Functional verification process and universal platform for high-volume reverse logistics of CPE devices
View Patent ↗A customer premise equipment (CPE) device may be functionally verified using a universal platform to simulate operating conditions of an environment in which the CPE is intended to operate. Functional verification may be performed for an operational use of a CPE device in an environment similar to that used by customers of a service provider. Functional verification may be applied to a variety of devices using a verification platform that can support various types of CPE devices, various models of CPE devices, and various operational configurations used by an operator.
1. A method of conducting functional verifications, the method comprising:
a) loading a first CPE device on a first test apparatus comprising a first connector interface
b) connecting the first CPE device to the first test apparatus;
c) using a cable to electrically connect the first connector interface to a corresponding second connector interface of a test platform;
d) performing a functional verification test of the first CPE device;
e) disconnecting the first connector interface from the second connector interface;
f) electrically disconnecting the first CPE device from the test apparatus;
g) unloading the CPE device from the test apparatus
h) loading a second CPE device on a second test apparatus comprising a third connector interface;
i) electrically connecting the second CPE device to the second test apparatus;
j) electrically connecting the third connector interface to a fourth connector interface of the test platform;
k) performing a functional verification test of the second CPE device;
l) disconnecting the third connector interface from the fourth connector interface
m) electrically disconnecting the second CPE device from the second test apparatus; and
n) unloading the second CPE device from the second test apparatus, wherein:
a step selected from a group consisting of steps (i)-(n) is performed in parallel with step (a), or
a step selected from a group consisting of steps (h) and (i)-(n) is performed in parallel with step (b) or
a step selected from a group consisting of steps (h)-(i) and (k)-(n) is performed in parallel with step (c).
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein electrically connecting the first CPE device to the test apparatus comprises connecting a plurality of wiring interfaces.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of wiring interfaces comprises at least one of an S-Video interface, a component video interface, a composite video interface, a stereo analog audio interface, a digital audio interface, an infrared control interface, or an RJ-11 phone interface.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first connector interface comprises a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI).
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising classifying the first CPE device as a function of a result of the functional verification test.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein classifying the first CPE device comprises classifying the first CPE device for at least one of return to service, repair, warranty action, or discard.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step selected from the group is step k.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step selected from the gorup is step j.
9. A method of conducting functional verification of customer premise equipment (CPE) devices, the method comprising:
a) loading a plurality of CPE devices on a first test apparatus comprising a first connector interface;
b) electrically connecting the plurality of CPE devices to the test apparatus;
c) electrically connecting the first connector interface to a corresponding second connector interfaceof a test platform;
d) performing functional verification tests of the plurality of CPE devices;
e) disconnecting the first connector interfaces from the second connector interface;
f) electrically disconnecting the plurality of CPE devices from the first test apparatus;
g) unloading the plurality of CPE devices from the test apparatus;
h) loading a second plurality of CPE devices on a second test apparatus comprising a third connector interface;
i) electrically connecting the second plurality of CPE device to the second test apparatus;
j) electrically connecting the third connector interface to a fourth connector interface of the test platform;
k) performing a functional verification test of the second plurality of CPE device;
l) disconnecting the third connector interface from the fourth connector interface;
m) electrically disconnecting the second plurality of CPE devices from the second test apparatus; and
n) unloading the second plurality of CPE devices from the second test apparatus, wherein:
a step selected from a group consisting of steps (i)-(n) is performed in parallel with step (a),
a step selected from a group consisting of steps (h) and (j)-(n) is performed in parallel with step (b), or
a step selected from a group consisting of steps (h)-(i) and (k)-(n) is performed in parallel with step (c).
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising classifying the CPE devices as a function of results of the functional verification tests.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein classifying the CPE devices comprises classifying the CPE devices for at least one of return to service, repair, warranty action, or discard.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first connector interface comprises a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI).
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step selected from the group is step k.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step selected from the gorup is step j.