Congestive Signal Timing Control for Wireless Device Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Testing of wireless devices, particularly IoT sensors and wearable devices, is challenging due to the difficulty in synchronizing direct external control, leading to missed packets and incomplete tests, as these devices operate based on specific timing manners and require high processing capabilities in testers, resulting in increased costs.
Innovation Solution
The method involves transmitting congestive communication channel signals to cause the DUT to detect apparent channel activity, thereby delaying its signal transmissions, allowing the tester to process and capture packets effectively by invoking CSMA/CA conformance, which enables standard-specific testing without additional hardware or software, using existing device features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tester processes and captures DUT packets in real-time, then testing completeness is improved, but the processing speed requirements and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by transmitting congestive channel signals before the DUT is expected to transmit packets. This pre-occupies the channel and forces the DUT to delay its transmissions, giving the tester advance time to process previously received packets without requiring ultra-high processing speeds. The congestive signals are sent in advance to control the timing of DUT transmissions to match the tester's processing capability.
2Ease of operation
If the DUT transmits packets according to its own timing, then device autonomy is improved, but synchronization with tester deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the tester monitor the communication channel and detect when it becomes free of other devices' signals. Based on this feedback about channel conditions, the tester dynamically transmits congestive signals at the appropriate times to induce DUT transmission delays. This feedback loop allows the autonomous DUT to naturally adjust its timing based on channel occupancy, achieving synchronization without direct control intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The congestive channel signals act as an intermediary between the tester and the DUT. Instead of directly controlling the DUT's transmission timing, the tester uses these intermediary signals to indirectly influence the DUT's behavior. The DUT, following standard CSMA/CA protocols, autonomously responds to the congestive signals by delaying its transmissions, thereby achieving synchronization through the intermediary mechanism rather than direct control.
3Loss of time
If congestive signals are transmitted to delay DUT transmissions, then tester processing time is improved, but channel occupancy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by transmitting congestive channel signals in periodic bursts rather than continuously. The tester transmits these signals during specific time windows when it needs the DUT to delay transmissions, then stops transmitting when the congestive effect is no longer needed. This periodic transmission pattern limits the total channel occupancy while still achieving the desired timing control, as the channel is occupied only during the congestive signal bursts rather than throughout the entire test duration.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for testing a data packet signal transceiver device under test (DUT). Following initial signal communications with a DUT, timing of further transmissions by the DUT may be effectively controlled by transmitting congestive communication channel signals to cause the DUT to detect apparent communication channel activity and in response thereto delay its own signal transmissions.