Off-the-shelf automated test solutions for iDTV and Set Top Box (STB)
There are basically two approaches to an automated test. First is traditional rack-and-stack approach where you buy instrumentation from proven equipment manufacturers and build a test system yourself. Even though low-level instrumentation drivers are usually provided by equipment manufacturers, the equipment is not necessarily intended to be used in an automated environment, making the process of building a test system a diligent work of effort. The system also requires many instrumentation items; it is heavy, inflexible, and demanding in terms of power consumption, which can be a decisive argument of deployment in final production line.
The new, software defined approach, introduced by some eminent instrumentation manufacturers, offers automation equipment and tools aimed at generalized electronic device under test. These solutions, although flexible and perspective, are costly, liable only in long term perspective, and usually much more your business will ever need.
There aren’t many performance and cost optimized off-the-shelf automated test solutions for iDTV and Set Top Box (STB) in the market today. Even more unlikely is that they would consider your preferences on engagement of your in-house instrumentation. BBT is an environment-aware solution of hardware components, software tools and test suites for rapid deployment of iDTV and STB test automation.
Customer's base awareness - the key to cost optimization
What makes BBT a price attractive solution is the potential of reusability of customer’s base: generators, measurement devices and other instrumentation, network and computers – PC based environment of networked workstations with infrastructure. Potentially additional hardware requirements are all products of RT-RK Computer Based Systems and therefore integral part of BBT offer, making BBT solution extremely attractive for customers who are building their systems based on already purchased BBT solutions and components.
Tool for product's design and production – from R&D, via QA to Production
On account of the goal to develop a test solution which tracks product’s life from design to production and further, BBT development and test control environment RT-INTENT ensures seamless transition of the product’s testing from research to production line. Although the requirements of the three departments: R&D, QA and Production differ by types, quality, and quantity of the tests, product’s transition from one phase to another transfers the complete test base and knowledge on the project’s performances from the previous to the next phase, boosting the next phase in project’s life cycle with the whole set of tests from the previous phase to re-tailor, upgrade, and shape according to its needs, keeping the overhead to minimum. This mechanism also gives rise to statistics aimed at optimization of the processes, analysis of the project performances in various life phases, as well as other expert analysis with goal to optimize development and production of Set Top Boxes and iDTVs.
Utilization of the BBT solutions with new models of product
In the era of increasing technology challenges, with ever shortening time-to-market, where maximizing company’s revenues is a requirement, and end users experience the main standard, it is crucial to provide STB and iDTV IC vendors and OEMs with testing solutions which ensure an easy expansion to new applications and models. BBT solutions support these transitions with:
- Usage of macros
- Interactive navigation through menus
- Simple replacement of used generators
- Automatic update of test sets
- Easily combined tests and group of tests
BBT utilization mechanisms decrease the time needed to create the new automated test plan to matter of few days.
Support in design and deployment
Each BBT deployment is the result of a project which includes analysis of customer’s requirements and preferences, choosing the optimal solution, installation, full documentation and three day training, after which a customer obtains full freedom to exploit, and further develop and advance its testing environment.
Five years of approval on the market
BBT solutions have been developed since 1995. and used to test software of the biggest iDTV manufacturers of today, including SAMSUNG, LG, JVC and PANASONIC. It has been sold in more than twenty locations worldwide, and used by IC vendors like Zoran, SMARDTV, Cirrus Logic, as well as by OEMs like VESTEL and Kethrein.
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