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 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system for providing a computer-based test over a network, the system comprising:
 a storage server, coupled to a network, storing a computer-based test comprising an exam resource file including a core test specification and a plurality of test components;   a plurality of distribution servers, coupled to the network, storing the core test specification and the test components from the exam resource file;   a candidate workstation, coupled to the network, including a volatile memory for caching test components received from the distribution servers, and a processor, coupled to the memory, configured to:
 control administration of the computer-based test to a test candidate; 
 control delivery of the test components from the distribution servers based on network data transfer speed, and 
 establish connectivity to a redundant network in the background when network latency exceeds a predetermined threshold. 
   
     
     
         3 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 2 , wherein the test components include test items and plugin applications. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 3 , wherein the test items include text, multimedia and template objects. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of distribution servers include:
 an application deployment server that stores a test driver application and at least the core test specification;   an item cache server that stores test items extracted from the exam resource file; and   a plugin cache server that stores plugin applications extracted from the exam resource file.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 identify at least one proctor for the computer-based test;   verify test candidate registration for the computer-based test; and   request the test driver application and the core test specification from the application deployment server.   
     
     
         7 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 request test items from the item cache server;   request plugin applications from the plugin cache server;   store test items in a first RAM; and   store plugin applications in a second RAM.   retrieve test items from the first RAM;   retrieve plugin applications from the second RAM;   decompress compressed test items;   decompress compressed plugin applications;   decrypt encrypted test items;   decrypt encrypted plugin applications;   authenticate retrieved test items; and   authenticate retrieved plugin applications.   
     
     
         8 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to measure the progress or the competency of the test candidate during the computer-based test. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the respective states of the network connections between the candidate workstation and the distribution servers. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the respective states of the distribution servers. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-based testing system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage server stores additional test components corresponding to the computer-based test. 
     
     
         12 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to provide a computer-based test over a network, the providing comprising:
 controlling administration of a computer-based test to a test candidate, the computer-based test comprising an exam resource file including a core test specification and a plurality of test components stored on a plurality of distribution servers;   controlling delivery of the test components from the distribution servers based on network data transfer speed, and   establishing connectivity to a redundant network in the background when network latency exceeds a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the test components include test items and plugin applications. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the test items include text, multimedia and template objects. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of distribution servers include:
 an application deployment server that stores a test driver application and at least the core test specification;   an item cache server that stores test items extracted from the exam resource file; and   a plugin cache server that stores plugin applications extracted from the exam resource file.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the providing further comprises:
 identifying at least one proctor for the computer-based test;   verifying test candidate registration for the computer-based test; and   requesting the test driver application and the core test specification from the application deployment server.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the providing further comprises:
 requesting test items from the item cache server;   requesting plugin applications from the plugin cache server;   storing test items in a first RAM; and   storing plugin applications in a second RAM.   retrieving test items from the first RAM;   retrieving plugin applications from the second RAM;   decompressing compressed test items;   decompressing compressed plugin applications;   decrypting encrypted test items;   decrypting encrypted plugin applications;   authenticating retrieved test items; and   authenticating retrieved plugin applications.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the providing further comprises measuring at least one of a progress of the test candidate and a competency of the test candidate during the computer-based test. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the providing further comprises determining the respective states of the network connections between a candidate workstation and the distribution servers. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the providing further comprises determining the respective states of the distribution servers. 
     
     
         21 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein a storage server stores the computer-based test and additional test components corresponding to the computer-based test.