Disclosure of Invention
Embodiments of the present application provide a DTU hardware testing method, a terminal, and a computer-readable storage medium, so as to solve the quality problem of DTU hardware that is easy to occur when DTU hardware is manually tested.
In order to achieve the above object, an aspect of the present application provides a DTU hardware testing method, which includes the following steps:
When the DTU hardware to be tested is identified on the test tool, test firmware is obtained, and the test firmware is burnt to the DTU hardware to be tested;
After the programming is successful, a test instruction is sent to the DTU hardware to be tested, and different test tasks are selected according to the test instruction, so that the DTU hardware to be tested executes corresponding test actions based on the test tasks;
after the test is completed, acquiring target firmware and set credential information, and writing the target firmware and the set credential information into the DTU hardware to be tested.
Optionally, the step of obtaining test firmware and burning the test firmware into the DTU hardware to be tested includes:
Acquiring the equipment information of the DTU hardware to be tested, and selecting corresponding test firmware according to the equipment information of the DTU hardware to be tested;
And calling a program burning interface to burn the test firmware to the DTU hardware to be tested.
Optionally, after the step of sending a test instruction to the DTU hardware to be tested and selecting different test tasks according to the test instruction, the method includes:
Obtaining a test result;
and displaying the test result through a visual page, and sending the test result to a cloud server.
Optionally, before the step of selecting the corresponding test firmware according to the device information of the DTU hardware to be tested, the method includes:
Sending a downloading request to a cloud server according to the equipment information of the DTU hardware to be tested;
And downloading the test firmware from the cloud server according to the downloading request.
Optionally, after the step of displaying the test result through a visualization page and sending the test result to a cloud server, the method includes:
selecting a control type and the number of controls according to a test item corresponding to the equipment information of the DTU hardware to be tested;
And dynamically adjusting a test interface according to the control type and the control quantity.
Optionally, when the DTU hardware to be tested is identified on the test tool, obtaining test firmware, and before the step of burning the test firmware to the DTU hardware to be tested, the method includes:
The hardware code of the DTU hardware on the test tool is identified through identification equipment so as to determine whether the DTU hardware is the DTU hardware to be tested, and the hardware code is pre-pasted on the DTU hardware;
and if the DTU hardware is the DTU hardware to be tested, executing the step of burning the test firmware into the DTU hardware to be tested.
Optionally, after the step of identifying, by the identifying device, a hardware code of the DTU hardware on the test fixture, the method further includes:
and acquiring the picture of the DTU hardware to be tested, and storing the picture to a cloud server and a terminal.
Optionally, after the step of obtaining the target firmware and the set credential information after the test is completed and writing the target firmware and the set credential information into the DTU hardware to be tested, the method includes:
Setting label information corresponding to the DTU hardware to be tested;
And sending a printing instruction to a printing device so that the printing device prints the label information according to the printing instruction.
In addition, in order to achieve the above object, another aspect of the present application provides a terminal, where the terminal includes a memory, a processor, and a DTU hardware test program stored on the memory and running on the processor, and the processor implements the steps of the DTU hardware test method as described above when executing the DTU hardware test program.
In addition, in order to achieve the above object, another aspect of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a DTU hardware test program which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the DTU hardware test method as described above.
When the DTU hardware to be tested is identified on the test tool, test firmware is obtained, and the test firmware is burned into the DTU hardware to be tested; after the programming is successful, a test instruction is sent to the DTU hardware to be tested, and different test tasks are selected according to the test instruction, so that the DTU hardware to be tested executes corresponding test actions based on the test tasks; after the test is completed, acquiring target firmware and set credential information, and writing the target firmware and the set credential information into DTU hardware to be tested. By the tracking test of the DTU hardware production link, the problem that the quality of the DTU hardware is easy to appear when the manual test of the DTU hardware is used is solved, the efficiency of the DTU hardware test is improved, and the quality of the DTU hardware test is ensured.
Detailed Description
It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the application.
The main solutions of the embodiments of the present application are: when the DTU hardware to be tested is identified on the test tool, test firmware is obtained, and the test firmware is burnt to the DTU hardware to be tested; after the programming is successful, a test instruction is sent to the DTU hardware to be tested, and different test tasks are selected according to the test instruction, so that the DTU hardware to be tested executes corresponding test actions based on the test tasks; after the test is completed, acquiring target firmware and set credential information, and writing the target firmware and the set credential information into the DTU hardware to be tested.
