Automated configurable portable test systems and methods

{
  "publication_number": "US10681570B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Automated configurable portable test systems and methods",
  "abstract": "In one embodiment, a test system comprises a first interface for communicating with remote devices; a second interface for communicating with local devices; a memory for storing information, including information received from the first interface and second interface; a processor for automatically configuring test system components in accordance with the information stored in the memory. The test system components comprise a network access point simulation component and a local control component. The network access point simulation component is configured to simulate communication network access point operations comprising test interactions with user equipment. The number of devices under test included in the user equipment and distinct network access points that are coincidentally simulated can be variable. The local control component is configured to direct the network access point simulation component and to control the test interactions with the user equipment.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A test system local control component comprising: a first interface to communicate with remote test devices, wherein the first interface includes a structure to propagate the communication; a second interface to communicate with local devices; a memory to store information received from the first interface and second interface; a processor to automatically configure test system components in accordance with the information stored in the memory, wherein the test system components comprise: a network access point simulation component configured to simulate communication network access point operations comprising test interactions with user equipment, wherein a number of devices under test included in the user equipment, and distinct network access points that are coincidentally simulated are variable; a test box communicatively coupled to the network access point simulation component, wherein the test box comprises material operable to shield contents of the test box from electromagnetic radiation interference, and wherein further contents of the test box includes user equipment under test; and a local control component configured to direct the network access point simulation component and to control the test interactions with the user equipment, wherein the local control component comprises a test executive operable to direct simulation of communication network operations and the test interactions in accordance with information received from remote control components.",
    "2. The test system of claim 1, wherein the test box, the network access point simulation component, and the local control component are portable.",
    "3. The test system of claim 1, wherein the local control component is implemented by the processor.",
    "4. The test system of claim 3, wherein the type of test system component that is configured is selected from the group comprising: a Femto cell, an evolved packet core (EPC) component, evolved node B (eNodeB) component, Internet Protocol Multimedia System (IMS) component, and application servers.",
    "5. The test system of claim 1, wherein the number of devices under test in the user equipment varies.",
    "6. The test system of claim 1, wherein the test executive comprises: a user equipment (UE) under test control component that directs simulation of various user equipment functions, wherein the user equipment functions include a function selected from the group comprising: a Hayes command set Attention (AT) modem control function, an Operating System Android Debug Bridge (OS ADB) and US control function, a physical robotic control function, and a Universal Integrate Circuit Card (UICC) function; an e-node-B (eNB) control component that directs simulation of various eNB functions, wherein the eNB functions include a function selected from the group comprising: an Long Term Evolution (LTE) physical layer (PHY) function, a layer 2 Media Access Control (MAC)/Radio Link Control (RLC)/Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) function, a Radio Resources Control (RRC) function, a Non Access Stratum (NAS) EMME/ESM/USI function, an Internet Protocol (IP) function, a User Datagram Protocol (UDP)/Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP), and a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) function; and an evolved packet core (EPC) control component that directs simulation of various EPC functions, wherein the EPC functions include a function selected from the group comprising: a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) function, a Serving Gateway (S-GW) function, a Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW) function, a Policy and Changing Rules Function (PCRF), an evolve Packet Data Network Gateway (ePDG) function, an Evolved Multimedia Broadcast Services (eMBMS) function, a BMSC content function, Over The Air Device Management (OTA-DM) functions, am Internet Protocol (IP) Fader function, an internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) function, a Domain Name Service (DNS) function, a File Transfer Protocol (FTP)/Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) function, a Streaming function, and a Subscriber Identification Module Over The Air management (SIM OTA) function.",
    "7. The test system of claim 1, wherein a number of distinct network access points that are simulated varies.",
    "8. The test system of claim 1, wherein a type of the network access point that is simulated varies.",
    "9. The test system of claim 1, wherein the simulation is configured to handle evolution of a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network communication to a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network communication architecture.",
    "10. A test system local control component comprising: a first interface to communicate with remote devices, wherein the first interface includes a structure to propagate the communication; a second interface to communicate with local devices, wherein the second interface includes a structure to propagate the communication; a memory to store information received from the first interface and second interface; a processor to automatically configure test system components in accordance with the information stored in the memory, wherein the test system components comprise: a cellular network access point simulation component configured to simulate communication network cellular access point operations comprising test interactions with user equipment, wherein a number of devices under test included in the user equipment, and distinct cellular network access points that are coincidentally simulated are variable; a test box communicatively coupled to the cellular network access point simulation component, wherein the test box comprises material operable to shield contents of the test box from electromagnetic radiation interference, and wherein further contents of the test box includes user equipment under test; and a local control component configured to direct the network cellular access point simulation component and to control the test interactions with the user equipment, wherein the local control component comprises a test executive operable to direct simulation of cellular communication network operations and the test interactions in accordance with information received from remote control components.",
    "11. The test system of claim 10, wherein the test box, the network access point simulation component, and the local control component are portable.",
    "12. The test system of claim 10, wherein simulated communication network cellular access point operations include simulating an application selected from a group of applications comprising a virtual evolved node B (eNodeB) component application, a virtual evolved packet core (EPC) component application, a virtual network core component application, and a virtual network pre-requisite application.",
