IP Library Granted Patent US 9,576,209
Granted Patent B2
US 9,576,209 · App. 14/838,154 · Granted Feb 21, 2017

Robotic device tester

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,576,209
App. No.
14/838,154
Granted
Feb 21, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system, method, and device may include software and hardware which simplify and quicken configuration of the system for testing a device, enhance testing procedures which may be performed, and provide data via which to easily discern a cause and nature of an error which may result during testing. A camera may capture still images of a display screen of a tested device and another camera may capture video images of the tested device and a partner device. A wizard may be used to generate a configuration file based on one previously generated for a similar device. A mount for a tested device may be structured so that: it is suitable for mounting thereon a plurality of differently structured devices; and adjustments in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction in a plane and adjustments of an angle of the device relative to the plane may be easily made.

Claims (38)

1. A system, comprising:

a first camera that has a first field of view and a first axis corresponding to the first field of view;

a second camera that has a second field of view and a second axis corresponding to the second field of view, wherein the second field of view is wider than the first field of view;

a memory storing expected testing results data;

a platform supporting a tested handheld-communication device and a partner communication device, wherein at least a portion of a display screen of the tested handheld-communication device is in the first field of view of the first camera, wherein the first axis is approximately perpendicular with the display screen of the tested handheld-communication device, and wherein the second axis is non-perpendicular with the display screen;

a robot arm to manipulate input hardware of the tested handheld-communication device; and

a processor configured to:

cause the robot arm to operate the tested handheld-communication device by manipulating the input hardware while the tested handheld-communication device is supported on the platform, wherein the manipulating the input hardware of the tested handheld-communication device causes the tested handheld-communication device to transmit a communication to the partner communication device;

receive first images taken by the first camera during operation of the tested handheld-communication device;

perform a comparison of the first images with the expected testing results;

determine, based on the comparison, whether an error has occurred; and

cause the memory to store second images, received from the second camera, of the tested handheld-communication device corresponding to a time period during which the error occurred.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second field of view of the second camera includes all of the display screen of the tested handheld-communication device.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display screen of the tested handheld-communication device is in better focus by the first camera compared with the second camera.

4. The system of claim 1 , the processor further configured to perform optical character recognition (OCR) of one or more images of the display screen of the tested handheld-communication device to make a determination that the error has occurred.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tested handheld-communication device is positioned such that the display screen of the tested handheld-communication device is laterally shifted from the second axis extending through the lens of the second camera.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

process at least one image received from at least one of the first camera or the second camera to identify a test sequence, and

cause the robot arm to operate the tested handheld-communication device according to the test sequence.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to operate at least one light at a plurality of illumination levels during operation of at least one of the first camera and the second camera.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to identify at least one of a position of the display screen or a perimeter of the display screen based on a contrast between light produced by the display screen and ambient light.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a compartment to enclose the tested handheld-communication device, the first camera, the second camera, the platform, and the robot arm.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tested handheld-communication device is fixedly mounted to the platform such that the tested handheld-communication device is provided substantially in a same initial position for each test.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored program instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform a method to test a first handheld-communication device, the method comprising operations of:

operating the first handheld-communication device and a second handheld-communication device according to a test sequence that causes communication between the first handheld-communication device and the second handheld-communication device;

capturing, using a first camera, first images of at least one of the first handheld-communication device;

capturing, using the second camera, second images of at least the first handheld-communication device and the second handheld-communication device, wherein a field of view of the second camera is greater than a field of view of the first camera;

comparing the first images with baseline images to make a determination that an error has occurred;

based on the determination that the error has occurred, storing at least a portion of the second images, the portion of the second images corresponding to a time period during which the error occurred;

wherein the first handheld-communication device is provided on a platform and a first axis extends through a lens of the first camera and approximately perpendicularly through the platform and a second axis extends through a lens of the second camera and non-perpendicularly through the platform.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises performing optical character recognition (OCR) of at least one of the first images or the second images.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the first handheld-communication device is positioned such that a display screen of the first handheld-communication device is laterally shifted from the second axis extending through the lens of the second camera.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:

processing at least one image received from at least one of the first camera or the second camera to identify a test sequence; and

causing a robot arm to operate the first handheld-communication device according to the test sequence.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises operating at least one light at a plurality of illumination levels during operation of at least one of the first camera and the second camera.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises identifying at least one of a position and a perimeter of a display screen of the first handheld-communication device based on a contrast between light produced by the display screen and ambient light.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the first handheld-communication device is fixedly mounted to the platform such that the first handheld-communication device is provided substantially in a same initial position for each test.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2022
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: IBSV LLC; LAYER3 TV, LLC; PUSHSPRING, LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; SPRINTCOM LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC
Reel/Frame 062595/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ISBV LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; LAYER3 TV, INC.; PUSHSPRING, INC.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; CLEARWIRE LEGACY LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM L.P.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 053182/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2020
From: DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
To: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; IBSV LLC
Reel/Frame 052969/0381 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2020
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
To: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; IBSV LLC; METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; METROPCS WIRELESS, INC.; T-MOBILE SUBSIDIARY IV CORPORATION; LAYER3 TV, INC.; PUSHSPRING, INC.
Reel/Frame 052969/0314 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 30, 2016
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
Reel/Frame 041225/0910 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 14, 2016
From: JENKINSON, DAVID; LEE, BOBBY; LIAW, GAVIN
To: T-MOBILE USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 037492/0021 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 17, 2015
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; T-MOBILE SUBSIDIARY IV CORPORATION
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 037125/0885 →