© Tony Simmons 2010
Select the first letter of the word from the list above to jump to appropriate section of the glossary. If the term you are looking for starts with a digit or symbol, choose the '#' link.
Glossary of Automation & Control Engineering Terms
TCP/IP
TCP - Transmission Control Protocol/ IP - Internet Protocol
TDMA
Time Division Multiple Access
Technical Query
A technical question arising during a project and requiring an answer from another technology or from the client.
The question and answer is logged together in a Technical Query File and forms part of the design audit trail between formal issues of the associated specifications.
Technique
A technique is a well-defined procedure for carrying out a single task within an activity, e.g. structured Walkthrough.
Test Plan
A test plan is a document which defines the basis of testing for a system. It describes how a test will be conducted, who will be present, what test specification will be used, and states the acceptance criteria for the tests.
Test Specification
A test specification defines what tests will be conducted on a system. As well as defining the test it states the expected results and provides space for the test results to be documented and witnessed.
Testing
Testing is the process of assessing, by execution of the software, how closely what has been built meets its specification.
Testing is the process used to verify and validate.
It is vital in all forms of testing to record the test data used and to pre-define the expected test results as part o the test specification.
Test Drivers, Stubs and Harnesses
A "test driver" passes data from a file to the software under test (SUT) and records the output. It simulates the environment in which the SUT will eventually operate.
For process control systems test data is usually simulated in real time by test hardware in which event test drivers are not relevant. However in view of the importance of recording the test data used during testing, consideration should be always given to the use of test (simulation) driver software
A test "stub" is a software item written for the purposes of top down testing to simulate higher levels of the software environment which link downwards to the SUT.
A test "harness" is a temporary software environment set up to support a SUT module in the absence of its final environment.
Test Effectiveness
A documented argument for asserting that the set of test cases employed are adequate to reasonably pass the SUT as correct.
Manual methods such as path coverage are employed.
A form used to record an observation made during software testing. Sometimes called a Comment Sheet.
TickIT
The TickIT guide contains advise to Purchasers, Suppliers, and Auditors of software systems and is a useful reference source to all those involved in the provision of software based systems in the process industry.
Tool
A tool is the collective name given to any method, software package, test gear etc. which is employed in the development of a system.
Toolset management
On projects employing automated development tools it is important to maintain support for such tools. The aim of toolset management will be to:-
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provide a mechanism for controlled release of tools to project teams
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formally accept test tools and assess their suitability for use on a project
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ensure correct integration of the tools by offering training and support to individuals.
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Transport Layer
One of the protocol layers in the OSI seven layer model. The basic function of the transport layer is to accept data from the session layer, split it into smaller units if need be, pass these to the network layer, and ensure that the pieces all arrive correctly at the other end. This must be done efficiently and in such a way as to isolate the session layer from the hardware technology. This layer is the true source-to-destination or end to end layer.
A trip is a function implemented in hardware or software that causes a function to stop when a defined event occurs. The stopping of an agitator in a vessel when the inspection lid is opened is an example of a trip. A trip is reactive unlike an interlock which is proactive. See interlock.
TRIZ
A Russian acronym that stands for the theory of inventive problem solving - a systematic approach to finding innovative solutions to technical problems formulated in the 1940's.
