Method and system for the interactive testing of assembled wireless communication devices

• US 20060064266A1
• Filed: 09/22/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Mok, Winston
• Granted Patent: US 7,117,112 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/117
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/24 Arrangements for testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method for testing wireless communication devices in stages in a production line for the assembly of said devices, comprises assembling each respective wireless communication device such that each device includes an interactive test component for interactively testing the device; and testing each device using the interactive test component at an interactive test stage of the production line. The testing maybe performed at the interactive test stage without an external test system. A test result may be stored to the device for storing to an external testing database at a subsequent testing stage and for controlling the performing of subsequent testing.

Claims

1. A method for testing wireless communication devices in stages in a production line for the assembly of said devices, comprising:

assembling each respective wireless communication device such that each device includes an interactive test component for interactively testing the device; and

testing said each device using the interactive test component at an interactive test stage of the production line.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the testing is performed at the interactive test stage without an external test system.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising storing a respective result of said testing to said each device.

4. The method of claim 3 comprising accessing said respective result from said each device at a non-interactive test stage for at least one of storing to an external testing database and non-interactive testing of said each device.

5. The method of claim 4 including coupling said each device to an external testing system for performing at least one of said storing and non-interactive testing.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said coupling includes coupling said each device to a test fixture for coupling to the external testing system, said fixture comprising no mechanical dynamics for actuating the wireless communication devices.

7. A method of testing assembled wireless communications devices in a production line comprising:

receiving an assembled wireless communications device in the production line for testing in accordance with a plurality of tests comprising a) one or more interactive tests each requiring a physical actuation or mechanical dynamics to perform the interactive test and b) one or more non-interactive tests;

at an interactive test stage, performing each of the interactive tests using an interactive test component assembled into said device; and

at a non-interactive test stage, performing the non-interactive tests.

8. The method of claim 7 comprising storing a result of the interactive tests to said device.

9. The method of claim 7 including, at the non-interactive test stage, accessing said result stored to said device for at least one of storing to an external testing database and controlling the performing of the non-interactive tests.

10. The method of claim 7 comprising coupling the device to an external testing system for performing the non-interactive tests.

11. The method of 10 comprising storing a result of the interactive test to an external testing database.

12. A production line testing system for testing wireless communication devices during assembly, comprising:

an interactive test stage in a production line for interactively testing assembled wireless communication devices, said devices assembled to have an interactive testing component operable to interactively test said devices without an external testing system; and

a non-interactive test stage in the production line for non-interactively testing assembled wireless communication devices.

13. The production line testing system of claim 12 wherein the non-interactive test stage comprises an external testing system for performing the non-interactive tests.

14. The production line testing system of claim 13 wherein said external testing system is responsive to a test result of the interactive test stage.

15. A wireless communication device comprising an interactive test component for interactively testing the device.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the test component stores a result of the interactive testing for at least one of subsequent storing to an external testing database and controlling subsequent non-interactive testing of the device.