Apparatus and methods for determining network access performance of a wireless device

• US 20060224730A1
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Cassett, Tia Manning, Hwang, Jihyun, Fok, Kenny
• Granted Patent: US 7,873,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

Apparatus, methods, processors and computer readable media for determining the wireless network access performance or capability of a wireless device. Embodiments include a wireless device having a computer platform with a processing engine operable to generate a plurality of network access performance data during processing activities on the wireless device. The wireless device further includes a network access performance module operable to collect selected ones of the plurality of network access data associated with a predetermined data processing capability of the wireless device, and based on a predetermined collection configuration. The embodiments may also include an apparatus operable to generate the predetermined collection configuration, and operable to receive the collected network access data and to generate a performance report characterizing the network access performance or capability of the wireless device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining a network access performance of a wireless device, comprising:

a network access performance module having a collection module operable to generate and transmit an access data collection configuration to a wireless device, the access data collection configuration comprising a predetermined network access-related parameter defining at least one type of the network access data to retrieve from a computer platform of the wireless device, wherein a predetermined access characteristic of the wireless device is definable based on the defined type of network access data; and

a data repository operable to receive and store the access data collected from the computer platform of the wireless device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the collection module is further operable to generate and transmit a predetermined network access-related test that is executable by the computer platform of the wireless device to generate the network access data to retrieve.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the access data collection configuration further comprises a predetermined tracking parameter and a predetermined reporting parameter each associated with the defined types of network access data, the predetermined tracking parameter defining to when to collect the network access data and the predetermined reporting parameter defining when to transmit the collected network access data from the wireless device to the apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network access data comprises at least one of call access-related data, Internet access-related data, text messaging access-related data and video conferencing access-related data.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network access data further comprises associated data including at least one of position/location information, time information, diagnostic information, a state of a device component during a network access attempt by the wireless device, and a statistic or state associated with non-access-related processing occurring on the wireless device during the network access attempt.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an analysis engine operable to generate a network access performance report based on the collected network access data, wherein the network access performance report comprises at least the predetermined access characteristic.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a predetermined access performance standard, wherein the analysis engine is operable to compare the collected network access data to the predetermined access performance standard to generate the network access performance report.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network access performance module is operable to generate a device configuration setting effective to change an operational parameter of the wireless device, wherein the device configuration setting is based on the collected network access data.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an optimization module having an optimization algorithm operable to generate the device configuration setting.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the collection module further comprises a plurality of network access-related parameters, and wherein the predetermined network access-related parameter is selected from the plurality of network access-related parameters based on the predetermined network access performance characteristic to be defined.

11. An apparatus for determining network access performance of a wireless device, comprising:

a generator means for generating and transmitting an access data collection configuration across a wireless network to a wireless device, the access data collection configuration comprising a predetermined network access-related test and a predetermined network access-related parameter, the predetermined network access-related test being executable by a computer platform of the wireless device to generate network access data, the predetermined network access-related parameter defining types of the network access data to retrieve from the computer platform of the wireless device;

a storing means for receiving and storing the network access data collected from the computer platform of the wireless device; and

an analysis means for analyzing the collected network access data and generating a performance report having at least one access characteristic of the wireless device based on the collected network access data.

12. A wireless device, comprising:

a computer platform having a processing engine operable to generate a plurality of network access data associated with accessing a wireless network during processing activities on the wireless device; and

a network access performance module operable to collect at least a selected one of the plurality of network access data based on a predetermined network access collection configuration.

13. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the selected one of the plurality of network access data are associated with a predetermined network access characteristic of the wireless device.

14. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the access data collection configuration is received by the network access performance module from across a wireless network.

15. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of network access data comprise data selected from the group consisting of a network access related event, a protocol-related access message, an access channel message, a Radio Resource Control message, a non-access station message, a number of access probe sequences, an acknowledgement timeout from an access channel message, a randomization for access channel probe time, access channel message capsule information, and a power level change for an access probe attempt.

16. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of network access data further comprises associated device data of at least one of position/location information, diagnostic information, a state of a device component during a network access attempt by the wireless device, and a statistic or state associated with non-access-related processing occurring on the wireless device during the network access attempt.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein the network access performance module is further operable to selectively transmit the collected network access data to another computer device based on the network access collection configuration.

18. The device of claim 12, wherein the network access performance module is further operable to transmit the collected network access data across a wireless network.

19. The device of claim 12, wherein the network access performance module is operable to receive a new device operational configuration operable to change a network access characteristic of the wireless device, wherein the new device configuration is based on the collected network access data.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the network access performance module is further operable to receive the new device configuration from across a wireless network.

21. The device of claim 12, further comprising a simulator module and at least one of a predetermined test program and a predetermined data, wherein the simulator module is operable to execute at least one of the predetermined test program and the predetermined test data to generate the selected one of the plurality of network access data.

22. A wireless device, comprising:

a processing means for generating a plurality of network access data during data processing activities on the wireless device; and

a means for collecting selected ones of the plurality of network access data associated with a predetermined data processing capability of the wireless device, wherein the selected ones of the plurality of network access data are based on a network access collection configuration received from across a wireless network; and

a means for selectively transmitting the collected selected ones of the plurality of network access data across the wireless network based on the network access collection configuration.

