Methods for Various Levels of Testing During Development of a Communication Interface Board

The verification of a communication interface board is essential throughout its lifecycle, spanning from the prototype level to deployment in a functioning system, in order to comply with the requirements of a communication protocol. The verification process begins with comprehensive type testing. Signal integrity and performance tests are conducted at the unit level to assess the accuracy, speed, reliability and capabilities of the communication interface board. Integration tests are performed using a Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) set-up designed to simulate the actual system. At the system level, the communication compatibility of the whole system is tested by monitoring or recording the signals from the actual units using specialized test software. Additionally, for routine testing of the board, a Test Program Set (TPS) is developed to identify material and workmanship faults during the manufacturing process. This paper selects the MVB (Multifunction Vehicle Bus) protocol as an example, commonly utilized in railway transportation networks.