Wireless Interoperability Test Apparatus Emulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional interoperability testing of wireless communication devices, such as Bluetooth-enabled devices, is costly and time-consuming due to the need for manual testing and the requirement to purchase multiple devices for compatibility verification.
Innovation Solution
A test apparatus and method that replicates and emulates wireless devices using a processor, memory, and wireless interface to sequence through communication actions, monitor behavior, and store characteristics, allowing for the emulation of devices during interoperability testing without the need for physical devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual interoperability testing is conducted using multiple physical devices, then testing accuracy and reliability are improved, but testing cost and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies (emulators) of wireless devices that replicate the behavior, protocols, and communication patterns of real devices. These emulators are stored in a database and can be instantiated on-demand to perform interoperability testing, eliminating the need to physically handle multiple devices while maintaining testing reliability through accurate behavioral replication.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a database as an intermediary layer between the testing framework and device behavior. The database stores emulator definitions and characteristics, allowing the testing system to retrieve and execute device-specific behavior patterns without direct physical device involvement, thus reducing time consumption while preserving testing accuracy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a vast number of physical devices are purchased for interoperability testing, then comprehensive compatibility verification is improved, but financial cost increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of purchasing multiple physical devices to achieve comprehensive compatibility verification, the system creates virtual copies (emulators) of various device types, manufacturers, and models. These emulators are stored in a database and can be instantiated as needed, providing the same versatility and adaptability for testing different device combinations without the financial burden of acquiring physical hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The testing system achieves multi-functionality by using a single physical testing platform that can emulate multiple different device types, protocols, and behaviors through software-based emulators. This universal approach allows comprehensive compatibility verification across various device scenarios without requiring separate physical devices for each test case.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual interoperability testing is performed by operating individual devices, then testing thoroughness is improved, but operational complexity and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex manual device operation with automated emulator execution. Each emulator encapsulates the behavior, protocols, and communication patterns of specific device types, allowing thorough interoperability testing to be performed automatically without manual intervention. This maintains testing thoroughness while reducing operational complexity by eliminating the need for testers to manually configure and operate multiple physical devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The emulators are designed to autonomously execute test scenarios and communicate with the device under test without requiring manual operation. The testing framework automatically retrieves appropriate emulators from the database, configures them according to test requirements, and executes the interoperability tests, thereby maintaining thoroughness while reducing the complexity of manual testing operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A test apparatus (10) and method (100, 200) are provided for testing interoperability of a first device (32) to communicate with a second device (42) via wireless communication. The test apparatus (10) includes a wireless interface (16) configured to interface via wireless communication with devices. The test apparatus (10) also includes a processor (12), memory (20) and logic (100, 200) stored in memory (20) and executed by the processor (12). The logic (100, 200) causes the test apparatus (10) to sequence through a plurality of wireless communication actions to communicate with a first device (32), monitor behavior of the first device (32) during the actions, and store characteristics of the monitored behavior in memory (24) so that the test apparatus (10) may be used to emulate the first device (32) when wirelessly communicating with a second device (42).