Self diagnostic system for cellular-transceiver systems with remote-reporting capabilities
First Claim
1. In an apparatus for testing the proper functioning of a cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver and a cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit operatively coupled to said cellular transceiver, said apparatus comprising a cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver and a cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit operatively coupled to said cellular transceiver, and a land-type telephone device directly coupled to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit, said interface unit coupling said land-type telephone device to said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver, whereby said land-type telephone device is coupled for use with the cellular, or cellular-like, system, the improvement comprising:
- said apparatus comprising auto-diagnostic means coupled to said interface unit for generating signals for testing the operation of said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit;
remote-testing initiation means for generating a signal for initiating in said auto-diagnostic means the initiation of the testing of the proper functioning of the the cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit operatively coupled to said cellular transceiver; and
signal-responsive means associated with said auto-diagnostic means responsive to said signal from said remote-testing initiation means for starting the testing process of said auto-diagnostic means.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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, and report the results to an off-site monitoring center by means of the cellular network.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. In an apparatus for testing the proper functioning of a cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver and a cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit operatively coupled to said cellular transceiver, said apparatus comprising a cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver and a cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit operatively coupled to said cellular transceiver, and a land-type telephone device directly coupled to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit, said interface unit coupling said land-type telephone device to said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver, whereby said land-type telephone device is coupled for use with the cellular, or cellular-like, system, the improvement comprising:
-
said apparatus comprising auto-diagnostic means coupled to said interface unit for generating signals for testing the operation of said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit; remote-testing initiation means for generating a signal for initiating in said auto-diagnostic means the initiation of the testing of the proper functioning of the the cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit operatively coupled to said cellular transceiver; and signal-responsive means associated with said auto-diagnostic means responsive to said signal from said remote-testing initiation means for starting the testing process of said auto-diagnostic means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
-
-
19. A method of remotely 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 method comprising:
-
(a) sending a test-initiation signal from an off-site location to the diagnostic unit; (b) in response to said step (a), carrying out the testing of the cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit by means of the diagnostic unit; (c) transforming the test-results into data that is capable of being sent over the cellular, or cellular-like, network; (d) sending the test-results data to an off-site monitoring center by means of the cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver; and prior to said step (d), generating an acknowledgment signal from the off-site monitoring center to the diagnostic unit indicating establishment of data connection; said step (b) comprising monitoring the functions performed by said interface unit; said step of monitoring 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.
-
Specification