Patent ID: 7308376

Claim:
A computer platform automatic testing method for use on a computer platform for performing an automatic testing procedure on a computer-dedicated circuit unit installed on the computer platform, the computer platform automatic testing method comprising: building a hardware specification database for storing a set of hardware specification data about the internal architecture of the circuit unit under test, at least including coded descriptions of hardware components, hardware paths, hardware control nodes, and hardware control node methods, for use to serve as a set of testing control parameters; during actual operation, retrieving the corresponding set of hardware specification data from the hardware specification database for the circuit unit under test; generating a set of testing signals based on a set of testing control parameters specified by the retrieved hardware specification data from the hardware specification database; distributing each testing signal to each actual hardware control nodes in the circuit unit under test in accordance with the descriptions of hardware components, hardware paths, and hardware control node methods specified in the hardware specification data; monitoring the electrical response at each actual hardware control node in the circuit unit under test to the testing signals distributed thereto; comparing the electrical response at each actual hardware control node in the circuit unit against a set of standard response data specified by the hardware specification data to verify whether the electrical responses to the test signals are correct; if YES, issuing a test-result pass message; if NO, issuing a test-result fail message; and responding to the test-result fail message by generating a test report in electronic form which lists related data about each faulted part of the circuit unit being tested.