TITLE OF THE INVENTION
A system and method for testing a connectivity control unit
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
5 [001] The invention relates to testing a connectivity control unit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Most vehicles are now equipped with a connectivity control unit. The connectivity control unit is connected with various sensors of the vehicle to
10 monitor and provide real-time data on location and operating parameters of the
vehicle. The connectivity control unit is in communication with external devices/systems enabling vehicle data to be monitored and/or analyzed remotely. [003] Vehicles generally travel through different terrains and different network conditions. Accordingly, performance of the connectivity control unit varies
15 depending upon such conditions. Generally, functionality of the connectivity
control unit is validated/tested once it is installed on the vehicle. However, testing or validation of the connectivity control unit once installed on the vehicle prevents effective testing under different scenarios. In this context, the vehicle will have to be subjected to different operating conditions, which is a challenge. Further, such
20 testing or validation of the connectivity control unit also has drawbacks from a
cost and time perspective.
[004] In view of the above, there is a need in the art to address at-least the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[005] Accordingly, the present invention in one aspect provides a system for
testing a connectivity control unit, the system comprising a first input system
connected with the connectivity control unit, the first input system configured to
5 generate at-least one operating parameter and/or location parameter , the
connectivity control unit processes each operating parameter and/or location parameter, and generates an output signal corresponding to each of the operating parameter and/or location parameter; a second input system connected with the control unit, the second input system configured to define a network parameter for
10 the connectivity control unit; and a server in communication with the connectivity
control unit, the server configured to: establish a communication link with the connectivity control unit depending upon the network parameter; receive each output signal from the connectivity control unit; compare each output signal with a reference signal; and determine performance of the connectivity control unit
15 based upon the comparison of the output signal with the reference signal.
[006] In another aspect, the present invention a method for testing a connectivity control unit. The method comprises the steps of providing at-least one operating parameter and/or location parameter to the connectivity control unit, the connectivity control unit processes each operating parameter and/or location
20 parameter, and generates an output signal corresponding to each of the operating
parameter and/or location parameter; defining a network parameter for the connectivity control unit; and establishing a communication link between a server and the connectivity control unit depending upon the network parameter;

receiving at the server each output signal from the connectivity control unit; comparing at the server each output signal with a reference signal; and determining performance of the connectivity control unit based upon the comparison of the output signal with the reference signal. 5
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[007] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of
which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to
be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in
10 context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to
limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 shows a system for testing a connectivity control unit in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 shows a flow diagram of a method for testing a connectivity
15 control unit in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[008] The present invention is directed towards testing a connectivity control
unit by simulating various operating parameters and location data of a vehicle.
20 The present invention enables monitoring performance of the connectivity control
unit under different conditions so as to optimize performance of the connectivity control unit under different conditions.

[009] As discussed hereinbefore, a connectivity control unit is generally installed
on a vehicle, and is connected with various sensors of the vehicle to monitor and
provide real-time data on location and operating parameters of the vehicle. The
connectivity control unit is in communication with external devices/systems
5 enabling vehicle data to be monitored and/or analyzed remotely. The present
invention is concerned with testing performance of the connectivity control unit prior to installing the connectivity control unit on a vehicle so as to optimize performance of the connectivity control unit. [010] Figure 1 shows a system 100 for testing a connectivity control unit 130 in
10 accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The system comprises a first
input system 110 and a second input system 120 connected with the connectivity control unit, and a server 140 in communication with the connectivity control unit. [011] The first input system and the second input system are connected with the connectivity control unit via connectors. The connectors can be selected from
15 SMA jack, N-type jack, DB 25 pin male connector, DB 9 pin male connector, etc.
In an embodiment, the first input system is configured to generate at-least one operating parameter and/or location parameter. The operating parameters include parameters which are equivalent to parameters detected by various sensors installed on a vehicle. For example engine temperature, engine RPM, fuel level,
20 vehicle speed, water in fuel, filter status, etc. The location parameters include
location information which is equivalent to information that would be tracked/obtained by a position information system of a vehicle. In this regard, each parameter generated by the input system is a simulated parameter which is

