System and method of audio testing of acoustic devices

1. A method of testing audio performance, the method comprising:

providing a two-way mobile voice-enabled communications device, the device comprising a microprocessor, a microphone connected to the microprocessor, a speaker connected to the microprocessor, an auxiliary input/output device connected to the microprocessor, a memory connected to the microprocessor, and a software module stored in the memory which configures the microprocessor to route signals from the microphone to the auxiliary input/output device;

producing a microphone electric audio test signal on an audio generator external to the two-way mobile voice-enabled communications device;

providing the microphone electric audio test signal of the audio generator as input to an external speaker;

outputting a microphone acoustic audio test signal from the external speaker corresponding to the microphone electric audio test signal;

receiving the microphone acoustic audio test signal output from the external speaker as an input to the microphone of the two-way mobile voice-enabled communications device;

outputting a microphone electric audio output signal from the microphone of the two-way mobile voice-enabled communications device corresponding to the microphone acoustic audio test signal;

directly routing the microphone electric audio output signal from the microphone to the auxiliary input/output device using the microprocessor;

outputting the microphone electric audio output signal from the auxiliary input/output device to an external test system; and

analyzing the microphone electric audio output signal output from the auxiliary input/output device on the external test system.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microphone electric audio output signal output is compared to the microphone electric audio test signal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one signal characteristic of the microphone electric audio output signal is compared to a predefined test limit.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of characteristics of the microphone electric audio output signal are compared to predefined test limits for a plurality of audio signal characteristics selected from the group including signal amplitude, frequency response and harmonic distortion.

5. The method of claim 1 , including connecting the external speaker to the microphone of the mobile voice-enabled communications device with a seal prior to the microphone electric audio test signal being provided to the external speaker.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary input/output device is an electrical connector.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the electrical connector is a headset plug through which the microphone electric audio output signal is output.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the electrical connector is a serial port through which the microphone electric audio output signal is output.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microphone electric audio test signal represents a single tone signal.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microphone electric audio test signal represents a multitone signal.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile voice-enabled communications device comprises an RF transceiver connected to the microprocessor and wherein the mobile voice-enabled communications device is enabled for two-way wireless data communications.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the software module configures the microprocessor to route signals from the auxiliary input/output device to the speaker, the method further comprising:

producing a speaker electric audio test signal on the audio generator external to the mobile voice-enabled communications device;

receiving the speaker electric audio test signal as input to the auxiliary input/output device from the audio generator;

directly routing the speaker electric audio test signal from the auxiliary input/output device to the speaker using the microprocessor;

outputting from the speaker a speaker acoustic audio output signal corresponding to the speaker electric audio test signal;

providing the speaker acoustic audio output signal from the speaker as input to an external microphone;

outputting a speaker electric audio output signal corresponding to the speaker acoustic audio output signal from the external microphone to the external test system; and

analyzing the speaker electric audio output signal output from the external microphone on the external test system.

13. A method of testing audio performance, the method comprising:

providing a two-way mobile voice-enabled communications device, the device comprising a microprocessor, a microphone connected to the microprocessor, a speaker connected to the microprocessor, an auxiliary input/output device connected to the microprocessor, a memory connected to the microprocessor, and a software module stored in the memory which configures the microprocessor to route signals from the auxiliary input/output device to the speaker;

producing a speaker electric audio test signal on an audio generator external to the two-way mobile voice-enabled communications device;

providing the speaker electric audio test signal as input to the auxiliary input/output device from the audio generator;

directly routing the speaker electric audio test signal using the microprocessor of the mobile voice-enabled communications device from the auxiliary input/output device to the speaker;

outputting from the speaker a speaker acoustic audio output signal corresponding to the speaker test electric audio signal;

providing the speaker acoustic audio output signal from the speaker as an input to an external microphone;

outputting a speaker electric audio output signal corresponding to the speaker acoustic audio output signal from the external microphone to an external test system; and

analyzing the speaker electric audio output signal output from the external microphone on the external test system.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the speaker electric audio output signal is compared to the speaker electric audio test signal.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein at least one signal characteristic of the speaker electric audio output signal is compared to a predefined test limit.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein a plurality of characteristics of the speaker electric audio output signal are compared to predefined test limits for a plurality of audio signal characteristics selected from the group including signal amplitude, frequency response and harmonic distortion.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the auxiliary input/output device is an electrical connector.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the electrical connector is a headset plug to which the speaker electrical audio test signal is provided.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the electrical connector is a serial port to which the speaker electric audio test signal is provided.

