Time triggered ethernet system testing means and method
First Claim
1. A method is provided for in-place testing of Time Triggered Ethernet (TTE) command and control (C&
- C) system having real input devices and output interfaces that communicate through one or more switches during first predetermined time intervals set by a time scheduling system associated with the C&
C system as to when outputs from the real input devices can be sent to the output interfaces, comprising;
providing a simulation subsystem having therein simulated input devices adapted to provide predetermined or dynamically calculated outputs mimicking the outputs of the real input devices and communicating with the output interfaces through at least a further switch during second predetermined time intervals set by a time scheduling system associated with the simulation subsystem system as to when outputs from the simulated input devices can be sent to the output interfaces; and
adjusting the second predetermined time intervals relative to the first predetermined time intervals, so that the outputs from the simulated input devices arrive at the output interfaces prior to the outputs from the real input devices.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for evaluating the performance of a Time Triggered Ethernet (TTE) system employing Time Triggered (TT) communication. A real TTE system under test (SUT) having real input elements communicating using TT messages with output elements via one or more first TTE switches during a first time interval schedule established for the SUT. A simulation system is also provided having input simulators that communicate using TT messages via one or more second TTE switches with the same output elements during a second time interval schedule established for the simulation system. The first and second time interval schedules are off-set slightly so that messages from the input simulators, when present, arrive at the output elements prior to messages from the analogous real inputs, thereby having priority over messages from the real inputs and causing the system to operate based on the simulated inputs when present.
20 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method is provided for in-place testing of Time Triggered Ethernet (TTE) command and control (C&
- C) system having real input devices and output interfaces that communicate through one or more switches during first predetermined time intervals set by a time scheduling system associated with the C&
C system as to when outputs from the real input devices can be sent to the output interfaces, comprising;providing a simulation subsystem having therein simulated input devices adapted to provide predetermined or dynamically calculated outputs mimicking the outputs of the real input devices and communicating with the output interfaces through at least a further switch during second predetermined time intervals set by a time scheduling system associated with the simulation subsystem system as to when outputs from the simulated input devices can be sent to the output interfaces; and adjusting the second predetermined time intervals relative to the first predetermined time intervals, so that the outputs from the simulated input devices arrive at the output interfaces prior to the outputs from the real input devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- C) system having real input devices and output interfaces that communicate through one or more switches during first predetermined time intervals set by a time scheduling system associated with the C&
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9. A system having built-in test simulation capability, comprising:
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a real sub-system portion of the system, comprising; one or more real input sensors; one or more output interfaces; and one or more first switches coupling the real input sensors and the one or more output interfaces; wherein the real input sensors, first switches and one or more output interfaces communicate under a Time Triggered Ethernet (TTE) control and communication (C&
C) protocol wherein messages from the real input sensors to the one or more output interfaces are Time Triggered (TT) communications messages occurring during a predetermined first time interval established by a time schedule operation of the real sub-system portion of the system; anda simulation sub-system portion of the system, comprising; one or more input simulators adapted to provide predetermined or dynamically calculated output values mimicking operation of the real input sensors over a desired range of output values; and one or more second switches adapted to couple the output values from the one or more input simulators to the one or more output interfaces under a Time Triggered Ethernet (TTE) control and communication (C&
C) protocol;wherein messages from the input simulators to the one or more output interfaces are Time Triggered (TT) communications occurring during a predetermined second time interval at least partly overlapping the first time interval and established by a time schedule controlling operation of the simulation sub-system portion of the system, wherein a beginning of the second time interval precedes a beginning of the first time interval by an amount Δ
t. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for evaluating the performance of a control and communication (C&
- C) system, comprising;
a real physical Time Triggered Ethernet (TTE) control and communication (C&
C) system under test (SUT), comprising real input elements, adapted to communicate using time triggered (TT) communication protocols with real output elements via one or more first switches during a first time interval schedule established for the SUT;a simulation system having input simulators that communicate using TT communication with the real output elements via one or more second switches during a second time interval schedule established for the simulation system; wherein the first and second time interval schedules are off-set by amount Δ
t so that messages from the input simulators when present arrive at the output elements prior to messages from the real input elements, thereby having priority over messages from the real input elements and causing the system to operate based on the messages from the input simulators when present. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
- C) system, comprising;
Specification