Patent ID: 8214800

Claim:
A method, executed by a computer, for associating software components with vendor hardware module versions in an open architecture test system, wherein the open architecture test system comprises a System Controller, one or more Site Controllers, one or more vendor hardware modules, and one or more devices-under-test (DUTs), comprising: receiving a set of hardware versions of a vendor hardware module; processing the set of hardware versions of the vendor hardware module, wherein a mask value representing an equivalence class of hardware version numbers is generated based on the set of hardware versions of the vendor hardware module, wherein the mask value comprises a mask and a masked number, wherein the mask is a data pattern within the range of the set of hardware versions of the vendor hardware module, and wherein the data pattern comprises at least a don't-care bit and an unmasked bit; obtaining user choices of hardware versions of the vendor hardware module; validating the user choices of hardware versions of the vendor hardware module; creating a system profile in accordance with the user choices of hardware versions of the vendor hardware module; receiving a new hardware version of the vendor hardware module, wherein the new hardware version of the vendor hardware module is a member of the equivalence class of hardware version numbers; and testing the new hardware version of the vendor hardware module using the system profile.