System and method for computer based testing using cache and cacheable objects to expand functionality of a test driver application

Abstract

A system and method for computer-based testing includes a test driver that controls delivery of a computer-based test to one or more test candidates and that controls caching of test components during delivery of the test. The system includes various monitoring components, including monitoring of candidate progress, candidate performance, network bandwidth, network latency and server response, during delivery of the test and adjusting the source of the test components or the volume of the test components being cached for delivery of the test. Based upon this monitoring of the system, for example, if network communication failure is detected, the test candidate is able to continue computer-based testing while connectivity is being reestablished.

1 . A system for computer-based testing comprising: 
 (a) delivery storage means for storing at least one computer-based test and delivering over an electronic data network said computer-based test to at least one test candidate;    (b) test driver means for controlling delivery of said computer-based test from said delivery storage means; and    (c) cache storage means for caching said computer-based test in response to monitoring of at least one testing environment variable.    
   
   
       2 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 1 , wherein said delivery storage means comprises a plurality of test distribution servers.  
   
   
       3 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of test distribution servers comprises: 
 (a) program deployment means for storing said test driver means for delivery to said test candidate;    (b) data object deployment means for storing cacheable data objects of said computer-based test for delivery to said test candidate; and    (c) application object deployment means for storing cacheable application objects of said computer-based test for delivery to said test candidate.    
   
   
       4 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 3 , wherein said cacheable data objects comprise text, multimedia and template objects.  
   
   
       5 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 3 , wherein said cacheable application objects comprise plugin program objects.  
   
   
       6 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 1 , wherein said cache storage means comprises first and second storage means.  
   
   
       7 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 6 , wherein said first storage means comprises magnetic storage medium.  
   
   
       8 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 6 , wherein said second storage means comprises random access memory (RAM).  
   
   
       9 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 1 , wherein said test driver means comprises: 
 (a) a session management component for administering said computer-based test to said test candidate;    (b) a proctor authentication component for identifying at least one proctor of said computer-based test;    (c) a scheduling component for verifying test candidate registration for said computer-based test;    (d) a test driver program for controlling delivery of said computer-based test;    (e) a first cache controller for controlling storing of cacheable data objects in encrypted RAM;    (f) a second cache controller for controlling storing of cacheable application objects in RAM; and    (g) a browser presentation component for serving said computer-based test to said test candidate.    
   
   
       10 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 9 , wherein said test driver program comprises: 
 (a) a first request interface for requesting cacheable data objects;    (b) a second request interface for requesting cacheable application objects;    (c) a request processor for processing requests of said test driver program to retrieve cacheable data objects and cacheable application objects;    (d) a decryption module for decrypting cacheable data objects and cacheable application objects;    (e) a decompression module for decompressing cacheable data objects and cacheable application objects;    (f) a first request module for retrieving cacheable data objects;    (g) a second request module for retrieving cacheable application objects;    (h) a first cache for storing retrieved cacheable data objects;    (i) a second cache for storing retrieved cacheable application objects;    (j) a stimuli processor for adapting delivery of said computer-based test;    (k) a cache controller for controlling source of retrieving cacheable data objects and cacheable application objects and for controlling volume of cacheable data objects and cacheable application objects stored in cache storage means;    (l) a network interface for communicating with a plurality of test distribution servers; and    (m) an authentication component for authenticating cacheable data objects and cacheable application objects.    
   
   
       11 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 1 , wherein said test driver means comprises at least one monitoring means for monitoring a testing environment variable.  
   
   
       12 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 11 , wherein said monitoring means is a test candidate progress monitor for measuring progress of said test candidate during computer-based testing.  
   
   
       13 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 11 , wherein said monitoring means is a test candidate performance monitor for measuring competency of said test candidate during computer-based testing.  
   
   
       14 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 11 , wherein said monitoring means is a network bandwidth monitor for determining a speed of a network connection through which said computer-based test is being delivered.  
   
   
       15 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 11 , wherein said monitoring means is a network state monitor for determining a state of a network connection through which said computer-based test is being delivered.  
   
   
       16 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 11 , wherein said monitoring means is a server state monitor for determining a state of a server from which said computer-based test is being delivered.  
   