In the current DTU production process, the test of the DTU often needs a plurality of complicated links to be tested, the technical level of factory workers is good and bad, and the quality problem of DTU hardware is easy to occur. When the DTU hardware to be tested is identified on the test tool, test firmware is obtained, and the test firmware is burnt to the DTU hardware to be tested; after the programming is successful, a test instruction is sent to the DTU hardware to be tested, and different test tasks are selected according to the test instruction, so that the DTU hardware to be tested executes corresponding test actions based on the test tasks; after the test is completed, acquiring target firmware and set credential information, and writing the target firmware and the set credential information into DTU hardware to be tested. By the tracking test of the DTU hardware production link, the problem that the quality of the DTU hardware is easy to appear when the manual test of the DTU hardware is used is solved, the efficiency of the DTU hardware test is improved, and the quality of the DTU hardware test is ensured.
As shown in fig. 1, fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a terminal structure of a hardware running environment according to an embodiment of the present application.
As shown in fig. 1, the terminal may include: a processor 1001, such as a CPU, a network interface 1004, a user interface 1003, a memory 1005, a communication bus 1002. Wherein the communication bus 1002 is used to enable connected communication between these components. The user interface 1003 may include a Display, an input unit such as a Keyboard (Keyboard), and the optional user interface 1003 may further include a standard wired interface, a wireless interface. The network interface 1004 may optionally include a standard wired interface, a wireless interface (e.g., WI-FI interface). The memory 1005 may be a high-speed RAM memory or a stable memory (non-volatile memory), such as a disk memory. The memory 1005 may also optionally be a storage device separate from the processor 1001 described above.
Optionally, the terminal may further include a camera, an RF (Radio Frequency) circuit, a sensor, a remote control, an audio circuit, a WiFi module, a detector, and the like. Of course, the terminal may be further configured with other sensors such as a gyroscope, a barometer, a hygrometer, a temperature sensor, etc., which will not be described herein.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the terminal structure shown in fig. 1 is not limiting of the terminal device and may include more or fewer components than shown, or may combine certain components, or a different arrangement of components.
As shown in fig. 1, an operating system, a network communication module, a user interface module, and a DTU hardware test program may be included in a memory 1005 as one type of computer-readable storage medium.
In the terminal shown in fig. 1, the network interface 1004 is mainly used for connecting to a background server and performing data communication with the background server; the user interface 1003 is mainly used for connecting a client (user side) and performing data communication with the client; and the processor 1001 may be configured to call the DTU hardware test program in the memory 1005 and perform the following operations:
When the DTU hardware to be tested is identified on the test tool, test firmware is obtained, and the test firmware is burnt to the DTU hardware to be tested;
After the programming is successful, a test instruction is sent to the DTU hardware to be tested, and different test tasks are selected according to the test instruction, so that the DTU hardware to be tested executes corresponding test actions based on the test tasks;
after the test is completed, acquiring target firmware and set credential information, and writing the target firmware and the set credential information into the DTU hardware to be tested.
Referring to fig. 2, fig. 2 is a flowchart of a DTU hardware testing method according to a first embodiment of the present application.
Embodiments of the present application provide embodiments of a DTU hardware testing method, it being noted that although a logic sequence is shown in the flow diagrams, in some cases the steps shown or described may be performed in a different order than that shown or described herein.
The DTU hardware testing method comprises the following steps:
Step S10, when the DTU hardware to be tested is identified on the test tool, test firmware is obtained, and the test firmware is burnt to the DTU hardware to be tested;
In this embodiment, the DTU (DATA TRANSFER unit) is a wireless terminal device specifically configured to convert serial data into IP data or convert IP data into serial data, and transmit the serial data through a wireless communication network, where the DTU hardware is a DTU PCBA, and the PCBA is called a circuit board.
The test Firmware (Firmware) is a program written into flash memory chips such as EROM (erasable read-only memory) or EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory), and the DTU PCBA to be tested can realize specific test actions according to standard programs through the test Firmware, and the result after the test Firmware is operated is the test result. The test firmware may include, but is not limited to, one or more of read/write test firmware, speed test firmware, chip test firmware, hardware test firmware, etc.