23. A method of determining a network access performance of a wireless device, comprising:

generating an access data collection configuration comprising a predetermined network access-related parameter, wherein the predetermined network access-related parameter defines at least one of a plurality of network access data to retrieve from a computer platform of the wireless device, wherein a predetermined network access characteristic of the wireless device is definable based on the defined network access data;

receiving collected network access data based on the predetermined access data collection configuration; and

analyzing the collected network access data to determine the predetermined network access characteristic of the wireless device.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising generating and transmitting a predetermined network access-related test that is executable by the computer platform of the wireless device to generate the network access data to retrieve.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising generating a predetermined tracking parameter and a predetermined reporting parameter each associated with the predetermined network access-related parameter, the predetermined tracking parameter defining to when to collect the network access data and the predetermined reporting parameter defining when to transmit the collected network access data.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising comparing the collected network access data to a predetermined access performance standard to generate the predetermined network access characteristic of the wireless device.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising generating an optimal device configuration for the wireless device based on the received network access data, wherein the optimal device configuration is executable by the wireless device to optimize the predetermined network access characteristic.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising selecting the predetermined network access-related parameter from a plurality of network access-related parameters.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the collected network access data comprises data selected from at least one of a power level change for an access probe attempt, a base station parameter, an air interface parameter, a handoff parameter, a power control parameter, a registration parameter, an authentication parameter, a service redirection parameter, roaming information, a message driven indicator, application interface information, field test information, termination information, signal origination information, signal maintenance information, radio frequency information, a receive parameter, a sensitivity parameter, an isolated magnetic dipole parameter, a self-jamming parameter, a transmit parameter, a waveform quality parameter, broadband information, digital signal processing information, signal acquisition information, and soft handoff information.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein the collected network access data further comprises information relating to at least one of a state of a device component and a statistic associated with non-access-related processing, occurring on the respective wireless device during a network access attempt.

31. A computer program resident in a computer readable medium that, when executed, directs a computer device to perform the actions of:

generating an access data collection configuration comprising a predetermined network access-related parameter selected from a plurality of network access-related parameters, wherein the predetermined network access-related parameter defines at least one of a plurality of network access data to retrieve from a computer platform of the wireless device, wherein a predetermined network access characteristic of the wireless device is definable based on the defined network access data;

receiving collected network access data based on the predetermined access data collection configuration; and

analyzing the collected network access data to determine the predetermined network access characteristic of the wireless device.

32. A method of determining a network access performance of a wireless device, comprising:

receiving an access data collection configuration identifying at least one of a plurality of network access data to collect from a processing engine of the wireless device, where the identified network access data are associated with a predetermined access characteristic of the wireless device;

collecting the identified network access data based on the received access data collection configuration; and

selectively transmitting the collected network access data across the wireless network.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising executing at least one of a predetermined test program and a predetermined test data to generate the the identified network access data.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising receiving a new device operational configuration setting operable to change the predetermined access characteristic of the wireless device, wherein the new device operational configuration setting is based on the collected network access data.

35. The method of claim 32, where the access data collection configuration comprises a predetermined tracking parameter selected from a plurality of tracking parameters and a predetermined reporting parameter selected from a plurality of reporting parameters, and where the action of collecting the identified network access data is based on the predetermined tracking parameter and the action of selectively transmitting the collected network access data is based on the predetermined reporting parameter.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the collected network access data comprises data selected from at least one of searcher information, finger assignment information, interoperability information, access channel information, dedicated paging channel information, forward traffic channel information, reverse traffic channel information, messaging information, system acquisition information, high speed packet data information, call type information, plain old telephone system information, 3-way calling information, call waiting information, voice mail information, authentication information, provisioning information, over-the-air parameter administration, Internet Protocol over-the-air information, short message service information, multimedia service information, and browser data information.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the collected network access data further comprises associated data comprising at least one of a state of a device component during a network access attempt by the wireless device, and a statistic or state associated with non-access-related processing occurring on the wireless device during the network access attempt.

38. A computer program resident in a computer readable medium that, when executed, directs a wireless device to perform the actions of:

receiving an access data collection configuration identifying at least one of a plurality of network access data to collect from a processing engine of the wireless device, where the identified network access data are associated with a predetermined access characteristic of the wireless device;

collecting the identified network access data based on the received access data collection configuration; and

selectively transmitting the collected network access data across the wireless network.

39. At least one processor configured to perform the actions of:

receiving an access data collection configuration identifying at least one of a plurality of network access data to collect from a processing engine of the wireless device, where the identified network access data are associated with a predetermined access characteristic of the wireless device;

collecting the identified network access data based on the received access data collection configuration; and

selectively transmitting the collected network access data across the wireless network.

40. At least one processor configured to perform the actions of:

generating an access data collection configuration comprising a predetermined network access-related parameter selected from a plurality of network access-related parameters, wherein the predetermined network access-related parameter defines at least one of a plurality of network access data to retrieve from a computer platform of the wireless device, wherein a predetermined network access characteristic of the wireless device is definable based on the defined network access data;

receiving collected network access data based on the predetermined access data collection configuration; and

analyzing the collected network access data to determine the predetermined network access characteristic of the wireless device.