Self-diagnostic system for cellular-transceiver systems

• US 5,469,494 A
• Filed: 03/02/1994
• Issued: 11/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telular Corporation (Ametek Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Telular International, Inc.
• Inventors: Ortiz Perez, Luis R., Ramos, Alexis T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOOMIS, PAUL A
• Application Number:
  US08/205,029
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 379/27, 379/29, 379/32, 379/34, 379/58, 379/59, 379/60, 379/63
• US Class Current: 379/27.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/24 Arrangements for testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]

Abstract

A self-diagnostic system for a checking all functions of a cellular-transceiver system having a cellular-interface unit, which interface unit couples a standard telephone set to a cellular transceiver, which interface unit converts the DTMF or pulse-type of dialing signals into digital format for transmission to the cellular transceiver, whereby the dialed number made on the land-type of telephone may be used to call a number over the cellular system. The present invention not only monitors and checks the proper functioning of the transceiver and associated power supply, and the like, but will also monitor and check the interface unit.

Claims

1. In a cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver apparatus comprising a cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver, a cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit, and a standard, land telephone or telephone-like communications-device coupled to said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver, said interface unit converting DTMF or pulse-type of dialing signals into digital format for sending to said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver, whereby the dialed number made on the standard, land telephone or telephone-like communications-device may be used to call a number over the cellular, or cellular-like, system, the improvement comprising:

auto-diagnostic means for monitoring and reporting the proper functioning of said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver and said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit;

means for alternately coupling said auto-diagnostic means to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit;

said means for alternately coupling said auto-diagnostic means comprising means for uncoupling the connection of said standard, land telephone or telephone-like communications-device from said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit when said auto-diagnostic means is coupled to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit;

said auto-diagnostic means comprising means for simulating the functions performed by said standard, land telephone or telephone-like communications-device for generating in said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit respective, corresponding responses in said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit, in order to determine if said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit is operating correctly.

2. The cellular-transceiver apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for simulating the functions performed by said standard, land telephone-like set communications-device comprises means for generating an off-hook signal to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit.

3. The cellular-transceiver apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said auto-diagnostic means comprises means for detecting the presence of a dial-tone signal generated from said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit in response to said generation of said off-hook signal.

4. The cellular-transceiver apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for simulating the functions performed by said standard, land telephone-like communications-device comprises means for generating a DTMF signal and sending the signal to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit.

5. The cellular-transceiver apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said auto-diagnostic means comprises means for detecting the DTMF signal output by said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit in response to the DTMF signal generated by said means for generating a DTMF signal.

6. The cellular-transceiver apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for simulating the functions performed by said standard, land telephone-like communications-device comprises means for generating an on-hook signal to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit.

7. The cellular-transceiver apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said auto-diagnostic means comprises means for simulating the presence of an incoming telephone call to said transceiver, in order to cause said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit to actuate its ring generator;

said auto-diagnostic means comprising means for detecting the ring-signal produced thereby.

8. The cellular-transceiver apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said means for simulating the functions performed by said standard, land telephone-like communications-device comprises means for generating an off-hook signal to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit during the time that said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit is generating its ring-signal, in order to determine that the cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit properly disconnects the ring-signal upon the answering of an incoming telephone call.

9. The cellular-transceiver apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said auto-diagnostic means comprises means for for generating an outgoing telephone call through said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit and said transceiver, through the cellular, or cellular-like, telephone system, and back to said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver;

said auto-diagnostic means further comprising means for detecting the generation of a busy-signal by said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver in response to said telephone call;

said means for generating an outgoing telephone call calling the telephone number which has been assigned to said transceiver with which it is operatively coupled.

10. A testing apparatus for testing the proper operation of a cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit, which cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit is capable of being coupled to a land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument, said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit capable of converting DTMF signals or pulse-type dialing signals from a land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument coupled thereto into digital data format for sending the digital data to a cellular, or cellular-like transceiver, said testing apparatus comprising:

diagnostic means for monitoring the proper functioning of said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit;

reporting means for at least sometimes reporting at least part of the results of the monitoring by said diagnostic means;

said testing apparatus further comprising means for alternately coupling said diagnostic means to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit;

said diagnostic means comprising means for simulating the functions performed by a standard, land telephone or telephone-like instrument for generating in said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit respective, corresponding responses in said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit, in order to determine if said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit is operating correctly.

