Method and apparatus for automatic diagnosis and resolution of wireless network malfunctions

• US 7,392,046 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2004
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Shlomai, Netzer, Leib, Evgeny, Glazer, Joshua
• Primary Examiner(s): Gary; Erika A
• Application Number:
  US10/885,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20050176418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 455/423, 455/424, 455/425, 455/67.11, 455/67.14
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

A method and apparatus related to the automatic diagnosis and resolution of wireless network malfunctions. A network malfunction diagnosis is made by comparing information gathered from a plurality of wireless network components to a predefined set of rules. The comparison may be performed using comprehensive query language capabilities. Once a network malfunction is detected, a malfunction report is generated and the malfunction may be automatically repaired

Claims

1. A method for automatic diagnosis and resolution of at least one malfunction of a computer wireless network, said method comprising:

via a checkup agent on one or more of a plurality of wireless devices;

configuring automatically a new wireless device with a set of particular parameters and settings of the wireless network upon a joining of said device to said wireless network, wherein the joining comprises;

the checkup agent providing at least one discovery request;

receiving from the new wireless device a selection of one discovery request such that;

in an event that the discovery request is presented to a user via a user interface, facilitating entry of the user'"'"'s selection;

in an event that the discovery request is configured to be selected automatically, responsive to a predetermined triggering event, effecting the selection;

responsive to the selection, the checkup agent utilizing a wireless discovery protocol via wireless signals;

obtaining a listing of available resources within a wireless communication area;

communicating the listing of available resources to the user of the new wireless device via the new wireless device;

causing the user of the new wireless device to select at least one available resource;

detecting network configuration information for connecting to the selected resource, wherein network configuration information comprises;

network settings associated with the selected resource; and

a security level associated with the selected resource;

collecting configuration information of said computer wireless network, wherein the computer wireless network comprises at least an access point and a plurality of wireless devices, and wherein the configuration information is collected for each wireless device;

iteratively diagnosing said collected configuration information with a set of test rules to determine if at least one of said test rules is satisfied; and

generating a malfunction report if at least one of said test rules is satisfied.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises repairing the malfunction of a respective satisfied test rule, wherein the repairing is accomplished via a unified setting interface (USI) such that:

in an event that no user intervention in required to effect the repairing, via the USI the fix is performed;

in an event that user intervention is required to effect the repairing, via the USI the user is guided with the necessary actions to be performed to fix the failure;

in an event that repairing is not successful, generating a report describing the unrepaired malfunction and the symptoms of the unrepaired malfunction and sending the report of the unrepaired malfunction to a network operator, wherein the network operator provides internet service for the wireless device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said malfunction is repaired by means of automatic fix.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said automatic fix comprises at least an instruction to allow for the automatic setting of at least one configurable parameter to its proper value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said configuration information comprises at least a list of values of configurable parameters associated with each wireless device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said configuration information further comprises a mapping of the computer wireless network utilizing topology data gathered for each of said wireless devices, wherein the topology data of each of the wireless devices comprises:

an Internet protocol (IP) address;

a network name; and

an operating system type of the wireless device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said wireless device comprises at least one of a printer, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a handheld computer, a notebook computer, a digital phone, and a printer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein diagnosing said test rule further comprises comparing a predefined condition to said configuration information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said predefined condition determines at least a proper state of at least one configurable parameter.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the comparison is performed by means of query language statements.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said query language comprises at least one of standard query language, extensible markup language and plain text.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said malfunction report is sent to technical personnel located at a remote site of a network operator.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said malfunction report comprises at least a type of said malfunction and symptoms of said malfunction.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said method is executed locally on one of the devices connected in said wireless network.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said computer wireless network is operated in at least one of:

a home, an airport, a business resource center, a food-service business, a shopping center.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer wireless network further comprises at least one of a router, a switch, and a modem.

17. A computer program product for automatic diagnosis and resolution of at least one malfunction of a computer wireless network, said computer program product comprising software instructions for enabling a computer ystem to perform predetermined operations, and a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions;

the predetermined operations comprising;

configuring automatically a wireless device with a set of particular parameters and settings of the wireless network upon a joining of said device to said wireless network, wherein the joining comprises;

providing at least one discovery request via a checkup agent;

receiving a selection of at least one discovery request via the wireless device;

responsive to the selection, the checkup agent utilizing a wireless discovery protocol via wireless signals;

obtaining a listing of available resources within a wireless communication area;

communicating the listing of available resources to the wireless device via the wireless device;

causing the wireless device to select at least one available resource;

detecting network configuration information for connecting to the selected resource;

collecting configuration information of said computer wireless network, wherein the computer wireless network comprises at least an access point and a plurality of wireless devices, and wherein the configuration information is collected for each wireless device;

diagnosing iteratively said collected configuration information with a set of test rules to determine if at least one of said test rules is satisfied; and

generating a malfunction report if at least one of said test rules is satisfied.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said method further comprises repairing the malfunction of a respective satisfied test rule, wherein the repairing is accomplished via a unified setting interface (USI).

