Methods and apparatus for monitoring configurable performance levels in a wireless device

• US 8,135,395 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2006
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Cassett, Tia Manning, Fok, Kenny, Yip, Eric Chi Chung
• Primary Examiner(s): Pérez-Gutiérrez, Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lau, Yungsang
• Application Number:
  US11/374,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20060217115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,192 Days
• Field of Search: 455423-425
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5009 Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5067 Customer-centric QoS measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0829 Packet loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/091 Measuring contribution of individual network components to actual service level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic

Abstract

Apparatus and methods may include a performance module operable to monitor and generate performance statistics on a wireless device based on a received monitoring configuration. In some aspects, the wireless device may forward the performance statistics to another device upon meeting predetermined threshold parameters. The performance statistics may be utilized to generate a performance report viewable by an authorized user.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring performance of a wireless device on a wireless network, comprising:

receiving at a wireless device a control command to execute a performance module on the wireless device to obtain performance statistics, wherein the control command comprises a user identifier and a control activity, wherein the user identifier identifies an originator of the control command;

generating a permission decision that determines whether or not to execute the control command, wherein the permission decision is based on a comparison of the user identifier and the control activity in the control command with a plurality of authorized user identifiers correlated to a plurality of authorized control permissions, wherein each control permission identifies at least one authorized control activity permitted to an authorized user, whereby unauthorized users are prohibited to perform one or more control activities on the mobile device;

obtaining on the wireless device a variable monitoring configuration if the permission decision determines that the control command is executable, wherein the variable monitoring configuration comprises a performance parameter selected from a plurality of performance parameters and a threshold setting selected from a plurality of threshold settings, the performance parameter associated with a performance statistic selected from a plurality of performance statistics to be monitored, the threshold setting comprising a limit corresponding to the performance statistic;

determining the performance statistic for the wireless device based upon the monitored performance parameter;

comparing the determined performance statistic to the corresponding threshold setting;

generating a notification if the determined performance statistic meets the threshold setting; and

forwarding wireless device performance-related data to another device via a limited-access communications channel across a wireless network based on a predefined limited service configuration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining on the wireless device a monitoring configuration comprises receiving a monitoring configuration from a remote device over the wireless network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining on the wireless device a monitoring configuration further comprises receiving at least one reporting parameter, and further comprising forwarding the determined performance statistic to another device across a wireless network based on the reporting parameter.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring configuration is selected from a plurality of monitoring configurations based on at least one of a type of the wireless device, an identity of a network service provider associated with the wireless device, and a type of communication protocol associated with the wireless device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the performance statistic for the wireless device further comprises determining at least one of a network-related performance statistic and a network independent performance statistic.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the performance statistic for the wireless device further comprises determining at least one of a call drop-related metric, an access failure-related metric and a service degradation-related metric.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the performance statistic for the wireless device further comprises retrieving at least one of over-the-air messages and wireless device call events.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the limited-access communications channel is not available to an end user of the wireless device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein forwarding wireless device performance-related data to another device comprises forwarding at least one of wireless device identifying information, the threshold setting, the monitoring configuration and performance statistic identifying information.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein forwarding the determined performance statistic further comprises forwarding the determined performance statistic based upon at least one of a predetermined schedule, a predetermined event, and a request by a remote device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the predetermined event includes the threshold setting.

44. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the control command further comprises receiving a wireless device identifier, and wherein generating the permission decision is further based on a comparison of the wireless device identifier, the user identifier and the control activity in the control command with a plurality of wireless device identifiers correlated to the plurality of authorized user identifiers and the plurality of authorized control permissions.

12. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

receiving at a wireless device a control command to execute a performance module on the wireless device to obtain performance statistics, wherein the control command comprises a user identifier and a control activity, wherein the user identifier identifies an originator of the control command;

generating a permission decision that determines whether or not to execute the control command, wherein the permission decision is based on a comparison of the user identifier and the control activity in the control command with a plurality of authorized user identifiers correlated to a plurality of authorized control permissions, wherein each control permission identifies at least one authorized control activity permitted to an authorized user, whereby unauthorized users are prohibited to perform one or more control activities on the mobile device;

obtaining on the wireless device a variable monitoring configuration if the permission decision determines that the control command is executable, wherein the variable monitoring configuration comprises a performance parameter and a threshold setting, the performance parameter associated with a performance statistic to be monitored, the threshold setting comprising a limit corresponding to the performance statistic;

determining the performance statistic for the wireless device based upon the monitored performance parameter;

comparing the determined performance statistic to the corresponding threshold setting;

generating a notification if the performance statistic meets the threshold setting; and

forwarding wireless device performance-related data to another device via a limited-access communications channel across a wireless network based on a predefined limited service configuration.

45. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 12, wherein receiving the control command further comprises receiving a wireless device identifier, and wherein generating the permission decision is further based on a comparison of the wireless device identifier, the user identifier and the control activity in the control command with a plurality of wireless device identifiers correlated to the plurality of authorized user identifiers and the plurality of authorized control permissions.

54. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the limited-access communications channel is not available to an end user of the wireless device.

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

receiving at a wireless device a control command to execute a performance module on the wireless device to obtain performance statistics, wherein the control command comprises a user identifier and a control activity, wherein the user identifier identifies an originator of the control command;

generating a permission decision that determines whether or not to execute the control command, wherein the permission decision is based on a comparison of the user identifier and the control activity in the control command with a plurality of authorized user identifiers correlated to a plurality of authorized control permissions, wherein each control permission identifies at least one authorized control activity permitted to an authorized user, whereby unauthorized users are prohibited to perform one or more control activities on the mobile device;

obtaining on the wireless device a variable monitoring configuration if the permission decision determines that the control command is executable, wherein the variable monitoring configuration comprises a performance parameter and a threshold setting, the performance parameter associated with a performance statistic to be monitored, the threshold setting comprising a limit corresponding to the performance statistic;

determining the performance statistic for the wireless device based upon the monitored performance parameter;

comparing the determined performance statistic to the corresponding threshold setting;

generating a notification if the performance statistic meets the threshold setting; and

forwarding wireless device performance-related data to another device via a limited-access communications channel across a wireless network based on a predefined limited service configuration.

46. The at least one processor of claim 13, wherein receiving the control command further comprises receiving a wireless device identifier, and wherein generating the permission decision is further based on a comparison of the wireless device identifier, the user identifier and the control activity in the control command with a plurality of wireless device identifiers correlated to the plurality of authorized user identifiers and the plurality of authorized control permissions.

55. The at least one processor of claim 13, wherein the limited-access communications channel is not available to an end user of the wireless device.

14. A wireless device, comprising:

means for receiving at a wireless device a control command to execute a performance module on the wireless device to obtain performance statistics, wherein the control command comprises a user identifier and a control activity, wherein the user identifier identifies an originator of the control command;

means for generating a permission decision that determines whether or not to execute the control command, wherein the permission decision is based on a comparison of the user identifier and the control activity in the control command with a plurality of authorized user identifiers correlated to a plurality of authorized control permissions, wherein each control permission identifies at least one authorized control activity permitted to an authorized user, whereby unauthorized users are prohibited to perform one or more control activities on the mobile device;

means for obtaining on the wireless device a variable monitoring configuration if the permission decision determines that the control command is executable, wherein the variable\monitoring configuration comprises a performance parameter and a threshold setting, the performance parameter associated with a performance statistic to be monitored, the threshold setting comprising a limit corresponding to the performance statistic;

means for determining the performance statistic for the wireless device based upon the monitored performance parameter;

means for comparing the determined performance statistic to the corresponding threshold setting;

means for generating a notification if the performance statistic meets the threshold setting; and

means for forwarding wireless device performance-related data to another device via a limited-access communications channel across a wireless network based on a predefined limited service configuration.

47. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the means for receiving the control command further comprises means for receiving a wireless device identifier, and wherein the means for generating the permission decision is further based on a comparison of the wireless device identifier, the user identifier and the control activity in the control command with a plurality of wireless device identifiers correlated to the plurality of authorized user identifiers and the plurality of authorized control permissions.

56. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the limited-access communications channel is not available to an end user of the wireless device.

