# US 7,613,865 B2 · Automated switching for executing tests involving electronic devices

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- Number: US 7,613,865 B2
- Document ID: US7613865B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/276,142
- Filed: 2006-02-15
- Published: 2007-08-30
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2006-02-15
- Assignees: Microsoft Corporation
- Inventors: Zili Tong; Kaisuo Lu; Hua Zhang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7613865B2

## CPC

- G06F 11/2733: {Test interface between tester and unit under test}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

An automated switching system that enables a tester to establish different connections between multiple electronic devices is provided. The system includes a switching module that connects to the electronic devices. The switching module may be controlled to automatically couple the electronic devices to the testing device in different configurations. The switching module may include radio ports for selectively coupling devices one at a time and check ports for concurrently coupling one or more of the devices. The system may also be configured to provide a time-varying coupling between the tester and the electronic devices.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus comprising:
input Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports configured to receive connections from electronic devices;
output USB ports configured to provide connections to a tester for performing a test associated with the electronic devices; and
a connection manager configured to receive control signals, the connection manager further configured to electrically couple at least one of the input USB ports with at least one of the output USB ports in response to the control signals, wherein the connection manager electrically couples the USB ports according to a coupling configuration that includes a loop.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a control signal port configured to receive the control signals.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the connection manager is configured to couple at least one of the input ports with at least one of the output ports for a specified interval in response to at least one of the control signals.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the control signal port is coupled to a port on the tester to establish a connection with the tester.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the control signal port is at least one of a serial port, a USB port, or an IEEE 1394 port.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the connection manager further comprising:
switches connecting the input USB ports and the output USB ports; and
a switch control configured to turn the switches on or off in response to the control signals.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the input ports and at least one of the output ports are connected in a radio configuration.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the input ports and at least one of the output ports are connected in a check configuration.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the input ports and the output ports are connected in configurations that include both a radio configuration and a check configuration.

### Claim 10

One or more computer readable storage media encoded with device-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:
connecting electronic devices to a switching module;
connecting the switching module to ports on a tester;
determining connections between the tester and the electronic devices based, at least in part, on parameters associated with a test involving the electronic devices;
identifying control signals corresponding to the determined connections; and
providing the control signals to the switching module, wherein the control signals cause a coupling configuration that includes a loop.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The one or more computer readable storage media as recited in claim 10, further comprising performing a test of the electronic devices with the connections.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The one or more computer readable storage media as recited in claim 10, wherein the ports include at least one of USB ports and IEEE 1394 ports.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The one or more computer readable storage media as recited in claim 10, wherein the control signals cause at least one of the electronic devices to be connected to a port on the tester for a pre-determined interval.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The one or more computer readable storage media as recited in claim 10, wherein the control signals cause multiple the electronic devices to be connected to different ports in a time-varying manner.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The one or more computer readable storage media as recited in claim 10, further comprising:
identifying a script including commands corresponding to a coupling configuration; and
generating the control signals based, at least in part, on the script.