Using reverse time for coverage analysis

Abstract

Coverage analysis may be performed using reverse time. The coverage analysis may be based on last hit data. The last hit data may comprise a timestamp indicating a last time in which a coverage event was covered. Utilizing last hit data instead of first hit data as is known in the art enables distinction between coverage goals that were never covered and coverage goals that were not covered lately.

1 . A coverage analysis apparatus having a processor, the coverage analysis apparatus comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive coverage events from a coverage events repository, each of the coverage events comprising a first timestamp, wherein the first timestamp indicates a last time in which the coverage event was covered; and   a coverage status module configured to provide an indication of a portion of the coverage events that was not covered recently, wherein the indication is based on the coverage events.   
     
     
         2 . The coverage analysis apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the indication is a report. 
     
     
         3 . The coverage analysis apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the report displays a function between a second timestamp and a second portion of the coverage events, wherein the second portion of the coverage events was covered after the second timestamp. 
     
     
         4 . The coverage analysis apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the second portion of the coverage events is selected from a group consisting of a percentage of coverage events and a number of coverage events. 
     
     
         5 . The coverage analysis apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the report displays a list of coverage events in the portion of the coverage events. 
     
     
         6 . The coverage analysis of  claim 2 , wherein the report divides the coverage events into groups based on times in which the coverage events were covered. 
     
     
         7 . The coverage analysis apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a window selector comprising a begin time determinator configured to determine a time, the time is determined such that a predetermined portion of the plurality of coverage events were covered after the time; and wherein the window selector is configured to provide a sliding window report starting from the time.   
     
     
         8 . The coverage analysis apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the coverage events further comprising a second timestamp, wherein the second timestamp indicates a first time in which the coverage event was covered. 
     
     
         9 . The coverage analysis apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the indication is a report, the report displays a first function between a second timestamp and a second portion of the coverage events, wherein the second portion of the coverage events was covered after the second timestamp; and the report displays a second function between a third timestamp and a third portion of the coverage events, wherein the third portion of the coverage events was covered before the third timestamp. 
     
     
         10 . A method for determining coverage analysis, the method comprising:
 receiving coverage events from a coverage events repository, each of the coverage events comprising a first timestamp, wherein the first timestamp indicates a last time in which the coverage event was covered;   determining an indication of a portion of the coverage events that was not covered recently, wherein the indication is based on the coverage events; and   outputting the indication.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprises determining a verification strategy based on the indication. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the verification strategy is selected from the group consisting of reexecuting a test and designing a new test. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said outputting the indication comprises displaying a report. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said displaying the report comprises displaying a function between a second timestamp and a second portion of the coverage events, wherein the second portion of the coverage events was covered after the second timestamp. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said displaying the report comprises displaying a list of coverage events in the portion of the coverage events. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said displaying the report comprises:
 grouping the coverage events into groups based on times in which the coverage events were covered; and   displaying the groups.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 determining a time based on the indication, the time is determined such that a predetermined portion of the plurality of coverage events were covered after the time; 
 determining a sliding window report starting from the time; and 
 outputting the sliding window report. 
 
     
     
         18 . A computer program product comprising:
 a computer readable medium;   a first program instruction for receiving coverage events from a coverage events repository, each of the coverage events comprising a first timestamp, wherein the first timestamp indicates a last time in which the coverage event was covered;   a second program instruction for determining an indication of a portion of the coverage events that was not covered recently, wherein the indication is based on the coverage events;   a third program instruction for outputting the indication; and
 wherein said first, second and third program instructions are stored on said computer readable medium. 
   
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , wherein said third program instruction comprises a fourth program instruction for displaying a report. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 18  further comprising:
 a fourth program instruction for determining a time based on the indication, the time is determined such that a predetermined portion of the plurality of coverage events were covered after the time; 
 a fifth program instruction for determining a sliding window report starting from the time; 
 a sixth program instruction for outputting the sliding window report; 
 wherein said fourth, fifth and sixth program instructions are stored on said computer readable medium.