Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

International Conference on Product-Focused Software Process Improvement

PROFES 2016: Product-Focused Software Process Improvement pp 233–248Cite as

An Effective Verification Strategy for Testing Distributed Automotive Embedded Software Functions: A Case Study

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNPSE,volume 10027))

Abstract

Integration testing of automotive embedded software functions that are distributed across several Electronic Control Unit (ECU) system software modules is a complex and challenging task in today’s automotive industry. They neither have infinite resources, nor have the time to carry out exhaustive testing of these functions. On the other hand, the traditional approach of implementing an ad-hoc selection of test scenarios based on the testers’ experience typically leads to both test gaps and test redundancies. Here, we address this challenge by proposing a verification strategy that enhances the process in order to identify and mitigate such gaps and redundancies in automotive system software testing. This helps increase test coverage by taking more data-driven decisions for integration testing of the functions. The strategy was developed in a case study at a Swedish automotive company that involved multiple data collection steps. After static validation of the proposed strategy it was evaluated on one distributed automotive software function, the Fuel Level Display, and found to be both feasible and effective.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Adenmark, M.: Scania Test Levels, Scania Internal Document (REST08012) (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Arnold, D., Corriveau, J.P., Shi, W.: Modeling and validating requirements using executable contracts and scenarios. In: Proceedings of the 8th ACIS International Conference on Software Engineering Research, Management and Applications (SERA), pp. 311–320. IEEE (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Barhate, S.S.: Effective test strategy for testing automotive software. In: International Conference on Industrial Instrumentation and Control (ICIC), pp. 645–649. IEEE (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Barmi, Z.A., Ebrahimi, A.H., Feldt, R.: Alignment of requirements specification and testing: a systematic mapping study. In: Proceedings of the 4th IEEE International Conference on Software Testing, Verification and Validation Workshops (ICSTW), pp. 476–485 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Von der Beeck, M., Margaria, T., Steffen, B.: A formal requirements engineering method for specification, synthesis, and verification. In: Proceedings of the 8th Conference on Software Engineering Environments, pp. 131–144. IEEE (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bringmann, E., Kramer, A.: Model-based testing of automotive systems. In: 1st IEEE International Conference on Software Testing, Verification, and Validation, pp. 485–493 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Conrad, M., Fey, I., Sadeghipour, S.: Systematic model-based testing of embedded automotive software. Electronic Notes Theor. Comput. Sci. 111, 13–26 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Dhadyalla, G., Kumari, N., Snell, T.: Combinatorial testing for an automotive hybrid electric vehicle control system: a case study. In: IEEE 7th International Conference on Software Testing, Verification and Validation Workshops (ICSTW), pp. 51–57. IEEE (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Ferrari, A., dell’Orletta, F., Spagnolo, G.O., Gnesi, S.: Measuring and improving the completeness of natural language requirements. In: Salinesi, C., Weerd, I. (eds.) REFSQ 2014. LNCS, vol. 8396, pp. 23–38. Springer, Heidelberg (2014). doi:10.1007/978-3-319-05843-6_3

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  10. Grimm, K.: Software technology in an automotive company: major challenges. In: Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Software Engineering, pp. 498–503. IEEE Computer Society (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Kasoju, A., Petersen, K., Mäntylä, M.V.: Analyzing an automotive testing process with evidence-based software engineering. Inf. Softw. Technol. 55(7), 1237–1259 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Broy, M.: Challenges in automotive software engineering. In: Proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Software Engineering, pp. 33–42. ACM (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Marinescu, R., Saadatmand, M., Bucaioni, A., Seceleanu, C., Pettersson, P.: A model-based testing framework for automotive embedded systems. In: Proceedings of the 40th EUROMICRO Conference on Software Engineering and Advanced Applications (SEAA), pp. 38–47. IEEE (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Marshall, M.N.: Sampling for qualitative research. Family Pract. 13(6), 522–526 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Nebut, C., Fleurey, F., Le Traon, Y., Jezequel, J.M.: Automatic test generation: a use case driven approach. IEEE Trans. Softw. Eng. 32(3), 140–155 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Perez, A.M., Kaiser, S.: Integrating test levels for embedded systems. In: Proceedings of the Testing: Academic and Industrial Conference - Practice and Research Techniques (TAIC PART), pp. 184–193. IEEE, September 2009

