Patent Application
20060040654
In order to ensure wireless devices are reliable and perform at a desired quality level, manufacturers perform various tests on their products. The tests are typically performed by connecting a wireless device, such as a cellular telephone, to a test station. The test station tests the wireless device by transmitting and receiving command and control parameters to and from the wireless device. Manufacturers of wireless devices typically want to test each wireless device as quickly as possible to improve manufacturing throughput.
Unfortunately, the standard communication protocols do not always allow wireless device 104 to be placed in all desired testing modes. The protocols are also not designed to rapidly change the state of wireless device 104 for efficient testing. And finally, it can be difficult to return test results from wireless device 104 to test station 102 using the standard communication protocols.
In accordance with the invention, a method and system for testing a wireless device are provided. A wireless data communications link connects a wireless device to a test station. The test station transmits command and control parameters to the wireless device using the wireless data communications link. The command and control parameters place the wireless device in a test mode and test the quality and operations of an RF link established between the wireless device and the test station. The wireless data communications link is also used to transmit test and control parameters from the wireless device to the test station.
The invention will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of embodiments in accordance with the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description is presented to enable one skilled in the art to make and use embodiments of the invention, and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the appended claims and with the principles and features described herein.
With reference to the figures and in particular with reference to
Test station 302 uses wireless data communications link 314 to transfer command and control parameters to wireless device 304. Command and control parameters place wireless device 304 in a test mode and test the quality and operations of RF link 316 established between transceiver 306 and transceiver 310. Control and test parameters are also transmitted from wireless device 304 to test station 302 via wireless data communications link 314.
In one embodiment in accordance with the invention, wireless device 304 is implemented as a cellular telephone and audio transducer 312 as one or more microphones and speakers. Audio transducers 308, 312 establish an acoustical coupling and use one or more audio channels to communicate and transfer command and control parameters. Wireless data communications link 314 may be implemented using any desired audio communications system. For example, wireless data communications link 314 may be configured as a modem connection with V.42bis functionality. Wireless data communications link 314 may be implemented with other types of modem standards or other types of audio communications systems in other embodiments in accordance with the invention.
Wireless device 404 includes wireless communications port 410 and transceiver 412. Communications port 410 may be implemented in wireless device 404, in a test fixture (not shown) holding wireless device 404, or external to the test fixture. Wireless communications port 410 is implemented as an alternate wireless communications medium and includes, but is not limited to, a Bluetooth® adapter, an infrared (IR) adapter, or wireless local area network (LAN) adapter such as an IEEE 802.11 adapter.
Wireless data communications link 414 is used to transfer command and control parameters to wireless device 404. Command and control parameters place wireless device 404 in a test mode and test the quality and operations of RF link 416 established between transceiver 412 and transceiver 406. Test and control parameters are also transmitted from wireless device 404 to test station 402 via wireless data communications link 414.
