicated to Execution Server 16 in Block 174. Results of the test case execution may include a variety of information such as all execution data, tests that pass, tests that fail and summary data. The process flow then returns to Block 170.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance, while the preferred embodiment of the present invention refers to telecommunications network testing, those skilled in the art appreciate that testing other environments can be accomplished without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.