scope:

The present document, "A generic approach to interoperability testing", gives general guidance on the specification and execution of interoperability tests for communication systems specifically in the context of product certification. It provides a framework within which interoperability test specifications for a wide range of product types can be developed. The guidelines are expressed as recommendations rather than strict rules and leave enough freedom to allow test specifiers to adopt and adapt processes to suit each particular project while still ensuring that test specifications accurately reflect the requirements of the base standards and can be executed consistently across a range of configurations.

Interoperability testing is the structured and formal testing of functions supported remotely by two or more items of equipment communicating by means of standardized protocols. It is not the detailed verification of protocol requirements specified in a conformance test suite, neither is it the less formal development testing often associated with "plug-fest" and "interop" events (frequently referred to as "bake-offs"). A methodology for the latter type of testing is described in EG 202 810 [i.8].

Although some consideration is given within the methodology to the operating and reporting aspects of interoperability testing, the primary focus of the present document is on the specification of interoperability testing architectures, test plans and test suites.