Abstract: A test automation system (FIG. 1) comprises storage and process components connected by file interfaces. BPLAN (103) creates and stores test descriptions in test information database (102). Tests are stored in test storage hierarchy (100). BSYNC (104) completes test descriptions in database (102) from contents of hierarchy (100). BQUERY (105) examines descriptions and selects tests for execution. TESTLOCS file (106) identifies selected tests. BQUERY (105) uses BBC (118) to communicate requests for tests and test descriptions to other systems. BBCMON (120) causes BQUERY (105) to satisfy requests and uses BBC (118) to communicate responses to requesting systems. BDLOAD (107) gathers tests identified by file (106) from hierarchy (100) into file (117) for downloading from host (10) to target (11) processor. BRUN (109) executes download tests, collects test results in files (110-112), and reports result summaries. BULOAD (113) assembles files (110-112) into file (114) for uploading to processor (10).

Abstract: In a method for processing logic programs--especially in Prolog-like languages--using at least one processor, which allows parallelism--also retroactively--by an existing process, called "father", creating at optional OR-parallel nodes at least one process, called "son", standing in an OR-parallel relationship to the father, a deep-binding list, called "hash-window" is created only for the newly created son in which--while processing the split-off OR-parallel branch--it performs bindings to variables commonly accessible to it and its father, called "commonly accessible variables.

Abstract: A multi-processor, multi-tasking virtual machine comprises processes, messages, and contexts. Processes communicate only through messages. Contexts are groups of related processes. The virtual machine is implemented in a distributed data processing system comprising a plurality of individual cells coupled by a local area network (LAN). Each cell may comprise one or more processes and/or contexts.A network interface module (NIM) provides the interface between any individual cell and the LAN. To facilitate message transmission between processes resident on different cells, each NIM is provided with tables identifying the locations of resident and non-resident processes, respectively. Cells may be added to or deleted from the LAN without disrupting the LAN operations.