Achieving greater test efficiencies using ACK signal suppression
View Patent ↗A method and system for testing a wireless data packet transceiver as a device under test (DUT) adapted to operate in conformance with a wireless signal standard such that a transmitted signal, when received by an intended receiver, is to result in a responsive signal transmission acknowledging such signal reception. During testing, responsive signal transmissions, e.g., acknowledgement signals, are withheld by the test system until after a predetermined number of data packets have been captured from the DUT, until a predetermined time interval has passed, or until data packets at a predetermined number of data rates have been captured from the DUT.
1. A method of testing a wireless data packet transceiver as a device under test (DUT) adapted to operate in conformance with a wireless signal standard such that a transmitted signal, when received by an intended receiver, is to result in a responsive signal transmission acknowledging such signal reception, comprising:
transmitting a command signal for initiating a plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT in accordance with said wireless signal standard;
capturing, following said transmitting of said command signal, a portion of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT in accordance with said wireless signal standard, wherein each one of said portion of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions includes a valid data packet;
refraining from transmitting a signal responsive to said capturing of said portion of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT;
capturing, further following said transmitting of said command signal, one or more further portions of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT in accordance with said wireless signal standard, wherein each one of said one or more further portions of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions includes a valid data packet selected based on data packet duration; and
following said capturing of said one or more further portions of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT in accordance with said wireless signal standard, transmitting a signal acknowledging such capturing, thereby capturing, in response to said command signal, multiple portions of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT in accordance with said wireless signal standard, wherein said DUT transmits at least said multiple portions of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions at a plurality of data rates.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said refraining from transmitting a signal responsive to capturing of said portion of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT comprises refraining from transmitting said signal at least until a predetermined number of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT have been captured.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said refraining from transmitting a signal responsive to capturing of said portion of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT comprises refraining from transmitting said signal at least until a predetermined time interval has passed.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said refraining from transmitting a signal responsive to capturing of said portion of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT comprises refraining from transmitting said signal at least until said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT has included a plurality of data rates.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said capturing, further following said transmitting of said command signal, one or more further portions of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT comprises capturing a predetermined number of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said capturing, further following said transmitting of said command signal, one or more further portions of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT comprises capturing said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT during a predetermined time interval.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said capturing, further following said transmitting of said command signal, one or more further portions of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT comprises capturing said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT at a plurality of data rates.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said following said capturing of said one or more further portions of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT, transmitting a signal acknowledging such capturing comprises transmitting said signal acknowledging such capturing following capturing of a predetermined number of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said following said capturing of said one or more further portions of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT, transmitting a signal acknowledging such capturing comprises transmitting said signal acknowledging such capturing following a predetermined time interval.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said following said capturing of said one or more further portions of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT, transmitting a signal acknowledging such capturing comprises transmitting said signal acknowledging such capturing following capturing of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT at a plurality of data rates.
11. A system for testing a wireless data packet transceiver as a device under test (DUT) adapted to operate in conformance with a wireless signal standard such that a transmitted signal, when received by an intended receiver, is to result in a responsive signal transmission acknowledging such signal reception, comprising:
a data packet transmitter; and
a data packet receiver;
wherein
said data packet transmitter is for transmitting a command signal for initiating a plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT in accordance with said wireless signal standard,
said data packet receiver is for capturing, following said transmitting of said command signal, a portion of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT in accordance with said wireless signal standard, wherein each one of said portion of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions includes a valid data packet,
said data packet transmitter is further for refraining from transmitting a signal responsive to capturing of said portion of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT,
said data packet receiver is further for capturing, further following said transmitting of said command signal, one or more further portions of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT in accordance with said wireless signal standard, wherein each one of said one or more further portions of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions includes a valid data packet selected based on data packet duration, and
said data packet transmitter is further for transmitting a signal acknowledging such capturing following said capturing of said one or more further portions of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT in accordance with said wireless signal standard, thereby capturing, in response to said command signal, multiple portions of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT in accordance with said wireless signal standard, wherein said DUT transmits at least said multiple portions of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions at a plurality of data rates.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein said data packet transmitter is further for refraining from transmitting a signal responsive to capturing of said portion of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT at least until a predetermined number of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT have been captured.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein said data packet transmitter is further for refraining from transmitting a signal responsive to capturing of said portion of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT at least until a predetermined time interval has passed.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein said data packet transmitter is further for refraining from transmitting a signal responsive to capturing of said portion of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT at least until said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT has included a plurality of data rates.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein said data packet receiver is further for capturing, further following said transmitting of said command signal, one or more further portions of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT by capturing a predetermined number of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein said data packet receiver is further for capturing, further following said transmitting of said command signal, one or more further portions of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT by capturing said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT during a predetermined time interval.
17. The system of claim 11 , wherein said data packet receiver is further for capturing, further following said transmitting of said command signal, one or more further portions of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT by capturing said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT at a plurality of data rates.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein said data packet transmitter is further for transmitting a signal acknowledging such capturing following capturing of said one or more further portions of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT by transmitting said signal acknowledging such capturing following capturing of a predetermined number of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT.
19. The system of claim 11 , wherein said data packet transmitter is further for transmitting a signal acknowledging such capturing following capturing of said one or more further portions of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT by transmitting said signal acknowledging such capturing following a predetermined time interval.
20. The system of claim 11 , wherein said data packet transmitter is further for transmitting a signal acknowledging such capturing following capturing of said one or more further portions of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT by transmitting said signal acknowledging such capturing following capturing of said plurality of responsive data packet transmissions by said DUT at a plurality of data rates.