REMOTE TESTING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20100218044A1
• Filed: 06/05/2008
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Astrium Limited (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Astrium Limited (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Roblett, Terence Alfred, Ward, Graham Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,145,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/18 Comparators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/30 for subscriber's lines , for the local loop

Abstract

A method and system of supporting and testing equipment distant from the support system are provided. The method includes the steps of forming a communications link between the equipment and the support system, using the support system to measure performance of the equipment and to provide a set of performance data, providing library data relating to the equipment, comparing the performance data with the library data and analysing the compared data whereby to provide a performance diagnosis of the equipment, all in a substantially continuous real time operation.

Claims

1. A remote testing system, comprising:

a control system;

a device to be tested remote from the control system; and

a test system local to the device, the test system being connectable to the device to perform device testing;

the control system being arranged to establish a communications link with the test system;

wherein the control system is configured to receive identification information associated with the device, to determine one or more tests to be applied to the device based on the identification information and to transmit test information defining the one or more tests to be applied to the device.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control system is arranged to transmit test software to the test system for running on the test system to apply the test information to the device.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the test software includes information relating to the device.

4. A system according to claim 1, comprising:

a distributed database system for storing device related information for each of a plurality of devices.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control system is arranged to receive results of the tests to be applied to the device, and to compare the results with results predicted from a system model.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the system model comprises:

a combination of a device model and a test system model.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control system is arranged to receive raw data from the device in response to applied tests and to perform measurements on the data at the control system.

8. A method of testing a device remotely from a control system, comprising:

establishing a communications link between the control system and a test system local to the device;

receiving identification information for the device at the control system over the communications link;

determining one or more tests to be applied to the device based on the identification information;

transmitting test information defining the one or more tests to the test system; and

running test software on the test system to apply the test information to the device.

9. A method according to claim 8, comprising:

searching a distributed database system for information relating to the device; and

transmitting the device related information to the test system.

10. A method according to claim 9, comprising:

obtaining one or more measurements from the device at the test system; and

transmitting the measurements from the test system to the control system.

11. A method according to claim 9, comprising:

obtaining raw data from the device at the test system;

transmitting measurements from the test system to the control system; and

performing measurements on the data at the control system.

12. A method according to claim 10, comprising:

analysing the received measurements; and

transmitting a diagnosis to a user of the test system, substantially in realtime.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein analysing the received measurements comprises:

comparing the measurements with a set of expected measurements.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the set of expected measurements are determined by applying the tests to a system model.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the system model comprises a combination of a model of the device to be tested with a model of the test system.

16. A computer program, which when executed by a processor, is configured to perform a method according to claim 9.

17. A remote testing system, comprising:

a control system;

a plurality of devices to be tested remote from the control system; and

respective test systems local to the devices, the test systems being connectable to the devices to perform device testing;

the control system being arranged to establish a communications link with each of the test systems;

wherein the control system is configured to receive identification information associated with each of the devices, to determine one or more tests to be applied to the devices based on the identification information and to transmit test information defining the one or more tests to be applied to each of the devices; and

, for each device, the control system is arranged to receive results of tests applied to the device, to analyse the results of the tests and to recommend further action, substantially in real time.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the control system is arranged to search for information relating to a device in a plurality of distributed databases, in response to receiving the identification information for the device.