Performing diagnostics in a wireless system

• US 8,260,285 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2005
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ST-Ericcson SA (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: ST-Ericcson SA (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Anderton, David O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
• Application Number:
  US11/152,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20060281452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,639 Days
• Field of Search: 455/425, 455/423, 455/550.1, 455/557, 455/67.11, 455/67.7, 455/115.1, 455/115.4, 455/226.1
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/24 Arrangements for testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

In one embodiment, the present invention includes an apparatus for permitting diagnostic testing of a wireless device. The apparatus may include a first switch to route diagnostic information or acoustic information received from a processor of the device, a codec coupled to the first switch to code the routed diagnostic information or acoustic information, and a second switch coupled to the codec to route the coded diagnostic information to a first port of the wireless device and to route the coded acoustic information to the first port or a second port of the wireless device.

Claims

1. A handset comprising:

a processor configured to perform a diagnostic routine for diagnostic testing of the handset wherein the diagnostic routine generates diagnostic trace information and processes acoustic trace information;

a first switch adapted to selectively route the diagnostic trace information or the acoustic trace information received from the processor of the handset, the diagnostic trace information generated in the processor and the acoustic trace information processed in the processor;

a codec coupled to the first switch to code the routed trace diagnostic information into coded diagnostic information or to code the routed acoustic trace information received from the processor into coded acoustic information; and

a second switch coupled to the codec to selectively route the coded diagnostic information to a bidirectional external acoustic port and to selectively route the coded acoustic information to the bidirectional external acoustic port wherein the bidirectional external acoustic port receives control information to cause the processor to generate the coded diagnostic information and wherein during diagnostic testing audio is forced through the bidirectional external acoustic port disabling real audio capabilities of the bidirectional external acoustic port.

2. The handset of claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a digital signal processor having a diagnostic port driver and an acoustic port driver.

3. The handset of claim 2, further comprising a modem coupled between the diagnostic port driver and the first switch to modulate the trace diagnostic information.

4. The handset of claim 3, further comprising a single integrated circuit including the first and second switches, the codec and the modem, and wherein the modem comprises a soft modem of the digital signal processor.

5. In a wireless handset, a method comprising:

generating diagnostic information in a digital signal processor (DSP) on a single integrated circuit in the wireless handset during a wireless handset diagnostic test, the diagnostic information comprising diagnostic trace information;

switching a first switch to route the diagnostic trace information to a modem, the first switch and the modem being on the single integrated circuit;

modulating the diagnostic trace information by the modem;

coding the modulated diagnostic trace information by a codec, the codec being on the single integrated circuit; and

selectively providing the modulated diagnostic trace information to an external acoustic port of the wireless handset, wherein during generation of diagnostic information real audio capabilities of the external acoustic port are disabled; and

forwarding the diagnostic information to a data collection unit directly from the external acoustic port.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising transmitting control signals to the handset from the data collection unit, the control signals to initiate a diagnostic mode in the handset.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

generating physical layer diagnostic information in the digital signal processor of the handset;

modulating and coding the physical layer diagnostic information; and

providing the modulated and coded physical layer diagnostic information to the external acoustic port.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising buffering the diagnostic information in the handset.

9. A handset comprising:

an integrated circuit, the single integrated circuit comprising;

a processor comprising a digital signal processor having a diagnostic port driver and an acoustic port driver, the processor configured to perform a diagnostic routine for diagnostic testing of the handset wherein the diagnostic routine generates diagnostic trace information and processes acoustic trace information;

a first switch to route the diagnostic trace information or the acoustic trace information received from the processor of the handset, the diagnostic trace information generated in the processor and the acoustic trace information processed in the processor;

a modem coupled between the diagnostic port driver and the first switch to modulate the diagnostic information;

a codec coupled to the first switch to code the routed trace diagnostic information or acoustic trace information received from the processor into coded diagnostic information or coded acoustic trace information respectively; and

a second switch coupled to the codec to selectively route the coded diagnostic information to a bidirectional external acoustic port and to selectively route the coded acoustic information to the bidirectional external acoustic port wherein the bidirectional external acoustic port receives control information to cause the processor to generate the coded diagnostic information and wherein during diagnostic testing real audio capabilities of the bidirectional external acoustic port are disabled.

