1. An automation controller for a next generation testing system comprising: a processor and a memory in communication with the processor;
a database in communication with the processor including a plurality of scripts wherein each script comprises one module or more modules that combine to form the script and each module includes a grouping of steps and describes a piece of functionality of the script;
a business layer component; and
an automation component comprising an automation agent and an automation worker,
wherein the business layer component determines a next script from the plurality of scripts based on a return on investment (RoI) of running the next script by:
calculating the RoI of running a particular script from the plurality of scripts as the next script by analyzing a plurality of the modules of the particular script, said analyzing comprising identifying modules that are included in the most scripts, or identifying scripts that include a highest number of automated modules; and
determining the next script based on the calculated RoI of running the particular script from the plurality of scripts;
and transmits the next script to the automation component in response to a get next script request sent by the automation component,
wherein the automation agent transmits the get next script request to the business layer, receives the next script from the business layer, and transmits the next script to the automation worker for execution, and
wherein the automation worker executes the next script or section thereof, obtains a result, transmits status updates, transmits proof of life notifications, and transmits a result of execution to the automation agent.
2. The automation controller of claim 1, wherein analyzing the plurality of modules comprises determining a number of the plurality of scripts including a given module.
3. The automation controller of claim 1, wherein the business layer component is further configured to:
calculate the RoI for developing an automation module or a script to determine where to divert development effort.
4. The automation controller of claim 1, wherein the business layer component further alerts a user if an exception occurs in executing the script.
5. A method for automating testing of modular scripts in a next generation testing system, the method comprising:
receiving, at an automation controller, a plurality of scripts wherein each script comprises one or more modules that combine to form the script and each module includes a grouping of steps and describes a piece of functionality of the script, and wherein the automation controller comprises:
a database configured to store the plurality of scripts and modules,
a business layer component, and
an automation component comprising an automation agent and an automation worker;
determining, by the business layer component, a next script from the plurality of scripts based on a return on investment (RoI) of running the next script by:
calculating the RoI of running a particular script from the plurality of scripts as the next script by analyzing a plurality of the modules of the particular script, said analyzing comprising identifying modules that are included in the most scripts, or identifying scripts that include a highest number of automated modules; and
determining the next script based on the calculated RoI of running the particular script from the plurality of scripts;
and sending the next script to the automation component in response to a get next script request sent by the automation component,
wherein the automation agent sends the get next script request to the business layer, receives the next script from the business layer, and sends the next script to the automation worker for execution, and
wherein the automation worker executes the next script or section thereof, obtains a result, transmits status updates, transmits proof of life notifications, and transmits the result of execution to the automation agent.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein analyzing the plurality of modules comprises determining a number of the plurality of scripts including a given module.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the business layer component is further operable to:
calculate the RoI for developing an automation module or a script to determine where to divert development effort.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the business layer component further alerts a user if an exception occurs in executing the script.
9. A system for automating testing of modular scripts in a next generation testing system, the system comprising:
a computer processor;
a memory in communication with the computer processor, the memory comprising logic for an automation controller component, wherein the automation controller component comprises an automation agent and an automation worker and wherein the logic when executed by the computer processor causes the computer processor to:
receive a plurality of scripts and modules wherein each script comprises one or more modules that combine to form the script and each module includes a grouping of steps and describes a piece of functionality of the script;
store the plurality of scripts and modules in a database in the memory;
determine a next script from the plurality of scripts based on a return on investment (RoI) of running the next script by:
calculating the RoI of running a particular script from the plurality of scripts as the next script by analyzing a plurality of the modules of the particular script, said analyzing comprising identifying modules that are included in the most scripts, or identifying scripts that include a highest number of automated modules; and
determining the next script based on the calculated RoI of running the particular script from the plurality of scripts;
and transmit the next script to the automation controller component in response to a get next script request sent by the automation controller component;
transmit the get next script request to a business layer;
receive the next script from the business layer;
transmit the next script to the automation worker for execution;
execute, by the automation worker, the next script;
obtain, from the automation worker, a result of the execution of the next script; and
send status updates, proof of life notifications, and the result of the execution, to the automation agent.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein analyzing the plurality of modules comprises determining a number of the plurality of scripts including a given module.
11. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer processor further:
calculates the RoI for developing an automation module or a script to determine where to divert development effort.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A pinch mechanism including a deformable tube (10) enclosed within a body (11) having a first chamber (11a), the deformable tube (10) defining a flow passage, a second chamber (19) coupled (17) to said first chamber (11a), a piston (20) located within the second chamber (19), the piston (20) being movable between first and second positions such that upon moving to said first position a pressure increase occurs in said first chamber and upon moving to said second position a negative pressure is established in said first chamber (11a), and vent means (25) which at a point during movement of the piston between the first and second positions enables a pressure equalisation within the second chamber (19) to occur.
2. A pinch mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deformable tube (10) is resilient and exhibits an inherent rebound characteristic such that it tends to revert to a substantially non-deformed state.
3. A pinch mechanism as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the vent means includes a transfer port (25) which at a point in the travel of the piston (20) couples parts of the second chamber (19) which are separated by the piston.
4. A pinch mechanism as claimed in claim 3 wherein the transfer port of the second chamber (19) can vent to atmosphere.
5. A pinch mechanism as claimed in claim 4 wherein the transfer port (25) is formed in a wall of a housing (24) in which the second chamber (19) is located, the transfer port having first and second ends which open to opposite sides of the piston (20) when the piston is at said point in its travel between the first position and second position.
6. A pump including a pinch mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, a drive mechanism (21) to effect reciprocating movement of the piston (20) between said first and second positions, an inlet valve (15) coupled to a first end of the deformable tube (10) and an outlet valve (16) coupled to a second end of the deformable tube (10).
7. A pump as claimed in claim 6 wherein the deformable tube (10) forms within the first chamber (11a) a seal element (10a) for the inlet valve (15).
8. A pump as claimed in claim 7 wherein the inlet valve (15) includes a valve body (B) at least in part located within said first end of the deformable tube (10), said valve body (B) including a flow passage (26a) and at least one port (37) opening from said flow passage, said at least one port (37) being closed by the deformable tube (10) when the inlet valve (15) is in a closed state.
9. A pump as claimed in claim 8 wherein the valve body (B) includes a tubular portion (26), the internal bore (26a) thereof forming said flow passage, the internal bore (26a) being closed (27) at one-end, said at least one port (37) extending through the tubular portion (26) adjacent the closed end (27).
10. A pump as claimed in claim 8 or 9 wherein the valve body (B) includes an external radially projecting peripheral rib (28).
11. A pump as claimed in claim 6 wherein the deformable tube (10) forms outside the first chamber (11a) a seal element (10b) for the outlet valve (16).
12. A pump as claimed in claim 11 wherein the outlet valve (16) includes an outlet valve body (B) at least in part located within said second end of the deformable tube (10), said outlet valve body (B) having a flow passage (26b) and at least one outlet port (37) being closed by the deformable tube (10b) when the outlet valve (16) is in a closed state.
13. A pump as claimed in claim 12 wherein the outlet valve body (B) includes a tubular portion (26), the internal bore (26a) thereof forming said flow passage, the internal bore (26a) being closed (27) at one end, said at least one outlet port (37) extending through the tubular portion (26) adjacent the closed end (27).
14. A pump as claimed in claim 12 or 13 wherein the outlet valve body (B) includes an external radially projecting peripheral rib (28).
15. A pump as claimed in claims 10 and 14 wherein the deformable tube (10) is engaged at said first end of the deformable tube (10) over the rib (28) of the inlet valve body (B) and at the second end over the rib (28) of the outlet valve body (B), clamp means (30, 34) clamping each rib (28) and that portion of deformable tube (10) thereover with an open end portion of the first chamber in body (11).
16. A pump as claimed in claim 15 wherein the clamp means includes a connection fitting (34).
17. A pump as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein the body (11) includes a clearance (38) to permit the seal portion (10a) of the deformable tube (10) to move from the body (B).
18. A pump as claimed in any one of the preceding claim wherein the second chamber (19) is connected to the body (11) by a conduit.