Apparatus and methods for determining network access performance of a wireless device

• US 7,873,321 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Cassett, Tia Manning, Hwang, Jihyun, Fok, Kenny
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; CongVan
• Application Number:
  US11/251,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20060224730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,922 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/414.1, 455/556.1, 455/418, 455/411, 455/435.2, 455/67.11, 455/67.13, 4551151- 4, 370/328, 709/224
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

Apparatus, methods, processors and computer readable media for determining the wireless network access performance or capability of a wireless device. Embodiments include a wireless device having a computer platform with a processing engine operable to generate a plurality of network access performance data during processing activities on the wireless device. The wireless device further includes a network access performance module operable to collect selected ones of the plurality of network access data associated with a predetermined data processing capability of the wireless device, and based on a predetermined collection configuration. The embodiments may also include an apparatus operable to generate the predetermined collection configuration, and operable to receive the collected network access data and to generate a performance report characterizing the network access performance or capability of the wireless device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining a network access performance of a wireless device, comprising:

a network access performance module having a collection module operable to generate and transmit an access data collection configuration to a wireless device having a communication module and a simulator module, the access data collection configuration comprising a network access-related parameter and test data, wherein the test data is executable by the simulator module on the wireless device to simulate an access scenario, wherein the network access-related parameter defines network access data to retrieve from a computer platform integrated within the wireless device, wherein the network access data corresponds to a network access characteristic of the wireless device during the access scenario; and

a data repository operable to receive and store the network access data, generated by execution of the test data on the wireless device, collected from the computer platform of the wireless device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the collection module is further operable to generate and transmit a network access-related test that is executable by the computer platform of the wireless device to generate the network access data to retrieve.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the access data collection configuration further comprises a tracking parameter and a reporting parameter each associated with the defined types of network access data, the tracking parameter defining when to collect the network access data and the reporting parameter defining when to transmit the collected network access data from the wireless device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network access data comprises at least one of call access-related data, Internet access-related data, text messaging access-related data, or video conferencing access-related data.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network access data further comprises associated data including at least one of position/location information, time information, diagnostic information, a state of a device component during a network access attempt by the wireless device, or a statistic or state associated with non-access-related processing occurring on the wireless device during the network access attempt.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an analysis engine operable to generate a network access performance report based on the collected network access data, wherein the network access performance report comprises at least the network access characteristic.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a an access performance standard, wherein the analysis engine is operable to compare the collected network access data to the access performance standard to generate the network access performance report.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network access performance module is operable to generate a device configuration setting effective to change an operational parameter of the wireless device, wherein the device configuration setting is based on the collected network access data.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an optimization module having an optimization algorithm operable to generate the device configuration setting.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the collection module further comprises a plurality of network access-related parameters, and wherein the network access-related parameter is selected from the plurality of network access-related parameters based on the network access performance characteristic to be defined.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the access scenario comprises at least one of a network access environment, a wireless device state, or a wireless network access scenario.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network access data comprises at least one of searcher information, finger assignment information, interoperability information, access channel information, dedicated paging channel information, forward traffic channel information, reverse traffic channel information, messaging information, system acquisition information, high speed packet data information, call type information, plain old telephone system information, 3-way calling information, call waiting information, voice mail information, authentication information, provisioning information, over-the-air parameter administration, Internet Protocol over-the-air information, short message service information, multimedia service information, or browser data information.

11. An apparatus for determining network access performance of a wireless device, comprising:

means for generating and transmitting an access data collection configuration across a wireless network to a wireless device having a communication module and a simulator module, the access data collection configuration comprising a network access-related parameter and test data, wherein the test data is executable by the simulator module on the wireless device to simulate an access scenario, wherein the network access-related parameter defines network access data to retrieve from a computer platform integrated within the wireless device, wherein the network access data corresponds to a network access characteristic of the wireless device during the access scenario; and

