ConData: a Tool for Automating Specification-based Test Case Generation for Communication Systems

Eliane Martins, Selma B.Sabião Institute of Computing State University of Campinas (UNICAMP)

Ana Maria Ambrosio Ground System Division National Institute for Space Research (INPE)

Abstract.

This paper describes a tool called ConData used as test generation for communication protocols specified as extended finite state machines. The strategy for test generation combines different specification-based test methods: (i) transition testing for the control part of a protocol and (ii) syntax and equivalence partitioning for the data part. The tool uses a representation of the protocol in PSL (Protocol Specification Language), which is transformed into a format readable by a Prolog program. This implements the test strategies mentioned above. The text also presents some results obtained in the test generation for the protocol of the Tele-command Communication System of the SACI-1 satellite.

Keywords: communications protocol testing – EFSM-based testing - logic programming