Mobile communications apparatus uplink message transmission of battery output level information

• US 5,901,361 A
• Filed: 08/03/1998
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Luong, Albert Q. V.
• Primary Examiner(s): TO, DORIS HA
• Application Number:
  US09/128,033
• Time in Patent Office: 274 Days
• Field of Search: 455/572, 455/574, 455/575, 455/67.1, 455/68, 455/69, 455/70, 455/127, 455/343, 455/FOR 121, 455/422, 455/423-425, 455/383-384, 455/517, 455/528, 455/67.4 , 455/436, 455/566
• US Class Current: 455/517
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level

Abstract

A mobile communications apparatus monitors the power level of its internal battery power supply, and reports the measured power information on a periodic basis to a serving network. These reports are preferably made during the course of an ongoing call communications utilizing an uplink communications channel. The reported power information is stored by the network. In response to a subsequent detection of an instance of a call drop with respect to that mobile communications apparatus, the stored reported power information is retrieved and processed to determine whether failure of the battery for the mobile communications apparatus is a likely cause of the call drop. If such is the determination, that fact is noted in association with recording the instance of the call drop as the drop cause.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a cause for a call drop in a mobile communications system, comprising the steps of:

receiving on an uplink communications link from a battery powered mobile communications apparatus signals indicative of monitored apparatus battery power levels;

storing the received battery power levels;

detecting an instance of a call drop with respect to that mobile communications apparatus;

retrieving the stored battery power levels;

processing the retrieved battery power levels to determine whether battery failure is a likely cause of the call drop; and

responsive thereto, noting in association with a record of the call drop for that mobile communications apparatus the reason for the call drop being a battery failure.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein the step of processing comprises the steps of:

comparing the retrieved power levels to a threshold; and

identifying the reason for the call drop as being a battery failure if a majority of the power levels fall below the threshold.

3. The method as in claim 1 wherein the step of processing comprises the steps of:

comparing the retrieved power levels to a threshold;

determining whether the retrieved power levels indicate a decrease in power level; and

identifying the reason for the call drop as being a battery failure if the power levels are determined to be decreasing and at least one power level falls below the threshold.

4. A mobile communications system, comprising:

means for receiving from a mobile communications apparatus signals indicative of monitored apparatus battery power levels;

a first memory for storing the received battery power levels;

means for detecting an instance of a call drop with respect to that mobile communications apparatus;

a second memory for storing a record of the call drop;

a processor responsive to the detection of the call drop for retrieving and processing the stored battery power levels to determine whether battery failure is a likely cause of the call drop, and responsive thereto for making a notation in the second memory in association with the record of the call drop the reason for the call drop being a battery failure.

5. The system as in claim 4 wherein the processing of the stored battery power levels compares the retrieved power levels to a threshold, and identifies the reason for the call drop as being a battery failure if a majority of the power levels fall below the threshold.

6. The system as in claim 4 wherein the processing of the stored battery power levels compares the retrieved power levels to a threshold, determines whether the retrieved power levels indicate a decrease in power level, and identifies the reason for the call drop as being a battery failure if the power levels are determined to be decreasing and at least one power level falls below the threshold.