Electronic Device Testing Using Radio Signals

Abstract

Methods and devices are disclosed for controlling an electronic device using data transmitted over radio signals. In some embodiments, a radio source may embed instructions to control an electronic device into a radio signal. Alternatively, data relating to test parameters of other test equipment may be embedded into the radio signal. For example, the radio source may use the RDS communications protocol to transmit the instructions in an FM radio signal. In a testing environment, the electronic device may locally save the test parameters, and associate the test parameters with the results of a test.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of testing an electronic device using a test control station and test equipment, comprising:
 configuring the test equipment to affect an operating condition of the electronic device;   providing test equipment parameters from the test control station to the electronic device, wherein the test equipment parameters are indicative of the configuring;   saving the test equipment parameters at the electronic device;   running a test of the electronic device; and   associating results of the test with the saved test equipment parameters at the electronic device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuring comprises receiving manual manipulations of the test equipment from a user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising supplying the test equipment parameters from the test control station to the test equipment, wherein the configuring is performed responsive to the supplying. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuring comprises changing the positioning of the electronic device relative to the test control station. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test is run in a testing environment, and wherein the configuring comprises changing at least one condition of the testing environment. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing comprises transmitting a radio signal to the electronic device, and wherein the test equipment parameters are embedded in the radio signal. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing electronic device parameters from the test control station to the electronic device, wherein the test of the electronic device is run based on the electronic device parameters. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the electronic device parameters comprise at least one of: enabling at least one component of the electronic device during the test, a length of time to run the test, or a radio frequency to tune a tuner of the electronic device during the test. 
     
     
         9 . An electronic device, comprising:
 communications circuitry configured to receive test equipment parameters from a test control station, wherein test equipment is configured according to the test equipment parameters to affect an operating condition of the electronic device during a test on the electronic device;   a memory configured to store the test equipment parameters and results of the test performed on the electronic device; and   control circuitry configured to:
 perform the test on the electronic device; and 
 associate the results of the test with the test equipment parameters. 
   
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the test equipment parameters comprise information specifying manual manipulations of the test equipment by a user. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the test equipment parameters comprise information specifying automatic configuration of the test equipment performed in response to the test equipment parameters being provided to the test equipment. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the test equipment parameters comprise information specifying the position of the electronic device relative to the test control station. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the test is performed in a testing environment, and wherein the test equipment parameters comprise information specifying conditions of the testing environment. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the communications circuitry further comprises radio tuning circuitry configured to receive a radio signal from the test control station, wherein the test equipment parameters are embedded in the radio signal. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the communications circuitry is further configured to receive electronic device parameters from the test control station; and   the control circuitry is further configured to perform the test on the electronic device based on the electronic device parameters.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the electronic device parameters comprise at least one of: enabling at least one component of the electronic device during the test, a length of time to run the test, or a radio frequency to tune a tuner of the electronic device during the test.