Modular test instrument

• US 6,738,454 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2003
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Acterna LLC (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Royle, David J., Mohammadian, Ali M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC MINH
• Application Number:
  US10/370,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20030174813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 379/1.01, 379/1.03, 379/1.04, 379/21, 379/22.06, 379/22.07, 379/24, 379/26.01, 379/27.01, 379/27.07, 379/29-3-, 379/29.1
• US Class Current: 379/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/24 Arrangements for testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/244 for multiplex systems

Abstract

A method for testing various types of devices or systems employs a modular test instrument comprising 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 device or system 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.

Claims

1. A method of employing a modular test instrument for testing an apparatus, system, or device, comprising the steps of:

selecting an application module for connection to a base unit, said application module being intended for performance of one or more application-specific tests of said apparatus, system, or device, said application module being selected from a group thereof,

connecting said application module to a base unit,

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

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 said apparatus, device, or system to be tested,

wherein when said base unit and said corresponding application module have been cooperatively assembled, said display comprised by said base unit is enabled to display an application-specific GUI (ASGUI), and the combination is capable of performing one or more application-specific tests of said apparatus, system, or device, said application-specific tests of said apparatus, system, or device being specific to testing of a specific type of apparatus, system, or device, and

wherein neither said base unit nor said application module is separately operable to perform said application-specific tests of said apparatus, system, or device;

connecting the combination of said base unit and said corresponding application module to said apparatus, device, or system to be tested, and

employing the combination of said base unit and said application module to perform testing of said apparatus, system, or device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said display device comprised by said base unit is a touch-sensitive display operated by said generic control functions provided by said base unit to accept user input responsive to a user contacting predetermined areas thereof, whereby said predetermined areas of said touch-sensitive display may be defined differently with respect to different tests to be performed by application-specific software stored by said different application modules, as part of ASGUIs defined for each application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein an ASGUI is defined for each application-specific test by provision of a sequence of screens of information each identifying one or more areas on said display device for prompting user input, the sequence of said screens displayed in any given operation of said instrument to perform a test varying responsive to the input provided by the user responsive to said prompting information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said specific application is telecommunications testing, comprising the testing of one or more of a telecommunications apparatus, communication facility, or overall system operation, and wherein an application module is selected corresponding to the communication protocol implemented by said apparatus, facilities, or systems, and is assembled to said base unit for telecommunications testing thereof.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said sequence of screens provided to a user for telecommunications testing includes one or more screens giving the user the option to select a test to be performed, and wherein the user may specify a given test by individual input of parameters for controlling said application module to perform a given test in order to test an associated apparatus, facility, or system, or by selecting a predetermined test from a library of tests stored by said application module, each stored test comprising a corresponding selection of said parameters.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said different application modules each include memory means storing ASGUI software defining an ASGUI for the corresponding application-specific tests, and wherein said non-application-specific software stored by said base unit comprises GUI software for copying and storing said ASGUI software from said application module, and for then displaying the sequence of screens defined by said ASGUI on said display.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said base unit comprises polling software for determining an identification of ASGUI software stored by an associated application module when assembled to said base unit, for determining whether said ASGUI software has previously been stored by said base unit, and, if not, for copying said ASGUI software from said application module to said base unit for displaying the sequence of screens defined by said ASGUI on said display.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said base unit and said application modules each comprise separate housings adapted to be conveniently assembled to one another to form a structurally integral unit, and wherein said polling software comprised by said base unit operates automatically without user input upon such assembly.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said base unit and said application modules each comprise separate housings adapted to be conveniently assembled to one another to form a structurally integral unit, and wherein said base unit comprises means, operated automatically without user input upon such assembly, for identifying said application module and for copying said application-specific program data and software stored by said application module into said base unit as needed for performance of said tests.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said base unit comprises power supply means for powering both said base unit and said application module when connected thereto, said application-specific program data and software stored by said application module being stored in non-volatile memory.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said power supply means comprised by said base unit comprises a battery and battery condition monitor means, said battery condition monitor means providing a signal to said application module if said battery is detected to be significantly discharged, and said application module comprising means for responding thereto by storing updated data.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein latching deadman relay means connecting input and output connections of said instrument are also set upon detection of said signal.

13. A method of testing an apparatus, system or device, employing an instrument specialized for performance of one or more predetermined tests thereof by assembling an application module specifically intended for testing of said apparatus, system, or device to a base unit, said 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 said 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 test 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:

selecting an application module providing application-specific physical interface functions and storing application-specific program data and software appropriate to a predetermined test 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;

copying said application-specific program data and software from said application module to said base unit as required;

connecting the combination of said base unit and said corresponding application module to said apparatus, device, or system to be tested, 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 test, and

operating said application module in accordance with said application-specific functional and ASGUI software to perform said selected test.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said display device and said user interface means comprised by said base unit together comprise a touch-sensitive display operated by said base unit to accept user input responsive to a user contacting predetermined areas thereof, whereby said predetermined areas of said touch-sensitive display may be defined differently with respect to different applications by ASGUI software stored by different application modules, as part of an ASGUI defined for each application.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein an ASGUI is defined for each application-specific test by provision of a sequence of screens of information each identifying one or more areas on said display device for prompting user input, the sequence of said screens displayed in any given operation of said instrument to perform a test varying responsive to the input provided by the user responsive to said prompting information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said application is telecommunications testing, and said application-specific tests comprise testing of one or more of a telecommunications apparatus, communication facility, or overall system operation, and wherein an application module is selected providing physical interface functions corresponding to the communication protocol implemented by said apparatus, facilities, or systems.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said sequence of screens provided to a user for telecommunications testing includes one or more screens giving the user the option to select a test for performance, to specify a given test by individual input of parameters for controlling said instrument to perform a given test in order to test an associated apparatus, facility, or system, or to select a predetermined test from a library of tests stored by said application module, each stored test comprising a corresponding selection of said parameters.

18. The method of claim 15, comprising the further steps of said base unit polling an associated application module when assembled to said base unit for determining an identification of ASGUI software stored thereby, determining whether said ASGUI software has previously been stored by said base unit, and if not, copying said ASGUI software from said application module to said base unit.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said base unit and said application modules each comprise separate housings adapted to be conveniently assembled to one another to form a structurally integral unit, and wherein said polling step is performed by said base unit automatically without user input upon such assembly.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein said base unit and said application modules each comprise separate housings adapted to be conveniently assembled to one another to form a structurally integral unit, and wherein said base unit determines the extent to which said application-specific program data and software has not been previously copied from said application module to said base unit and copies said application-specific program data and software from said application module to said base unit as required automatically and without user input upon such assembly.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein said base unit comprises power supply means for powering said base unit and said application module upon assembly thereof, said application module comprising non-volatile memory for storing said application-specific functional and user interface software.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said power supply means comprised by said base unit comprises a battery and battery condition monitor means, and said method further comprises the steps of said battery condition monitor means providing a signal to said application module if said battery is detected to be significantly discharged, and said application module responding thereto by storing updated data.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein latching deadman relay means connecting input and output connections of said instrument are also set upon detection of said signal.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein said signal-communicating electrical connections made between said application module to said base unit upon their assembly are effected by insertion of a multipin male connector into a multipin female receptacle, and said signals include the following:

Power ground

Bidirectional handshake

Bidirectional asynchronous data

Power from base unit to application module

Application Module Present.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said signals further include the following:

Audio ground

Speaker audio

Microphone audio

Loss of Power Warning.

26. The method of claim 24, 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.