equivalent to a vehicle condition. Accordingly, different conditions of the vehicle
can be provided to the connectivity control unit by the first input system enabling
near-real life testing/validation of the connectivity control unit. Further, the
second input system is configured to define/select a communication mode for the
5 connectivity control unit based upon which the connectivity control unit will
select mode/means for transferring data. The communication mode can be selected from network modes such as LTE, 4G, 3G, 2G, WCDMA. Further frequency and power level of such modes can also be defined by the second input system. In an embodiment, the first input system is a PXI controller, and the
10 second input system is a network simulator.
[012] The connectivity control unit comprises of plurality of input ports, a processing unit and at-least one communication module. The input ports include at-least analog input ports, digital input ports, frequency input ports. The processing unit processes the operating parameter and/or location parameter
15 received from the input system, and generates an output signal corresponding to
each of the operating parameter and/or location parameter. The at-least one communication module is configured to transfer the output signal(s) to external system(s)/device(s) such as the server. [013] In an embodiment, the connectivity control unit is enclosed in a RF (Radio
20 Frequency) shield box. The RF shield box eliminates any external RF or noise
interference to the connectivity control unit.
[014] As shown in figure 1, the server is in communication with the connectivity control unit. The server comprises a processor, and at-least one communication

module. The at-least one communication module enables the server to establish a
communication link with the connectivity control. The communication mode is
dependent upon communication mode defined by the second input system.
Accordingly, the communication link can be established via different
5 communication modes. Upon establishing the communication link, each output
signal is received by the server, and the processor compares each output signal with a reference signal to determine performance of the connectivity control unit. In this regard, any deviation from the reference signal will be indicative of an error, and the connectivity control unit can accordingly be calibrated to overcome
10 the error. The server comprises a database for storing one or more reference
signals.
[015] Further as shown in figure 1, the system comprises a programmable power supply 150 connected with the connectivity control unit. The programmable power supply can control voltage provided to the connectivity control unit so as to
15 simulate changes in power mode.
[016] In an embodiment, the system is assembled on a single rack setup. Accordingly, the system occupies less space.
[017] Figure 2 shows a method for testing a connectivity control unit. In order to implement such a method, the invention is used or integrated with the system
20 discussed hereinbefore.
[018] The method starts with step 2A where at-least one operating parameter and/or location parameter at the first input system is generated, and a communication mode is defined by the second input system at step 2B.

Thereafter, at step 2C each operating parameter and/or location parameter is
processed by a connectivity control unit to generate an output signal
corresponding to each of the operating parameter and/or location parameter. Once,
the output signal is generated, at step 2D a communication link is established
5 between the connectivity control unit and a server depending upon
communication mode defined at the second input system. The server receives each output signal from the connectivity control unit, at step 2E and compares each output signal with a reference signal. Depending upon the comparison, performance of the connectivity control is determined at step 2F, whereby any
10 deviation from the reference signal will be indicative of an error, and the
connectivity control unit can accordingly be calibrated to overcome the error. [019] Advantageously, the present invention automates testing of the connectivity control unit for different operating and network conditions. Also, the connectivity control unit is tested externally, thereby obviating disadvantages
15 associated with on-board testing of the connectivity control unit.
[020] While the present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

WE CLAIM
1. A system for testing a connectivity control unit, the system comprising:
a first input system connected with the connectivity control unit, the first
input system configured to generate at-least one operating parameter
5 and/or location parameter, the connectivity control unit processes each
operating parameter and/or location parameter, and generates an output signal corresponding to each of the operating parameter and/or location parameter;
a second input system connected with the control unit, the second input
10 system configured to define a network parameter for the connectivity
control unit; and
a server in communication with the connectivity control unit, the server configured to:
establish a communication link with the connectivity control unit
15 depending upon the network parameter;
receive each output signal from the connectivity control unit; compare each output signal with a reference signal; and
determine performance of the connectivity control unit based upon the comparison of the output signal with the reference signal. 20
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connectivity control unit is
enclosed in a RF shield box.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a programmable power supply is connected with the connectivity control unit to define power conditions of the connectivity control unit.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first input system is a PXI controller.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second input system is a network simulator.
6. A method for testing a connectivity control unit, the method comprising the steps of:
providing at-least one operating parameter and/or location parameter to the
connectivity control unit, the connectivity control unit processes each
operating parameter and/or location parameter, and generates an output
signal corresponding to each of the operating parameter and/or location
parameter;
defining a network parameter for the connectivity control unit; and
establishing a communication link between a server and the connectivity
control unit depending upon the network parameter;
receiving at the server each output signal from the connectivity control
unit;
comparing at the server each output signal with a reference signal; and

determining performance of the connectivity control unit based upon the comparison of the output signal with the reference signal.