System determination emulator for analysis and testing

• US 20080293402A1
• Filed: 06/23/2006
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Rajan, Rajeev D., Cooper, Rotem, Hunter, Andrew T., Santaella, Tomas Galvez
• Granted Patent: US 8,351,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/425
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/22 Traffic simulation tools or models
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic

Abstract

A roaming emulator provides a tool for emulating system determination for monitoring the operation of a wireless communication device (WCD) during system determination. A signal monitoring program and service selection protocol are stored, and a signal emulation module provides a signal emulation output in accordance with a predetermined set of data. A processing module performs a simulation of a service selection procedure based on the service selection protocol and performed in accordance with the signal monitoring program and the signal emulation output. A result of the service selection is provided by an output module. The emulator can provide emulated system scanning based on geographical or market location, and can emulate scenarios when channels from neighboring systems or markets “bleed” into the RF environment of the WCD.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in monitoring the operation of a wireless communication device (WCD) during system determination, the apparatus comprising:

a memory store configured to store a signal monitoring program module and configured to store a service selection protocol module;

a signal emulation module providing a signal emulation output in accordance with a predetermined set of data;

a processing module coupled to the memory store, the processing module configured to perform a simulation of a service selection procedure based on the service selection protocol and performed in accordance with the signal monitoring program and the signal emulation output; and

an output module coupled to the processing module and configured to output a result of the service selection.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal emulation module provides signal emulations in accordance with a database of signal sources.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the processing module provides simulated signal inputs for use by the signal emulation module, the simulated signal inputs established according to a location selection provided to the signal emulation module.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal monitoring program includes a station search protocol provided for simulation of service determination.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the service selection protocol provides a system determination procedure based on a list of available network services.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal emulation module provides signal emulations in accordance with data from a technical data sheet.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an input module coupled to the processing module and configured to receive data in a format of a technical data sheet for use by the processing module and convert the data in the format of the technical data sheet to a predetermined format for use by the processing module.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the service selection protocol provides a system determination procedure based on a list of available network services; and

the service selection protocol includes a preferred roaming list.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the service selection protocol provides a system determination procedure based on a list of available network services; and

the service selection protocol includes a public land mobile network list.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the signal monitoring program includes a station search protocol and a service selection procedure used to provide roaming service selection; and

the service selection procedure includes a system determination procedure based on a list of available network services.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a connection for receiving external signal inputs, whereby the external signal inputs provide data for the processing module to use as the signal emulation output in lieu of the outputs of the signal simulation module.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the service selection procedure includes pilot scanning to provide system acquisition.

13. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the processing module provides emulation of system determination for power up of a wireless communication device (WCD) and provides emulation of system determination for reacquisition of a communication link after loss of a communication link.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured to receive commands to initiate a system determination, save a current result of a system determination, open a stored result of a system determination, emulate a WCD power up, emulate a system loss, and emulate reacquisition of a system.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a “

system bleed”

user interface configured to receive commands to introduce interaction of wireless services across wireless service regions.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display module configured to display the results of the system determination and a user interface, wherein the display module display either one or a combination of a scanning progress, a serving system, location, a scan list and an alternate scan list.

17. The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

a display module configured to display the results of the system determination and a user interface; and

the user interface configured to receive commands to initiate a system determination, save a current result of a system determination and open a stored result of a system determination.

18. Apparatus for use in monitoring the operation of a wireless communication device (WCD) during system acquisition, the apparatus comprising:

means for loading a signal monitoring program;

means for loading a service selection protocol;

means for performing a system determination procedure based on the service selection protocol and the signal monitoring program; and

means for outputting the results of the system determination.

19. The apparatus as in claim 18, further comprising:

means for receiving data corresponding to data from a technical data sheet, wherein the means for performing the system determination emulates the system determination based on the data from the technical data sheet.

20. The apparatus as in claim 18, further comprising means for loading library files, wherein the signal monitoring program executes using the library files.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising means for simulating “

system bleed”

by introducing interaction of wireless services across wireless service regions.

22. A storage medium for use in monitoring the operation of a wireless communication device (WCD) during system acquisition, the storage medium comprising instructions when executed by a processing module for:

loading a signal emulation program capable of providing a signal emulation output in accordance with a predetermined set of data;

loading a signal monitoring program;

loading a service selection protocol;

performing a system determination procedure based on the service selection protocol and using the signal emulation output; and

code for outputting the results of the system determination.

23. The storage medium of claim 22 wherein the signal emulation program provides signal emulations in accordance with a database of signal sources, and provides the signal emulation output according to a location selection.

24. Method for use in monitoring the operation of a wireless communication device (WCD) during a cell search procedure, the method comprising:

storing a service selection protocol in a memory store;

providing a signal monitoring emulation;

performing a simulation of a service selection based on the station selection protocol in accordance with an output of the signal monitoring emulation; and

outputting the results of the service selection.

25. The method of claim 24, comprising:

providing a location selection; and

providing the signal monitoring emulation as modified by the location selection.

26. The method of claim 24, comprising:

loading a signal monitoring program;

providing a location selection; and

providing the signal monitoring emulation based on the signal monitoring program as modified by the location selection and the location selection.

27. The method of claim 24 where the signal monitoring emulation includes using data corresponding to data in a technical data sheet in order to provides signal emulations in accordance with data from a technical data sheet.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the service selection procedure includes pilot scanning to provide system acquisition.

29. The method of claim 24 further comprising selectively receiving external signal inputs, whereby the external signal inputs provide data for performing the simulation of service selection.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising providing a user interface to receive commands to initiate a system determination, save a current result of a system determination, open a stored result of a system determination, emulate a WCD power up, emulate a system loss, emulate reacquisition of a system, and display the results of the system determination.

31. The method of claim 24, further comprising providing a “

system bleed”

user interface configured to receive commands to introduce interaction of wireless services across wireless service regions.