Modular test instrument
DCFirst Claim
1. A telecommunication testing instrument, comprising in combination a base unit and an application module,said base unit providing predetermined non-application-specific functions, and comprising a display device for display of a graphical user interface (GUI), said predetermined non-application-specific functions provided by said base unit including generic control functions required to operate said display device, said base unit being adapted to be assembled to a 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, including application-specific GUI 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 applications 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 said display comprised by said base unit is enabled to display an application-specific GUI, and wherein neither said base unit nor said application module is operable to perform said predetermined 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 nodule 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.
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Citations
61 Claims
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1. A telecommunication testing instrument, comprising in combination a base unit and an application module,
said base unit providing predetermined non-application-specific functions, and comprising a display device for display of a graphical user interface (GUI), said predetermined non-application-specific functions provided by said base unit including generic control functions required to operate said display device, said base unit being adapted to be assembled to a 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, including application-specific GUI 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 applications 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 said display comprised by said base unit is enabled to display an application-specific GUI, and wherein neither said base unit nor said application module is operable to perform said predetermined end-user functions without the other.
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13. A telecommunication testing instrument, comprising in combination a base unit and an application module,
said base unit providing predetermined non-application-specific functions, and comprising a display device for display of a graphical user interface (GUI), said predetermined non-application-specific functions provided by said base unit including generic control functions required to operate said display device, said base unit being adapted to be assembled to a 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, including application-specific GUI software, and providing application-specific physical interface means for providing predetermined application-specific communication with an apparatus, device, or system to be tested, and 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 said display comprised by said base unit is enabled to display an application-specific GUI.
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26. A telecommunication testing instrument, comprising in combination a base unit and an application module,
said base unit providing predetermined non-application-specific functions, and comprising a display device for display of a graphical user interface (GUI), said predetermined non-application-specific functions provided by said base unit including generic control functions required to operate said display device, said base unit being adapted to be assembled to a 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, including application-specific GUI (ASGUI) software, and providing application-specific physical interface means for providing predetermined application-specific communication with an apparatus, device, or system to be tested, and wherein when said base unit and a corresponding application module have been cooperatively assembled, (1) the combination is capable of performing one or more application-specific functions that cannot be performed by said base unit in the absence of the application module, and (2) said display comprised by said base unit is enabled to display an application-specific GUI (ASGUI).
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38. A base unit adapted to be assembled to an application module selected from a group thereof in order to comprise a telecommunication testing instrument capable of performing application-specific functions, said base unit comprising:
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display means for providing a graphical user interface (GUI), a power supply, an external communications interface, memory means for storing non-application-specific software for performing external communication functions and for supporting generic user interface functions, and connection means providing a predetermined physical and electrical interface whereby said base unit may be connected to an application module selected from a group thereof conforming to said predetermined physical and electrical interface, wherein each said application module of said group thereof comprises application-specific physical interface means for providing predetermined application-specific communication with an apparatus, device, or system to be tested, and stores application-specific program data and software, including application-specific GUI (ASGUI) software, wherein when said base unit and a corresponding application module selected from a group thereof have been cooperatively assembled, (1) the combination is capable of performing one or more application-specific functions that cannot be performed by said base unit in the absence of the application module, and (2) said display comprised by said base unit is enabled to display an application-specific GUI (ASGUI). - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method of assembling a telecommunication testing instrument specialized for performance of one or more predetermined end-user functions, said instrument comprising a base unit, including user interface means comprising a display device for display of a graphical user interface (GUI), and means for storing generic GUI software providing non-application-specific GUI functions including generic control functions required to operate said display device and to obtain user input, and an application module selected from a group of such application modules, each such application module providing application-specific physical interface functions and storing application-specific program data and software, including functional and user interface software for controlling said display device to display an application-specific GUI (ASGUI) for prompting a user to perform predetermined application-specific steps and input application-specific required information needed to select and perform a corresponding predetermined end-user function not capable of being performed by either said application module or said base unit in the absence of the other, said method comprising the steps of:
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selecting from a group of such application modules 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 selected application module to said base unit to form a structurally integral unit, such that signal-communicating electrical connections are made therebetween;
copying said application-specific program data and software from said selected 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 control said display device to display said application-specific GUI (ASGUI) and thereby to prompt a user to perform predetermined application-specific steps and input application-specific required information needed to select and perform a predetermined end-user function, and operating said selected application module in accordance with said application-specific functional and ASGUI software to perform said selected end-user function. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
Power ground Bidirectional handshake Bidirectional asynchronous data Power from base unit to application module Application Module Present.
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60. The method of claim 59, wherein said signals further include the following:
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Audio ground Speaker audio Microphone audio Loss of Power Warning.
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61. The method of claim 59, wherein said step of copying said application-specific user interface software from said application module to said base unit as required is performed upon detection of the Application Module Present signal upon physical assembly of said application module to said base unit to form a structurally integral unit, such that said signal-communicating electrical connections are made therebetween.
Specification