METHOD FOR TESTING EMBEDDED WIRELESS TRANSCEIVER WITH MINIMAL INTERACTION BETWEEN WIRELESS TRANSCEIVER AND HOST PROCESSOR DURING TESTING

• US 20070243825A1
• Filed: 04/14/2006
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LitePoint Corporation (Teradyne Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: LitePoint Corporation (Teradyne Incorporated)
• Inventors: Madsen, Benny, Olgaard, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 7,689,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.110
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/327 Received signal code power [RSCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/3911 Fading models or fading generators

Abstract

A method for testing a wireless transceiver embedded within a wireless data communication system that also includes a host processor with minimal interaction between the wireless transceiver and the host processor during such testing. The wireless signal interface between the wireless data communication system and external test equipment is used to convey test initiation or data signals from the external test equipment to the wireless data communication system, and responsive data or acknowledgement signals from the wireless data communication system to the external test equipment.

Claims

1. A method for testing data signal transmissions of a wireless transceiver embedded within a wireless data communication system that also includes a host processor with minimal interaction between said wireless transceiver and said host processor during said testing, comprising:

transferring test firmware via said host controller to said wireless transceiver;

setting said wireless transceiver in a test operation mode;

transmitting, with said wireless transceiver, one or more test data signals in response to reception, by said wireless transceiver, of one or more predetermined test initiation signals from a control signal source external to said wireless data communication system; and

measuring, with a test system external to said wireless data communication system, one or more parameters of each one of said one or more transmitted test data signals.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising loading said test firmware into said host controller prior to said transferring said test firmware via said host controller to said wireless transceiver, wherein said test firmware includes a plurality of data corresponding to a test protocol.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said test firmware further includes another plurality of data corresponding to a test sequence.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said setting said wireless transceiver in a test operation mode comprises setting said wireless transceiver in a test operation mode responsive to said test firmware transfer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said setting said wireless transceiver in a test operation mode comprises setting said wireless transceiver in a test operation mode responsive to reception of a test mode control signal received from said host controller.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said setting said wireless transceiver in a test operation mode comprises awaiting reception, by said wireless transceiver, of one or more predetermined test initiation signals from a control signal source external to said wireless data communication system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said setting said wireless transceiver in a test operation mode comprises transmitting, with said wireless transceiver, a ready signal indicative of said wireless transceiver being in said test operation mode.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting, with said wireless transceiver, one or more test data signals in response to reception, by said wireless transceiver, of one or more predetermined test initiation signals from a control signal source external to said wireless data communication system comprises transmitting, with said wireless transceiver, one or more test data signals in response to reception, by said wireless transceiver, of a GOTO-NEXT command signal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting, with said wireless transceiver, one or more test data signals in response to reception, by said wireless transceiver, of one or more predetermined test initiation signals from a control signal source external to said wireless data communication system comprises transmitting, with said wireless transceiver, an acknowledgement signal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting, with said wireless transceiver, one or more test data signals in response to reception, by said wireless transceiver, of one or more predetermined test initiation signals from a control signal source external to said wireless data communication system comprises transmitting, with said wireless transceiver, a plurality of test signals in conformance with a predetermined test sequence.

11. A method for testing data signal reception of a wireless transceiver embedded within a wireless data communication system that also includes a host processor with minimal interaction between said wireless transceiver and said host processor during said testing, comprising:

transferring test firmware via said host controller to said wireless transceiver;

setting said wireless transceiver in a test operation mode;

receiving, with said wireless transceiver, one or more test data signals from a data signal source external to said wireless data communication system; and

transmitting, with said wireless transceiver, at least one acknowledgement signal in response to reception of each one said one or more test data signals that is recognized by said wireless transceiver as one of a plurality of predetermined data signal types.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising loading said test firmware into said host controller prior to said transferring said test firmware via said host controller to said wireless transceiver, wherein said test firmware includes a plurality of data corresponding to a test protocol.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said test firmware further includes another plurality of data corresponding to a test sequence.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving, with said wireless transceiver, at least one test initiation signal prior to said receiving, with said wireless transceiver, one or more test data signals from a data signal source external to said wireless data communication system.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said setting said wireless transceiver in a test operation mode comprises setting said wireless transceiver in a test operation mode responsive to said test firmware transfer.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said setting said wireless transceiver in a test operation mode comprises setting said wireless transceiver in a test operation mode responsive to reception of a test mode control signal received from said host controller.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said setting said wireless transceiver in a test operation mode comprises awaiting reception, by said wireless transceiver, of one or more predetermined test initiation signals from a control signal source external to said wireless data communication system.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein said setting said wireless transceiver in a test operation mode comprises transmitting, with said wireless transceiver, a ready signal indicative of said wireless transceiver being in said test operation mode.