response of algorithm in non-equidistant time We are investigating ways to test a control algorithm.  The algorithm has a non-equidistant track of input data (i.e. not every sample is valid, and we know it), and should output a series of correction factors.

Under a certain frequency, it should correct for a deteriorating light source.

Is there a way to black-box test the algorithm's transfer function?  I'm having trouble especially with the fact that it's non-equidistant.

The goal of the tests would be to have a clear idea on the algorithm's behavior in terms of 


delay/phase response
resonances
frequency response


So I was actually dreaming of a kind of a 'swept sine' test, or an impulse response, or something alike, but I'm a bit lost in what is feasible with non-equidistant signals.
I would try to stick with a conventional discrete time control approach.  Trying to deal with missing samples in the control algorithm complicates things and without dealing with them the control output will not be very stable.  Can something like this work in your application?

Here the assumption is that you can detect missing samples and use an interpolation algorithm to fill in the gaps before applying the signal to your controller/compensator.  The "Control Signal" input is a reference that can be used to set the normal operating intensity of the Light Source.

I would characterize the transfer function with using normal control signals (impulse, step, swept sine, all with uniform sampling).  Then I would model the real signal (from the lamp transducer) with some impulse variations that match the characteristics of your missing samples.  By impulse variations I mean adding small error quatities to signal to represent error from your interpolator.  Test how well the transfer function regulates in the presense of this "impulse noise".