A Test System and Method of Operation
A test system comprises a test processor which determines an operational status, such as a fault status, for a unit under test. The unit under test may e.g. comprise one or more boards of an electronic assembly. A presence processor generates a presence message in response to the operational status where the presence message is in accordance with a user presence message protocol. A communication controller then transmits the presence message to a remote network element of a communication network. The remote network element may be a presence server which can transmit a presence status update to associated devices. The invention may allow efficient and remote status monitoring for a test system using user presence infrastructure.
1 . A test system comprising:
a test processor arranged to determine an operational status for a unit under test;
a presence agent arranged to generate a presence message in response to the operational status, the presence message being in accordance with a user presence message protocol; and
a communication controller arranged to transmit the presence message to a remote network element of a communication network.
2 . The test system of claim 1 wherein the remote network element comprises a user presence server arranged to transmit a presence indication representing the operational status to at least one destination device.
3 . The test system of claim 2 wherein the remote network element comprises an instant messaging server.
4 . The test system of claim 3 further comprising:
a receiver arranged to receive an instant message from the instant message server, the instant message comprising at least one test instruction; and
a test controller arranged to control at least one test procedure in response to the at least one test instruction.
5 . The test system of claim 1 wherein the presence agent is arranged to encapsulate an indication of the operational status in a user presence status message.
6 . The test system of claim 1 wherein the test processor is arranged to detect a change in the operational status;
and the presence agent is arranged to generate a new presence message in response to the change in the operational status.
7 . The test system of claim 1 wherein the communication controller is arranged to communicate in accordance with a Session Initiation Protocol, SIP.
8 . The test system of claim 7 wherein the communication controller is arranged to communicate in accordance with a SIP for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions, SIMPLE, protocol.
8 . The test system of claim 1 wherein the operational status is a fault status.
9 . The test system of claim 1 wherein the operational status comprises operational status indications for a plurality of subsystems of the unit under test.
10 . The test system of claim 1 wherein the presence agent is arranged to select a present indication for the presence message between a set of presence indications in response to the operational status, each of the set of presence indications corresponding to a user presence indication.
11 . The test system of claim 1 wherein the test processor comprises:
a boundary scan test module arranged to perform a boundary scan test of the unit under test; and
a determination processor arranged to determine the operational status in response to the boundary test scan.
12 . The test system of claim 1 wherein the communication network comprises a cellular communication system.
13 . The test system of claim 1 wherein the communication network comprises an Internet.
14 . A communication system comprising:
a test system comprising:
a test processor arranged to determine an operational status for a unit under test,
a presence agent arranged to generate a presence message in response to the operational status, the presence message being in accordance with a user presence message protocol, and
a communication controller arranged to transmit the presence message to a user presence server; and
the user presence server comprising:
a controller for determining at least one destination device associated with the test system, and
a distribution controller arranged to communicate a presence indication message comprising an indication of the operational status to the destination device.
15 . The communication system of claim 14 comprising the destination device and wherein the destination device comprises:
a receiver for receiving the presence indication message from the user presence server; and
a presentation controller for presenting the indication of the operational status to a user of the destination device.
16 . The communication system of claim 14 wherein the destination device is a mobile terminal.
17 . A method of operation for a test system, the method comprising:
determining an operational status for a unit under test;
generating a presence message in response to the operational status, the presence message being in accordance with a user presence message protocol; and
transmitting the presence message to a remote network element of a communication network.