Remote testing system and method
AssigneeAstrium GmbH
InventorsTerence Alfred Roblett, Graham Anthony Ward
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system of supporting and testing equipment distant from the support system are provided. The method includes the steps of forming a communications link between the equipment and the support system, using the support system to measure performance of the equipment and to provide a set of performance data, providing library data relating to the equipment, comparing the performance data with the library data and analysing the compared data whereby to provide a performance diagnosis of the equipment, all in a substantially continuous real time operation.
Claims16
A remote testing system, comprising:
- a control system linked by communications links to a plurality of distributed relational databases, each database being associated with a test development entity and storing information about products specific to that test development entity, the information including at least one of equipment model data, historic performance data and logistical data specific to respective products;
- a device to be tested remote from the control system;
- and
- a test system local to the device, the test system being connectable to the device to perform device testing and being configured to carry out synthetic measurements on the device to be tested based on information from the control system;
- the control system being arranged to establish a satellite communications link with the test system;
- wherein the control system is configured to receive, via information exchange between the control system, the device to be tested and at least one of the databases, identification information associated with the device, to determine one or more tests to be applied to the device based on the identification information, the identification information including information about the environment in which the device to be tested is currently located and information about logistical support for the device to be tested, the control system further being configured to transmit test software for the one or more determined tests to the test system for running on the test system and test information defining the one or more tests to be applied to the device using the test software, the test information being provided to configure the test system into a synthetic instrument for carrying out specified measurements on the device to be tested, the control system further being configured to receive test results from the test system and to access information held in at least one database to perform analysis of the test results.
A method of testing a device remotely from a control system, the control system being linked by communications links to a plurality of distributed relational databases, each database being associated with a test development entity and storing information about products specific to that test development entity, the information comprises at least one of equipment model data, historic performance data and logistical data specific to the products, the method, comprising:
- establishing a satellite communications link between the control system and a test system local to the device, the test system being configured to carry out synthetic measurements on the device to be tested based on information from the control system;
- receiving identification information for the device at the control system by information exchange between the control system, the test system and at least one of the plurality of databases, the identification information including information about the environment in which the device to be tested is currently located and information about logistical support for the device to be tested;
- determining one or more tests to be applied to the device based on the identification information;
- transmitting test software for the one or more determined tests to the test system for running on the test system;
- transmitting test information defining the one or more tests to be applied to the device using the test software to the test system, the test information configuring the test system into a synthetic instrument for carrying out specified measurements on the device to be tested;
- running the test software on the test system to apply the one or more tests to the device;
- transmitting the results of the one or more tests to the control system;
- and
- accessing information held in at least one database of the plurality of databases to perform analysis of the results in the control system.
A remote testing system, comprising:
- a control system;
- a device to be tested remote from the control system;
- and
- a test system local to the device, the test system being connectable to the device to perform device testing and being configured to carry out synthetic measurements on the device to be tested based on information from the control system;
- the control system being arranged to establish a satellite communications link with the test system;
- wherein the control system is configured to receive identification information associated with the device, to determine one or more tests to be applied to the device based on the identification information, the identification information including at least one of information about the environment in which the device to be tested is currently located and information about logistical support for the device to be tested, the control system further being configured to transmit test software for the one or more determined tests to the test system for running on the test system and test information defining the one or more tests to be applied to the device using the test software, the test information being provided to configure the test system into a synthetic instrument for carrying out specified measurements on the device to be tested.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.