A matroid-theoretic solution to an assignment problem in the conformance testing of communication protocols

Abstract

The minimum length test sequence generation method proposed previously (1988) for conformance testing of a protocol uses Unique Input Sequences (UIS) for state identification. This method, called the U-method, requires that the test graph, a graph derived from the protocol, be connected. This requirement also needs to be satisfied in the case of the MU-method, which assumes that the multiple UISs are available for each state. Thus, the U-method and the MU-method may not provide minimum length test sequences in cases where the test graph is not connected. Nevertheless, these methods generate minimum length test sequences with high fault coverage whenever the test graph is connected. This raises an important problem: Does there exist an assignment of UISs to the transitions such that the resulting test graph is connected? In this paper, we formulate this problem as a maximum cardinality two matroid intersection problem and discuss an efficient algorithmic solution. We also point out the role of the work in the minimum length test sequence generation problem.