RFID RM TestEngine
RFID TestEngine (TE) is the core of the RM Tester. When the TE is started, the test environment (IP addresses, port numbers, URL, transport binding, message formats) and the actual tag ids, passwords and other RM protocol specific parameters for Tester's use can be configured. This information will be saved in a file known as vendor properties file. While functioning as a RM reader tester, the TE is capable of running as either TCP or UDP client.
The RFID RM TestEngine is capable of running XML and SNMP tests. Depending on the protocol (RM1.0-XML/RM1.0-SNMP), transport layer (TCP/UDP) and message format (XML/Binary), the relevant tests are shown on the Test Listing Display (left-most pane of TE).
The TE reads the tests and executes the test step sequences based on the associated pass/fail conditions. It will send a predefined test step packet and wait for the conditions to be satisfied. This passive tool does not generate any traffic by itself. It generates traffic only when the user initiates a test and subsequently depending on the response, it receives from IUT.
As the TE is running, a message test sequence diagram is created and displayed in real time. This diagram is helpful to understand visually the type of packets transmitted and received from the RM interface. TE screen is divided into three panes:
test listing display,
runtime activities and
sequence diagram. This whole content can be saved to a file for later viewing and analysis. If a packet is selected from the middle pane, the corresponding sequence diagram is automatically highlighted.
Test can be run either one at a time in manual mode or in a group (created by choosing the tests and giving a group name) to automate the running in unattended mode. Generally, there are two categories of tests: those that can be executed in an unattended mode and those that need an operator intervention. In case of operator intervention, the TE will display a message asking the operator to perform certain activities (e.g.: removing a tag from the field of view of the reader), and then wait for the operator to complete the action and then continue.
The transmitted and received packets can be forwarded to the RFID Miniscope decoder for real time protocol specific decode of the packets either on a field-by-field basis or on a bit by bit basis. While the packets are being forwarded to the Miniscope, it is saved in a file, which can be viewed later offline with the Miniscope.
All the message exchanges between the Tester and the RM server are saved in a log file. This will help the developers debug any problem by recreating the same external condition.
