Using commercial web services to build Automated Test Equipment cloud based applications

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present a framework from which Automated Test Equipment (ATE) manufacturers can use to help them develop, integrate, and deliver ATE cloud-based applications to the consumers of their products. In order to create these applications, the developer can utilize Commercial Web Services (CWS) as a means to help access compute power, storage devices, and other services that provide the flexibility to choose a development platform or programming model that makes the most sense in trying to resolve the problem at hand. CWS provides a flexible environment from which to choose various programming models, operating systems, databases, and architectures to serve the consumers needs. CWS is highly cost-effective in that the developers and consumers pay only for what they use. Using CWS makes it extremely easy to create scalable and elastic systems as the developers can quickly add and subtract resources to their applications in order to meet current or future consumer needs. Furthermore, security is always a concern so CWS builds services in accordance with security best practices by providing the appropriate security features in those services. Using a CWS provides a level of scale, security, reliability, and privacy that are often cost prohibitive for most organizations to meet. This paper will examine available CWS cloud service platforms that organizations can potentially use to help deploy applications and services in a cost effective manner. The CWS platform consists of the following six main services, which will be discussed in more detail in this paper - (1) Computational/Networking, (2) Storage/Content Delivery, (3) Databases, (4) Analytics, (5) Applications, and (6) Deployment and Management services. One or more of these services may be utilized to help develop, integrate, and deliver ATE cloud-based applications to the consumer. The goals of ATE are to (1) quickly and accurately detect and isolate each fault, (2) provide software tools for analyzing historical data, (3) gather, manage, and distribute accurate and reliable maintenance information for the failed Unit Under Test (UUT). The CWS cloud platform will aid in the development of cloud based tools and applications that are cost effective, flexible, scalable, and secure that can be used by multiple end users to aid in the development of ATE system software tool sets. One example of a cloud-based application is a diagnostic reasoner that could be used to aid in diagnosing UUT repair actions. This paper will show how developers can use CWS to develop ATE cloud-based applications and tools that will help improve the overall ATE testing throughput, thus resulting in bottom line improvements to ATE life cycle costs.