Method and system for monitoring a wireless communications network

• US 6,915,128 B1
• Filed: 02/13/2001
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Oh, Dae-Sik
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): D AGOSTA, STEPHEN M
• Application Number:
  US09/782,118
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 455/63.1, 455/67.11, 455/67.13, 455/67.14, 455/67.7, 455/423, 455/424
• US Class Current: 455/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring wireless network conditions. Two mobile stations are coupled with a computer. The first mobile station interacts with the network and thereby establishes diagnostic data concerning network conditions. The first mobile station then reports that diagnostic data to the computer. As the computer receives the diagnostic data from the first mobile station, the computer obtains location data indicative of the current location of the first mobile station. The computer then provides the diagnostic data and corresponding location data to the second mobile station, which in turn transmits the data to a remote entity via the wireless communications network. As the remote entity receives the data, the remote entity may generate output reports and alerts as desired. Conveniently, the combination of the mobile stations and computer may be mounted in a vehicle and carried around a geographic area, so as to automatically report diagnostic data to the remote entity from a variety of locations.

Claims

1. A monitoring method for a wireless communications network, the monitoring method comprising, in combination:

communicating from a first mobile station to a computer a set of diagnostic data communicating operation of a wireless network;

communicating the diagnostic data from the computer to a second mobile station;

communicating the diagnostic data from the mobile station to a remote entity, via a communication path comprising an air interface;

receiving into the computer location data indicative of a location of the first mobile station corresponding to the diagnostic data;

communicating the location data from the computer to the second mobile station;

communicating the location data from the second mobile station to the remote entity via the communication path, thereby indicating to the remote entity the location of the first mobile station corresponding to the diagnostic data, wherein the diagnostic data and the location data are communicated together to the remote entity, wherein communication the diagnostic data and location data comprises sending the diagnostic data and location data via FTP to the remote entity; and

upon receipt of the diagnostic data and location data at the remote entity;

analyzing the diagnostic data;

determining that at least a portion of the diagnostic data meets a threshold; and

responsively providing an alert message.

2. The monitoring method of claim 1, further comprising, in combination:

communicating reporting-logic to the second mobile station via a communication path comprising an air interface; and

communicating the reporting-logic from the second mobile station to the computer.

3. The monitoring method of claim 2, wherein the remote entity communicates the reporting-logic to the second mobile station.

4. The monitoring method of claim 1, wherein receiving location data comprises receiving the location data from a GPS transceiver.

5. The monitoring method of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic data comprises radio frequency parameters.

6. The monitoring method of claim 1, wherein the air interface is G3-compliant.

7. The monitoring method of claim 1, further comprising, after receipt of the diagnostic data and location data at the remote entity:

providing an output report indicative of at least the diagnostic data.

8. The monitoring method of claim 1, further comprising:

mounting a combination of the first mobile station, the second mobile station and the computer on a vehicle;

driving the vehicle around a geographic area; and

repeating at a plurality of locations throughout the geographic area the steps of;

i) receiving, into the computer location data indicative of a location of the first mobile station corresponding to the diagnostic data;

ii) communicating the location data from the computer to the second mobile station;

iii) communicating the location data from the second mobile station to the remote entity via the communication path;

whereby diagnostic data corresponding to the plurality of locations is reported to the remote entity.

9. The monitoring method of claim 8, further comprising entering into an agreement with an owner or operator of the vehicle, establishing that the vehicle will carry the combination around the geographic area.

10. A monitoring method for a wireless communications network, the monitoring method comprising, in combination:

communicating from a first mobile station to a computer a set of diagnostic data concerning operation of a wireless network;

communicating the diagnostic data from the computer to a second mobile station;

communicating the diagnostic data from the mobile station to a remote entity, via a communication path comprising an air interface;

mounting a combination of the first mobile station, the second mobile station and the computer on a vehicle;

driving the vehicle around a geographic area; and

repeating at a plurality of locations throughout the geographic area, the steps of;

i) receiving into the computer location data indicative of a location of the first mobile station corresponding to the diagnostic data;

ii) communicating the location data from the computer to the second mobile station; and

iii) communicating the location data from the second mobile station to the remote entity via the communication path, thereby indicating to the remote entity the location of the first mobile station corresponding to the diagnostic data;

whereby diagnostic data corresponding to the plurality of locations is reported to the remote entity; and

entering into an agreement with an owner or operator of the vehicle, establishing that the vehicle will carry the combination around the geographic area.

11. The monitoring method of claim 10, further comprising, in combination:

communicating reporting-logic to the second mobile station via a communication path comprising an air interface; and

communicating the reporting-logic from the second mobile station to the computer.

12. The monitoring method of claim 11, wherein the remote entity communicates the reporting-logic to the second mobile station.

13. The monitoring method of claim 10, wherein the diagnostic data and location data are communicated together to the remote entity.

14. The monitoring method of claim 13, wherein communicating the diagnostic data and location date comprises sending the diagnostic data and location data via FTP to the remote entity.

15. The monitoring method of claim 14, wherein the air interface is G3-compliant.

16. The monitoring method of claim 10, wherein receiving location data comprises receiving the location data from a GPS transceiver.

17. The monitoring method of claim 10, wherein the diagnostic data comprises radio frequency parameters.

18. The monitoring method of claim 10, further comprising, upon receipt of the diagnostic data and location data at the remote entity:

analyzing the diagnostic data;

determining that at least a portion of the diagnostic data meets a threshold; and

responsively providing an alert message.

19. The monitoring method of claim 10, further comprising, after receipt of the diagnostic data and location data at the remote entity;

providing an output report indicative of at least the diagnostic data.