11. The testing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said means for alternately coupling said diagnostic means comprises means capable of uncoupling the connection of a standard, land telephone-like instrument from said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit when said diagnostic means is coupled to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit.

12. The testing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said means for simulating the functions performed by said standard, land telephone-like instrument comprises means for generating an off-hook signal to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit.

13. The testing apparatus according to claim to claim 12, wherein said diagnostic means comprises means for detecting the presence of a dial-tone signal generated from said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit in response to said generation of said off-hook signal.

14. The testing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said means for simulating the functions performed by said standard land telephone-like instrument comprises means for generating a DTMF signal and sending the signal to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit.

15. The testing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said diagnostic means comprises means for detecting the DTMF signal output by said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit in response to the DTMF signal generated by said means for generating a DTMF signal.

16. The testing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said means for simulating the functions performed by said standard, land telephone-like instrument comprises means for generating an on-hook signal to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit.

17. The testing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said diagnostic means comprises means for simulating the presence of an incoming telephone call to said transceiver in order to cause said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit to actuate its ring generator;

said diagnostic means comprising means for detecting the ring-signal produced thereby.

18. The testing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said diagnostic means further comprises means for generating an off-hook signal to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit during the time that said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit is generating its ring-signal, in order to determine that the cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit properly disconnects the ring-signal upon the answering of an incoming telephone call.

19. The testing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said diagnostic means comprises means for generating an outgoing telephone call through the cellular, or cellular-like, telephone network, when said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit is coupled to a transceiver, and back to said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver, whereby said diagnostic means causes said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver to make a telephone call to itself;

said diagnostic means further comprising means for detecting the generation of a busy-signal by the cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver in response to said telephone call;

said means for generating an outgoing telephone call calling the telephone number which has been assigned to the transceiver coupled to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit.

20. A method of testing for the proper operation of a cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit by means of a diagnostic unit, which cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit is capable of being coupled to a land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument, said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit capable of converting DTMF signals or pulse-type dialing signals from a telephone or telephone-like instrument coupled thereto into digital data format for sending the digital data to a cellular, or cellular-like transceiver, said method comprising:

(a) monitoring the functions performed by said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit;

(b) said step of monitoring comprising simulating the functions performed by a telephone or telephone-like instrument for generating in said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit respective, corresponding responses in said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit, in order to determine if said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit is operating correctly.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said step (a) comprises:

(c) alternately coupling said diagnostic unit to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein said step (c) comprises uncoupling the connection of a telephone or telephone-like instrument from said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit when said diagnostic unit is coupled to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein said step (c) comprises generating an off-hook signal to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit.

24. The method according to claim to claim 23, further comprising detecting the presence of a dial-tone signal generated from said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit in response to said generation of said off-hook signal.

25. The method according to claim 20, wherein said step (b) comprises generating a DTMF signal and sending the signal cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising detecting the DTMF signal output by said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit in response to the DTMF signal generated.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein said step (b) comprises generating an on-hook signal to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit.

28. The method according to claim 20, wherein said step (b) comprises simulating the presence of an incoming telephone call to said transceiver in order to cause said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit to actuate its ring generator;

and for detecting the ring-signal produced thereby.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein said step (b) further comprises generating an off-hook signal to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit during the time that said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit is generating its ring-signal, in order to determine that the cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit properly disconnects the ring-signal upon the answering of an incoming telephone call.

30. The method according to claim 20, wherein said step (a) comprises generating an outgoing telephone call through the cellular, or cellular-like, telephone network, when said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit is coupled to a transceiver, and back to said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver;

said step of generating an outgoing telephone call causing said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver to make a telephone call to itself; and

further comprising detecting the generation of a busy-signal by the cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver in response to said telephone call.