Before testing the DTU PCBA, the DTU PCBA to be tested needs to be mounted on a test fixture, which is a device for checking whether the DTU PCBA reaches the expected index, wherein the DTU PCBA to be tested has various interfaces including, but not limited to, a communication interface, an I/O input/output interface, an analog interface, a program programming interface, and the like. The DTU PCBA to be tested is in communication connection with the test terminal through a communication interface and using a communication conversion module, where the communication conversion module is used to convert the received signal, for example: the test terminal receives the data frame transmitted by the USB bus, the communication conversion module converts the USB communication into corresponding host communication (test terminal), then the data is sent to the test terminal, the data returned from the test terminal is converted into USB signals and returned to the DTU PCBA to be tested, wherein the test terminal comprises a test panel, a test mobile phone, a test computer and other intelligent terminals. In addition, a program programming interface in the DTU PCBA to be tested is in communication connection with the test terminal through a programming tool.
When the test terminal identifies the DTU PCBA to be tested on the test tool, equipment information, such as equipment model, equipment type, equipment name, version number and the like, of the DTU PCBA to be tested is obtained, test content is determined according to the equipment information of the DTU PCBA to be tested, corresponding test firmware, such as read-write test firmware, chip test firmware, hardware test firmware and the like, is selected based on the test content, and then a program burning interface is called by the test terminal to burn the test firmware to the DTU PCBA to be tested. In an embodiment, taking Jlink as an example, a Jlink programming tool is connected between a USB of a test terminal and a program programming interface of a DTU PCBA to be tested, when programming is performed, configuration information such as a corresponding port, a model of a Jlink chip and the like needs to be set, after the setting is completed, test firmware such as jlink-v8.Bin files needing to be programmed is selected, and the test firmware can be programmed by clicking and sending.
Furthermore, before performing the test of the DTU PCBA, debugging operation is required to be performed on the environment of the test tool, for example, an analog response is performed according to an interface of the DTU, for example, an interface of 4-20mA, when the test is performed, a 10mA current input is given, and whether the hardware is normal or not is determined by testing and judging whether the current is 10mA or not; and the same is true of 0-5V, and given a voltage input, the test firmware reads to determine whether the hardware is normal. In the subsequent test, the automatic test can be completed by only placing the DTU PCBA to be tested on the test tool, and in the test process, the software is automatically tested without manual participation.
The step of selecting the corresponding test firmware according to the device information of the DTU hardware to be tested, referring to fig. 5, includes:
step S11, a downloading request is sent to a cloud server according to the equipment information of the DTU hardware to be tested;
And step S12, downloading the test firmware from the cloud server according to the downloading request.
In the cloud server, configuration information, test firmware and the like corresponding to the DTU PCBA with different models are stored, meanwhile, the test firmware has a plurality of versions, and the latest version is stored in the cloud server, so that the test terminal needs to send a downloading request to the cloud server before burning the test firmware, and the downloading request comprises equipment information of the DTU PCBA to be tested; after receiving the downloading request, the cloud server searches the latest version of test firmware matched with the equipment information, sends the latest version of test firmware to the test terminal, and burns the latest version of test firmware by the test terminal.
Step S20, after successful burning, a test instruction is sent to the DTU hardware to be tested, and different test tasks are selected according to the test instruction, so that the DTU hardware to be tested executes corresponding test actions based on the test tasks;
After the test terminal burns the test firmware to the DTU PCBA to be tested, the test terminal receives the burning feedback information, determines whether the current burning is successful or not based on the burning feedback information, and if the current burning is successful, can perform various tests on the DTU PCBA to be tested according to the communication protocol. In an embodiment, the test terminal and the DTU PCBA to be tested communicate using Modbus, but not limited to, a serial port type and a network type, where Modbus is a serial communication protocol; in the test firmware, an RTOS system (real-time operating system) is used to separate all test items into a test task, wherein the test task comprises watchdog test, system clock test, test of peripheral interfaces such as analog input 0-5V, analog input 4-20mA, and test of interfaces such as 485, 232, TTL and communication modules, and the specific test items depend on interfaces of the DTU. When the test terminal sends a test instruction to the DTU PCBA to be tested, different test tasks can be selected based on the test instruction, specifically, the test items of the DTU PCBA to be tested are selected and controlled through a holding register in the Modbus protocol, for example: the starting and suspending of each test task is realized through the address 01 of the holding register, or the test item is selected through the address 02 of the holding register, and the like. After receiving the test instruction, the DTU PCBA to be tested executes a corresponding test action according to the test task selected in the test instruction, for example: the current test task is a system clock test, and then the DTU PCBA to be tested performs various tests related to the system clock.
And step S30, after the test is completed, acquiring target firmware and set credential information, and writing the target firmware and the set credential information into the DTU hardware to be tested.
After the test of the DTU PCBA to be tested is completed, namely after the test is successful, acquiring target firmware according to the equipment information of the tested DTU PCBA, wherein the target firmware is formal firmware, which refers to equipment 'driving program' stored in equipment, and the DTU PCBA can realize the operation action of a specific machine according to standard equipment driving through the formal firmware. Meanwhile, the test terminal sends a request for acquiring credential information to the cloud server, the cloud server feeds back corresponding credential information to the test terminal based on the request for acquiring, and formal firmware and the credential information are further written into the DTU PCBA which is successfully tested, wherein the credential information refers to related information of DTU network access, such as equipment ID, the number of a manufacturer and other identity information, such as the triad information of the Alice and the like.
It should be noted that, here, the credential information is related to the cloud server used, and the credential information of different cloud servers may be different, and second, the credential information functions like an identity card of the user, as a credential of identity recognition.
Further, referring to fig. 6, after the step of obtaining the target firmware and the set credential information after the test is completed and writing the target firmware and the set credential information into the DTU hardware to be tested, the method includes:
Step S31, setting label information corresponding to the DTU hardware to be tested;
Step S32, a print instruction is sent to a printing device, so that the printing device prints the label information according to the print instruction.
After the test of the DTU PCBA is completed, label information corresponding to the DTU PCBA can be printed out, and the user can conveniently check the label information, wherein before the label information is printed, the content, the format and the like of the label information are required to be set, for example, the content of the label information is set according to equipment information corresponding to the DTU PCBA, the label information can comprise information such as equipment numbers, equipment models, equipment ID places, equipment names and the like, a printing instruction is sent to printing equipment (such as a printer), and the printing equipment prints the corresponding label information based on the printing instruction. Or directly using a pre-stored label information template, and performing customized printing based on the label information template, wherein the content in the label information template can be realized by self-defining selection parameters in configuration information.
When the DTU hardware to be tested is identified on the test tool, test firmware is obtained, and the test firmware is burned into the DTU hardware to be tested; after the programming is successful, a test instruction is sent to the DTU hardware to be tested, and different test tasks are selected according to the test instruction, so that the DTU hardware to be tested executes corresponding test actions based on the test tasks; after the test is completed, acquiring target firmware and set credential information, and writing the target firmware and the set credential information into DTU hardware to be tested. The DTU hardware is subjected to full-link test and configuration from the PCBA link to the factory state, so that user intervention is reduced, the test efficiency is improved, meanwhile, the PCBA is actively traceable from production to ex-warehouse all links, reliable closed loop is realized, and the loss caused by ex-warehouse of abnormal hardware is avoided. Furthermore, the DTU hardware test and firmware writing and configuration before delivery are integrated, so that errors caused by human beings are reduced, test cases can be reduced, and the productivity is improved.
Further, referring to fig. 3, a second embodiment of the DTU hardware testing method of the present application is presented.
The second embodiment of the DTU hardware testing method is different from the first embodiment of the DTU hardware testing method in that the step of sending a test instruction to the DTU hardware to be tested and selecting different test tasks according to the test instruction includes:
S21, obtaining a test result;
And S22, displaying the test result through a visual page, and sending the test result to a cloud server.
In the process of performing the DTU PCBA test, the test terminal can acquire a test result in real time and display the test result through a visual page, specifically, the test terminal maps the test data in the acquired test result into identifiable graphics, images, charts and the like through a data analysis tool or software by applying technologies such as computer graphics, images, man-machine interaction and the like. The visualization is a process of converting data, information and knowledge into a visual form, focuses on the top-down processing process of the data, the information and the knowledge, and compared with complicated data, the chart can more succinctly describe the information and is also suitable for describing a large amount of information.
The test terminal also needs to send the test result to the cloud server for the user to inquire later and use the related test data, and the test result is analyzed based on the test data to generate a corresponding analysis report and the like.
Further, referring to fig. 7, after the step of displaying the test result through the visualization page and sending the test result to the cloud server, the method includes:
step S220, selecting a control type and the number of controls according to test items corresponding to the equipment information of the DTU hardware to be tested;
step S221, dynamically adjusting a test interface according to the control type and the control number.
The test terminal can dynamically adjust the content of the test interface while displaying the test result, specifically, acquire the equipment information of the DTU PCBA to be tested, acquire the equipment model from the equipment information, select the control type and the control number according to the test items corresponding to the equipment model, for example, the A model has 5 items to be tested, wherein the state type has 3 items and the numerical value type has 2 items, the test terminal can automatically set a test page according to the state types, the real-time condition of each state type test item is represented by using the state control, the specific numerical value of the numerical value type test item is displayed in real time by the numerical value control, and the visual display and the dynamic adjustment of the test are realized.
In the embodiment, the test result is displayed through the visual page by acquiring the test result, and the displayed content can be dynamically adjusted based on the test item information corresponding to the equipment model, so that the user can know the test result more clearly and clearly, and meanwhile, the test result is synchronized to the cloud server, thereby facilitating the subsequent inquiry of the user to use the related test data.
Further, referring to fig. 4, a third embodiment of the DTU hardware testing method of the present application is presented.
The difference between the third embodiment of the DTU hardware testing method and the first and second embodiments of the DTU hardware testing method is that, when the DTU hardware to be tested is identified on the testing tool, test firmware is obtained, and before the step of burning the test firmware into the DTU hardware to be tested, the method includes:
Step S13, recognizing a hardware code of the DTU hardware on the test tool through recognition equipment to determine whether the DTU hardware is the DTU hardware to be tested, wherein the hardware code is pre-pasted on the DTU hardware;
Step S14, if the DTU hardware is the DTU hardware to be tested, the step of burning the test firmware into the DTU hardware to be tested is executed.
The factory can generate a hardware code in the process of producing the DTU PCBA, and paste the hardware code on the DTU PCBA as a test trace hardware code, wherein the hardware code comprises but is not limited to a code in a bar code form, a unique identification code UID of a chip and the like, and the form of the hardware code can be as follows: XX-XX, such as XY-04A.
The testing terminal is provided with a camera or scanning equipment, when the testing tool is detected to be provided with the DTU PCBA, the hardware code on the DTU PCBA is identified through the camera or the scanning equipment, the identified hardware code is matched with the prestored hardware code to judge whether the currently identified hardware code is identified for the first time, if so, the DTU PCBA is the DTU PCBA to be tested, and if not, the DTU PCBA is tested. After determining that the current DTU PCBA is the DTU PCBA to be tested, acquiring test firmware, and burning the test firmware to the DTU PCBA to be tested. The camera or the scanning equipment in the test terminal can detect the dynamic state of the DTU PCBA on the test tool in real time, and when detecting that a new DTU PCBA is installed on the test tool, a new round of test operation is automatically carried out.
Further, after the step of identifying the hardware code of the DTU hardware on the test tool by the identifying device, the method further includes:
and acquiring the picture of the DTU hardware to be tested, and storing the picture to a cloud server and a terminal.
The test terminal can also take a picture of the DTU PCBA through the camera when identifying the DTU PCBA, and store the picture to the cloud server and the terminal local, so that the user can conveniently check and use the picture later.
In this embodiment, discernment is carried out to the DTU PCBA on the test fixture through camera or sweep a yard equipment to confirm whether this DTU PCBA is the DTU PCBA that awaits measuring, simultaneously, still store the picture of DTU PCBA to cloud ware and terminal local, convenience of customers follow-up searching and use.
The application also provides a DTU hardware testing device, in one embodiment, the DTU hardware testing device comprises a memory, a processor and a DTU hardware testing program which is stored on the memory and can run on the processor, and the DTU hardware testing program realizes the following steps when being executed by the processor:
When the DTU hardware to be tested is identified on the test tool, test firmware is obtained, and the test firmware is burnt to the DTU hardware to be tested;
After the programming is successful, a test instruction is sent to the DTU hardware to be tested, and different test tasks are selected according to the test instruction, so that the DTU hardware to be tested executes corresponding test actions based on the test tasks;
after the test is completed, acquiring target firmware and set credential information, and writing the target firmware and the set credential information into the DTU hardware to be tested.
