Testing methods and apparatus for wireless communications

• US 7,546,121 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2006
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lipsit, James Mason
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Lee
• Application Number:
  US11/330,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20060105747A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.11, 455/67.13, 455/67.14, 455/67.7, 455/410, 455/411, 455/415, 455/423, 455/424, 455/425, 379/9, 379/29.01, 713/182, 713/183, 713/184
• US Class Current: 455/425
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/0085 using test signal generators

Abstract

Several testing methods and apparatus for wireless communications, such as a cellular telephone communications, are described. One method for use in troubleshooting a problematic call in a wireless communication system by a computer test station includes the steps of receiving a telephone call from a wireless telephone unit while the wireless telephone unit is simultaneously connected in a call; receiving, during the telephone call, first information which identifies the wireless telephone unit and second information which identifies a wireless switch utilized in the call; sending, during the telephone call, a trace command having the caller ID information to an address associated with the wireless switch; and receiving, in response to sending the trace command, call trace information including information that identifies a plurality of devices of the wireless switch utilized in the call. In response, the computer test station delivers a message that includes this device information to, for example, the wireless telephone unit or a system maintenance computer for appropriate handling.

Claims

1. A method for use in providing a telephone unit with remote access to functions of a computer test station, the method comprising:

receiving, at the computer test station, a telephone call from the telephone unit;

receiving, at the computer station, a caller identification (ID) number of the telephone unit;

comparing, at the computer test station, the caller ID number with a plurality of prestored caller ID numbers;

granting or denying access to the functions of the computer test station based at least in part on the comparing; and

if access is granted;

selecting, at the computer test station, one of the functions of the computer test station based upon dual-tone multiple frequency (DTMF) signals received from the telephone unit;

executing, after termination of the telephone call, the selected function to generate function data; and

storing function data in association with the caller ID number.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the granting or denying access further comprises:

granting access if the caller ID number matches one of the prestored caller ID numbers; and

denying access if the caller ID number does not match any of the prestored caller ID numbers.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the computer test station, a personal identification number (PIN) selected at the telephone unit;

comparing, at the computer test station, the PIN with a prestored PIN associated with a prestored caller ID number that matches the received caller ID number; and

wherein granting or denying access is based at least in part on the comparing of the caller ID number and the comparing of the PIN.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the computer test station, a personal identification number (PIN) selected at the telephone unit;

comparing, at the computer test station, the PIN with a prestored PIN associated with the prestored caller ID number that matches the received caller ID number;

wherein granting or denying access further comprises;

granting access if the caller ID number matches one of the prestored caller ID numbers and if the PIN matches the prestored PIN associated with the prestored caller ID number; and

denying access if the caller ID number does not match any of the prestored caller ID numbers or the PIN does not match the prestored PIN associated with the prestored caller ID number.