RFI sets out to deliver a new approach to M2M product approvals

From running a full type approval on a complex 3G handset to certifying the integration of a simple 2G module… there are numerous challenges to be overcome if the product is to be launched on-time and on-budget. Some of the greatest challenges can occur at the end of the development process, when seeking to obtain product approval for the global market; and it is these challenges that RFI has set out to address with its new approach.

ABI Research predicts that the M2M market will continue to grow rapidly, with shipments of modules rising from less than 10 million units in 2007 to over 95 million by 2013. The initial growth is predicted mainly within the Telemetry sector, but a broad range of applications will fuel further designs in smart metering, POS, remote monitoring and access control systems. With such rapid growth, M2M device manufacturers will face the
challenge of quickly and efficiently obtain regulatory & industry approval for their products. And, due to the low cost of the module itself, keeping the approvals budget as low as possible. The situation will be compounded for many integrators as they
will be integrating wireless technology for the first time.

RFI is a world leader in wireless product approvals and has developed an approach to
address the specific financial and technical constraints of the M2M market. The solution consists of a simplified approach to certify products that are integrating preapproved 2G and 3G modules. Leveraging over 20 years experience in certifying wireless products, our teams have managed to reduce the average lead-times, test times and cost of these projects through efficient planning and automated testing.

Intelligent Test Planning
One area which is often given insufficient consideration is the planning stage…..
When you consider the complexity of today’s wireless products and the multiple regulatory regimes that will affect them, it is not surprising that the approvals plan can soon become extremely complex!
Factors to be considered in the test plan include:
• Use of multiple wireless technologies
• Multiple operating modes,
• Multiple modulation schemes,
• Multiple configurations and operating environments;
• Geographical target markets (regulatory standards)
• Industry standards and schemes
• Customer requirements
• Operator requirements

Experience
RFI uses a team of experienced product approval consultants at the test planning stage, In our experience, time spent on planning is more than recouped by the increased speed of delivery in the testing phase. Some of the more important questions to be considered at the planning stage are:
• Can results be re-used from any testing that has already been performed on the
product or a variant?
• Is there any overlap between test standards which will mean some tests do not need
to be repeated?
• Is there any scope for reducing tests times by changing cycle times and operating
modes within the device itself?
A technical justification for the minimisation of test cases and the determination of such
essential test suites is only made possible with the use of official Notified Bodies and
Telecommunication Certification Bodies. Here, the real benefit to customer is zero cost for the planning stage and reduced time and cost at the testing stage.

Automated Testing
Automation is a key tool in the quest for faster and more accurate testing. The need for test automation has increased significantly over the past two years, as developers become squeezed between technical and commercial pressures - especially as security and mobile payments become a key element of the M2M market.
The benefits of test automation for M2M products include:
• reduced costs,
• faster testing,
• improved reporting and data manipulation
For GSM and 3G products, the RF and protocol testing is generally covered by the GCF (Global Certification Forum) and PTCRB (PCS Type Certification Review Board) requirements.
These tests are extensive and require the use of sophisticated and expensive test systems; furthermore, apparently small changes to the product design can have far
reaching implications in terms of compliance.
RFI has developed its OmniPass products to automate much of the testing, reporting and
test management.
The OmniPass system is two parts:
1. OmniPass Automation, which automates the operation of test systems
2. OmniPass Management, which handles the management of the test process
(including the production of test plans and reports).
OmniPass Automation is compatible with the conformance test systems from all the major manufacturers; it allows testing to be performed on a 24/7 basis and includes support for unmanned operation and remote monitoring.
The increased speed of testing and the lower operating costs create a real tangible benefit which can be passed on directly to the customer. The support for remote operation allows debugging and test monitoring to be performed anywhere in the world.

New Test Facility
The testing processes for M2M modules must also, as a minimum, include the requirements for the R&TTE directive for Europe and the FCC rules for the United States. This testing is essentially a set of radiated, conducted emission and immunity requirements which again can be very time-consuming and costly.
For this reason RFI has recently invested in an extensive new state of the art testing facility that is focussed solely on the testing aspects of the R&TTE, FCC and other
global test requirements. Many aspects of the testing laboratory are fully automated and reduce testing dramatically – especially for radiated testing. Further improvements are gained from the new approach “production line” style layout of the laboratories, which
reduces any lost time between tests. Once again, the main benefit for the customer is faster testing, minimal dead time and lower costs.

Automated Reporting
The second key area in automation is the report production. The main goal for any product approval is to gain certification in order to place the product on the market, and the test report is important as it provides evidence of compliance.
In parallel with the new testing facility, RFI has developed an automated result report system that delivers the test report within 24 hours of test completion.
The system is called Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and is fundamentally a web based system that is able to record test results and product information from various pieces of test equipment on a real-time basis.
Again, the main benefit is the speed of delivery, increased accuracy and the minimisation of human interaction giving rise to lower costs.

Conclusion
It is very likely that the M2M sector will continue to grow rapidly over the next few years, with much of the growth will be focussed on the telemetry, point of sale and metering sectors. Many of the manufacturers integrating M2M technology in their products will be doing this for the first time and may therefore benefit from engaging expert support from companies such as RFI.
At the same time, the complexity of product certifications is also increasing due to factors such as the use of multi-radio technologies, the requirements of worldwide markets and the security aspects of mobile payments.
In parallel with these complexities, the manufacturer will be also all too aware of the race to get the product to market on time, and the need to control costs. In order to achieve a cost effective and fast product approval, it is therefore of upmost importance to engage expert support, plan the product approval as early as possible and utilise maximum test automation.