Software enabled pseudo-random pattern generator

The goal of this research paper is to investigate the viability and advantages of using a software controlled RS-232 and RS-485 pattern generator versus a stored version of a pseudo-random test pattern for effective telecommunication test impairment measurements sets (TIMS). Previous developments of the digital virtual test impairment measurement sets (DVTIMS) required an additional circuit board to be built using transistor-to-transistor logic (TTL). It also required using the digital input/output (DIO) pins to generate the patterns within the communication standards (RS-232; RS-485). This setup is needed and commonly used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) technicians. This investigation is carried out by capturing the hexadecimal format of each pseudo-random pattern available on modern test sets in the hexadecimal format by using a software program developed. This requires sending those captured patterns over the onboard RS-232 port to a Fireberd 6000A, and then analyzing the data to see if the two would communicate. If successful communication is established between the two devices, it would eliminate the need in the future to have any additional circuit boards in the newer versions of the DVTIMS. This would save the FAA money and time-to-market, reduce size and weight, and give expandability to future adaptations of serial communication (USB and RJ-45 connections). The proposed methods have commercial potential applications that offer affordable, portable, and highly effective test equipment to take over the day-to-day maintenance tasks that their technicians are performing to ensure the quality of their services.