To reveal systematically the state of art of relevant sub-processes related to reliability in software test, management of test resource and cost, optimal release are studied in this article. Firstly, research contents are divided into four parts. Secondly, test resource allocation and control, cost model, optimal release, and relation of four parts are discussed, and then the formulations are also described. Thirdly, the related developing technologies are classified and summarized in accordance with software architecture modeling, test process modeling and nonlinear optimum or simulation solving. Furthermore, research contents are unified from five aspects and the latest models are classified and summarized respectively. Finally, future research directions are put forward.