Patents by Inventor James A. Grey

James A. Grey has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9495265
    Abstract: Test executive system and method of use. The system includes a test executive engine, configured to execute at least one test executive sequence to test at least one unit under test (UUT), a process model that specifies one or more function sequences for pre-test or post-test functionality for the test executive sequences, and a plug-in framework, configured to selectively incorporate one or more process model plug-in instances in the process model. Each process model plug-in instance specifies at least one respective function sequence for pre-test or post-test functionality for the test executive sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: James A. Grey
  • Publication number: 20140006868
    Abstract: Test executive system and method of use. The system includes a test executive engine, configured to execute at least one test executive sequence to test at least one unit under test (UUT), a process model that specifies one or more function sequences for pre-test or post-test functionality for the test executive sequences, and a plug-in framework, configured to selectively incorporate one or more process model plug-in instances in the process model. Each process model plug-in instance specifies at least one respective function sequence for pre-test or post-test functionality for the test executive sequences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: James A. Grey, David A. Rohacek
  • Publication number: 20140006867
    Abstract: Test executive system and method of use. The system includes a test executive engine, configured to execute at least one test executive sequence to test at least one unit under test (UUT), a process model that specifies one or more function sequences for pre-test or post-test functionality for the test executive sequences, and a plug-in framework, configured to selectively incorporate one or more process model plug-in instances in the process model. Each process model plug-in instance specifies at least one respective function sequence for pre-test or post-test functionality for the test executive sequences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventor: James A. Grey
  • Publication number: 20140006860
    Abstract: Test executive system and method of use. The system includes a test executive engine, configured to execute at least one test executive sequence to test at least one unit under test (UUT), a process model that specifies one or more function sequences for pre-test or post-test functionality for the test executive sequences, and a plug-in framework, configured to selectively incorporate one or more process model plug-in instances in the process model. Each process model plug-in instance specifies at least one respective function sequence for pre-test or post-test functionality for the test executive sequences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
    Inventor: James A. Grey
  • Patent number: 8234089
    Abstract: System and method for performing a multiple tests on each of one or more units, where each of the tests requires a respective resource of a plurality of resources. A first test is performed on a unit using a first resource. During performance of the first test, a search is made for a second test, requiring a second resource, where the second resource is not currently being used. If the second test is found, the second test is performed on the unit, or a second unit, using the second resource, substantially concurrently with at least a portion of the first test being performed on the unit. Performing a test includes locking the respective resource to exclude use by other tests, including acquiring the resource, and unlocking the resource upon completion of the test, including releasing the resource for use in performing the respective test on another of the units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Grey, Daniel Elizalde
  • Patent number: 7954009
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically detecting heap corruption errors and memory leak errors caused by user-supplied code modules that are called by steps of a test executive sequence. The test executive sequence may first be created by including a plurality of test executive steps in the test executive sequence and configuring at least a subset of the steps to call user-supplied code modules. The test executive sequence may then be executed on a host computer under control of a test executive engine. For each step that calls a user-supplied code module, the test executive engine may perform certain actions to automatically detect whether the user-supplied code module causes a heap corruption error and/or automatically detect whether the user-supplied code module causes a memory leak error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: James A. Grey
  • Patent number: 7613954
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting and/or preventing execution problems caused by user-supplied code modules that are called by steps of a test executive sequence. The test executive sequence may include a plurality of test executive steps. At least a subset of the steps may be configured to call user-supplied code modules. The test executive sequence may be executed on a host computer under control of a test executive engine. For each step that calls a user-supplied code module, the test executive engine may perform certain actions to detect and/or prevent execution problems caused by the user-supplied code module. For example, the test executive engine may be operable to automatically detect stack corruption caused by the user-supplied code module, may be operable to utilize stack safety buffers to avoid stack corruption problems caused by the user-supplied code module, and/or may include features for aiding a user in determining whether the user-supplied code module contains an uninitialized local variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Grey, Erik Crank
  • Publication number: 20090172476
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically detecting heap corruption errors and memory leak errors caused by user-supplied code modules that are called by steps of a test executive sequence. The test executive sequence may first be created by including a plurality of test executive steps in the test executive sequence and configuring at least a subset of the steps to call user-supplied code modules. The test executive sequence may then be executed on a host computer under control of a test executive engine. For each step that calls a user-supplied code module, the test executive engine may perform certain actions to automatically detect whether the user-supplied code module causes a heap corruption error and/or automatically detect whether the user-supplied code module causes a memory leak error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventor: James A. Grey
  • Patent number: 7519867
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically detecting heap corruption errors and memory leak errors caused by user-supplied code modules that are called by steps of a test executive sequence. The test executive sequence may first be created by including a plurality of test executive steps in the test executive sequence and configuring at least a subset of the steps to call user-supplied code modules. The test executive sequence may then be executed on a host computer under control of a test executive engine. For each step that calls a user-supplied code module, the test executive engine may perform certain actions to automatically detect whether the user-supplied code module causes a heap corruption error and/or automatically detect whether the user-supplied code module causes a memory leak error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: James A. Grey
  • Patent number: 7480826
    Abstract: A system and method for isolating execution of user-supplied code modules that are called by steps of a test executive sequence. The test executive sequence may first be created by including a plurality of test executive steps in the test executive sequence and configuring at least a subset of the steps to call user-supplied code modules. The test executive sequence may then be executed on a host computer under control of a test executive engine. For each step that calls a user-supplied code module, the test executive engine may invoke the user-supplied code module for execution in a separate process other than the process in which the test executive engine executes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: James A. Grey
  • Patent number: 7451358
    Abstract: A test executive sequence may be created by including a plurality of test executive steps in the test executive sequence in response to user input to a sequence editor. At least a subset of the test executive steps in the test executive sequence may be configured to call user-supplied code modules. In one embodiment, one or more expressions may be configured for one or more steps in the test executive sequence, where the one or more expressions evaluate to result values to be logged when the step is executed during execution of the test executive sequence. In another embodiment, one or more parameters of one or more user-supplied code modules called by steps in the test executive sequence may be configured to be logged when the test executive sequence is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Grey, Hjalmar Perez
  • Publication number: 20040093180
    Abstract: System and method for performing a multiple tests on each of one or more units, where each of the tests requires a respective resource of a plurality of resources. A first test is performed on a unit using a first resource. During performance of the first test, a search is made for a second test, requiring a second resource, where the second resource is not currently being used. If the second test is found, the second test is performed on the unit, or a second unit, using the second resource, substantially concurrently with at least a portion of the first test being performed on the unit. Performing a test includes locking the respective resource to exclude use by other tests, including acquiring the resource, and unlocking the resource upon completion of the test, including releasing the resource for use in performing the respective test on another of the units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: James A. Grey, Daniel Elizalde