   
       17 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 1 , wherein said electronic data network is the Internet.  
   
   
       18 . A method for computer-based testing comprising the steps of: 
 (a) storing at least one computer-based test and delivering over an electronic data network said computer-based test to at least one test candidate by delivery storage means;    (b) controlling delivery of said computer-based test from said delivery storage means by test driver means; and    (c) caching and storing said computer-based test in cache storage means in response to monitoring of at least one testing environment variable.    
   
   
       19 . The method for computer-based testing of  claim 18 , the method comprising the step of storing on a plurality of test distribution servers said computer-based test for delivery to a plurality of test candidates.  
   
   
       20 . The method for computer-based testing of  claim 19 , the method comprising the step of storing cacheable data objects comprising text, multimedia and template objects.  
   
   
       21 . The method for computer-based testing of  claim 19 , the method comprising the step of storing cacheable application objects comprising plugin program objects.  
   
   
       22 . The method for computer-based testing of  claim 19 , the method comprising the step of storing said test driver means in first storage means comprising magnetic storage medium.  
   
   
       23 . The method for computer-based testing of  claim 18 , the method comprising the step of storing said cacheable data objects in second storage means comprising random access memory (RAM).  
   
   
       24 . The method for computer-based testing of  claim 18 , the method comprising the step of storing said cacheable application objects in second storage means comprising random access memory (RAM).  
   
   
       25 . The method for computer-based testing system of  claim 18 , the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) administering said computer-based test to said test candidate using a session management component;    (b) identifying at least one proctor of said computer-based test using a proctor authentication component;    (c) verifying test candidate registration for said computer-based test using a scheduling component;    (d) controlling delivery of said computer-based test using a test driver program;    (e) controlling storing of cacheable data objects in encrypted RAM using a first cache controller;    (f) controlling storing of cacheable application objects in RAM using a second cache controller; and    (g) serving said computer-based test to said test candidate using a browser presentation component.    
   
   
       26 . The method of computer-based testing of  claim 25 , the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) requesting cacheable data objects using a first request interface;    (b) requesting cacheable application objects a second request interface;    (c) processing requests of said test driver program to retrieve cacheable data objects and cacheable application objects using a request processor;    (d) decrypting cacheable data objects and cacheable application objects using a decryption module;    (e) decompressing cacheable data objects and cacheable application objects using a decompression module;    (f) retrieving cacheable data objects using a first request module;    (g) retrieving cacheable application objects using a second request module;    (h) storing retrieved cacheable data objects using a first cache;    (i) storing retrieved cacheable application objects using a second cache;    (j) adapting delivery of said computer-based test using a stimuli processor;    (k) controlling source for retrieval of cacheable data objects and cacheable application objects and for controlling volume of cacheable data objects and cacheable application objects stored in cache storage means using a cache controller;    (l) communicating with a plurality of test distribution servers using a network interface; and    (m) authenticating cacheable data objects and cacheable application objects using an authentication component.    
   
   
       27 . The method of computer-based testing of  claim 18 , the method comprising the step of monitoring at least one test environment variable.  
   
   
       28 . The method of computer-based testing of  claim 27 , the method comprising the step of monitoring test candidate progress for measuring progress of said test candidate during computer-based testing.  
   
   
       29 . The method of computer-based testing of  claim 27 , the method comprising the step of monitoring test candidate performance for measuring competency of said test candidate during computer-based testing.  
   
   
       30 . The method of computer-based testing of  claim 27 , the method comprising the step of monitoring network bandwidth for determining a speed of a network connection through which said computer-based test is being delivered.  
   
   
       31 . The method of computer-based testing of  claim 27 , the method comprising the step of monitoring network state for determining a state of a network connection through which said computer-based test is being delivered.  
   
   
       32 . The method of computer-based testing of  claim 27 , the method comprising the step of monitoring server state for determining a state of a server from which said computer-based test is being delivered.  
   
   
       33 . The method for computer-based testing of  claim 18 , the method comprising the step of delivering over the Internet said computer-based test.  
   
