Automating Testbed Documentation and Database Access Using World Wide Web (WWW) Tools

A method for providing uniform transparent access to disparate distributed information systems was demonstrated. A prototype testing interface was developed to access documentation and information using publicly available hypermedia tools. The prototype gives testers a uniform, platform-independent user interface to on-line documentation, user manuals, and mission-specific test and operations data. Mosaic was the common user interface, and HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) provided hypertext capability. Introduction The Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Test Engineering Laboratory (TEL) evaluates new technologies for possible use during spacecraft system testing. Formal test environments are highly structured and information intensive. Information that may be useful for later analysis of failure reports or change requests is not always obvious during system test. Clearly, it is better to err on the side of collecting data that may never be used. Testers also consult numerous reference docume..