Automated validation and calibration portable test systems and methods

• US 10,701,571 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2016
• Issued: 06/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advantest America, Inc. (Advantest Corporation)
• Original Assignee: W2BI, Inc. (Advantest Corporation)
• Inventors: Doshi, Dinesh, Elston, Mark, Jain, Vipul, Kucheriya, Amit, Diperna, Derek, Liu, Liqun, Leventhal, Ira
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Iftekhar A
• Application Number:
  US15/236,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20180049050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 703 20
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

In one embodiment, a test system comprises: a network access point simulation component, a local control component, and a reference component. The network access point simulation component is configured to simulate communication network access point operations comprising test interactions with user equipment. The number of devices under test included in the user equipment and distinct network access points that are coincidentally simulated are variable. The local control component is configured to direct the network access point simulation component and to control the test interactions with the user equipment. The local control component comprises a test executive operable to direct simulation of communication network operations and the test interactions in accordance with information received from the remote control components. The reference component is operable to communicatively couple with the network access point simulation component similar to the user equipment and validate the test interactions.

Claims

1. A test system comprising:

a network access point simulation component configured to simulate communication network access point operations comprising test interactions with user equipment, wherein a number of devices under test included in the user equipment and distinct network access points that are coincidentally simulated are variable;

a local control component configured to direct the network access point simulation component and to control the test interactions with the user equipment, wherein the local control component comprises a test executive operable to direct simulation of communication network operations and the test interactions in accordance with information received from remote control components; and

a reference component operable to communicatively couple with the network access point simulation component and to be utilized in verifying interactions between the reference component and a local test system, including verifying communication signal characteristics and simulated component_operations of the network access point simulation component and the local control component; and

a test box communicatively coupled to the network access point simulation component, wherein the test box comprises material operable to shield contents of the test box from electromagnetic radiation interference, and wherein further contents of the test box comprises the reference component.

2. The test system of claim 1, wherein the network access point simulation component, local control component and reference component are portable.

3. The test system of claim 1, wherein results of verifying interactions between the reference component and a local test system are utilized in calibration directed to correcting issues with the interactions.

4. The test system of claim 1, wherein the reference component is configured to simulate at least a portion of a functionality of the user equipment.

5. The test system of claim 1, wherein the reference component is a trusted component with reliable communication characteristics and features.

6. The test system of claim 1, wherein the reference component enables validation and calibration of communications with devices under test included in the user equipment.

7. The test system of claim 1, wherein the reference component enables validation and calibration of the network access point simulation component operations and local control component operations in a controlled local test environment.

8. The test system of claim 1, wherein the reference component is operable to communicatively couple with the remote control components.

9. A test system comprising:

a cellular network access point simulation component configured to simulate cellular communication network access point operations comprising test interactions with user equipment, wherein a number of devices under test included in the user equipment and distinct network access points that are coincidentally simulated are variable;

a local control component configured to direct the cellular network access point simulation component and to control the test interactions with the user equipment, wherein the local control component comprises a test executive operable to direct simulation of cellular communication network operations and the test interactions in accordance with information received from-remote control components; and

a reference component operable to communicatively couple with the cellular network access point simulation component and validate operations of the network access point simulation component and operations of the local control component, including verifying successful simulation of cellular communication network operations simulated by the cellular network access point simulation component and the local control component; and

a test box communicatively coupled to the cellular access point simulation component, wherein the test box comprises material operable to shield contents of the test box from electromagnetic radiation interference, and wherein further contents of the test box comprises the reference component.

10. The test system of claim 9, wherein the reference component is configured to simulate at least a portion of a functionality of the user equipment.

11. The test system of claim 9, wherein the network access point simulation component, local control component and reference component are portable.

12. The test system of claim 9, further comprising calibrating the network access point simulation component and local control component.

13. The test system of claim 12, wherein the verifying and calibrating the network access point simulation component and local control component is performed locally.