COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND A METHOD OF SELF-HEALING THEREOF

• US 20090204845A1
• Filed: 07/05/2007
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gryphonet, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Gryphonet, Ltd.
• Inventors: Herscovitz, Eli, Rapaport, Irit
• Granted Patent: US 8,065,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Provided a communication device and a method of self-healing thereof. The communication device is characterized by one or more operational functions and comprising one or more resources operatively coupled to at least one sensor, said sensor directly or indirectly coupled to a recovery block, wherein the device is configured to held an emergency configuration related to at least one of said operational functions and/or at least one of said resources; the sensor is configured to monitor at least one of said resources for information, indicative of at least one possibly malfunctioned resource, and to report, directly or indirectly, this information and/or derivative thereof to the recovery block; and the recovery block is configured to initiate at least one remedial action in respect of at least one of said resources in case the received information and/or derivative thereof meets a certain criterion, wherein said remedial action to be provided in accordance with the emergency configuration.

Claims

1. A communication device characterized by one or more operational functions and comprising one or more resources operatively coupled to at least one sensor, said sensor directly or indirectly coupled to a recovery block, wherein

a) the device is configured to hold an emergency configuration related to one or more of said operational functions and/or one or more of said resources;

b) the sensor is configured to monitor at least one of said resources for information, indicative of at least one possibly malfunctioned resource among said resources, and to report, directly or indirectly, this information and/or derivative thereof to the recovery block; and

c) the recovery block is configured to initiate at least one remedial action in respect of at least one resource among said resources in case the reported information and/or derivative thereof meets a certain criterion, wherein said remedial action to be initiated and/or provided in accordance with the emergency configuration.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the remedial action is aimed to keep an emergency performance of the device.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one remedial action is provided in respect of at least one resource other than possibly malfunctioned resource.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the communication device is a cellular phone.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said resources is selected from a group comprising:

a) one or more functional elements of the communication device;

b) one or more functional paths of the communication device;

c) one or more applications of the communication device;

d) operating system of the communication device; and

e) execution environment and/or one or more processes thereof.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one resource is a functional path selected from a group comprising:

a) voice communication path,

b) data communication path,

c) messaging communication path.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one resource is a remote device management agent and the remedial action is aimed to keep said agent alive.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising a fault analysis block operatively coupled to one or more sensors and to the recovery block, and configured to receive information from at least one of said sensors, to identify at least one malfunctioned resource, and to report this information and/or derivative thereof to the recovery block.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein at least one of said sensors is configured to inform the fault analysis block if information received from at least one monitored resource meets a certain criterion.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising a fault analysis block operatively coupled to one or more sensors and to the recovery block, and configured to receive and analyze information from at least one of said sensors, to identify at least one malfunction event, and to report the respective information to the recovery block.

11. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor configured to monitor at least one resource for a live indication of the resource.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said sensor is configured to initiate a reset of at least the monitored resource upon lack of live indication from said resource within a period of time predefined in the emergency configuration.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein said sensor is configured to initiate a reset of the entire communication device upon lack of live indication from at least one monitored resource within a period of time predefined in the emergency configuration.

14. The device of claim 8 wherein the recovery block is configured to initiate at least one remedial action in response to information received from the fault analysis block.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the recovery block is configured to facilitate remedial actions of escalating extent.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein at least one remedial actions of escalating extent is selected from the group comprising:

a) suspend at least one running process

b) cleaning selected parts of the memory indicating that this memory is free (not allocated to any process)

c) reset at least one functional element of the communication device;

d) reset communication device software;

e) reset communication device hardware;

f) reboot the communication device software gradually;

g) reboot the entire communication device software;

h) restore a previous configuration of at least one malfunctioned resource;

i) restore a previous configuration of all malfunctioned resources;

j) restore a previous configuration of all resources involved in the emergency performance;

k) restore a previous configuration of all resources;

l) restore an emergency configuration of at least one malfunctioned resource;

m) restore an emergency configuration of all malfunctioned resource;

n) restore an emergency configuration of all resources involved in the emergency performance;

o) reinstall at least one applications from a local source;

p) reinstall at least one application from a remote source;

q) reinstall at least one driver from a local source;

r) reinstall at least one driver from a remote source;

s) reinstall at least part of the operating system from a local source;

t) reinstall at least part of the operating system from a remote source;

u) reinstall the entire software of the communication device from a local source;

v) reinstall the entire software of the communication device from a remote source;

w) restore a default configuration as set by the operator of the communication device;

x) restore user'"'"'s data that is stored in the communication device (e.g. personal information module, content data, etc.); and

y) restore user'"'"'s data from a remote backup source.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein the emergency configuration comprises one or more predefined remedial actions to be provided by the recovery block in respect of a certain resource in a case of a certain malfunction.

