System and method for testing multiple data packet signal transceivers

1. An apparatus including a system with a N×N multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) data packet signal transceiver for testing a plurality of data packet signal transceivers, comprising:

a plurality of N signal paths for communicating with a plurality of data packet signal transceiver devices under test (DUTs) to convey a plurality of N transmit data packet signals from said plurality of DUTs and to convey a plurality of N receive data packet signals to said plurality of DUTs;

a N×N MIMO data packet signal transceiver to receive at least a portion of said plurality of N transmit data packet signals and provide said plurality of N receive data packet signals; and

signal control circuitry coupled between said N×N MIMO data packet signal transceiver and said plurality of N signal paths, and responsive to said plurality of N transmit data packet signals by corrupting at least a portion of each of one or more of said plurality of N transmit data packet signals received with said N×N MIMO data packet signal transceiver.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of N signal paths comprises a plurality of N conductive radio frequency (RF) signal paths.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each one of at least a portion of said plurality of DUTs comprises a single input, single output (SISO) DUT.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said N×N MIMO data packet signal transceiver comprises a multi-user N×N MIMO data packet signal transceiver.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said N×N MIMO data packet signal transceiver comprises a N×N MIMO access point.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said N×N MIMO data packet signal transceiver is to receive said at least a portion of said plurality of N transmit data packet signals simultaneously and provide said plurality of N receive data packet signals simultaneously.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said signal control circuitry is further responsive to one or more control signals from said N×N MIMO data packet signal transceiver by conveying said plurality of N receive data packet signals in a substantially non-corruptive manner.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said signal control circuitry comprises:

signal measurement circuitry responsive to said plurality of N transmit data packet signals by providing one or more first control signals; and

signal conditioning circuitry coupled to said signal measurement circuitry and responsive to said one or more first control signals by corrupting said at least a portion of each of one or more of said plurality of N transmit data packet signals received with said N×N MIMO data packet signal transceiver.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said one or more control signals are indicative of at least a start time of each of said plurality of N receive data packet signals.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said one or more first control signals are indicative of at least one of a magnitude, a start time and an end time of each of said plurality of N transmit data packet signals.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said signal conditioning circuitry is further responsive to one or more second control signals from said N×N MIMO data packet signal transceiver by conveying said plurality of N receive data packet signals in a substantially non-corruptive manner.

12. A method of testing a plurality of single input, single output (SISO) data packet signal transceivers with a N×N multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) data packet signal transceiver, comprising:

providing a plurality of N signal paths for communicating with a plurality of data packet signal transceiver devices under test (DUTs) to convey a plurality of N transmit data packet signals from said plurality of DUTs and to convey a plurality of N receive data packet signals to said plurality of DUTs;

receiving, with a N×N MIMO data packet signal transceiver, at least a portion of said plurality of N transmit data packet signals;

providing, with said N×N MIMO data packet signal transceiver, said plurality of N receive data packet signals; and

responding to said plurality of N transmit data packet signals by corrupting at least a portion of each of one or more of said plurality of N transmit data packet signals received with said N×N MIMO data packet signal transceiver.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said providing a plurality of N signal paths comprises providing a plurality of N conductive radio frequency (RF) signal paths.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein each one of at least a portion of said plurality of DUTs comprises a single input, single output (SISO) DUT.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein said N×N MIMO data packet signal transceiver comprises a multi-user N×N MIMO data packet signal transceiver.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein said N×N MIMO data packet signal transceiver comprises a N×N MIMO access point.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein:

said receiving, with a N×N MIMO data packet signal transceiver, at least a portion of said plurality of N transmit data packet signals comprises receiving said at least a portion of said plurality of N transmit data packet signals simultaneously; and

said providing, with said N×N MIMO data packet signal transceiver, said plurality of N receive data packet signals comprises providing said plurality of N receive data packet signals simultaneously.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising responding to one or more control signals from said N×N MIMO data packet signal transceiver by providing said plurality of N receive data packet signals to said plurality of DUTs in a substantially non-corruptive manner.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein said responding to said plurality of N transmit data packet signals by corrupting at least a portion of each of one or more of said plurality of N transmit data packet signals received with said N×N MIMO data packet signal transceiver comprises:

measuring at least one signal characteristic of each of said plurality of N transmit data packet signals and responsive thereto providing one or more first control signals; and

responding to said one or more first control signals by corrupting said at least a portion of each of one or more of said plurality of N transmit data packet signals received with said N×N MIMO data packet signal transceiver.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein said one or more first control signals are indicative of at least one of a magnitude, a start time and an end time of each of said plurality of N transmit data packet signals.