Software test case generation from a partial design model

1. A method for testing software under test (SUT) with respect to a partial design model (PDM) having a boundary which differs from a boundary of the SUT, the method comprising:

recording a set of input information, including the SUT, the PDM, and coverage criteria defining a required number of the test cases;

identifying, via a host machine, a set of variables in the SUT that corresponds to boundary signals for the PDM; and

extracting a set of test cases meeting the coverage criteria using the SUT, the PDM, and the set of variables.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

using the host machine to test the SUT using the extracted set of test cases.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein extracting a set of test cases includes:

generating an initial set of test cases from the SUT; and

measuring coverage of the initial set of test cases on the PDM.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

generating an additional set of test cases at the level of the PDM;

mapping the additional set of test cases with corresponding constraint functions to the boundary of the SUT using one of a propagation technique and a heuristics guided technique; and

using the host machine to solve the corresponding constraint functions.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

mapping a set of input signals of the SUT to a corresponding input signal value in the PDM.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein mapping a set of input signals to the SUT includes collecting constraint functions for every data port used in a device running the SUT.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

logging the input and output (I/O) values of the PDM while simulating the SUT with random inputs for a predefined number of iterations; and

simulating the PDM with the logged inputs; and

comparing the outputs of the PDM to a set of expected outputs.

8. A system for testing software under test (SUT) with respect to a partial design model (PDM) having a boundary which differs from a boundary of the SUT, the system comprising:

a host machine which receives and records an input set, including the SUT, the PDM, and coverage criteria defining a required number of the test cases; and

tangible/non-transitory memory on which is recorded a test generation tool and a set of process instructions for testing the SUT;

wherein the host machine is configured to execute the process instructions to thereby identify a set of variables in the SUT that correspond to boundary signals for the PDM, and to extract a set of test cases meeting the coverage criteria using the SUT, the PDM, and the set of variables.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the host machine is configured to:

generate an initial version of the set of test cases from the SUT; and

measure the coverage of the initial version of the set of test cases on the PDM.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the host machine executes one of a forward or a backward propagation technique to automatically map at least some of the test cases from the PDM to the SUT.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the host machine is configured to extract the set of test cases by:

generating an initial set of test cases from the SUT; and

measuring coverage of the initial set of test cases on the PDM.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the host machine is configured for:

generating an additional set of test cases at the level of the PDM;

mapping the additional set of test cases with corresponding constraint functions to the boundary of the SUT using one of a forward-propagation technique, a backward propagation technique, and a heuristics guided technique; and

using the host machine to solve the corresponding constraint functions.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the host machine is configured for:

mapping a set of input signals to the SUT to a corresponding value in the PDM.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein:

the host machine is in communication with an additional system under test which has a plurality of data ports;

the host machine uses the SUT to control a function of the additional system; and

the host machine is configured for mapping the set of input signals to the SUT by collecting constraint functions for every data port used in the additional system.

15. The system of claim 8 , wherein the host machine is further configured for:

logging the input and output (I/O) values of the PDM while simulating the SUT code with random inputs for a predefined number of iterations;

simulating the PDM with the logged inputs; and

comparing the outputs of the PDM to a set of expected outputs.

16. A method for testing software under test (SUT) with respect to a partial design model (PDM) having a boundary which differs from a boundary of the SUT, the method comprising:

recording a set of input information, including the SUT, the PDM, and coverage criteria defining a required number of the test cases;

identifying, via a host machine, a set of variables in the SUT that corresponds to boundary signals for the PDM;

extracting a set of test cases meeting the coverage criteria using the SUT, the PDM, and the set of variables, including:

generating an initial set of test cases from the SUT; and

measuring coverage of the initial set of test cases on the PDM;

mapping a set of input signals to the SUT to a corresponding value in the PDM; and

using the host machine to test the SUT using the extracted set of test cases.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

generating an additional set of test cases at the level of the PDM;

mapping the additional set of test cases with corresponding constraint functions to the boundary of the SUT; and

using the host machine to solve the corresponding constraint functions.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

logging the input and output (I/O) values of the PDM while simulating the SUT code with random inputs for a predefined number of iterations;

simulating the PDM with the logged inputs; and

comparing the outputs of the PDM to a set of expected outputs.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

using a heuristics-based guided technique to dynamically approximate expressions or functions of any test cases that are not covered by the initial set of test cases.