   
       34 . A computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer-based testing method, said computer-based testing method comprising: 
 (a) storing at least one computer-based test on delivery storage means and delivering over an electronic data network said computer-based test to at least one test candidate by said delivery storage means;    (b) controlling delivery of said computer-based test from said delivery storage means by test driver means; and    (c) caching and storing said computer-based test in cache storage means in response to monitoring of at least one testing environment variable.    
   
   
       35 . The storage medium for storing a computer-based testing method of  claim 34 , the method comprising the step of storing on a plurality of test distribution servers said computer-based test for delivery to a plurality of test candidates.  
   
   
       36 . The storage medium for storing a computer-based testing method of  claim 35 , the method comprising the step of storing cacheable data objects comprising text, multimedia and template objects.  
   
   
       37 . The storage medium for storing a computer-based testing method of  claim 35 , the method comprising the step of storing cacheable application objects comprising plugin program objects.  
   
   
       38 . The storage medium for storing a computer-based testing method of  claim 35 , the method comprising the step of storing said test driver means in first storage means comprising magnetic storage medium.  
   
   
       39 . The storage medium for storing a computer-based testing method of  claim 35 , the method comprising the step of storing said cacheable data objects in second storage means comprising random access memory (RAM).  
   
   
       40 . The storage medium for storing a computer-based testing method of  claim 35 , the method comprising the step of storing said cacheable application objects in second storage means comprising random access memory (RAM).  
   
   
       41 . The storage medium for storing a computer-based testing method of  claim 34 , the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) administering said computer-based test to said test candidate using a session management component;    (b) identifying at least one proctor of said computer-based test using a proctor authentication component;    (c) verifying test candidate registration for said computer-based test using a scheduling component;    (d) controlling delivery of said computer-based test using a test driver program;    (e) controlling storing of cacheable data objects in encrypted RAM using a first cache controller;    (f) controlling storing of cacheable application objects in RAM using a second cache controller; and    (g) serving said computer-based test to said test candidate using a browser presentation component.    
   
   
       42 . The storage medium for storing a computer-based testing method of  claim 41 , the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) requesting cacheable data objects using a first request interface;    (b) requesting cacheable application objects a second request interface;    (c) processing requests of said test driver program to retrieve cacheable data objects and cacheable application objects using a request processor;    (d) decrypting cacheable data objects and cacheable application objects using a decryption module;    (e) decompressing cacheable data objects and cacheable application objects using a decompression module;    (f) retrieving cacheable data objects using a first request module;    (g) retrieving cacheable application objects using a second request module;    (h) storing cacheable data objects using a first cache;    (i) storing cacheable application objects using a second cache;    (j) adapting delivery of said computer-based test using a stimuli processor;    (k) controlling source for retrieval of cacheable data objects and cacheable application objects and for controlling volume of cacheable data objects and cacheable application objects stored in cache storage means using a cache controller;    (l) communicating with a plurality of test distribution servers using a network interface; and    (m) authenticating cacheable data objects and cacheable application objects using an authentication component.    
   
   
       43 . The storage medium for storing a computer-based testing method of  claim 34 , the method comprising the step of monitoring at least one test environment variable.  
   
   
       44 . The storage medium for storing a computer-based testing method of  claim 43 , the method comprising the step of monitoring test candidate progress for measuring progress of said test candidate during computer-based testing.  
   
   
       45 . The storage medium for storing a computer-based testing method of  claim 43 , the method comprising the step of monitoring test candidate performance for measuring competency of said test candidate during computer-based testing.  
   
   
       46 . The storage medium for storing a computer-based testing method of  claim 43 , the method comprising the step of monitoring network bandwidth for determining a speed of a network connection through which said computer-based test is being delivered.  
   
   
       47 . The storage medium for storing a computer-based testing method of  claim 43 , the method comprising the step of monitoring network state for determining a state of a network connection through which said computer-based test is being delivered.  
   
   
       48 . The storage medium for storing a computer-based testing method of  claim 43 , the method comprising the step of monitoring server state for determining a state of a server from which said computer-based test is being delivered.  
   
   
       49 . The storage medium for storing a computer-based testing method of  claim 43 , the method comprising the step of delivering over the Internet said computer-based test.