10. The handset of claim 9, wherein the diagnostic information comprises physical layer information obtained from the processor, the processor comprising a digital signal processor including the first switch.

11. The handset of claim 9, wherein the apparatus comprises an unmodified production cellular handset, and wherein the first port comprises an external acoustic port and the second port comprises an internal acoustic port.

12. A mobile device comprising:

an integrated circuit comprising;

a digital signal processor (DSP) to process audio communications adapted to perform a diagnostic routine to generate diagnostic information and process acoustic information for diagnostic testing of the mobile device, the DSP having a data port and a diagnostic port, the DSP including a first switch coupled to provide a path to the diagnostic port or the data port;

a modem coupled between the diagnostic port of the DSP and the first switch;

an internal audio port coupled to the first switch to communicate audio data with the DSP;

an external audio port coupled to the first switch to communicate diagnostic information between the DSP and a data collector during a diagnostic procedure and wherein during the diagnostic procedure an audio path is forced through the external audio port such that during the diagnostic procedure real audio capability of the external audio port is disabled; and

a second switch coupled between the first switch and the external audio port to provide a path between the modem and the data collector during the diagnostic procedure.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the external audio port comprises a bidirectional port adapted to provide control information from the data collector to the mobile device and adapted to provide the diagnostic information to the data collector.

14. A mobile communication handset comprising:

a processor adapted to comprise a diagnostic port driver and an acoustic port driver, the processor being configured to perform diagnostic testing of the mobile communication handset wherein the diagnostic testing generates diagnostic trace information, the processor being further configured to processes audio data information;

a first switch to route the diagnostic trace information or the audio data information received from the processor of the handset;

a modem coupled between the diagnostic port driver and the first switch, the modem adapted to modulate the diagnostic trace information;

a codec selectively coupled to the modem, the codec adapted to code the modulated diagnostic trace information or the audio data information into coded information;

a second switch coupled to the codec to selectively route the coded information to a bidirectional external acoustic port and a bidirectional internal acoustic port wherein the bidirectional external acoustic port is adapted to receive control information to cause the processor to generate the coded diagnostic information and wherein during diagnostic testing, coded diagnostic test information is forced through the bidirectional external acoustic port disabling real audio capabilities of the bidirectional external acoustic port;

wherein a single integrated circuit comprises the first and second switches, the codec and the modem.

15. The mobile communication handset of claim 14, wherein the processor is adapted to comprise the modem as a soft modem.

16. The mobile communication handset of claim 14, wherein the diagnostic trace information comprises acoustic trace information.

17. The mobile device of claim 16, further comprising a modem coupled between the diagnostic port of the DSP and the first switch.

18. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein the modem comprises a soft modem.

19. A mobile device comprising:

a digital signal processor (DSP) for processing acoustic information being further adapted to perform a diagnostic routine to generate diagnostic information for use in diagnostic testing of the mobile device, the DSP having a data port and a diagnostic port;

a first switch selectively coupled to the diagnostic port or the data port;

a modem adapted to be coupled between the diagnostic port of the DSP and the first switch;

an internal acoustic port adapted to coupled to the first switch to communicate audio data with the DSP;

an external acoustic port adapted to selectively couple to the first switch to communicate diagnostic information between the DSP and a data collector during a diagnostic procedure, wherein during the diagnostic procedure a real audio capability of the external audio port is disabled;

a second switch adapted to be selectively coupled between the first switch and the external acoustic port to provide a path between the diagnostic port and the data collector during the diagnostic procedure.

20. The mobile device of claim 19, wherein a single integrated circuit comprises the DSP, the first switch, the second switch and the modem.