Method and system for mobile call testing using contactless ring detection

• US 7,787,876 B1
• Filed: 09/08/2006
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Mondloch, John H., Tugnawat, Yogesh, Reimer, Dave E., Schick, Gary T., Fessler, Braden J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro; Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): STERNBANE, LAURENCE J
• Application Number:
  US11/517,892
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.11, 455/115.1, 455/423, 381/73.1
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/24 Arrangements for testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic

Abstract

A method for mobile call testing is provided. The method involves initiating at a test-control module a test call to a mobile unit, and detecting at a ring-detecting module, via a contactless coupling to the mobile unit, whether the mobile unit rings in response to the test call from the test-control module. Further, the method then involves providing a ring indication from the ring-detecting module to the test-control module when a mobile ring is detected in response to the test call. In one example, the contactless coupling is an acoustic coupling.

Claims

1. A mobile call test method comprising:

situating each of a plurality of mobile units in a respective container, such that each mobile unit is in a separate container;

operating a respective ring-detecting module for each container;

initiating a test-call respectively to each of the mobile units simultaneously from a test-control module;

for each mobile unit of the plurality, the ring-detecting module of the container in which the mobile unit is situated detecting, via a contactless acoustic coupling with the mobile unit, whether the mobile unit rings in response to the test-call initiated to the mobile unit from the test-control module; and

for each mobile unit of the plurality, providing a ring indication to the test-control module from the ring-detecting module of the container in which the mobile unit is situated if the ring-detecting module of the container in which the mobile unit is situated detects ringing of the mobile unit,

whereby situating the mobile units in the respective containers helps to acoustically isolate the mobile units during testing.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

carrying out the method automatically.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of mobile units are located inside a vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

carrying out the method while the vehicle is moving.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

terminating all of the initiated test-calls at the test-control module;

thereafter initiating a second test-call respectively to each of the mobile units simultaneously from the test-control module;

for each mobile unit of the plurality, the ring-detecting module of the container in which the mobile unit is situated detecting, via an acoustic coupling with the mobile unit, whether the mobile unit rings in response to the second test-call initiated to the mobile unit from the test-control module; and

for each mobile unit of the plurality, providing a ring indication to the test-control module from the ring-detecting module of the container in which the mobile unit is situated if the ring-detecting module of the container in which the mobile unit is situated detects ringing of the mobile unit in response to the second test-call.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein terminating all of the initiated test-calls at the test-control module comprises terminating the initiated test-calls immediately following at least one receipt of a ring indication in response to the initiated test-calls.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the ring-detecting module for each container comprises a microphone.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the ring indication represents a call set-up success, and wherein an absence of the ring indication represents a call set-up failure.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the test-control module comprises a diem controller and a server controller, wherein the client controller and the server controller are communicatively linked with each other, and wherein the server controller is at least operable to initiate the test-calls and to terminate the initiated test-calls in response to such commands from the client controller.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the client controller comprises client controller logic and the server controller comprises server controller logic, the client controller logic being carried out by a first computing entity and the server logic being carried out by a second computing entity, and wherein the first computing entity is located remotely from the second computing entity.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the ring indication comprises a digital code readable via the test-control module.

12. The method of claim 1,

wherein each container comprises an opening through which the ringing of the mobile unit situated in the container can be detected by the ring-detecting module operated for the container, and

wherein detecting whether the mobile unit rings comprises detecting via the opening whether the mobile unit rings.

13. The method of claim 12,

wherein an acoustic coupling tube is attached to the opening, and wherein the ring-detecting module is acoustically sealed inside the tube, and

wherein detecting whether the mobile unit rings comprises detecting via the acoustic tube whether the mobile unit rings.

14. A mobile call test system, comprising:

a plurality of containers each for holding a mobile unit under test, wherein each of the mobile units is situated in a respective container such that each mobile unit is in a separate container, whereby situating the mobile units in the respective containers helps to acoustically isolate the mobile units during testing;

a test-control module operable to initiate a test-call respectively to each of the mobile units simultaneously;

a contactless acoustic coupling respectively for each mobile unit; and

a respective ring-detecting module for each container, wherein the ring-detecting module of the container in which each mobile unit is situated is operable (i) to detect, via the respective contactless acoustic coupling for the mobile unit, whether the mobile unit rings in response to the test-call initiated to the mobile unit from the test-control module, and (ii) to provide a ring indication to the test-control module if the ring-detecting module of the container in which the mobile unit is situated detects ringing of the mobile unit.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the ring-detecting module for each container comprises a microphone.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the test-control module comprises a client controller and a server controller, wherein the client controller and the server controller are communicatively linked with each other, and wherein the server controller is at least operable to initiate the test-calls and to terminate the initiated test-calls in response to such commands from the client controller.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the server controller is further operable to receive test-configuration parameters from the client controller.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the client controller comprises client controller logic and the server controller comprises server controller logic, the client controller logic being carried out by a first computing entity and the server logic being carried out by a second computing entity, and wherein the first computing entity is located remotely from the second computing entity.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the ring indication is a digital code readable via the test-control module.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein each container comprises an opening through which the ringing of the mobile unit situated in the container can be detected by the ring-detecting module operated for the container.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein an acoustic coupling tube is attached to the opening, and wherein the ring-detecting module is acoustically sealed inside the tube.