Wireless communication system and test method thereof, and access terminal for testing wireless communication system

• US 20060019651A1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FIPA Frohwitter Intellectual Property AG
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Communication Technologies, Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hayata, Koji, Aoe, Hideo, Uchida, Tsutomu
• Granted Patent: US 7,542,762 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A wireless communication system and its test method capable of executing a test of the wireless communication apparatus from a remote place by using a terminal generally used in wireless communication systems are implemented with a low-cost configuration and a simple procedure. A terminal obtained by installing a test AP on a general terminal that is used in general wireless communication systems and that can execute APs via a communication network is placed in a coverage area of a wireless communication apparatus. A maintenance center for the wireless communication system activates the terminal. The terminal executes the test AP and conducts communication with the maintenance center by using control signals and test signals for testing wireless communication system. A test is executed by measuring an actual communication state of the wireless communication system.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system in which a first terminal that is present in each of coverage areas respectively of a plurality of wireless communication apparatuses executes a first program provided in the first terminal and conducts communication with another terminal via a communication network connected to one of the wireless communication apparatuses associated with the first terminal, said wireless communication system comprising:

a maintenance apparatus for the wireless communication system; and

at least one second terminal placed in each of coverage areas respectively of the wireless communication apparatuses, said second terminal being obtained by providing the first terminal with a second program for making a test of the wireless communication system,

wherein when said maintenance apparatus activates said second terminal, said second terminal activates the second program, executes communication with said maintenance apparatus, and makes a test of said wireless communication system.

2. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein

if the second program in said second terminal is activated,

then control signals and test signals are transmitted and received between said maintenance apparatus and said second terminal, and

said second terminal measures a communication state of said wireless communication system during the transmission and reception of the signals, and gives a notice of a result of the measurement to said maintenance apparatus.

3. The wireless communication system according to claim 2, wherein the measurement is made of a test signal transfer delay, a test signal transfer rate, or both of them between said second terminal and said maintenance apparatus.

4. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein said second terminal is a terminal obtained by adding the second program to the first terminal, and

when said maintenance apparatus activates said second terminal, said second terminal executes the second program, executes communication with said maintenance apparatus, and makes a test of said wireless communication system by conducting communication with said maintenance apparatus.

5. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein

the second program is an application program activated by an operating system provided in the first terminal, and

the second program is an application program that executes a test of said wireless communication system in cooperation with said maintenance apparatus via said wireless communication system.

6. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said maintenance apparatus comprises an interface to said wireless communication system, a control unit, and a server for transmitting/receiving test signals to/from said second terminal, and

when said control unit activates said second terminal via said interface, transmission and reception of the test signals are conducted between said second terminal and said server, and a test result measured by said second terminal during the transmission and reception of the test signals is received and displayed on said control unit.

7. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein said second terminal is placed in a cell or a sector formed by each wireless communication apparatus.

8. A test method for a wireless communication system in which a terminal that is present in each of coverage areas respectively of a plurality of wireless communication apparatuses executes a program provided in the terminal and conducts communication with another terminal via a communication network connected to one of the wireless communication apparatuses associated with the terminal,

when a terminal obtained by providing at least one terminal placed in each of coverage areas respectively of the wireless communication apparatuses with a test program for the wireless communication system is specified by using a maintenance apparatus in the wireless communication system,

said test method for wireless communication system comprising the steps of:

activating the test program, by using the specified terminal, to establish connection between the specified terminal and the maintenance apparatus and execute transmission and reception of control signals and test signals between the specified terminal and the maintenance apparatus; and

measuring a communication state of the wireless communication system during the transmission and reception of the signals, transmitting a result of the measurement to the maintenance apparatus, and making a test of the wireless communication system.

9. The test method for wireless communication system according to claim 8, comprising the steps of:

activating the test program, by using the specified terminal;

confirming connection between the specified terminal and the maintenance apparatus for the wireless communication system, and then executing transmission and reception of control signals and test signals between the specified terminal and the maintenance apparatus;

measuring a communication state of the wireless communication system during the transmission and reception of the signals; and

compiling a test result of the wireless communication system after completion of the measurement, transmitting the compiled test result to the maintenance apparatus, and releasing the connection.

10. The test method for wireless communication system according to claim 8, wherein

the test program is an application program activated by an operating system provided in the terminal, and

the test program executes a test of the wireless communication system in response to activation given by the maintenance apparatus via the wireless communication system.

11. The test method for wireless communication system according to claim 8, wherein the measurement of the communication state of the wireless communication system is measurement of a test signal transfer delay, a test signal transfer rate, or both of them conducted between the terminal and the maintenance apparatus.

12. A terminal used in a test of a wireless communication system in which a terminal that is present in each of coverage areas respectively of a plurality of wireless communication apparatuses executes an application program provided in the terminal and conducts communication with another terminal via a communication network connected to one of the wireless communication apparatuses associated with the terminal, said terminal comprising:

an operating system for conducting basic operation of said terminal;

a plurality of application programs;

an application platform for coordinating said operating system with said application programs; and

a test program for said wireless communication system,

wherein said test program is an application program selected by a user of said terminal, and

when activated by a maintenance apparatus for said wireless communication system, said test program operates on said operating system and said application platform and executes a test of said wireless communication system by conducting communication with said maintenance apparatus.

13. The terminal used in a test of said wireless communication system according to claim 12, wherein said terminal

executes said test program,

confirms connection between said terminal and said maintenance apparatus for said wireless communication system, and then executing transmission and reception of control signals and test signals between said terminal and said maintenance apparatus;

measures a communication state of said wireless communication system during the transmission and reception of the signals;

compiles a test result of said wireless communication system after completion of the measurement, transmitting the compiled test result to said maintenance apparatus, and releasing the connection; and

finishes said test program.

14. The terminal used in a test of said wireless communication system according to claim 12, wherein the measurement of the communication state of said wireless communication system is made of a test signal transfer delay, a test signal transfer rate, or both of them between said terminal and said maintenance apparatus.