Overcoming observability problems in distributed test architectures

Abstract

The introduction of multiple remote testers to apply a test or checking sequence in a test architecture brings out the possibility of controllability and observability problems. These problems often require the use of external coordination message exchanges among testers. In this paper, we consider constructing a test or checking sequence from the specification of the system under test such that it will be free from these problems and will not require the use of external coordination messages. We give an algorithm that can check whether it is possible to construct subsequences from a given specification that eliminate the need for using external coordination message exchanges, and when it is possible actually produces such subsequences.