SET TOP BOXES UNDER TEST

• US 20170302994A1
• Filed: 07/06/2017
• Published: 10/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Contec LLC (Contec LLC /Management/)
• Original Assignee: Contec LLC (Contec LLC /Management/)
• Inventors: Kumar, Samant, Kumar, Dinesh, Diddimani, Shivashankar, Samaiya, Gunjan
• Granted Patent: US 10,291,959 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/04 for receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43635 HDMI
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4425 Monitoring of client processing errors or hardware failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A system for testing multiple set top boxes independently and simultaneously using different types of device probes is disclosed. The system includes real-time, bi-directional/asynchronous communication and interaction between system components.

Claims

1. A system for testing a plurality of devices, the system comprising:

a universal tester comprising a plurality of sets of testing probes and a plurality of web sockets, wherein

at least two sets of testing probes of the plurality of sets of testing probes are configured to communicate with corresponding ports of respective devices under test (DUTs) when installed in the universal tester for testing; and

the plurality of web sockets enable real-time bi-directional and asynchronous communication between a platform-independent user interface and the universal tester for simultaneously testing the DUTs by the universal tester.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sets of testing probes comprises at least one of a local area network (LAN) probe, a multimedia over coax alliance (MoCA) probe, a wireless local area network (WLAN) probe, an Ethernet wide area (WAN) probe, and a wireless probe via an antenna.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of test configuration modules operatively connected to the universal tester, the plurality of test configuration modules containing test configuration information for a plurality of different makes and models of DUTs.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of test environmental modules operatively connected to the universal tester, the plurality of test environmental modules containing test environment information for a plurality of different makes and models of DUTs.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one speed test module operatively connected to the universal tester, the at least one speed test module configured to evaluate media network connections and accessibility of each device under test (DUT).

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the universal tester further comprises a core testing processor configured to

read serial number information associated with each DUT, and

based on the serial number read from each DUT, selectively retrieve make and model information associated with each read DUT, the make and model information stored in a database operatively connected to the core testing processor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the core testing processor is further configured to determine success or failure of a test of each DUT based on test configuration parameters a and output results of testing each DUT.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the core testing processor is further configured to halt test execution based on test configuration parameters.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the core testing processor is further configured to send a success message to a user via at least one of the plurality of web sockets.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a web server operatively connected to the core testing processor, the web server configured to transmit the success message to a user.

11. A method of testing a plurality of devices, comprising the steps of:

installing a plurality of devices under test (DUTs) in a testing station, the testing station providing an operative connection between each installed DUT and a universal tester containing a core testing processor;

reading serial number information associated with each installed DUT;

based on the serial number read from each installed DUT, extracting make and model information associated with each read DUT, the make and model information stored in a database operatively connected to the core testing processor;

loading test configuration information into the core testing processor, the test configuration information selected from a plurality of test configuration modules operatively connected to the core testing processor, selection of the test configuration information based on the make and model information of each DUT determined from the step of reading the serial number information associated with each installed DUT; and

executing at least one test corresponding to each installed DUT.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of loading test environment information for each installed DUT into the core testing processor, the test environment information selectively retrieved from a plurality of test environmental modules operatively connected to the core testing processor.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of communicating testing feedback information to a user via a browser user interface and web sockets operatively connected to the core testing processor.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the testing feedback information comprises at least a success message sent upon each completion of testing of a DUT.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

storing testing results of each installed DUT in a storage medium;

aggregating the stored testing results with earlier-stored data reflecting results of previous testing of each DUT subjected to testing before the step of installing the plurality of DUTs in the testing station, a combination of the stored testing results with the earlier-stored data resulting in aggregated data; and

generating summary reports from the aggregated data, the summary reports providing an overview of unit information and characteristics of each DUT for which aggregated data is available.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein each summary report also provides trend information on each DUT for which aggregated data is available, and wherein the unit information comprises at least user-level data and access account activity.