    "13. A test system for testing a user wireless device, the test system comprising: a simulator configured to simulate communication network wireless access point operations comprising test interactions with user equipment under test, wherein the user equipment under test includes a user wireless device and a number of devices included in the user equipment under test are variable, and distinct wireless network access points that are coincidentally simulated by the simulator are variable; a test box communicatively coupled to the simulator, wherein the test box comprises material operable to shield contents of the test box from electromagnetic radiation interference, and wherein further contents of the test box includes user equipment under test; and a controller configured to direct the simulator and to control the test interactions with the user equipment, wherein the controller comprises a test executive operable to direct simulation of communication network operations and the test interactions in accordance with information received from remote test management devices, wherein the controller includes: a first interface configured to communicatively couple with an external network and communicate test related information with the remote test management devices via the external network, wherein the remote test management devices are located remotely from the user equipment under test; a second interface configured to communicatively couple with local devices and communicate test related information, wherein the local devices include the simulator and the user equipment under test; a memory to store information received from the first interface and second interface, wherein the information includes the test related information, configuration information for the simulator, and information for the controller; and a processor to automatically configure test system components in accordance with the information stored in the memory, wherein the test system components includes the simulator and the controller.",
    "14. The test system of claim 13, wherein the test box, the simulator, and the controller are portable.",
    "15. The test system of claim 13, wherein the controller simulates a cellular access point component.",
    "16. The test system of claim 15, wherein the type of the cellular access point component that is simulated and configured is selected from the group comprising: a Femto cell, an evolved packet core (EPC) component, evolved node B (eNodeB) component, Internet Protocol Multimedia System (IMS) component, and application servers.",
    "17. The test system of claim 13, wherein simulated communication network wireless access point operations includes simulating an application selected from a group of applications comprising virtual an evolved node B (eNodeB) component application, a virtual evolved packet core (EPC) component application, a virtual network core component application, and a virtual network pre-requisite application.",
    "18. The test system of claim 13, wherein the test executive comprises: a user equipment (UE) under test control component that directs simulation of various user equipment functions, wherein the user equipment functions include a function selected from the group comprising: a Hayes command set Attention (AT) modem control function, an Operating System Android Debug Bridge (OS ADB) and US control function, a physical robotic control function, and a Universal Integrate Circuit Card (UICC) function; an e-node-B (eNB) control component directs simulation of various eNB functions, wherein the eNB functions include a function selected from the group comprising: an Long Term Evolution (LTE) physical layer (PHY) function, a layer 2 Media Access Control (MAC)/Radio Link Control (RLC)/Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) function, a Radio Resources Control (RRC) function, a Non Access Stratum (NAS) EMME/ESM/USI function, an Internet Protocol (IP) function, a User Datagram Protocol (UDP)/Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP), and a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) function; and an evolved packet core (EPC) control component that directs simulation of various EPC functions, wherein the EPC functions include a function selected from the group comprising: a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) function, a Serving Gateway (S-GW) function, a Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW) function, a Policy and Changing Rules Function (PCRF), an evolve Packet Data Network Gateway (ePDG) function, an Evolved Multimedia Broadcast Services (eMBMS) function, a BMSC content function, Over The Air Device Management (OTA-DM) functions, am Internet Protocol (IP) Fader function, an internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) function, a Domain Name Service (DNS) function, a File Transfer Protocol (FTP)/Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) function, a Streaming function, and a Subscriber Identification Module Over The Air management (SIM OTA) function.",
    "19. The test system of claim 13, wherein the controller simulates Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) functions.",
    "20. The test system of claim 13, wherein the simulation is configured to handle evolution of a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network communication to a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network communication architecture."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of device testing.\n\nNumerous electronic technologies such as digital computers, video equipment, and telephone systems have facilitated increased productivity and reduced costs in processing information in most areas of business, science, and entertainment. More and more the components used in these activities interact with a network (e.g., the internet, the cloud, etc.). The number of electronic devices used in these activities is growing rapidly, with new versions and new types of devices with diverse capabilities being continuously and rapidly introduced. Thorough testing of the devices under many different scenarios is important to make sure the devices will function correctly. Providing proper testing environments is often critical to achieving accurate test results. However, when the devices are interacting with very large networks beyond the control of the tester it is difficult to ensure accurate test results.\n\nTraditional attempts at testing devices that communicate with large networks often involve trying to simulate the large communication network. This typically involves significant resources. The traditional approaches are typically implemented in a large stationary facility or room with lots of costly equipment attempting to simulate the large communication network. In addition, providing radio frequency interference mitigation for the large facilities is also typically very expensive and involving numerous individual different test devices in a large shielded room (e.g., oscilloscopes, voltmeters, etc.).",
  "cpc": [
    "H04W 24/06",
    "H04L 41/0886",
    "H04L 41/145",
    "H04L 43/50",
    "H04W 88/02"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "H04L 12/24",
    "H04W 24/06",
    "H04L 12/26"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "w2bi Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Dinesh Doshi",
    "Mark Elston",
    "Vipul Jain",
    "Derek Diperna",
    "Amit Kucheriya",
    "Liqun Liu",
    "Ira Leventhal"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-08-12",
  "publication_date": "2020-06-09",
  "grant_date": "2020-06-09",
  "priority_date": "2016-08-12",
  "application_number": "US-201615236315-A",
  "family_id": "61160494",
  "cited_by_count": 7,
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