Deterministic Packet Error Rate Testing Without Acknowledgement Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless device testing methods are inefficient due to reliance on data packet-by-data packet acknowledgement for calculating data packet error rate (PER), which increases testing time and cost, especially in protocols like Bluetooth LE where additional time slots are required for acknowledgement confirmations.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that reduce the reliance on acknowledgement feedback by transmitting a series of data packets and adjusting power levels to ensure error-free reception, allowing for deterministic PER measurement with limited feedback from the device under test, thereby reducing testing time and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If data packet-by-data packet acknowledgement is used for calculating PER, then measurement precision is improved, but testing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by transmitting a series of data packets at a power level known to produce error-free received packets before conducting the actual PER measurement. This preliminary transmission ensures the device is ready and can receive packets without errors, allowing the test to focus only on measuring errors at the target power level rather than verifying basic reception functionality packet-by-package.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the testing process into distinct phases: (1) transmitting packets at a known error-free power level to establish baseline reception, (2) transmitting packets at the target power level for PER measurement, and (3) calculating PER based on error counts. This segmentation allows the system to eliminate unnecessary packet-by-packet acknowledgement feedback while maintaining measurement accuracy through structured testing phases.
2Reliability
If acknowledgement feedback is required for each data packet, then reliability of PER measurement is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex packet-by-packet acknowledgement feedback mechanism from the testing process. Instead of requiring the device to send individual ACKs for each received packet, the system uses a simplified approach where the device simply needs to transmit packets and the tester counts errors directly, removing the need for complex feedback tracking while maintaining measurement reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies self-service by having the device under test autonomously transmit packets at controlled power levels without requiring external acknowledgement feedback. The device independently manages its transmission, and the tester simply observes and counts errors, allowing the device to serve itself in the measurement process without complex feedback interactions.
3Measurement precision
If additional time slots are allocated for acknowledgement confirmations, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-transmitting packets at a power level known to produce error-free reception before the actual measurement phase. This eliminates the need for time slots dedicated to acknowledgement confirmations during the measurement process, as the device is already in a known good-reception state, allowing continuous packet transmission without interruption for feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining continuous packet transmission at the target power level without interruption for acknowledgement feedback. The tester continuously counts errors in the transmitted packets, eliminating idle time slots and maximizing testing throughput while maintaining precise PER measurement through uninterrupted data flow.
Data Source
AI summary
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.