Test executive features for improved TPS debug

This paper describes several capabilities that greatly improve the test program set (TPS) debug and integration efforts. As TPS debug and integration activities are significant cost factors in TPS development, improvements in this phase offer potentially high returns. Important considerations include hardware and software architecture decisions, instrument interface visibility, interactive control, degree of simulation, and various modes of controlling and monitoring execution. Specific operation of various capabilities is also discussed as are the benefits to TPS debug and integration.