Server and method for remotely testing electronic devices

• US 8,254,908 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2009
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lee, Chien-Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu, Jinsong
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elhag, Magdi
• Application Number:
  US12/564,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20100275061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 455423-425
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test

Abstract

An agent server for remotely testing an electronic device is connected to the electronic device via a control interface. The control interface includes a direct power supply and a keyboard test device. The agent server receives test requirements sent from a client via a network, supplies power to a dummy of the electronic device using the direct power supply, so as to start up the electronic device. Furthermore, the agent server operates a keyboard of the electronic device according to the test requirements using the keyboard test device, so as to establish a communication between the electronic device and another electronic device. A video camera captures video and audio information of the electronic device during the communication, and transmits the video and audio information to the client. The client analyzes the video and audio information to determine a test result of the electronic device.

Claims

1. An agent server for remotely testing one or more electronic devices, the agent server communicating with a control center and one or more clients via a network, the agent server comprising:

a storage;

at least one processor; and

one or more programs stored in the storage to be executed by the at least one processor, the one or more programs comprising;

an information receiving module operable to receive test requirements of a test for a selected electronic device sent from a client, wherein the test requirements comprise a request to engage in video communication with a second electronic device, a number of the second electronic device, and a calling instruction; and

a control module operable to control a control interface that connects the agent server and the selected electronic device, to operate a keyboard of the selected electronic device according to the test requirements, so as to establish the video communication, wherein the control interface comprises;

a direct current supply operable to supply power to a dummy of the selected electronic device, to start up the selected electronic device;

a keyboard test device operable to simulate keystroke signals from the keyboard of the selected electronic device, so as to establish the communication between the selected electronic device and the second electronic device, wherein the keyboard test device is a simplified circuit board that uses a plurality of conducting wires to connect each key port on the selected electronic device and a port on the keyboard test device, and initiates a corresponding keystroke signal by causing a short-circuit event between two connected ports of a corresponding conducting wire; and

a data bus connector operable to update corresponding software of the selected electronic device, in response that the failure cause of the test is software related; and

the client operable to receive video and audio information of the selected electronic device captured by a video camera during the video communication, determine whether the selected electronic device passes the test by determining if the video and audio information satisfies a predetermined standard, and analyze hardware and software configuration of the selected electronic device stored in the control center, to determine a failure cause of the test if the video and audio information does not satisfy the predetermined standard.

2. The agent server of claim 1, wherein the video camera captures the video information displayed on a screen of the selected electronic device, and captures the audio information sent from an audio device of the selected electronic device during the communication.

3. The agent server of claim 1, wherein the control center stores a type, a geographical position, the hardware and software configuration, and updated software of the selected electronic device.

4. The agent server of claim 1, wherein the direct power supply interrupts the power supplied to the dummy for a short time if the selected electronic device suddenly halts during the communication, so as to restart the selected electronic device.

5. A method for remotely testing one or more electronic devices using an agent server, the agent server communicating with a control center and one or more clients via a network, the method comprising:

sending test requirements of a test for a selected electronic device by a client, wherein the test requirements comprise a request to engage in video communication with a second electronic device, a number of the second electronic device, and a calling instruction;

receiving the test requirements by the agent server, and supplying power to a dummy of the selected electronic device by a direct current supply of a control interface that connects the agent server and the selected electronic device, so as to start up the selected electronic device;

operating a keyboard of the selected electronic device according to the test requirements by a keyboard test device of the control interface, so as to establish the video communication between the selected electronic device and the second electronic device, wherein the keyboard test device is a simplified circuit board that uses a plurality of conducting wires to connect each key port on the selected electronic device and a port on the keyboard test device, and initiates a corresponding keystroke signal by causing a short-circuit event between two connected ports of a corresponding conducting wire;

capturing video information displayed on a screen of the selected electronic device, and audio information sent from an audio device of the selected electronic device during the video communication by a video camera;

transmitting the video information and audio information to the client; and

determining whether the selected electronic device passes the test by determining if the video and audio information satisfies a predetermined standard.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

interrupting the power supplied to the dummy for a short time if the selected electronic device suddenly halts during the communication, so as to restart the selected electronic device.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

analyzing hardware and software configuration of the selected electronic device stored in the control center, to determine a failure cause of the test if the video and audio information does not satisfy the predetermined standard.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

updating corresponding software of the selected electronic device via a data bus connector of the control interface, in response that the failure cause of the test is software related.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the control center stores a type, a geographical position, the hardware and software configuration, and updated software of the selected electronic device.

10. A non-transitory storage medium storing a set of instructions, the set of instructions capable of being executed by a processor to perform a method for remotely testing one or more electronic devices using an agent server, the agent server communicating with a control center and one or more clients via a network, the method comprising:

sending test requirements of a test for a selected electronic device by a client, wherein the test requirements comprise a request to engage in video communication with a second electronic device, a number of the second electronic device, and a calling instruction;

receiving the test requirements by the agent server, and supplying power to a dummy of the selected electronic device by a direct current supply of a control interface that connects the agent server and the selected electronic device, so as to start up the selected electronic device;

operating a keyboard of the selected electronic device according to the test requirements by a keyboard test device of the control interface, so as to establish the video communication between the selected electronic device and the second electronic device, wherein the keyboard test device is a simplified circuit board that uses a plurality of conducting wires to connect each key port on the selected electronic device and a port on the keyboard test device, and initiates a corresponding keystroke signal by causing a short-circuit event between two connected ports of a corresponding conducting wire;

capturing video information displayed on a screen of the selected electronic device, and audio information sent from an audio device of the selected electronic device during the video communication by a video camera;

transmitting the video information and audio information to the client; and

determining whether the selected electronic device passes the test by determining if the video and audio information satisfies a predetermined standard.

11. The storage medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

interrupting power supplied to the dummy for a short time if the selected electronic device suddenly halts during the communication, so as to restart the selected electronic device.

12. The storage medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

analyzing hardware and software configuration of the selected electronic device stored in the control center, to determine a failure cause of the test if the video and audio information does not satisfy the predetermined standard.

13. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

updating corresponding software of the selected electronic device via a data bus connector of the control interface, in response that the failure cause of the test is software related.

14. The storage medium of claim 10, wherein the control center stores a type, a geographical position, hardware and software configuration, and updated software of the selected electronic device.