Method and system for customer-specific field testing in a wireless communication system

• US 6,876,890 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2002
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Oleniczak, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ramesh
• Application Number:
  US10/062,983
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 700/1, 700 2- 5, 700/52, 700/53, 700/65, 700/66, 455/110, 455/115.3, 455/3.01, 455/226.2, 455/3.02, 455/3.03, 455/3.06, 455/400, 455/406.2, 455/405, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/419, 455/420, 455/423, 455/139, 455134-135, 340/539.21, 725/17, 725/18, 379/26, 379/21, 379/18, 702/62, 702/185
• US Class Current: 700/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/309 Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters

Abstract

A method and system for collecting test data at a customer premises site. A computer receives a customer-specific input record that defines test measurements to be taken at the customer premises site. The computer then directs a test meter to take the designated measurements and receives the measured values form the test meter. In turn, the computer provides a customer-specific output report, which indicates the measured values taken at the customer premises site. The method and system facilitates better control over the taking and reporting of signal quality measurements.

Claims

1. A method of collecting radio frequency signal test data at a customer premises site, the method comprising:

receiving a customer-specific input record into a computer, the customer-specific input record indicating at least one radio frequency signal data point to measure at the customer premises site;

applying the computer to instruct a radio frequency signal test meter to measure the at least one data point at the customer premises site and to then receive from the test meter a value of the at least one data point as measured at the customer premises site; and

outputting a customer-specific output record from the computer, the customer-specific output record indicating the value of the at least one data point as measured at the customer premises site.

2. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions for causing the computer to carry out the method of claim 1.

3. A method of collecting radio frequency signal test data at a customer premises site, the method comprising:

receiving a customer-specific input record into a computer, the customer-specific input record indicating at least one radio frequency signal test data measurement to take at the customer premises site;

operating the computer to produce a control signal for causing a radio frequency signal test meter to take the at least one test data measurement;

providing the control signal from the computer to the test meter, wherein the test meter then takes the at least one test data measurement at the customer premises site, pursuant to the control signal;

providing from the test meter to the computer an indication of the at least one test data measurement; and

outputting from the computer a customer-specific output record indicating the at least one test data measurement taken at the customer premises site.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one test data measurement to take at the customer premises site comprises a measurement of signal strength at a downstream frequency assigned to the customer premises site.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising including in the customer-specific output record an indication of the geographic coordinates.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the control signal comprises a macro executable by the test meter to cause the test meter to take the at least one test data measurement.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing from the test meter to the computer an indication of geographic coordinates where the at least one test data measurement is taken at the customer premises site.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising including in the customer-specific output record an identification of the test meter.

9. A method of collecting radio frequency signal test data from customer-premises sites, the method comprising:

loading into a computer a number of customer-specific input records, each indicating (i) a respective customer-premises site where radio frequency signal strength is to be measured and (ii) a respective radio frequency on which the respective customer-premises site has been assigned to receive wireless communications; and

for each of the customer-specific input records, operating the computer (i) to instruct a radio frequency signal test-meter to measure received signal strength at the respective customer-premises site on the respective frequency, (ii) to receive from the test-meter measurement data indicative of the received signal strength at the respective customer-premises site, and (iii) to report the measurement data to a remote location via a communications link.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein operating the computer to report the measurement data to a remote location via a communications link comprises operating the computer to send the measurement data to the remote location via a communication path that comprises a wireless communications link.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein each customer-specific input record further indicates an appointment time when a technician is to be at the respective customer-premises site, the method further comprising:

operating the computer to present a schedule of appointment times at respective customer-premises sites throughout a day.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein each customer-specific input record indicates an address of the respective customer-premises site, the method further comprising:

operating the computer to present a map of respective customer-premises sites indicated by the customer-specific input records.