SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINISTIC TESTING OF PACKET ERROR RATE IN ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20130028100A1
• Filed: 07/26/2011
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LitePoint Corporation (Teradyne Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: LitePoint Corporation (Teradyne Incorporated)
• Inventors: Olgaard, Christian Volf
• Granted Patent: US 8,693,351 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/242
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/203 Details of error rate determination, e.g. BER, FER or WER
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/24 Testing correct operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic

Abstract

A method and system for testing packet error rate in electronic devices by transmitting a series of data packets from a testing device to a device under test (DUT) and setting a predefined number of received error-free data packets; evaluating whether a number of data packets from the series of data packets received error-free by the DUT equals the predefined number of received error-free data packets and transmitting additional data packets from the testing device to the DUT, at a power level known to produce zero received-packet errors in a correctly operating DUT, if the number of data packets from the series of data packets received error-free by the DUT does not equal the predefined number of received error-free data packets. Additional possible embodiments include evaluating whether a total number of data packets from the series of data packets and the additional error-free-power-level data packets received error-free by the DUT equals the predefined number of received error-free data packets and transmitting a confirmation data packet to the testing device in response to reception by the DUT of the predefined number of received error-free data packets.

Claims

1. A method of testing a communication device comprising:

transmitting a series of data packets from a testing device to a device under test (DUT);

setting a predefined number of received error-free data packets;

evaluating whether a number of data packets from the series of data packets received error-free by the DUT equals the predefined number of received error-free data packets;

transmitting additional data packets from the testing device to the DUT if said number of data packets from the series of data packets received error-free by the DUT does not equal the predefined number of received error-free data packets;

evaluating whether a total number of said number of data packets from the series of data packets and the additional data packets received error-free by the DUT equals the predefined number of received error-free data packets; and

transmitting a confirmation data packet to the testing device in response to reception by the DUT of said predefined number of received error-free data packets.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said series of data packets is transmitted at a first power level; and

said additional data packets are transmitted at a second power level.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said second power level is greater than said first power level.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said additional data packets are transmitted at a power level expected to produce a zero packet error rate in the DUT.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the DUT recognizes said additional data packets in response to the second power level.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the packet error rate (PER) is calculated according to:

PER=([Q/N]×

100)

where N is the predefined number of received error-free data packets and Q is the number of data packets received error-free by the DUT from said additional data packets.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device is wireless.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting steps occur wirelessly.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said number of data packets from the series of data packets equals said predefined number; and

the additional data packets equal said predefined number.

10. A method of testing a communication device comprising:

transmitting one or more data packets from a testing device to a device under test (DUT) in a test-ready sequence;

determining whether the DUT is test-ready and transmitting a confirmation data packet from the DUT to the testing device in response thereto;

transmitting a series of data packets from the testing device to the DUT;

setting a predefined number of received error-free data packets;

evaluating whether a number of data packets from the series of data packets received error-free by the DUT equals the predefined number of received error-free data packets;

transmitting additional data packets from the testing device to the DUT if said number of data packets from the series of data packets received error-free by the DUT does not equal the predefined number of received error-free data packets;

evaluating whether a total number of said number of data packets from the series of data packets and the additional data packets received error-free by the DUT equals the predefined number of received error-free data packets; and

transmitting another confirmation data packet to the testing device in response to reception by the DUT of said predefined number of received error-free data packets.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the transmitting of one or more data packets from a testing device to a DUT in a test-ready sequence is performed as an initial test sequence of the DUT.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein:

said series of data packets is transmitted at a first power level; and

said additional data packets are transmitted at a second power level.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said second power level is greater than said first power level.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said additional data packets are transmitted at a power level expected to produce a zero packet error rate in the DUT.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the DUT recognizes said additional data packets in response to the second power level.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the packet error rate (PER) is calculated according to:

PER=([Q/N]×

100)

where N is the predefined number of received error-free data packets and Q is the number of data packets received error-free by the DUT from said additional data packets.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the communication device is wireless.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the transmitting steps occur wirelessly.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein:

said number of data packets from the series of data packets equals said predefined number; and

the additional data packets equal said predefined number.

20. A test system for an electronic device comprising:

a controller coupled to a testing device via a first communications channel and operatively configured to command software functions of the testing device to control a device under test (DUT);

the testing device coupled to the DUT via a second communications channel and operatively configured to send, receive, and analyze electronic signals;

the DUT operatively configured to include a means of setting a predetermined number of error-free data packets representing a deterministic number of received error-free data packets.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the means of setting a pre-determined number of error-free data packets comprises an internal look-up table (LUT).

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the test system is wireless.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the testing device is wirelessly connected to the DUT.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the DUT is configured to receive data packets, decode the data packets and produce a return transmit signal for analysis by the testing device.