15. A wireless device, comprising:

a memory comprising a received control command to obtain performance statistics, wherein the control command comprises a user identifier and a control activity, wherein the user identifier identifies an originator of the control command;

a processor;

a device control module executable by the processor, wherein the device control module comprises permission logic and a plurality of authorized user identifiers correlated to a plurality of authorized control permissions, wherein the permission logic is executable to generate a permission decision that determines whether or not to execute the control command, wherein the permission decision is based on a comparison of the user identifier and the control activity in the control command with the plurality of authorized user identifiers correlated to the plurality of authorized control permissions, wherein each control permission identifies at least one authorized control activity permitted to an authorized user, whereby unauthorized users are prohibited to perform one or more control activities on the wireless device; and

a performance module executable by the processor if the permission decision determines that the control command is executable, the performance module further comprising, wherein the performance module is further operable to establish a limited-access communications channel across a wireless network, wherein the limited-access communications channel is based on a predefined limited service configuration, and wherein the performance module is further operable to receive the monitoring configuration or transmit the performance statistic via the limited-access communications channel;

a monitoring configuration comprising a performance parameter and a predetermined threshold setting, the performance parameter associated with a performance statistic to be monitored, the predetermined threshold setting comprising a limit corresponding to the performance statistic;

monitoring logic operable to determine the performance statistic based upon the monitoring configuration; and

reporting logic operable to generate a notification message when the performance statistic meets the predetermined threshold setting.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the monitoring configuration is received by the wireless device from across the wireless network.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the performance statistic further comprises determining at least one of an air interface statistic and a non-air interface statistic.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the performance statistic further comprises determining at least one of a call drop-related metric, an access failure-related metric, and a service degradation-related metric.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the performance statistic further comprises information derived from at least one of over-the-air messages and wireless device call events.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the monitoring configuration further comprises a predetermined reporting parameter selected from a plurality of predetermined reporting parameters, wherein the performance module is further operable to transmit the performance statistic to another device based upon the predetermined reporting parameter.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the performance module is further operable to transmit the performance statistic across a wireless network.

22. The device of claim 15, wherein the monitoring configuration further comprises an access parameter that identifies which devices may access the performance module.

23. The device of claim 15, wherein the limited-access communications channel is not available to an end user of the device.

24. The device of claim 15, wherein the control command comprises at least one of a bootstrap command and a reset command, wherein the bootstrap command is operable to initiate a download of the monitoring configuration, and wherein the reset command resets performance statistics uploaded from the wireless device.

48. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the control command further comprises a wireless device identifier, wherein the device control module further comprises a plurality of wireless device identifiers correlated to the plurality of authorized user identifiers and the plurality of authorized control permissions, and wherein the permission decision is further based on a comparison of the wireless device identifier, the user identifier and the control activity in the control command with the plurality of wireless device identifiers correlated to the plurality of authorized user identifiers and the plurality of authorized control permissions.

25. A method of monitoring performance of a wireless device, comprising:

receiving a control command to execute a performance module on a wireless device to obtain performance statistics, wherein the control command comprises a user identifier and a control activity, wherein the user identifier identifies an originator of the control command;

generating a permission decision that determines whether or not the control command is authorized, wherein the permission decision is based on a comparison of the user identifier and the control activity in the control command with a plurality of authorized user identifiers correlated to a plurality of authorized control permissions, wherein each control permission identifies at least one authorized control activity permitted to an authorized user, whereby unauthorized users are prohibited to perform one or more control activities on the mobile device;

generating a monitoring configuration executable to initiate monitoring, calculating and reporting of at least one performance statistic on the wireless device if the permission decision determines that the control command is authorized, the monitoring configuration identifying a performance parameter;

forwarding the monitoring configuration for receipt by the wireless device;

receiving a calculated performance statistic from the wireless device based on the monitoring configuration;

generating a performance report based on the received performance statistic; and

forwarding wireless device performance-related data to another device via a limited-access communications channel across a wireless network based on a predefined limited service configuration.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein generating the monitoring configuration further comprises identifying a threshold parameter corresponding to the performance statistic, wherein generating a performance report further comprises generating a performance report when the calculated performance statistic received from the wireless device meets the threshold parameter.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein generating a performance report further includes generating a summary report of the calculated performance statistic based on a predetermined schedule.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein generating a monitoring configuration includes generating a monitoring configuration for monitoring at least one of a network performance-related statistic and a network independent device performance statistic.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein generating a monitoring configuration includes generating a monitoring configuration for monitoring at least one of a call drop-related metric, an access failure-related metric, and a service degradation-related metric.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising transmitting at least a portion of the performance report to another computer device.