In an embodiment, the DTU hardware testing device includes a burning module, a sending module and an obtaining module;
The burning module is used for acquiring test firmware when the DTU hardware to be tested is identified on the test tool, and burning the test firmware to the DTU hardware to be tested;
The sending module is used for sending a test instruction to the DTU hardware to be tested after the programming is successful, and selecting different test tasks according to the test instruction so that the DTU hardware to be tested executes corresponding test actions based on the test tasks;
And the acquisition module is used for acquiring target firmware and set credential information after the test is completed, and writing the target firmware and the set credential information into the DTU hardware to be tested.
Further, the burning module comprises an acquisition unit and a burning unit;
The acquisition unit is used for acquiring the equipment information of the DTU hardware to be tested, and selecting corresponding test firmware according to the equipment information of the DTU hardware to be tested;
And the programming unit is used for calling a program programming interface to program the test firmware to the DTU hardware to be tested.
Further, the sending module comprises an acquisition unit and a sending unit;
the acquisition unit is used for acquiring a test result;
And the sending unit is used for displaying the test result through the visual page and sending the test result to the cloud server.
Further, the acquisition unit comprises a sending subunit and a downloading subunit;
The sending subunit is used for sending a downloading request to a cloud server according to the equipment information of the DTU hardware to be tested;
and the downloading subunit is used for downloading the test firmware from the cloud server according to the downloading request.
Further, the sending unit comprises a selecting subunit and an adjusting subunit;
the selecting subunit is used for selecting the control types and the control quantity according to the test items corresponding to the equipment information of the DTU hardware to be tested;
And the adjustment subunit is used for dynamically adjusting the test interface according to the control type and the control quantity.
Further, the acquisition module comprises an identification unit and a burning unit;
the identification unit is used for identifying the hardware code of the DTU hardware on the test tool through identification equipment so as to determine whether the DTU hardware is the DTU hardware to be tested or not, and the hardware code is pre-pasted on the DTU hardware;
And the burning unit is used for executing the step of burning the test firmware to the DTU hardware to be tested if the DTU hardware is the DTU hardware to be tested.
Further, the identification unit comprises an acquisition subunit;
the acquisition subunit is used for acquiring the picture of the DTU hardware to be tested and storing the picture to a cloud server and a terminal.
Further, the acquisition module further comprises a setting unit and a sending unit;
the setting unit is used for setting label information corresponding to the DTU hardware to be tested;
The sending unit is used for sending a printing instruction to the printing equipment so that the printing equipment prints the label information according to the printing instruction.
The implementation of the functions of each module of the DTU hardware testing apparatus is similar to the process in the embodiment of the method, and will not be described in detail herein.
In addition, the application also provides a terminal, which comprises a memory, a processor and a DTU hardware test program stored in the memory and running on the processor, wherein when the terminal identifies the DTU hardware to be tested on a test tool, test firmware is obtained, and the test firmware is burned to the DTU hardware to be tested; after the programming is successful, a test instruction is sent to the DTU hardware to be tested, and different test tasks are selected according to the test instruction, so that the DTU hardware to be tested executes corresponding test actions based on the test tasks; after the test is completed, acquiring target firmware and set credential information, and writing the target firmware and the set credential information into DTU hardware to be tested. The DTU hardware is subjected to full-link test and configuration from the PCBA link to the factory state, so that user intervention is reduced, the test efficiency is improved, meanwhile, the PCBA is actively traceable from production to ex-warehouse all links, reliable closed loop is realized, and the loss caused by ex-warehouse of abnormal hardware is avoided. Furthermore, the DTU hardware test and firmware writing and configuration before delivery are integrated, so that errors caused by human beings are reduced, test cases can be reduced, and the productivity is improved.
In addition, the application also provides a computer readable storage medium, wherein the computer readable storage medium stores a DTU hardware test program, and the DTU hardware test program realizes the steps of the DTU hardware test method when being executed by a processor.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that embodiments of the present application may be provided as a method, system, or computer program product. Accordingly, the present application may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present application may take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, and the like) having computer-usable program code embodied therein.
The present application is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the application. It will be understood that each flow and/or block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of flows and/or blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.
It should be noted that in the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps not listed in a claim. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The application may be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In the unit claims enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The use of the words first, second, third, etc. do not denote any order. These words may be interpreted as names.
While alternative embodiments of the present application have been described, additional variations and modifications in those embodiments may occur to those skilled in the art once they learn of the basic inventive concepts. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims be interpreted as including alternative embodiments and all such alterations and modifications as fall within the scope of the application.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present application without departing from the spirit or scope of the application. Thus, it is intended that the present application also include such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.