18. A method of keeping an emergency performance of at least one resource of a communication device in a case of malfunction, the method comprising:

a) arranging emergency configuration of the communication device, said configuration comprising information related to one or more resources involved in the emergency performance;

b) diagnosing at least one malfunctioned resource involved in the emergency performance; and

c) providing at least one auto-remedial action in response to said diagnosing and in accordance with said emergency configuration.

19. A method of applying a remedial action related to at least one resource of a communication device involved in an emergency performance of the communication device, the method comprising:

a) monitoring said at least one resource for information, indicative of possible malfunction of the resource, and reporting this information and/or derivative thereof within the communication device; and

b) in response to said reporting initiating at least one auto-remedial action in respect of said at least one resource or parts thereof in case the reported information and/or derivative thereof meets a certain criterion.

20. A method of keeping an emergency performance of a communication device, said device characterized by one or more operational functions and comprising one or more resources, the method comprising:

a) arranging emergency configuration of the communication device, said configuration comprising information related to at least one of said operational functions and/or at least one of said resources;

b) monitoring one or more resources for information, indicative of one or more possibly malfunctioned resources, and reporting this information and/or derivative thereof within the communication device; and

c) in response to said reporting initiating at least one remedial action in respect of at least one resource of the communication device in case the reported information and/or derivative thereof meets a certain criterion, wherein the remedial action is initiated in accordance with the emergency configuration.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein at least one of the remedial actions is aimed to facilitate managing the communication device via a remote device management agent.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein at least one of the remedial actions is provided in respect of a resource other than the malfunctioned resource.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein at least one of the remedial actions is provided in respect of a resource involved in the emergency performance.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the emergency performance is kept with no involvement of any factor external to the communication device.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein at least part of the operations is performed by means of a chip constituting a part of the communication device.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein at least one of said resources is selected from a group comprising:

a) one or more functional elements of the communication device;

b) one or more functional paths in the communication device;

c) of one or more applications of the communication device;

d) operating system of the communication device; and

e) execution environment and/or one or more processes thereof.

27. The method of claim 20 wherein said at least one operational function is selected from a group comprising:

a) voice communication,

b) data communication,

c) messaging communication,

d) over-the-air device management.

28. The method of claim 20 further comprising providing one or more remedial actions of escalating extent if the malfunction has not been remedied by previously provided actions.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein at least one remedial actions of escalating extent is selected from the group comprising:

a) reset at least one functional element of the communication device;

b) reset communication device software;

c) reset communication device hardware;

d) reboot the communication device software gradually;

e) reboot the entire communication device software;

f) restore a previous configuration of at least one malfunctioned resource;

g) restore a previous configuration of all malfunctioned resources;

h) restore a previous configuration of all resources involved in the emergency performance;

i) restore a previous configuration of all resources;

j) restore an emergency configuration of at least one malfunctioned resource;

k) restore an emergency configuration of all malfunctioned resource;

l) restore an emergency configuration of all resources involved in the emergency performance;

m) reinstall at least one applications from a local source;

n) reinstall at least one application from a remote source;

o) reinstall at least one driver from a local source;

p) reinstall at least one driver from a remote source;

q) reinstall at least part of the operating system from a local source;

r) reinstall at least part of the operating system from a remote source;

s) reinstall the entire software of the communication device from a local source;

t) reinstall the entire software of the communication device from a remote source;

u) restore a default configuration as set by the operator of the communication device;

v) restore user'"'"'s data that is stored in the communication device (e.g. personal information module, content data, etc.); and

w) restore user'"'"'s data from a remote backup source.

30. The method of claim 20 wherein the emergency configuration comprises one or more predefined remedial actions to be provided in respect of a certain resource in a case of a certain malfunction.

31. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps of keeping an emergency performance of a communication device, said device characterized by one or more operational functions and comprising one or more resources, the method comprising:

a) arranging emergency configuration of the communication device, said configuration comprising information related to at least one of said operational functions or at least one of said resources;

b) monitoring one or more resources for information, indicative of one or more possibly malfunctioned resources, and reporting this information and/or derivative thereof within the communication device; and

c) in response to said reporting initiating at least one remedial action in respect of at least one resource of the communication device in case the reported information and/or derivative thereof meets a certain criterion, wherein the remedial action is initiated in accordance with the emergency configuration.

32. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein of keeping an emergency performance of a communication device, said device characterized by one or more operational functions and comprising one or more resources, the computer program product comprising:

a) computer readable program code for causing the computer to arrange emergency configuration of the communication device, said configuration comprising information related to at least one of said operational functions or at least one of said resources;

b) computer readable program code for causing the computer to monitor one or more resources for information, indicative of one or more possibly malfunctioned resources, and reporting this information and/or derivative thereof within the communication device; and

c) computer readable program code for causing the computer to in response to said reporting initiating at least one remedial action in respect of at least one resource of the communication device in case the reported information and/or derivative thereof meets a certain criterion, wherein the remedial action is initiated in accordance with the emergency configuration.

33. A method of keeping an emergency performance of a communication device characterized by one or more operational functions and comprising one or more resources, the method comprising:

a) arranging emergency configuration of the communication device, said configuration comprising information related to at least one of said operational functions and/or at least one of said resources;

b) monitoring one or more resources for information, indicative of one or more possibly malfunctioned resources, and reporting this information and/or derivative thereof within the communication device; and

c) in response to said reporting initiating at least one remedial action in respect of at least one resource of the communication device in case the reported information and/or derivative thereof meets a certain criterion, wherein the remedial action is provided in accordance with the emergency configuration.

34. A communication device comprising one or more resources operatively coupled to at least one sensor, said sensor directly or indirectly coupled to a recovery block, wherein

a) said resources comprise at least one remote device management agent;

b) the sensor is configured to monitor at least one of said resources for information, indicative of at least one possibly malfunctioned resource, and to report, directly or indirectly, this information and/or derivative thereof to the recovery block; and

c) the recovery block is configured to initiate at least one remedial action in respect of at least one of said resources in case the reported information and/or derivative thereof meets a certain criterion, wherein said remedial action to be provided is aimed to keep performance of said remote device management agent.

35. The communication device of claim 34 wherein the remote device management agent is selected from a group comprising an over-the-net agent and an over-the-air agent.

37. A system coupled through a communication network to the communication device of claim 34;

the system configured to communicate with said remote device management agent comprised in the communication device.

36. A method of keeping an emergency performance of a communication device, said device comprising one or more resources, including at least one remote device management agent, the method comprising:

a) monitoring one or more resources for information, indicative of one or more possibly malfunctioned resources, and reporting this information and/or derivative thereof within the communication device; and

b) in response to said reporting initiating at least one remedial action in respect of at least one resource of the communication device in case the reported information and/or derivative thereof meets a certain criterion, wherein the remedial action is aimed to keep performance of said remote device management agent.

38. A method of keeping alive at least one remote device management agent comprised in a communication device, said device comprising one or more resources including the remote device management agent, the method comprising:

a) monitoring one or more resources for information indicative of one or more possibly malfunctioned resources, and reporting this information and/or derivative thereof within the communication device; and

b) in response to said reporting initiating at least one remedial action in respect of at least one resource of the communication device in case the reported information and/or derivative thereof meets a certain criterion, wherein the remedial action is aimed to keep performance of said remote device management agent.

39. A service of keeping alive at least one remote device management agent comprised in a communication device, said device comprising one or more resources, including the remote device management agent, the service comprising:

a) facilitating monitoring one or more resources for information, indicative of one or more possibly malfunctioned resources, and reporting this information and/or derivative thereof within the communication device; and

b) facilitating initiating at least one remedial action in respect of at least one resource of the communication device in case the reported information and/or derivative thereof meets a certain criterion, wherein the remedial action is aimed to keep performance of said remote device management agent.

40. A communication device configured to keep an emergency performance of one or more resource comprised in the device in a case of malfunction, the device comprising:

a) a database with emergency configuration of the communication device, said configuration comprising information related to one or more resources involved in the emergency performance;

b) means for diagnosing at least one malfunctioned resource involved in the emergency performance; and

c) means for providing at least one auto-remedial action in response to said diagnosing and in accordance with said emergency configuration.

41. A communication device configured to apply at least one auto-remedial action related to at least one resource comprised in the device and involved in an emergency performance thereof, the device comprising;

a) means for monitoring said at least one resource for information, indicative of possible malfunction of the resource,

b) means for reporting this information and/or derivative thereof within the communication device; and

c) means for initiating at least one auto-remedial action in respect of said at least one resource or parts thereof in case the reported information and/or derivative thereof meets a certain criterion.