Test probe having modular components
View Patent ↗A test probe. The test probe includes an interconnect module configured to connect to a modular, replaceable wireless module, a connect module configured to communicate with a communication network and the wireless module, an identification module configured to receive and transmit an identification of the test probe, an audio module configured to enable transfer of audio data from/for communication with the communication network from/to the wireless module and to translate audio data to/from audio signals, and a computer configured to enable transfer of audio signals from/to the audio module, transfer of digital data from/to the wireless module, and transfer of test data to/from a remote controller. Test data from the remote controller comprises instructions to control the wireless module and data for the wireless module to transfer to the connect module, and test data transmitted to the remote controller comprises digital data and audio data received from the wireless module.
1. A test probe, comprising:
an interconnect module configured to connect to a modular, replaceable wireless module;
a connect module configured to communicate with a network and the wireless module via the interconnect module;
an identification module configured to receive an identification label identifying the test probe and configured to transmit the identification label to the wireless module via the interconnect module; and
a computer configured to enable transfer of digital data from/to the wireless module via the interconnect module and to enable transfer of test data to/from a remote controller, wherein test data from the remote controller comprises instructions to control the wireless module and data for the wireless module to transfer to the connect module and wherein test data transmitted to the remote controller comprises digital data and audio data received from the wireless module.
2. The test probe as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
an audio module, wherein the audio module is configured to enable transfer of audio data from/for communication with the network from/to the wireless module via the interconnect module and to translate audio data to/from audio signals and wherein the computer is configured to enable transfer of audio signals from/to the audio module.
3. The test probe as recited in claim 1 , wherein the test probe is configured to connect to and to test the network.
4. The test probe as recited in claim 1 , wherein the test probe is configured to emulate a telephone.
5. The test probe as recited in claim 4 , wherein the telephone is a cellular telephone.
6. The test probe as recited in claim 1 , wherein the network is a communication network and wherein the test probe is configured to emulate a telephone and to connect to and to test the communication network.
7. The test probe as recited in claim 6 , wherein the telephone is a cellular telephone.
8. The test probe as recited in claim 1 , wherein the identification label is obtained from or mimics information obtained from a subscriber identification module.
9. The test probe as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a data bus configured to enable transfer of the digital data and the audio data to another external device.
10. The test probe as recited in claim 9 , wherein the data bus is a USB (Universal Serial Bus) bus.
11. The test probe as recited in claim 1 , wherein the transfer of test data to/from the remote controller occurs over an Ethernet bus.
12. The test probe as recited in claim 1 , further comprising the wireless module.
13. The test probe as recited in claim 12 , wherein the wireless module further comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, thereby enabling collection of probe location information by the probe.
14. The test probe as recited in claim 1 , wherein a global positioning system (GPS) receiver is connected to the computer, thereby enabling collection of probe location information by the probe.
15. The test probe as recited in claim 1 , wherein the interconnect module comprises a receptacle configured to receive the modular, replaceable wireless module.
16. The test probe as recited in claim 1 , wherein the test probe is configured for mounting in a test unit, wherein the test unit comprises a probe manager configured to manage multiple test probes.