Device evaluation using automatic connection path reconfiguration
Testing of computing devices and/or peripherals coupled via a wired bus may be facilitated through automatically re-configuring connections between computing devices and peripherals. A switching device may selectively couple and de-couple computing devices and peripherals for testing purposes. A control device may send control commands to the switching device to couple and decouple computing devices and peripherals in accordance with a testing schedule or program. The ability of a peripheral device and a computing device to function together while coupled via the wired bus may be evaluated.
1 . A method of evaluating a computing device, the computing device being coupled to a switching device, the switching device being coupled to a first peripheral device and a second peripheral device, the method comprising:
configuring the switching device to couple the first peripheral device to the computing device via the switching device;
evaluating a response of the computing device to coupling the first peripheral device to the computing device;
automatically re-configuring the switching device to couple the second peripheral device to the computing device via the switching device; and
evaluating a response of the computing device to coupling the second peripheral device to the computing device.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein automatically re-configuring the switching device comprises re-configuring the switching device in response to a command received from a control device, the control device having sent the command based on a test parameter determined by test software.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein automatically re-configuring the switching device comprises decoupling the first peripheral device from the computing device prior to coupling the computing device to the second peripheral device.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein configuring the switching device comprises coupling the first peripheral device to a first port of the computing device, and evaluating a response of the computing device to coupling the first peripheral device comprises evaluating a response of the computing device to coupling the first peripheral device to the first port, and further comprising:
automatically re-configuring the switching device to couple the first peripheral device to a second port of the computing device; and
evaluating a response of the computing device to coupling the first peripheral device to the second port of the computing device.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein automatically re-configuring the switching device comprises re-configuring the switching device without human intervention.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein evaluating the response of the computing device comprises evaluating a response of an operating system associated with the computing device.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
controlling the computing device to enter a first test state for testing the computing device with the first peripheral device.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the switching device comprises a plurality of switching devices arranged in at least two levels of switching devices.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the switching device is coupled to the first peripheral device, the second peripheral device and the computing device via a universal serial bus connection.
10 . At least one computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions encoded thereon that, when executed, perform acts of a method of evaluating a computing device, the computing device being coupled to a switching device, the switching device being coupled to a first peripheral device and a second peripheral device, the method comprising:
configuring the switching device to couple the first peripheral device to the computing device via the switching device;
evaluating a response of the computing device to coupling the first peripheral device to the computing device;
automatically re-configuring the switching device to couple the second peripheral device to the computing device via the switching device, the switching device being automatically re-configured in response to receiving a test command; and
evaluating a response of the computing device to coupling the second peripheral device to the computing device.
11 . The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein automatically re-configuring the switching device comprises re-configuring the switching device in response to a command received from a control device, the control device having sent the command based on a test parameter determined by test software.
12 . The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein automatically re-configuring the switching device comprises decoupling the first peripheral device from the computing device prior to coupling the computing device to the second peripheral device.
13 . The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein configuring the switching device comprises coupling the first peripheral device to a first port of the computing device, and evaluating a response of the computing device to coupling the first peripheral device comprises evaluating a response of the computing device to coupling the first peripheral device to the first port, and further comprising:
automatically re-configuring the switching device to couple the first peripheral device to a second port of the computing device; and
evaluating a response of the computing device to coupling the first peripheral device to the second port of the computing device.
14 . The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein automatically re-configuring the switching device comprises re-configuring the switching device without human intervention.
15 . The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein evaluating the response of the computing device comprises evaluating a response of an operating system associated with the computing device.
16 . The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , further comprising:
controlling the computing device to enter a first test state for testing the computing device with the first peripheral device.
17 . The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the switching device comprises a plurality of switching devices arranged in at least two levels of switching devices.
18 . The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the switching device is coupled to the first peripheral device, the second peripheral device and the computing device via a universal serial bus connection.
19 . A system for evaluating at least one peripheral device, the system comprising:
a computing device coupled to a switching device, the switching device being coupled to a first peripheral device and a second peripheral device;
wherein the system is configured to;
couple the first peripheral device to the computing device via the switching device;
evaluate a response of the first peripheral device to coupling the first peripheral device to the computing device;
automatically re-configure the switching device to couple the second peripheral device to the computing device via the switching device; and
evaluate a response of the second peripheral device to coupling the second peripheral device to the computing device.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein automatically re-configuring the switching device comprises re-configuring the switching device in response to a command received from a control device, the control device having sent the command based on a test parameter determined by test software.