Implementing ATML into an existing software architecture

The purpose of the Automated Test Markup Language (ATML) consortium is to define a collection of extensible Markup Language (XML) schemas that will allow the exchange of automated test equipment (ATE) and test information between compliant test environments. This paper describes the LM STS technical approach and practical experience in applying ATML into an existing system software architecture. The current system utilizes the BAE Systems TPS Wizard™ product to generate test sequences that are executed using the National Instruments TestStand™ test executive. The TPS Wizard™ will have the ability to consume an XML representation of a test program that can then be used to generate a hierarchy of TestStand™ compliant sequence files. In addition, this paper addresses the LM STS approach to data mining schemas and diagnostic ontology. It explains how ATE test data results, based on the Test Results Markup Language schema (TRML), are collected and analyzed to deliver improved diagnostics and reduced test time. The goal of ATML is to obtain interoperability between different test systems. The ATML group is developing standards for the interfaces to ATE for common software components. Utilizing ATML will result in test data being shared between all levels of maintenance (O, I, D, OEM).