Modular test instrument
DCFirst Claim
1. An instrument, comprising in combination a base unit and an application module,said base unit providing predetermined non-application-specific functions, and adapted to be assembled to a single corresponding application-specific application module selected from a group thereof, each application module mating with said base unit in accordance with a predetermined physical and electrical interface, andeach said application module storing application-specific program data and software and providing application-specific physical interface means for providing predetermined application-specific communication with an apparatus, device, or system to be tested,wherein when said base unit and a corresponding application module have been cooperatively assembled, the combination is capable of performing one or more predetermined end-user functions, the end-user functions provided by a given application module being specific to a single application, andwherein neither said base unit nor said application module is operable to perform end-user functions without the other.
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Abstract
A modular test instrument comprises a base unit and one of a selection of application modules, neither being capable of performing end-user functions without the other. When physically assembled to one another, the base unit and application module comprise a structurally unitary device specialized for performance of application-specific end-user functions.
The base unit is generic to all types of test to be provided, and comprises a display, a power supply, a user interface, and generic software to operate the display and user interface. Each application module is connected to the base unit in the same manner, so that the same base unit can be employed with a wide variety of application modules. The application modules can be readily and conveniently removed from and assembled to the base unit.
The application-specific application modules each include a physical interface for establishing signal-communicating connection to the equipment to be tested, and application-specific program data and software, including information required to provide appropriate test signals, test messages, and the like. Each application module also stores user interface software for providing an application-specific user interface.
When an application module is assembled to a base unit, polling software comprised by the base unit determines the identity of the application module, and determines whether it stores any software or other program data not previously copied to the base unit'"'"'s memory; if not, the copying step is begun automatically upon assembly.
62 Citations
64 Claims
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1. An instrument, comprising in combination a base unit and an application module,
said base unit providing predetermined non-application-specific functions, and adapted to be assembled to a single corresponding application-specific application module selected from a group thereof, each application module mating with said base unit in accordance with a predetermined physical and electrical interface, and each said application module storing application-specific program data and software and providing application-specific physical interface means for providing predetermined application-specific communication with an apparatus, device, or system to be tested, wherein when said base unit and a corresponding application module have been cooperatively assembled, the combination is capable of performing one or more predetermined end-user functions, the end-user functions provided by a given application module being specific to a single application, and wherein neither said base unit nor said application module is operable to perform end-user functions without the other.
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14. A modular test instrument for telecommunications testing, comprising the testing of one or more of a telecommunications apparatus, communication facility, or overall system operation, said instrument comprising a base unit and an application module assembled to one another,
said base unit comprising: -
a display device for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI); user interface means for accepting user input; means for storing generic user input software and GUI software for operating said user interface means and said display, respectively; means for being physically assembled to and placed in signal-communication contact with an associated application module; and means for copying application-specific information from an associated application module upon assembly thereof; and said application module comprising; means for being physically assembled to and placed in signal-communication contact with an associated base unit; application-specific connection means for establishing signal communication between said instrument and an apparatus, facility, or system to be tested; and means for storing application-specific GUI (ASGUI) software for cooperating with said generic software stored by said base unit to provide an ASGUI including application-specific user prompts for prompting the user to input specific information needed in order to select, specify, and/or perform a specified test. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An application module adapted to be physically assembled to and placed in signal-communicating relationship with a base unit of specified type so as to comprise an instrument capable of performing application-specific end-user functions,
said base unit of specified type including: -
a display device for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI); user interface means for accepting user input; means for storing generic user input software and GUI software for operating said user interface means and said display device, respectively; means for being physically assembled to and placed in signal-communication contact with an associated application module; and means for copying application-specific information from an associated application module upon assembly thereof; and said application module comprising; means for being physically assembled to and placed in signal-communication contact with an associated base unit of said specified type; application-specific connection means for establishing signal-communicating connection to an apparatus, facility, or system for performance of said end-user functions with respect to a predetermined apparatus, facility, or system; and means for storing application-specific program data and software for cooperating with said generic software comprised by said base unit for prompting the user to perform predetermined application-specific steps and/or to input specific information needed in order to select, specify, and/or perform a specified end-user function. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of assembling an instrument specialized for performance of one or more predetermined end-user functions, said instrument comprising a base unit, including user interface means and means for storing generic user interface software providing non-application-specific user interface functions, and an application module, providing application-specific physical interface functions and storing application-specific program data and software, including functional and user interface software, said user interface software stored by said application module operating in cooperation with said user interface means and generic user interface software stored by said base unit to provide an application-specific user interface, said method comprising the steps of:
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selecting an application module providing application-specific physical interface functions and storing application-specific program data and software appropriate to a predetermined end-user function of interest; physically assembling said application module to said base unit to form a structurally integral unit, such that signal-communicating electrical connections are made therebetween; determining the extent to which said application-specific program data and software has not been previously copied from said application module to said base unit; copying said application-specific program data and software from said application module to said base unit as required; and operating said user interface means in accordance with said application-specific program data and software to prompt a user to perform predetermined application-specific steps and input application-specific required information needed to select and perform an end-user function, and operating said application module in accordance with said application-specific functional software to perform said selected end-user function. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A method of carrying out one or more specified end-user functions with respect to an apparatus, facility, or system, comprising the steps of:
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providing a base unit, including user interface means and means for storing software providing non-application-specific user interface functions, and an application module, providing application-specific physical interface means and storing application-specific program data and software, assembling said base unit and said application module into a unitary physical assembly and thus establishing signal communication therebetween; establishing signal-communicating connection between said apparatus, facility, or system and said application-specific physical interface means; said base unit then determining an identification of said program data and software stored by said application module, and comparing said identification of said program data and software to any program data and software having been stored by said base unit; said base unit then copying any program data and software stored by said application module needed for performance of said end-user function(s) not having been previously stored by said base unit into said base unit; and carrying out said end user function. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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Specification