means for receiving and storing the network access data generated by execution of the test data on the wireless device and collected from the computer platform of the wireless device.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the access data collection configuration further comprises a tracking parameter and a reporting parameter each associated with the defined types of network access data, the tracking parameter defining when to collect the network access data and the reporting parameter defining when to transmit the collected network access data from the wireless device.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the network access data comprises at least one of call access-related data, Internet access-related data, text messaging access-related data, or video conferencing access-related data.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the network access data further comprises associated data including at least one of position/location information, time information, diagnostic information, a state of a device component during a network access attempt by the wireless device, or a statistic or state associated with non-access-related processing occurring on the wireless device during the network access attempt.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a means for generating a network access performance report based on the collected network access data, wherein the network access performance report comprises at least the network access characteristic.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising an access performance standard, wherein the means for generating the network access performance report is further operable to compare the collected network access data to the access performance standard to generate the network access performance report.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for generating and transmitting is further operable to generate a device configuration setting effective to change an operational parameter of the wireless device, wherein the device configuration setting is based on the collected network access data.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for generating and transmitting further comprises a means for optimizing the device configuration setting.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for generating and transmitting further comprises a plurality of network access-related parameters, and wherein the network access-related parameter is selected from the plurality of network access-related parameters based on the network access performance characteristic to be defined.

21. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the access scenario comprises at least one of a network access environment, a wireless device state, or a wireless network access scenario.

22. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the network access data comprises at least one of searcher information, finger assignment information, interoperability information, access channel information, dedicated paging channel information, forward traffic channel information, reverse traffic channel information, messaging information, system acquisition information, high speed packet data information, call type information, plain old telephone system information, 3-way calling information, call waiting information, voice mail information, authentication information, provisioning information, over-the-air parameter administration, Internet Protocol over-the-air information, short message service information, multimedia service information, or browser data information.

32. The method of claim 13, further comprising selectively transmitting the collected network access data across the wireless network.

12. At least one processor configured to perform the actions of:

receiving an access data collection configuration identifying test data and at least one of a plurality of network access data to collect from a processing engine integrated within a wireless device, wherein the wireless device has a communication module and a simulator module;

executing the test data in a simulator module on the wireless device to simulate an access scenario to generate the identified network access data; and

collecting the identified network access data generated by execution of the test data on the wireless device based on the received access data collection configuration, wherein the identified network access data corresponds to a network access characteristic of the wireless device during the access scenario.

25. A method of determining a network access performance of a wireless device, comprising:

receiving an access data collection configuration identifying test data at least one of a plurality of network access data to collect from a processing engine integrated within the wireless device, wherein the wireless device has a communication module and a simulator module;

executing the test data in the simulator module on the wireless device to simulate an access scenario to generate the identified network access data; and

collecting the identified network access data generated by execution of the test data on the wireless device based on the received access data collection configuration, wherein the identified network access data corresponds to a network access characteristic of the wireless device during the access scenario.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising executing a test program to generate the identified network access data.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising receiving a new device operational configuration setting operable to change the access characteristic of the wireless device, wherein the new device operational configuration setting is based on the collected network access data.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the collected network access data comprises at least one of searcher information, finger assignment information, interoperability information, access channel information, dedicated paging channel information, forward traffic channel information, reverse traffic channel information, messaging information, system acquisition information, high speed packet data information, call type information, plain old telephone system information, 3-way calling information, call waiting information, voice mail information, authentication information, provisioning information, over-the-air parameter administration, Internet Protocol over-the-air information, short message service information, multimedia service information, or browser data information.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the collected network access data further comprises associated data comprising at least one of position/location information, time information, diagnostic information, a state of a device component during a network access attempt by the wireless device, or a statistic or state associated with non-access-related processing occurring on the wireless device during the network access attempt.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the access scenario comprises at least one of a network access environment, a wireless device state, or a wireless network access scenario.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the collected network access data comprises at least one of call access-related data, Internet access-related data, text messaging access-related data, or video conferencing access-related data.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein the access data collection configuration further comprises a network access-related parameter, wherein the network access-related parameter comprises one of a plurality of network access-related parameters based on the network access characteristic.