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said malfunction is repaired by means of automatic fix, wherein said automatic fix comprises a set of instructions allow the automatic setting of at least one configurable parameter to its proper value.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said configuration information comprises at least a list of values of configurable parameters associated with each wireless device.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein said configuration information further comprises topology data gathered for each of said wireless devices, wherein the topology data of each of the wireless devices comprises:

at least one of an Internet protocol (IP) address;

a network name; and

an operating system type of the wireless device.

22. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein said wireless device comprises at least one of a beacon, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a handheld computer, a notebook computer, a digital phone, and a printer.

23. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein diagnosing said test rule further comprises comparing a predefined condition to said configuration information.

24. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein said predefined condition determines at least a proper state of at least one configurable parameter.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the comparison is performed by means of query language statements.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein said query language comprises at least one of a standard query language, extensible markup language and plain text.

27. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said malfunction report is sent to technical personnel located at a remote site of a network operator.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein said malfunction report comprises at least the type of said malfunction and the symptoms of said malfunction.

29. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said computer program product is executed locally on one of the devices connected in said wireless network.

30. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said computer wireless network is operated in at least one of:

a home, an airport, a business resource center, a food-service business, a shopping center.

31. The computer software product of claim 17, wherein the computer wireless network further comprises at least one of a router, a switch, and a modem.

32. A checkup apparatus for the purpose of automatic diagnosis and resolution of at least one malfunction of a computer wireless network, said apparatus comprising:

means for automatically configuring a new wireless device with a set of particular parameters and settings of the wireless network upon a joining of said device to said wireless network, wherein the joining comprises;

the means for automatically configuring a new wireless device providing at least one discovery request;

receiving from the new wireless device a selection of one discovery request;

responsive to the selecting, the means for automatically configuring a new wireless device utilizing a wireless discovery protocol via wireless signals;

means for collection of configuration information of said computer wireless network wherein the computer wireless network comprises at least an access point and a plurality of wireless devices, and wherein the configuration information is collected for each wireless device;

means for iterative diagnosis of said collected configuration information by application of a set of test rules, said means being further capable of determining if at least one of said test rules is satisfied; and

means for generating a malfunction report if at least one of said test rules is satisfied.

33. The checkup apparatus of claim 32, wherein said checkup apparatus further comprises means for automatic repair of the malfunction of a respective satisfied test rule.

34. The checkup apparatus of claim 33, wherein said means for automatic repairing comprises a set of instructions allow the automatic selling of at least one configurable parameter to its proper value.

35. The checkup apparatus of claim 32, wherein said computer wireless network comprises at least one of a wireless local area network, a Bluetooth wireless network, an infrared data association network and 902.11 based wireless communication.

36. The checkup apparatus of claim 32, wherein each of said wireless devices comprises as least one of a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a handheld computer, a notebook computer, a digital phone, and a printer.

37. The checkup of claim 32, wherein said configuration information comprises at least a list of values of configurable parameters associated with each device connected in said wireless network.

38. The checkup apparatus of claim 37, wherein said configuration information further comprises a mapping of the computer wireless network utilizing topology data gathered for each of said wireless devices, wherein the topology data of each of the wireless devices comprises:

an Internet protocol (IP) address;

a network name; and

an operating system type of the wireless device.

39. The checkup apparatus of claim 38, wherein diagnosing said test rule further comprises comparing a predefined condition to said configuration information.

40. The checkup apparatus of claim 39, wherein said predefined condition determines at least a proper state of at least one configurable parameter.

41. The checkup apparatus of claim 39, wherein the comparison is performed by means of query language statements.

42. The checkup apparatus of claim 41, wherein said query language comprises at least one of a standard query language, extensible markup language and a plain text.

43. The checkup apparatus of claim 32, wherein said malfunction report is sent to technical personnel located at a remote site of a network operator.

44. The checkup apparatus of claim 43, wherein said malfunction report comprises at least the type of said malfunction and the symptoms of said malfunction.

45. The checkup apparatus of claim 32, wherein said checkup apparatus is installed in one of the devices connected in said wireless network.

46. The checkup apparatus of claim 32, wherein said computer wireless network is a digital home network, said digital home network comprises a plurality of home appliances connected though a communication media.

47. The checkup apparatus claim 46, wherein said communication media comprises at least one of a telephone line, a WLAN, a Bluetooth network, a USB network, an IEEE 1394 network and a power line.

48. The checkup apparatus of claim 32, wherein said computer wireless network is operated in at least one of:

a home, an airport, a business resource center, a food-service business, a shopping center.

49. The checkup apparatus of claim 32, wherein the computer wireless network further comprises at least one of a router, a switch, and a modem.