Patent ID: 8751093

Claim:
A computer-based method comprising the steps of: identifying, by a processor for hierarchically validating a graphically based logic control specification, a functional hierarchy of a first application of the control specification comprising a first feature that comprises a first module, the first module being at a lower layer or level than the first feature, and the first feature being at a lower layer or level than the first application; executing, by the processor, a first module test case on the first module to at least one of validate a structure of the first module or validate that a functional requirement of the first module is met; executing, by the processor, a first feature test case on the first feature after executing the first module test case to at least one of validate a structure of the first feature or validate that a functional requirement of the first feature is met; and executing, by the processor, a first application test case to the first application after executing the first feature test case to validate a functional requirement of the first application is met.