Automating NG-eCall Conformance and Interoperability Testing Using Keysight TAP
In my previous post, I discussed the shift from traditional eCall to the Next Generation eCall (NG-eCall) system. With the evolution of vehicle emergency communication systems, NG-eCall which operates over IMS/LTE/5G packet-switched networks is now a regulatory requirement across Europe and other regions. For IVS (In-Vehicle System) module vendors and automotive OEMs, meeting the requirements of the following two standards below is essential for certification and market entry.
- CEN TS 17240: End to End Conformance testing
- ETSI TS 103 683: High Level Application Protocol Interoperability testing
Manually executing these test cases can be time-consuming, error-prone, and resource intensive. Each test case often involves configuring the IVS, setting up the PSAP emulator, initializing IMS-SIP Server, triggering MSD events, validating audio path and managing network conditions.
To simplify and automate the testing process, Keysight offers a fully integrated test solution. This includes the KS82055B TAP plugin to support testing to the EN17240 standard and KS82056B TAP plugin for testing to the ETSI 103 683. Both the plugins require KS82054B NG-eCall framework and the KS8400B Test Automation Platform (TAP) automation software, working in conjunction with the E6951B PSAP emulator and either the Keysight E7515B or E series wireless test set.
In this post, I’ll walk through with you the high-level process of setting up this automation test using Keysight TAP. It is easy to configure the test system. In this example, no external PC is needed, as all necessary software components including PSAP and TAP are installed directly on the E7515B/E UXM.
Figure 1: system setup
To begin test setup, on the UXM desktop launch TAP software. Navigate to the Settings menu and select Bench > Instruments. Click the plus (+) button in the lower-left corner, then click Add to include both the PSAP Emulator and LTE Test Application. Once added, click Close to return to the main interface.
Figure 2: Instrument selection
Next, configure the VISA Address for the E6951B PSAP Emulator, with the default HISLIP port set to 5.
Figure 3: PSAP instrument settings
In the LTE Test Application instrument settings, specify the required parameters such as Cell Power, Duplex Mode, LTE Band, and SIM type based on the IVS requirements. Set the VISA Address for the LTE Test Application, using the default HISLIP port 2.
Figure 4: LTE Test Application settings
Proceed to the DUTs tab to set up the In-Vehicle System (IVS); click the plus (+) button again and use Add to define the required DUT type. Enter the appropriate configuration for the DUT - SSH DUTs require SSH login credentials, Serial DUTs need COM port settings, and ADB DUTs must have the ADB installation path and device name specified.
Figure 5: DUT control selection
Common settings required for all DUTs include LTE and IMS registration details, call timeouts, and device control commands. However, the Interactive DUT type does not require device control commands. For fully automated testing, the MSD verification type must be set to Reference Comparison, which also requires entering the expected MSD decode values into the MSDv3 Message and MSDv2 Message fields within the DUT settings.
Figure 6: SSH DUT settings
Click OK to save the configured DUT and instrument settings. Then, from the Settings menu, navigate to NGeCall. In this section, select the appropriate DUT and Instruments to be used for the current Test Bench configuration. Once selections are complete, click OK to apply the settings.
The system is now ready to add test cases and run the tests. From the TAP main window, click the plus (+) button to open the Test Step browser. In the Test Step browser window, click the Add button next to each test case you want to include in your Test Plan. Click on the green triangle button to run the test cases.
I hope this post gives you a clear idea of how easy and convenient it is to execute these test cases. If you have questions or comments, feel free to reach out to me.