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Automating communications measurement
Mike Woodward, MathWorks
12/3/2012 10:32 AM EST
Automating report generation
Analyzing and writing reports on the variation of components and systems over time is a necessary but tedious task. MATLAB Report Generator™ automates much of the data analysis and report writing process.
In the Report Generator tool, we define the structure of the report: an overview with summary results, and a section for each individual parameter. We write MATLAB code to calculate measurement statistics (minimum and maximum, mean, standard deviation), curve-fit data (to see if there is a variation over time), and generate graphs plotting parameter values against time and parameter histograms. We include this code in our Report Generator project and add the MATLAB output to our generated report (Figure 4).
To further automate the process, we add report generation to the GUI. The Report Generator can be called from the MATLAB command line without going through the interface, so we can add a Generate Report button to the GUI and connect it to MATLAB code that generates the report.
Building standalone applications
MATLAB Compiler™ lets you share an application while protecting the underlying source code. The compiler compiles applications into a standalone executable that users can run without having access to the source code or a MATLAB license.
The process is straightforward (Figure 6). The first step is to create a project file containing the MATLAB files and all other files needed by the application (for example, image files). This process is similar to building projects in other C compilers. The second step is to compile the project, which is simply a matter of pressing the Compile button. The last step is to distribute the standalone executable.
We’ve built an application that can control instruments, analyze and display data, and produce written reports, and compiled the application for distribution as a standalone application. In short, we’ve automated the entire communications measurement process using MATLAB.
About the author
Mike
Woodward is the communications and semiconductor industry marketing
manager at MathWorks. He has been active in the communications industry
for many years and has degrees in Semiconductor and Microwave Physics.
Mike worked on the transmission infrastructure for the UK’s commercial
DAB transmission network, a project that was awarded the British
Computer Society’s IT Award for Excellence in 2000. He has also worked
on audio processing and has several audio processing patents.
If you found this article to be of interest, visit EDA Designline where you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to all aspects of Electronic Design Automation (EDA).
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Analyzing and writing reports on the variation of components and systems over time is a necessary but tedious task. MATLAB Report Generator™ automates much of the data analysis and report writing process.
In the Report Generator tool, we define the structure of the report: an overview with summary results, and a section for each individual parameter. We write MATLAB code to calculate measurement statistics (minimum and maximum, mean, standard deviation), curve-fit data (to see if there is a variation over time), and generate graphs plotting parameter values against time and parameter histograms. We include this code in our Report Generator project and add the MATLAB output to our generated report (Figure 4).
Figure 4. The report generator interface.
At the press of a button we produce a Microsoft® Word® document containing all this information (Figure 5).Figure 5. LTE reports generated with MATLAB report generator.
The
report includes an overview with a summary of the results and a section
for each parameter, including an analysis of variation over time
(including an automated short assessment of whether the variation is
significant), graphs, curve-fitting results, and parameter histogram.
The Word document is editable, enabling interpretations of the data to
be added to the basic report.To further automate the process, we add report generation to the GUI. The Report Generator can be called from the MATLAB command line without going through the interface, so we can add a Generate Report button to the GUI and connect it to MATLAB code that generates the report.
Building standalone applications
MATLAB Compiler™ lets you share an application while protecting the underlying source code. The compiler compiles applications into a standalone executable that users can run without having access to the source code or a MATLAB license.
The process is straightforward (Figure 6). The first step is to create a project file containing the MATLAB files and all other files needed by the application (for example, image files). This process is similar to building projects in other C compilers. The second step is to compile the project, which is simply a matter of pressing the Compile button. The last step is to distribute the standalone executable.
Figure 6. MATLAB Compiler GUI for generating standalone executables.
Standalone
applications can include almost all MATLAB features, including data
analysis, graphs, instrument control, statistical analysis, and signal
processing.We’ve built an application that can control instruments, analyze and display data, and produce written reports, and compiled the application for distribution as a standalone application. In short, we’ve automated the entire communications measurement process using MATLAB.
About the author
Mike
Woodward is the communications and semiconductor industry marketing
manager at MathWorks. He has been active in the communications industry
for many years and has degrees in Semiconductor and Microwave Physics.
Mike worked on the transmission infrastructure for the UK’s commercial
DAB transmission network, a project that was awarded the British
Computer Society’s IT Award for Excellence in 2000. He has also worked
on audio processing and has several audio processing patents.
If you found this article to be of interest, visit EDA Designline where you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to all aspects of Electronic Design Automation (EDA).
Also, you can obtain a highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for the EDA Designline weekly newsletter – just Click Here to request this newsletter using the Manage Newsletters tab (if you aren't already a member you'll be asked to register, but it's free and painless so don't let that stop you).
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