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Travel, Transport & Logistics
Full speed ahead for trucks with toll systems from Toll Collect.
The initial phase in operation of the new Toll Collect system presented a very special challenge. The T-Systems test factory completed its mission successfully.
The assignment
A key success factor for Germany's new toll system was to integrate the numerous IT systems involved. This meant that, prior to rollout, a large number of innovative technologies had to be combined to build one overall system, whose hardware and software functioned without any hitches. The huge public interest in the project put the pressure up yet again. The test factory had been set a clear task: it had to transfer the central systems successfully over from the development phase into productive operations. For this transition-to-operation phase, all toll collection processes had to be tested under real conditions prior to the launch.
System requirements.
- Maximum overall system reliability
- Maximum core system availability
- Parallel handling of time-critical processes
- Combination of GPS, DSRC and GSM
- Complex interfaces and communication channels across system boundaries
- Outstanding IT security
The test factory developed and performed tests that were designed to demonstrate that the individual subsystems satisfied these high requirements. Since the operating environment was to be used to install the on-board units (OBU) months before toll collection went live on January 1, 2005, the test factory used identically produced test systems.
The concept
The test factory's best practice method convinces with:
- Analysis and risk assessment of the processes being tested (e.g. performance data stream)
- Development of special tests to measure service levels (e.g. availability)
- Flexible team structure to deal with additional requirements submitted at short notice, as well as waiting times
- Build-up of a comprehensive knowledge store
- Concept for simulation of processes and creation of mass data
- Industrial infrastructure management
- Refined monitoring of the total and individual systems down to data record level
More than 60 specialists performed functional and operational testing under realistic conditions, and supplied ongoing reports on the progress they made as well as test coverage.
Test cycles
T-Systems developed a multi-phase approach with test cycles that gradually stepped up requirements for the individual systems as well as for the overall installation:
T-Systems developed a multi-phase approach with test cycles that gradually stepped up requirements for the individual systems as well as for the overall installation:
- Basic functionality, performance-critical business processes, controlled problems
- Combined performance tests, stress tests on the interfaces, uncontrolled problems
- Combined performance and stress tests for several business processes, recovery tests
- Stress tests on the overall system, fill-up tests
Data load
The test factory faced the issue of how to substitute the decentralized subsystems – toll terminals, for example – and supply them with test data. No data from live operations existed as yet so the test factory wrote a powerful process simulator and generator for static and dynamic test data.
The test factory faced the issue of how to substitute the decentralized subsystems – toll terminals, for example – and supply them with test data. No data from live operations existed as yet so the test factory wrote a powerful process simulator and generator for static and dynamic test data.
- 500,000 OBUs installed, 200,000 customers
- 5,200 autobahn sections
- 0.9–1.2 million journeys per day
- 140 text messages per second for OBU communication
- 17 million controls per year
- 5,000 invoices per day
Three months before the official launch, the toll system went live on the operational test environment with a full inventory of data in the test factory.
Parameters of the permanent test
The climax was reached with permanent testing, since this demanded maximum concentration from everyone involved.
The climax was reached with permanent testing, since this demanded maximum concentration from everyone involved.
- 14-day permanent test
- Day load profiles with peak day and hours
- Daily accounting and document dispatch
- Problems with system (groups) and problem remedies in permanent operations
- Consistency and completeness of all data
The benefits
The successful tests made it possible to launch a highly complex IT system, the only one of its kind in the world, under a full load.
The conclusion
Expert reviewers.
Process and system expert reviewers were able to rely on the test factory's analysis tools: "The numerous measurement points, monitoring the data streams, backlogs and interfaces, the high transparency and, last but not least, the possibility of tracking a single data record in the performance data stream made our work so much easier. And this collaboration spawned a new product: monitoring for a highly complex system," Professor Christian Helfrich, one of the experts, comments.
Process and system expert reviewers were able to rely on the test factory's analysis tools: "The numerous measurement points, monitoring the data streams, backlogs and interfaces, the high transparency and, last but not least, the possibility of tracking a single data record in the performance data stream made our work so much easier. And this collaboration spawned a new product: monitoring for a highly complex system," Professor Christian Helfrich, one of the experts, comments.
Conclusion
"Since the start of operations, the toll system has functioned solidly and reliably in permanent operations at a high level of excellence," explained Federal minister Wolfgang Tiefensee at the press conference held to mark the first anniversary of the toll system launch.
"Since the start of operations, the toll system has functioned solidly and reliably in permanent operations at a high level of excellence," explained Federal minister Wolfgang Tiefensee at the press conference held to mark the first anniversary of the toll system launch.