20. A system for testing the audio performance of acoustic devices, the system comprising:

an external speaker for receiving a microphone electric audio test signal as input and outputting a microphone acoustic audio test signal representation thereof; and

a two-way mobile voice-enabled communications device, the device comprising a microprocessor, a microphone connected to the microprocessor, a speaker connected to the microprocessor, an auxiliary input/output device connected to the microprocessor, a memory connected to the microprocessor, and a software module stored in the memory which configures the microprocessor to route signals from the microphone to the auxiliary input/output device;

the microphone being configured to receive the microphone acoustic audio test signal output from the external speaker as input and output a microphone electric audio output signal corresponding to the microphone acoustic audio test signal;

the microprocessor under instruction of the software module being configured to:

receive a microphone electric audio output signal from the microphone; and

directly route the microphone electric audio output signal to the auxiliary input/output device for output therefrom to an external test system for analysis.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the auxiliary input/output device is an electrical connector.

22. The system of claim 20 , wherein the electrical connector is a headset plug.

23. The system of claim 20 , wherein the electrical connector is a serial port.

24. The system of claim 20 , wherein the mobile voice-enabled communications device comprises an RF transceiver connected to the microprocessor and wherein the mobile voice-enabled communications device is enabled for two-way wireless data communications.

25. The system of claim 20 , further comprising:

an audio generator coupled to the external speaker for producing the microphone electric audio test signal and providing the microphone electric audio test signal to the external speaker; and

wherein the external test system is an audio analyzer coupled to the auxiliary input/output device for receiving and analyzing the microphone electric audio output signal.

26. The system of claim 20 , wherein the software module configures the microprocessor to route signals from the auxiliary input/output device to the speaker, the system further comprising:

an external microphone;

wherein the microprocessor under instruction of the software module is configured to:

receive a speaker electric audio test signal via the auxiliary input/output device; and

directly route the speaker electric audio test signal from the auxiliary input/output device to the speaker;

wherein the speaker is configured to receive the speaker electric audio test signal and output a speaker acoustic audio output signal representation of the speaker electric audio test signal; and

wherein the external microphone is configured to receive the speaker acoustic audio output signal as input and output a speaker electric audio output signal representation thereof for analysis on the external test system.

27. A system for testing the audio performance of acoustic devices, the system comprising:

an external microphone;

a two-way mobile voice-enabled communications device, the device comprising a microprocessor, a microphone connected to the microprocessor, a speaker connected to the microprocessor, an auxiliary input/output device connected to the microprocessor, a memory connected to the microprocessor, and a software module stored in the memory which configures the microprocessor to route signals from the auxiliary input/output device to the speaker;

wherein the microprocessor under instruction of the software module is configured to:

receive a speaker electric audio test signal via the auxiliary input/output device; and

directly route the speaker electric audio test signal from the auxiliary input/output device to the speaker; and

wherein the speaker is configured to receive the speaker electric audio test signal and output a speaker acoustic audio output signal representation of the speaker electric audio test signal; and

wherein the external microphone is configured to receive the speaker acoustic audio output signal as input and output a speaker electric audio output signal representation thereof for analysis on an external test system.

28. The system of claim 27 , wherein the auxiliary input/output device is an electrical connector.

29. The system of claim 28 , wherein the electrical connector is a headset plug.

30. The system of claim 28 , wherein the electrical connector is a serial port.

31. The system of claim 27 , wherein the mobile voice-enabled communications device comprises an RF transceiver connected to the microprocessor and wherein the mobile voice-enabled communications device is enabled for two-way wireless data communications.

32. The system of claim 27 , further comprising:

an audio generator coupled to the auxiliary input/output device for producing the speaker electric audio test signal and providing the speaker electric audio test signal to the auxiliary input/output device; and

wherein the external test system is an audio analyzer coupled to the external microphone for receiving and analyzing the speaker electric audio output signal.