Virtual Mobile Phone Simulation for Automotive Audio Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for testing wireless interaction between a motor vehicle's audio signal reproduction system and a mobile phone are inflexible and costly, requiring multiple mobile terminals and involving expensive network calls.

Innovation Solution

A system with a simulation module that mimics a mobile phone's operation over a short-range wireless channel, such as Bluetooth, allowing for testing of audio signal quality without actual phone calls, using a portable computer with a Bluetooth transceiver and software to simulate phone functions, including audio input/output and data transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If actual mobile phone calls are used for testing, then audio signal quality can be verified, but testing becomes expensive and inflexible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio signal quality verificationVSAvoidtesting flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual mobile phone that replicates the functionality of a real mobile phone for testing purposes. This virtual device emulates call setup, audio transmission, and communication protocols without requiring actual network connections or real mobile phones, thereby enabling flexible and cost-effective testing while maintaining reliable audio quality verification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a virtual mobile phone as an intermediary testing device that mediates between the test environment and the audio reproduction system. This virtual intermediary simulates mobile phone behavior and provides a controlled interface for testing wireless audio transmission without the constraints of real mobile phone hardware and network dependencies

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple mobile terminals are deployed for testing, then comprehensive coverage is achieved, but system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting coverageVSAvoidnumber of mobile terminals
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual mobile phone is designed to perform multiple testing functions within a single device. It can simulate various mobile phone models, support different call scenarios, and provide comprehensive testing coverage for wireless audio transmission, thereby replacing the need for multiple physical mobile terminals and reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If real mobile phone calls are made during testing, then actual communication scenarios are tested, but network costs and disturbances affect testing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication scenario accuracyVSAvoidnetwork disturbances and costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential communication functionality from real mobile phones and network dependencies. The virtual mobile phone simulates call setup, audio transmission, and protocol handling without requiring actual network connections, thereby eliminating network costs and disturbances while maintaining accurate testing of communication scenarios

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2879358B1"System for testing wireless interaction between a system for reproducing audio signals and a mobile phone, and corresponding method and computer program product"
Publication Date: 2020.06.03 MARELLI EURO SPA
  • EP2879358B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2879358B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2879358B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Described herein is a system for testing wireless interaction of a system for reproduction of audio signals (200), in particular a user-interface device of a motor vehicle configured for reproducing audio signals, with a mobile phone (100), said reproduction system (200) and said mobile phone (100) being configured for communicating over a wireless communication channel (300) for short-range communications. According to the invention, the above system comprises a module for simulation of a mobile phone (100), comprising processing means (110) configured for simulating operation of a mobile phone, said module for simulation of a mobile phone (100) being associated in a signal-exchange relationship to a short-range wireless transceiver module (130) configured for communicating via said wireless communication channel (300) with the system for reproduction of audio signals (200).