Real time call data analysis and display

• US 6,771,956 B1
• Filed: 11/08/2000
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beeler, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Gary, Erika
• Assistant Examiner(s): AFSHAR, KAMRAN
• Application Number:
  US09/709,119
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422.1, 455/423, 455/424, 455/425, 455/426, 455/432.3, 455/445, 455/446, 455/67.11, 455/67.14, 455/9, 455/115.1, 379/1.01, 379/8, 379/9, 379/10.3, 379/15.02, 379/27.01, 379/29.01, 709/223, 709/224, 707/100, 702/182, 702/183, 702/188
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic

Abstract

A system and method to monitor call data for a number of cellular phones simultaneously and in real time. A UNIX-based diagnosis software allows flexibility and versatility in call monitoring and functionality testing of a cellular switch. The diagnosis software scans and parses, in real time, the call data received from a cellular switch so as to enable a technician to monitor (and diagnose) the radio environment of a cell when a call is placed from that cell. Additional cellular switch-specific data such as, for example, radio channels assigned to a cell phone call, handoff signals communicated, power level for a radio link, etc., may also be monitored on a per-call basis. Thus, simultaneous and real time testing of more than one radio link can be performed by a technician in a cellular service provider'"'"'s network during, for example, routine maintenance of a cellular switch, installation and testing of a new switch, addition or reconfiguration of a cell site, etc.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing call-specific data for each of a first plurality of cellular phone calls, said method comprising:

a first computer receiving a portion of said call-specific data for each of a first plurality of cellular phone calls, wherein a second plurality of cellular phone calls is part of said first plurality of cellular phone calls;

said first computer parsing said portion of said call-specific data for each of said first plurality of cellular phone calls based on one or more predetermined parameters contained in each said portion to identify said call-specific data for said each of said second plurality of cellular phone calls, wherein the one or more predetermined parameters includes a mobile identification number (MIN);

a second computer initiating execution of instructions residing on the first computer, wherein the instructions cause the first computer to perform the parsing, wherein the first computer is at a first location, and wherein the second computer is at a second location that is remote from the first location; and

the first computer generating a viewable report containing the call-specific data for the each of the first plurality of cellular phone calls;

wherein said receiving, parsing and generating functions by said first computer are performed in real time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a second computer receiving from said first computer said call-specific data for at least one of said first plurality of cellular phone calls; and

said second computer displaying said call-specific data for said at least one of said first plurality of cellular phone calls.

3. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive a portion of call-specific data for each of a first plurality of cellular phone calls, wherein a second plurality of cellular phone calls is part of said first plurality of cellular phone calls;

parse said portion of said call-specific data for each of said first plurality of cellular phone calls based on a predetermined parameter to identify said call-specific data for each of said second plurality of cellular phone calls, wherein the parsing is initiated from a remote location; and

generate a viewable report containing the call-specific data for the each of the second plurality of cellular phone calls, wherein the receiving, parsing, and generating are performed in real time; and

identify a functional entity within the cellular telephone network as a source of malfunction based on review of said call-specific data for said at least one of said second plurality of cellular phone calls;

wherein the instructions are implemented in the AWK programming language.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein the instructions, upon execution, cause the processor to transmit said call-specific data for said each of said second plurality of cellular phone calls to a display device.

5. A system to process call-specific data generated within a cellular telephone network in real time, said system comprising:

a first computer configured to receive a portion of said call-specific data for each of a first plurality of cellular phone calls handled by said cellular telephone network, wherein a second plurality of cellular phone calls is part of said first plurality of cellular phone calls, and wherein said first computer is configured to parse said portion of said call-specific data for each of said first plurality of cellular phone calls based on a predetermined parameter to identify said call-specific data for each of said second plurality of cellular phone calls, and wherein the first computer is at a first location; and

a second computer in communication with said first computer,

wherein the second computer is configured to receive said call-specific data for each of said second plurality of cellular phone calls from said first computer and to display said call-specific data received from said first computer,

wherein the second computer is configured to transmit an indication to the first computer to initiate parsing of the portion of the call-specific data for each of the first plurality of cellular phone calls,

wherein the second computer is at a second location that is remote from the first location, and

wherein the second computer is configured to allow an operator thereof to send the predetermined parameter to the first computer using the second computer;

wherein said receiving and parsing functions by said first computer and said receiving and displaying functions by said second computer are performed in real time.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said first computer is configured to receive said portion of said call-specific data for each of said first plurality of cellular phone calls from a cellular switch within said cellular telephone network.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein an operating system for said first computer is UNIX.