28. A computer program product, comprising:

at least one instruction operable to cause a computer to receive an access data collection configuration identifying test data and at least one of a plurality of network access data to collect from a processing engine integrated within a wireless device, wherein the wireless device has a communication module and a simulator module;

at least one instruction operable to cause the computer to execute the test data in the simulator module on the wireless device to simulate an access scenario to generate the identified network access data; and

at least one instruction operable to cause the computer to collect the identified network access data generated by execution of the test data on the wireless device based on the received access data collection configuration, wherein the identified network access data corresponds to a network access characteristic of the wireless device during the access scenario.

35. A computer program product, comprising:

at least one instruction operable to cause a computer to receive an access data collection configuration identifying test data at least one of a plurality of network access data to collect from a processing engine integrated within a wireless device, wherein the wireless device has a communication module and a simulator module;

at least one instruction operable to cause the computer to execute the test data in the simulator module on the wireless device to simulate an access scenario to generate the identified network access data; and

at least one instruction operable to cause the computer to collect the identified network access data generated by execution of the test data on the wireless device based on the received access data collection configuration, wherein the identified network access data corresponds to a network access characteristic of the wireless device during the access scenario.

36. The computer program product of claim 35, further comprising at least one instruction operable to cause the computer to execute a test program to generate the identified network access data.

37. The computer program product of claim 35, further comprising at least one instruction operable to cause the computer to receive a new device operational configuration setting operable to change the access characteristic of the wireless device, wherein the new device operational configuration setting is based on the collected network access data.

38. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the access data collection configuration further comprises a tracking parameter selected from a plurality of tracking parameters and a reporting parameter selected from a plurality of reporting parameters, and wherein the at least one instruction operable to cause the computer to collect the identified network access data is based on the tracking parameter, and further comprising at least one instruction operable to cause the computer to selectively transmit the collected network access data based on the reporting parameter.

39. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the collected network access data comprises at least one of searcher information, finger assignment information, interoperability information, access channel information, dedicated paging channel information, forward traffic channel information, reverse traffic channel information, messaging information, system acquisition information, high speed packet data information, call type information, plain old telephone system information, 3-way calling information, call waiting information, voice mail information, authentication information, provisioning information, over-the-air parameter administration, Internet Protocol over-the-air information, short message service information, multimedia service information, or browser data information.

40. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the collected network access data further comprises associated data comprising at least one of position/location information, time information, diagnostic information, a state of a device component during a network access attempt by the wireless device, or a statistic or state associated with non-access-related processing occurring on the wireless device during the network access attempt.

41. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the access scenario comprises at least one of a network access environment, a wireless device state, or a wireless network access scenario.

42. The computer program product of claim 35, further comprising at least one instruction operable to cause the computer to selectively transmit the collected network access data across the wireless network.

43. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the collected network access data comprises at least one of call access-related data, Internet access-related data, text messaging access-related data, or video conferencing access-related data.

44. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the access data collection configuration further comprises a network access-related parameter, wherein the network access-related parameter comprises one of a plurality of network access-related parameters based on the network access characteristic.

45. At least one processor configured to perform the actions of:

receiving an access data collection configuration identifying test data at least one of a plurality of network access data to collect from a processing engine integrated within a wireless device, wherein the wireless device has a communication module and a simulator module;

executing the test data in a simulator module on the wireless device to simulate an access scenario to generate the identified network access data; and

collecting the identified network access data generated by execution of the test data on the wireless device based on the received access data collection configuration, wherein the identified network access data corresponds to a network access characteristic of the wireless device during the access scenario.

46. The at least one processor of claim 45, further configured to execute a test program to generate the identified network access data.

47. The at least one processor of claim 45, further configured to receive a new device operational configuration setting operable to change the access characteristic of the wireless device, wherein the new device operational configuration setting is based on the collected network access data.

48. The at least one processor of claim 45, wherein the access data collection configuration further comprises a tracking parameter selected from a plurality of tracking parameters and a reporting parameter selected from a plurality of reporting parameters, and wherein the collecting of the identified network access data is based on the tracking parameter, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to selectively transmit the collected network access data based on the reporting parameter.

49. The at least one processor of claim 45, wherein the collected network access data comprises at least one of searcher information, finger assignment information, interoperability information, access channel information, dedicated paging channel information, forward traffic channel information, reverse traffic channel information, messaging information, system acquisition information, high speed packet data information, call type information, plain old telephone system information, 3-way calling information, call waiting information, voice mail information, authentication information, provisioning information, over-the-air parameter administration, Internet Protocol over-the-air information, short message service information, multimedia service information, or browser data information.

50. The at least one processor of claim 45, wherein the collected network access data further comprises associated data comprising at least one of position/location information, time information, diagnostic information, a state of a device component during a network access attempt by the wireless device, or a statistic or state associated with non-access-related processing occurring on the wireless device during the network access attempt.

51. The at least one processor of claim 45, wherein the access scenario comprises at least one of a network access environment, a wireless device state, or a wireless network access scenario.

52. The at least one processor of claim 45, further configured to selectively transmit the collected network access data across the wireless network.

53. The at least one processor of claim 45, wherein the collected network access data comprises at least one of call access-related data, Internet access-related data, text messaging access-related data, or video conferencing access-related data.

54. The at least one processor of claim 45, wherein the access data collection configuration further comprises a network access-related parameter, wherein the network access-related parameter comprises one of a plurality of network access-related parameters based on the network access characteristic.

55. At least one processor configured to perform the actions of:

generating and transmitting an access data collection configuration across a wireless network to a wireless device having a communication module and a simulator module, the access data collection configuration comprising a network access-related parameter and test data, wherein the test data is executable by a simulator module on the wireless device to simulate an access scenario, wherein the network access-related parameter defines network access data to retrieve from a computer platform integrated within the wireless device, wherein the network access data corresponds to a network access characteristic of the wireless device during the access scenario; and

receiving and storing the network access data generated by execution of the test data on the wireless device and collected from the computer platform of the wireless device.

56. The at least one processor of claim 55, wherein the generating and transmitting further comprises generating and transmitting a network access-related test that is executable by the computer platform of the wireless device to generate the network access data to retrieve.

57. The at least one processor of claim 55, wherein the access data collection configuration further comprises a tracking parameter and a reporting parameter each associated with the defined types of network access data, the tracking parameter defining when to collect the network access data and the reporting parameter defining when to transmit the collected network access data from the wireless device.

58. The at least one processor of claim 55, wherein the network access data comprises at least one of call access-related data, Internet access-related data, text messaging access-related data or video conferencing access-related data.

59. The at least one processor of claim 55, wherein the network access data further comprises associated data including at least one of position/location information, time information, diagnostic information, a state of a device component during a network access attempt by the wireless device, or a statistic or state associated with non-access-related processing occurring on the wireless device during the network access attempt.

60. The at least one processor of claim 55, further configured to perform the action of generating a network access performance report based on the collected network access data, wherein the network access performance report comprises at least the network access characteristic.

61. The at least one processor of claim 60, further comprising an access performance standard, wherein the generating of the network access performance report further comprises comparing the collected network access data to the access performance standard to generate the network access performance report.

62. The at least one processor of claim 55, wherein the generating and transmitting further comprises generating a device configuration setting effective to change an operational parameter of the wireless device, wherein the device configuration setting is based on the collected network access data.

63. The at least one processor of claim 62, wherein the generating and transmitting further comprises optimizing the device configuration setting based on an optimization algorithm.

64. The at least one processor of claim 55, further comprises a plurality of network access-related parameters, and further comprising selecting the network access-related parameter from the plurality of network access-related parameters based on the network access performance characteristic to be defined.

65. The at least one processor of claim 55, wherein the access scenario comprises at least one of a network access environment, a wireless device state, or a wireless network access scenario.

66. The at least one processor of claim 55, wherein the network access data comprises at least one of searcher information, finger assignment information, interoperability information, access channel information, dedicated paging channel information, forward traffic channel information, reverse traffic channel information, messaging information, system acquisition information, high speed packet data information, call type information, plain old telephone system information, 3-way calling information, call waiting information, voice mail information, authentication information, provisioning information, over-the-air parameter administration, Internet Protocol over-the-air information, short message service information, multimedia service information, or browser data information.