31. The method of claim 25, further comprising presenting at least a portion of the performance report for viewing.

32. The method of claim 25, further comprising selecting the monitoring configuration from a plurality of monitoring configurations based on at least one of a type of the wireless device, an identity of a network service provider associated with the wireless device, and a communication protocol associated with the wireless device.

49. The method of claim 25, further comprising establishing a limited-access communications channel with the wireless device across a wireless network, wherein the limited-access communications channel is based on a predefined limited service configuration, wherein the limited-access communications channel is not available to an end user of the device, and wherein the forwarding of the monitoring configuration or receiving of the calculated performance statistic operates via the limited-access communications channel.

50. The method of claim 25, wherein receiving the control command further comprises receiving a wireless device identifier, and wherein generating the permission decision is further based on a comparison of the wireless device identifier, the user identifier and the control activity in the control command with a plurality of wireless device identifiers correlated to the plurality of authorized user identifiers and the plurality of authorized control permissions.

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

receiving a control command to execute a performance module on a wireless device to obtain performance statistics, wherein the control command comprises a user identifier and a control activity, wherein the user identifier identifies an originator of the control command;

generating a permission decision that determines whether or not the control command is authorized, wherein the permission decision is based on a comparison of the user identifier and the control activity in the control command with a plurality of authorized user identifiers correlated to a plurality of authorized control permissions, wherein each control permission identifies at least one authorized control activity permitted to an authorized user, whereby unauthorized users are prohibited to perform one or more control activities on the mobile device;

generating a monitoring configuration executable to initiate monitoring, calculating and reporting of at least one performance statistic on the wireless device if the permission decision determines that the control command is authorized, the monitoring configuration identifying a performance parameter;

forwarding the monitoring configuration for receipt by the wireless device;

receiving a calculated performance statistic from the wireless device based on the monitoring configuration;

generating a performance report based on the received performance statistic; and

forwarding wireless device performance-related data to another device via a limited-access communications channel across a wireless network based on a predefined limited service configuration.

51. The at least one processor of claim 33, wherein receiving the control command further comprises receiving a wireless device identifier, and wherein generating the permission decision is further based on a comparison of the wireless device identifier, the user identifier and the control activity in the control command with a plurality of wireless device identifiers correlated to the plurality of authorized user identifiers and the plurality of authorized control permissions.

34. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

receiving a control command to execute a performance module on a wireless device to obtain performance statistics, wherein the control command comprises a user identifier and a control activity, wherein the user identifier identifies an originator of the control command;

generating a permission decision that determines whether or not the control command is authorized, wherein the permission decision is based on a comparison of the user identifier and the control activity in the control command with a plurality of authorized user identifiers correlated to a plurality of authorized control permissions, wherein each control permission identifies at least one authorized control activity permitted to an authorized user, whereby unauthorized users are prohibited to perform one or more control activities on the mobile device;

generating a monitoring configuration executable to initiate monitoring, calculating and reporting of at least one performance statistic on the wireless device if the permission decision determines that the control command is authorized, the monitoring configuration identifying a performance parameter;

forwarding the monitoring configuration for receipt by the wireless device;

receiving a calculated performance statistic from the wireless device based on the monitoring configuration;

generating a performance report based on the received performance statistic; and

forwarding wireless device performance-related data to another device via a limited-access communications channel across a wireless network based on a predefined limited service configuration.

52. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 34, wherein receiving the control command further comprises receiving a wireless device identifier, and wherein generating the permission decision is further based on a comparison of the wireless device identifier, the user identifier and the control activity in the control command with a plurality of wireless device identifiers correlated to the plurality of authorized user identifiers and the plurality of authorized control permissions.

35. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a control command to execute a performance module on a wireless device to obtain performance statistics, wherein the control command comprises a user identifier and a control activity, wherein the user identifier identifies an originator of the control command;

means for generating a permission decision that determines whether or not the control command is authorized, wherein the permission decision is based on a comparison of the user identifier and the control activity in the control command with a plurality of authorized user identifiers correlated to a plurality of authorized control permissions, wherein each control permission identifies at least one authorized control activity permitted to an authorized user, whereby unauthorized users are prohibited to perform one or more control activities on the mobile device;

means for generating a monitoring configuration executable to initiate monitoring, calculating and reporting of at least one performance statistic on the wireless device if the permission decision determines that the control command is authorized, the monitoring configuration identifying a performance parameter;

means for forwarding the monitoring configuration for receipt by the wireless device;

means for receiving a calculated performance statistic from the wireless device based on the monitoring configuration;

means for generating a performance report based on the received performance statistic; and

means for forwarding wireless device performance-related data to another device via a limited-access communications channel across a wireless network based on a predefined limited service configuration.

53. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the means for receiving the control command further comprises means for receiving a wireless device identifier, and wherein the means for generating the permission decision is further based on a comparison of the wireless device identifier, the user identifier and the control activity in the control command with a plurality of wireless device identifiers correlated to the plurality of authorized user identifiers and the plurality of authorized control permissions.

36. An apparatus for managing the monitoring of performance data of a wireless device, comprising:

a memory comprising a received control command to obtain performance statistics from a wireless device, wherein the control command comprises a user identifier and a control activity, wherein the user identifier identifies an originator of the control command;

a processor;

a device control module executable by the processor, wherein the device control module comprises permission logic and a plurality of authorized user identifiers correlated to a plurality of authorized control permissions, wherein the permission logic is executable to generate a permission decision that determines whether or not the control command is authorized, wherein the permission decision is based on a comparison of the user identifier and the control activity in the control command with the plurality of authorized user identifiers correlated to the plurality of authorized control permissions, wherein each control permission identifies at least one authorized control activity permitted to an authorized user, whereby unauthorized users are prohibited to perform one or more control activities on the mobile device;

a configuration generator operable to generate and transmit a monitoring configuration for receipt by the wireless device if the permission decision determines that the control command is authorized, the monitoring configuration identifying a performance parameter;

an information repository operable to receive and store wireless device performance statistics, the wireless device performance statistics comprising statistics associated with the performance parameter collected by the wireless device based on the monitoring configuration; and

a performance manager control module comprising a report generator operable to generate a performance report based on the wireless device performance statistics, wherein the performance manager is operable to establish a limited-access communications channel with the wireless device across a wireless network, wherein the limited-access communications channel is based on a predefined limited service configuration, wherein the limited-access communications channel is not available to an end user of the device, and wherein the transmitting of the monitoring configuration or the receiving of the wireless device performance statistics is operable via the limited-access communications channel.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the monitoring configuration further comprises a predetermined threshold setting identifying a limit corresponding to the wireless device performance statistic, wherein the performance report comprises an exception report when the wireless device performance statistic meets the predefined threshold setting.

38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the performance manager control module is further operable to transmit at least a portion of the performance report across a wireless network for analysis.

39. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the performance manager control module is further operable to allow an authorized user to access the performance report.

40. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the device control module is further operable to send the control command to the wireless device if the permission decision determines that the control command is authorized.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the device control module is operable to receive the control command from another computer device located across a wireless network.

42. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the performance parameter identifies for monitoring at least one of a call drop-related metric, an access failure-related metric, and a service degradation-related metric.

43. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the control command further comprises a wireless device identifier, wherein the device control module further comprises a plurality of wireless device identifiers correlated to the plurality of authorized user identifiers and the plurality of authorized control permissions, and wherein the permission decision is further based on a comparison of the wireless device identifier, the user identifier and the control activity in the control command with the plurality of wireless device identifiers correlated to the plurality of authorized user identifiers and the plurality of authorized control permissions.