Priority-based dynamic resource allocation for product testing

Abstract

Systems and methods to dynamically allocate resources in product test automation. In a testing lab, multiple tests are run on multiple machines to test multiple products, where each product has an initial priority. A test distributor calculates, for each product, a specific number of machines on which that product is to be tested based on the initial priority of that product; determines a number of remaining machines not being used in testing; determines one or more products being tested that need one or more additional machines for testing; and determines, for each product identified as needing one or more additional machines for testing, a number of machines to be allocated to run the tests for that product.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of running multiple tests on multiple machines to test multiple products, each product having an initial priority, the method comprising:
 calculating, for each product, a specific number of the multiple machines based on the initial priority of that product;   determining a number of remaining machines not being used in testing;   determining one or more products being tested that need one or more additional machines for testing; and   determining, for each product identified as needing one or more additional machines for testing, a number of machines to be allocated to run the tests for that product.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting to a test distributor information on the number of machines to run tests for each product. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: selecting, by the test distributor, a test among the multiple tests for further execution using the information received. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is initiated each time a new set of tests for a particular product starts or the initial priority of any product changes. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the calculating is also based on the number of the multiple machines, and the initial priority is used in a ratio with respect to the sum of all priorities.