Testing of Philips Media Manager

Philips Media Manager is a multimedia application intended for easy and convenient management of media files on a PC. Using PMM you can easily create a media library with your favourite music, images and video. The distinctive feature of PMM is a support of UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) technology which simplifies the communication of devices connected into a network. By means of this technology PMM directs a multimedia stream from a PC to multimedia devices (audio system, TV, recorder, etc.) connected to the local network. Philips Media Manager uses Philips Streamium, a special device that acts as a mediator. Consequently, there forms a structure: PC - Streamium - multimedia devices. This system is for home use. It is especially effective in large houses and in multi-room apartments. For example, PC is located in one room, while Streamium devices, connected to multimedia players, are located in other rooms. One can direct audio or video stream from a PC to any part of the mansion where Streamium is located.

There are several ways to connect PC to Streamium:

Streamium is connected to multimedia devices via cables: SCART (EURO) cable or Stereo Audio cable.

The useful feature of Philips Streamium is a connection (wire or wireless) to Internet and free access to radio stations, video trailers, images and even on-line games. Multimedia Internet-content can be managed in user account at site http://www.my.Philips.com. The recommended minimum band width - 256Kbps.

Bug Huntress team of three test engineers set to testing the PMM application at the end of January 2005. We were offered the challenge of: verification of general functionality to be performed on test cases, correcting the application operation with supported media formats, launching of application under all localizations, performing on all supported platforms (Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP), interaction of PMM with device Philips Streamium SL300i, free testing and partial testing automation. In addition, we devoted some time to mastering UPnP-technology as it is an important constituent of operability of the application under testing.

Initially, we planned to speed up the test cases by means of routine work automation. For that purpose we were going to use TestComplete auto-testing application. However, there arouse a difficulty. PMM application is written in Java, which does not permit for applications under auto-testing (in particular TestComplete) call Java classes and hidden objects directly. So, it appeared necessary to integrate a special JavaSpy class into the application code. The instruction on integrating the class was furnished with TestComplete. We sent the letter to our customer with a detailed description of the issue and instructions on the class using for him in order to inform his software engineers. Our expert, engaged in automated testing, held correspondence with client's software engineer regarding the class integration. As a result we compiled Java Open Application with classes and objects seen to TestComplete.

In such a way the part of test cases was automated. Next, the application was compiled in a new version of Java which did not permit for Java Open Application creating even using special classes. That is why we had to abandon the initial solution. Nevertheless, we continued the automation of testing by means of Device Scriptor from the set of Intel Tools. This tool enabled us to write scripts for verification of application operation with supported media-formats. The results of performing the script indicated formats that caused bugs at playback. Also, by means of automated scripts we verified of UPnP functions operability in the application. Thus, automation allowed us to simplify significantly the basic functionality verification of the application.

When we joined the project, it was already being tested by Hindu QA team. Next, the testing was held in parallel by both teams. Hindu team held free testing, performed test cases and operation with the device Philips Streamium. Besides this, we were engaged in testing automation issues and verification of UPnP functions operability of the application. The project lasted till fall of 2005. During this period we performed all the tasks with high quality.