Test automation for automated fare management systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016034723-A1
Application number	US-201414447916-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 31, 2014
Priority date	Jul 31, 2014
Publication date	Feb 4, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A test robot may receive a test scenario for testing a fare management system. The test robot may program a fare card to store card information based on the test scenario. The test robot may provide an instruction to an actuator component to cause the actuator component to move the fare card within communicative proximity of a card reader device. The fare card, when moved within communicative proximity of the card reader device, may cause the card reader device to read the stored card information from the fare card and to provide updated card information, based on the stored card information, for storage by the fare card. The test robot may read the updated card information from the fare card. The test robot may provide test result information, based on the updated card information, to a test management device.

First claim

1 . A test robot, comprising:
one or more processors to:
receive a request for an available test robot;
determine that the test robot is available;
respond to the request for the available test robot based on determining that the test robot is available;
receive a test scenario for testing a fare management system based on responding to the request for the available test robot;
program a fare card to store card information based on the test scenario;
provide an instruction to an actuator component to cause the actuator component to move the fare card within communicative proximity of a card reader device,
the fare card, when moved within communicative proximity of the card reader device, causing the card reader device to read the stored card information from the fare card and to provide updated card information, based on the stored card information, for storage by the fare card;

read the updated card information from the fare card; and
provide test result information, based on the updated card information, to a test management device.

2 . The test robot of claim 1 , where the one or more processors are further to:
receive a request for a particular test robot type; determine that the test robot is of the particular test robot type; respond to the request for the particular test robot type based on determining that the test robot is of the particular test robot type; and where the one or more processors, when receiving the test scenario, are to:
receive the test scenario based on responding to the request for the particular test robot type.

3 . (canceled)

4 . The test robot of claim 1 , where the one or more processors, when programming the fare card to store the card information, are to:
receive the card information; instruct the actuator component to move the fare card within communicative proximity of a card reader/writer component of the test robot, the card reader/writer component being different from the card reader device; and
transmit the card information to the fare card via the card reader/writer component based on instructing the actuator component to move the fare card within communicative proximity of the card reader/writer component of the test robot.

5 . The test robot of claim 1 , where the one or more processors, when receiving the test scenario, are to:
receive the test scenario, including configuration information for configuring the card reader device, from the test management device; and where the one or more processors are further to:
provide the configuration information to the card reader device to configure the card reader device based on the test scenario.

6 . The test robot of claim 1 , where the one or more processors, when receiving the test scenario, are to:
receive the test scenario from another test robot that is different from the test robot.

7 . The test robot of claim 1 , where the one or more processors are further to:
provide the test scenario and the updated card information to another test robot for further execution of the test scenario, by the other test robot, using the updated card information.

8 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:
one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
receive a test scenario for testing a fare management system,
the test scenario including card information to be stored by a fare card;

program the fare card, based on the test scenario, to cause the fare card to store the card information;
instruct an actuator component to move the fare card within communicative proximity of a card reader device,
the fare card, when moved within communicative proximity of the card reader device, causing the card reader device to read the stored card information from the fare card and to provide updated card information, based on the stored card information, for storage by the fare card;

instruct the actuator component to move the fare card within communicative proximity of a card reader/writer component,
the card reader/writer component being different from the card reader device;

read the updated card information from the fare card via the card reader/writer component based on instructing the actuator component to move the fare card within communicative proximity of the card reader/writer component; and
provide the updated card information to another device.

9 . (canceled)

10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , where the one or more instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:
monitor for feedback from the card reader device after instructing the actuator component to move the fare card within communicative proximity of the card reader device; record test result information based on monitoring for the feedback,
the test result information indicating a result of monitoring for the feedback; and
provide the test result information to the other device.

11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , where the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to monitor for feedback, cause the one or more processors to:
monitor for visual or audible feedback from the card reader device; and where the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to record the test result information, cause the one or more processors to: record, as the test result information, an indication of whether the visual or audible feedback was detected.

12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , where the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to monitor for feedback, cause the one or more processors to:
determine whether an expected action, identified by the test scenario, was performed by the card reader device; and where the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to record the test result information, cause the one or more processors to:
record, as the test result information, an indication of whether the expected action was performed.

13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , where the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to monitor for feedback, cause the one or more processors to:
determine whether an object, associated with the card reader device, moved; and where the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to record the test result information, cause the one or more processors to:
record, as the test result information, an indication of whether the object moved.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , where the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to monitor for feedback, cause the one or more processors to:
determine whether a transaction message was provided to a back end device; validate whether an action was performed by the back end device based on the transaction message; and where the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to record the test result information, cause the one or more processors to:
record, as the test result information, an indication of whether the transaction message was provided to the back end device or whether the action was performed by the back end device.

15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , where the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to provide the updated card information to another device, cause the one or more processors to:
provide the

Assignees

• Accenture Global Services Ltd

Inventors

• Somani Avishek
• Raina Sunil
• Dhar Praveen

Classifications

• Y10S901/02

  Arm motion controller · CPC title

• B25J9/1679

  characterised by the tasks executed · CPC title

• G06K7/0095 Primary

  Testing the sensing arrangement, e.g. testing if a magnetic card reader, bar code reader, RFID interrogator or smart card reader functions properly (testing of electrical circuits G01R31/28) · CPC title

• G06Q10/00 Primary

  Administration; Management · CPC title

• G06Q50/40

  Business processes related to the transportation industry (shipping G06Q10/083) · CPC title