    Google Scholar 

  17. Praprotnik, O., Gartner, M., Zauner, M., Horauer, M.: A test suite for system tests of distributed automotive electronics. In: 2nd International Conference on Advances in Circuits, Electronics and Micro-electronics (CENICS), pp. 67–70. IEEE (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Radeka, K.: The toyota product development system: integrating people, process and technology by James M. Morgan and Jeffrey K. Liker. J. Prod. Innov. Manage 24(3), 276–278 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Rowley, J., Slack, F.: Conducting a literature review. Manage. Res. News 27(6), 31–39 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Runeson, P., Höst, M.: Guidelines for conducting and reporting case study research in software engineering. Empir. Softw. Eng. 14(2), 131–164 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Saglietti, F.: Testing for dependable embedded software. In: 36th EUROMICRO Conference on Software Engineering and Advanced Applications (SEAA), pp. 409–416. IEEE (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Shah, U.S., Jinwala, D.C.: Resolving ambiguities in natural language software requirements: a comprehensive survey. ACM SIGSOFT Softw. Eng. Notes 40(5), 1–7 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Shokry, H., Hinchey, M.: Model-based verification of embedded software. IEEE Comput. 42(4), 53–59 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Siegl, S., Hielscher, K.S., German, R., Berger, C.: Formal specification and systematic model-driven testing of embedded automotive systems. In: Proceedings of the Europe Conference & Exhibition on Design, Automation & Test (DATE), pp. 1–6. IEEE (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Somé, S.S.: Supporting use case based requirements engineering. Inf. Softw. Technol. 48(1), 43–58 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Strauss, A., Corbin, J.: Basics of Qualitative Research: Grounded Theory Procedures and Techniques. Sage Publications, Beverly Hills (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Sundmark, D., Petersen, K., Larsson, S.: An exploratory case study of testing in an automotive electrical system release process. In: 6th IEEE International Symposium on Industrial Embedded Systems (SIES), pp. 166–175. IEEE (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Tsai, W.T., Bai, X., Paul, R., Yu, L.: Scenario-based functional regression testing. In: Proceedings of the 25th Annual International Computer Software and Applications Conference (COMPSAC), pp. 496–501. IEEE (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Weber, M., Weisbrod, J.: Requirements engineering in automotive development - Experiences and challenges. In: Proceedings of the IEEE Joint International Conference on Requirements Engineering, pp. 331–340 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Wilson, C.E.: Triangulation: the explicit use of multiple methods, measures, and approaches for determining core issues in product development. Interactions 13(6), 46–47 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Yin, R.K.: Case Study Research: Design and Methods. Sage Publications (2013)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Software Engineering, Blekinge Tekniska Högskola, SE-371 79, Karlskrona, Sweden

    Annapurna Chunduri & Robert Feldt

  2. Department of Systems and Integration Test, Scania AB, SE-151 87, Södertälje, Sweden

    Mikael Adenmark

Authors
  1. Annapurna Chunduri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robert Feldt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mikael Adenmark
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Annapurna Chunduri .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Pekka Abrahamsson

  2. Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering, Kaiserslautern, Germany

    Andreas Jedlitschka

  3. and Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Anh Nguyen Duc

  4. University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

    Michael Felderer

  5. Okayama Prefectural University, Soja, Japan

    Sousuke Amasaki

  6. Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland

    Tommi Mikkonen

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing AG

About this paper

Cite this paper

Chunduri, A., Feldt, R., Adenmark, M. (2016). An Effective Verification Strategy for Testing Distributed Automotive Embedded Software Functions: A Case Study. In: Abrahamsson, P., Jedlitschka, A., Nguyen Duc, A., Felderer, M., Amasaki, S., Mikkonen, T. (eds) Product-Focused Software Process Improvement. PROFES 2016. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 10027. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49094-6_15

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49094-6_15

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-49093-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-49094-6

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation