Mobile device validation

• US 10,021,580 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2017
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Cummings, Oscar
• Primary Examiner(s): Mizrahi, Diane
• Application Number:
  US15/660,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20170325109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/045 for graphical visualisation of monitoring data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0823 Errors, e.g. transmission errors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

The disclosure relates to technology for managing signal distribution and lab resources in design validation environments that replicate a type of communication signal a consumer can experience on a wireless provider'"'"'s network. For example, the validation environment will enable engineers to test VoLTE in an LTE for various smart phone designs and other network-based signals from various hardware combinations and suppliers. Additionally, various embodiments of the present technology provide for an automation framework that allows for efficient management of signal distribution, resource allocation, scheduling, and more.

Claims

1. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium, carrying instructions, which when executed by at least one data processor, performs a method for validating mobile device design, the method comprising:

receiving a request to validate, by generating multiple wireless testing signals, a mobile device design,

wherein the multiple testing signals replicate wireless telecommunication signals a mobile device based on the mobile device design might experience;

wherein the mobile device based on the mobile device design is placed in a validation environment to receive the multiple testing signals; and

identifying, in response to receiving the request, an available validation environment capable of providing the multiple testing signals;

sending signal generation instructions to one or more transceivers to generate the multiple testing signals; and

sending routing instructions to a switch associated with the available validation environment to automatically route the multiple testing signals at the available validation environment.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein multiple testing signals includes at least one of the following telecommunication signal types:

Long-Term Evolution (LTE);

LTE-unlicensed (LTE-U);

fourth or fifth generation (4G or 5G);

Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS);

Global System Mobile (GSM), GSM radio access network (GRAN), GSM Enhanced Data Rates Radio Access Network (GERAN), Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), or Evolved UTRAN (EUTRAN);

or

LTE Advanced.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a reminder that a validation environment is available with a list of the multiple testing signals, and wherein the computing device is communicably coupled to a validation platform and to a database, and wherein the database has entries that maintain data and metadata for the request and testing parameters.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving feedback data from the available validation environment, wherein the feedback data includes an error found in a validation process;

updating a database to include the error; and

in response to the error, sending instructions to the switch to send another testing signal, wherein the database has entries that maintain data and metadata for the request and testing parameters.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving feedback from a validation environment, wherein the feedback includes an indication that an error occurred in a testing signal; and

in response to error, sending instructions to a signal generation device and a switch to generate a new testing signal at the validation environment.

6. A method, comprising:

receive a request, from a design application, to validate a wireless mobile device design;

based on the request, identify parameters associated with the request, wherein the parameters include testing signals and lab resources;

based on the parameters, generate a validation plan that includes a protocol for validating the mobile device design;

execute the protocol to control a wireless signal generation device and a switch to distribute signals to a validation environment; and

generate a graphical user interface (GUI) that displays a representation aspects of the execution of the protocol.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the testing signals include at least one of the following telecommunication signal types:

Long-Term Evolution (LTE);

LTE-unlicensed signal (LTE-U);

fourth or fifth generation (4G or 5G);

Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS);

Global System Mobile (GSM), GSM radio access network (GRAN), GSM Enhanced Data rates Radio Access Network (GERAN), Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), or Evolved UTRAN (EUTRAN);

or

LTE Advanced.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

maintain a database with the mobile device design, the protocol, and the distributed signals; and

transmit at least part of the data in the database to the design application.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

generate a validation plan associated with the mobile device design, where the validation plan includes project name and email address of each engineer assigned to the project; and

transmit an electronic message to each of the engineers assigned to the project with the validation plan and tasks each engineer should complete for validation.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receive feedback from a validation environment, where the feedback indicates an additional testing signal not included in the validation plan is requested;

determine that the additional testing signal fits within the protocol; and

add the additional testing signal for executing the protocol.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determine that a mobile device design failed to be validated for based on a testing signal; and

resend instructions to the switch to generate the testing signal associated with a failed validation.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving an input from the GUI that indicates that the protocol be overridden based on input from a engineer.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the GUI indicates the progress of validation plan.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the GUI provides alerts that validation is complete or alerts that an error has occurred in the validation protocol.

15. A system to validate a mobile device, comprising:

a validation platform communicably coupled to multiple wireless transceivers and a switch,

wherein the multiple transceivers are capable of generating testing signals of different types upon demand, and

wherein the switch is configured to route signals generated by the transceivers to a selected validation environment, wherein the validation platform includes;

a processor,

a memory,

a communications engine, under control of the processor, to receive requests to validate mobile device designs and requests from one or more computing devices,

wherein the requests include a request for a validation environment and test signal types; and

,

a testing signal engine, under control of the processor, to automatically cause the collection of multiple transceivers to generate a set of testing signals at a specific time and to cause the switch to route the set of testing signals to the selected validation environment.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a feedback loop configured to provide feedback from the selected testing center to the validation platform, and a lab resource engine, under control of the processor, to identify the selected testing center by querying a database for available validation environments.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a database that includes data and meta data associated with the requests, the validation environments, the signal types, base station transceivers, and validation plans.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a design application running on a computing device that is communicably coupled to the validation platform; and

wherein the validation platform includes a tracking engine, under control of the processor, to receive feedback from the validation environment and to provide validation progress to the design application.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the validation platform further comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) engine, under control of the processor, to provide a status of validation testing recently completed or in progress in a GUI.