Method and apparatus for decreasing automatic test equipment setup time

An apparatus for performing testing related tasks, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor for executing a configuration instruction according to a test program;
• at least one configurable component that is configurable according to the configuration instruction;
• and
• a configuration interface for analyzing the configuration instruction to determine an identity of an associated component and a target configuration for the associated component, for comparing the target configuration with a configuration status of the associated component, and for updating a component configuration of the component to the target configuration only when the configuration status indicates the component configuration is different from the target configuration.

An apparatus for performing testing tasks, the apparatus comprising:

• logic that analyzes a test program configuration instruction to determine an identity of an associated component and a target configuration for the associated component;
• logic that compares the target configuration with a configuration status of the associated component;
• and
• logic that updates a component configuration of the component to the target configuration only when the configuration status indicates the component configuration is different from the target configuration.

A method of configuring components in automatic test equipment, comprising the steps of:

• storing the configuration status of configurable components in the automatic test equipment;
• analyzing a program configuration instruction to determine an identity of a component to be configured and a target configuration for the identified component;
• comparing the target configuration with the stored configuration status for the identified component;
• and
• updating a configuration of the identified component to the target configuration when the stored configuration status indicates the component configuration is different from the target configuration.

Automatic test equipment comprising:

• at least one component that is configurable according to configuration instructions;
• a processor for executing a configuration instruction according to a test program;
• a memory storing the configuration status of said component;
• and
• a configuration interface for analyzing the configuration instruction to determine a target configuration for said component, comparing the target configuration with the configuration status stored in said memory, and updating the configuration of said component to the target configuration when the configuration status indicates the configuration of said component is different from the target configuration.