31. In a radio-transceiver apparatus comprising a radio transceiver, an interface unit, and a communications device coupled to said radio transceiver, said interface unit operatively coupling said communications device to said radio transceiver for at least one of calling out and receiving calls through said radio transceiver, the improvement comprising:

auto-diagnostic means for monitoring and reporting the proper functioning of said radio transceiver and said interface unit;

means for alternately coupling said auto-diagnostic means to said interface unit;

said means for alternately coupling said auto-diagnostic means comprising means for uncoupling the connection of said communications device from said interface unit when said auto-diagnostic means is coupled to said interface unit;

said auto-diagnostic means comprising means for simulating the functions performed by said communications device for generating in said interface unit respective, corresponding responses in said interface unit, in order to determine if said interface unit is operating correctly.

32. The cellular-transceiver apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said means for simulating the functions performed by said communications device comprises means for generating an off-hook signal to said interface unit.

33. The cellular-transceiver apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said auto-diagnostic means comprises means for detecting the presence of a dial-tone signal generated from said interface unit in response to said generation of said off-hook signal.

34. The cellular-transceiver apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said means for simulating the functions performed by said communications device comprises means for generating a DTMF signal and sending the signal to said interface unit.

35. The cellular-transceiver apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said auto-diagnostic means comprises means for detecting the DTMF signal output by said interface unit in response to the DTMF signal generated by said means for generating a DTMF signal.

36. The cellular-transceiver apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said auto-diagnostic means comprises means for simulating the presence of an incoming telephone call to said transceiver, in order to cause said interface unit to actuate its ring generator;

said auto-diagnostic means comprising means for detecting the ring-signal produced thereby.

37. The cellular-transceiver apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said auto-diagnostic means comprises means for generating an outgoing telephone call through said interface unit and said transceiver, through the radio telephone system with which said transceiver is associated, and back to said transceiver;

said auto-diagnostic means further comprising means for detecting the generation of a busy-signal by said transceiver in response to said telephone call;

said means for generating an outgoing telephone call calling the telephone number which has been assigned to said transceiver with which it is operatively coupled.

38. A testing apparatus for testing the proper operation of an interface unit, which interface unit is capable of being coupled to a communications device for operatively coupling the communications device to a radio transceiver for at least one of calling out and receiving calls through the radio transceiver, comprising:

diagnostic means for monitoring the proper functioning of said interface unit; and

reporting means for at least sometimes reporting at least part of the results of the monitoring by said diagnostic means;

said diagnostic means comprising means for simulating the functions performed by a communications device for generating in said interface unit respective, corresponding responses in said interface unit, in order to determine if said interface unit is operating correctly.

39. A method of testing for the proper operation of an interface unit by means of a diagnostic unit, which interface unit is capable of being coupled between a communications device and radio transceiver, so that the communications device may perform at least one of making outgoing calls and receiving incoming calls by means of the radio transceiver, said method comprising:

(a) monitoring the functions performed by said interface unit; and

(b) at least sometimes reporting at least part of the results of the monitoring by said diagnostic means;

(c) said step (a) comprising simulating the functions performed by a communications device for generating in said interface unit respective, corresponding responses in said interface unit, in order to determine if said interface unit is operating correctly.

40. A testing apparatus for testing the proper operation of a cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit, which cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit is capable of being coupled to a land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument, said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit capable of converting DTMF signals or pulse-type dialing signals from a land-type telephone instrument coupled thereto into digital data format for sending the digital data to a cellular, or cellular-like transceiver, said testing apparatus comprising:

diagnostic means for monitoring the proper functioning of said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit;

said diagnostic means comprising means for generating an outgoing telephone call through the cellular, or cellular-like, telephone network, when said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit is coupled to a transceiver, and back to said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver, whereby said diagnostic means causes said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver to make a telephone call to itself;

said diagnostic means further comprising means for detecting the generation of a busy-signal by the cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver in response to said telephone call;

said means for generating an outgoing telephone call calling the telephone number which has been assigned to the transceiver coupled to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit.