Methods, systems, and computer readable media for testing scheduling fidelity in a time sensitive network

1. A method for determining scheduling fidelity in a time sensitive network (TSN), the method comprising:

in a test system:

generating a test packet;

inserting at least two expected receive times into the test packet, wherein each of the at least two expected receive times indicates when the test packet or a substantially similar packet is expected to be received by one of at least two destinations, wherein the at least two expected receive times include a first expected receive time indicating when the test packet or a substantially similar packet is expected to be received by a first destination and a second expected receive time indicating when the test packet or a substantially similar packet is expected to be received by a second destination;

transmitting the test packet to the system under test (SUT);

receiving, via the SUT, the test packet or a substantially similar packet containing the at least two expected receive times; and

computing, using at least one of the at least two expected receive times and at least one of the at least two actual receive times, a time variation metric associated with the test packet.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the at least two expected receive times is based on scheduling information associated with a TSN schedule.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the SUT sends the test packet or a substantially similar packet to the first destination and the second destination.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the at least two destinations includes the test system, a port module at the test system, or a port at the port module.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the scheduling information includes a test session start time, a test session interval value, a gate access list indicating when the test packet is to be transmitted from an originating node, or a gate access list indicating when the test packet is to be transmitted from the SUT.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the time variation metric includes a latency metric, a maximum time error, a minimum time error, an average time error, or a metric indicating a total number of time errors exceeding a threshold within a time period.

7. A test system for determining scheduling fidelity in a time sensitive network (TSN), the test system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a test controller module implemented using the at least one processor, the test controller module configured for:

generating a test packet;

inserting at least two expected receive times into the test packet, wherein each of the at least two expected receive times indicates when the test packet or a substantially similar packet is expected to be received by one of at least two destinations, wherein the at least two expected receive times include a first expected receive time indicating when the test packet or a substantially similar packet is expected to be received by a first destination and a second expected receive time indicating when the test packet or a substantially similar packet is expected to be received by a second destination;

transmitting the test packet to the system under test (SUT);

receiving, via the SUT, the test packet or a substantially similar packet containing the at least two expected receive times; and

computing, using at least one of the at least two expected receive times and at least one of the at least two actual receive times, a time variation metric associated with the test packet.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein at least one of the at least two expected receive times is based on scheduling information associated with a TSN schedule.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the SUT sends the test packet or a substantially similar packet to the first destination and the second destination.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein at least one of the at least two destinations includes the test system, a port module at the test system, or a port at the port module.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the scheduling information includes a test session start time, a test session interval value, a gate access list indicating when the test packet is to be transmitted from an originating node, or a gate access list indicating when the test packet is to be transmitted from the SUT.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the time variation metric includes a latency metric, a maximum time error, a minimum time error, an average time error, or a metric indicating a total number of time errors exceeding a threshold within a time period.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions embodied in the non-transitory computer readable medium that when executed by at least one processor of a computer cause the computer to perform steps comprising:

in a test system:

generating a test packet;

inserting at least two expected receive times into the test packet, wherein each of the at least two expected receive times indicates when the test packet or a substantially similar packet is expected to be received by one of at least two destinations, wherein the at least two expected receive times include a first expected receive time indicating when the test packet or a substantially similar packet is expected to be received by a first destination and a second expected receive time indicating when the test packet or a substantially similar packet is expected to be received by a second destination;

transmitting the test packet to the system under test (SUT);

receiving, via the SUT, the test packet or a substantially similar packet containing the at least two expected receive times; and

computing, using at least one of the at least two expected receive times and at least one of the at least two actual receive times, a time variation metric associated with the test packet.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 wherein at least one of the at least two expected receive times is based on scheduling information associated with a TSN schedule.