Novel Optimizing Approach in the Area of STEP-Based Construction of Sessionless, Power-Constrainted, TAM and Time Optimal Test Schedules

Approach presented in the paper is based on so-called STEPs (scheduling time-points). Using input information about test schedule constraints, information about test resource sharing conflicts stored in a TACG (test application conflict graph) and information about power dissipation, test time and TAM (test access mechanism) width of particular tests going to be scheduled, proposed test scheduling algorithm link tests to STEPs in such a way there are no resource sharing conflicts in the best-found test schedule and hopefully, test schedule constraints are met maximally at minimal time and TAM values. In our paper, so-called sessionless approach to the problem is utilized. The approach does not require tests to be partitioned into so-called test sessions for test scheduling purposes. Main advantage of the approach is that tests are not to be scheduled within test-session bounds, but they are scheduled as soon as it is possible, so significant savings in test time can be achieved. In our paper, novel method based on sessionless test-scheduling approach is presented