Diagnostic monitoring by a wireless device

• US 9,066,316 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2008
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: James, Justin, Hudak, Charles, Menna, Randall G., Rittberg, Howard, Secades, Marcos
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): KHIRODHAR, MAHARISHI V
• Application Number:
  US12/272,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20090135731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,408 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 455/458
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/12 Inter-network notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

Techniques for monitoring radio and network conditions to improve performance for a wireless device are described. A diagnostic monitoring module may receive diagnostic messages from a modem via a diagnostic interface at the wireless device. The module may process (e.g., parse) the diagnostic messages to obtain network status information indicative of the status of a radio network. The module may provide the network status information to an application for use to control communication with the radio network. The module may also process the diagnostic messages to obtain diagnostic information indicative of the performance of a radio connection or a data session or both for the wireless device. The module may send the diagnostic information to a network server for network monitoring, debugging, etc.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

receiving, by a diagnostic monitoring module on a wireless mobile device, diagnostic messages from a modem of the wireless mobile device via a first interface;

processing, by the diagnostic monitoring module, the diagnostic messages to obtain a set of parameters, wherein the processing of the diagnostic messages includes providing network status information via a second interface to an application running on the wireless mobile device, wherein the application uses the network status information to control communication with a radio network;

generating, by the diagnostic monitoring module, a data block comprising a dictionary and a set of records, the dictionary comprising a set of field codes for the set of parameters, the set of records comprising parameter values for the set of field codes defined in the dictionary; and

sending the data block from the wireless mobile device to a network server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing of the diagnostic messages further comprises:

parsing the diagnostic messages to obtain designated parameters for the network status information indicative of a status of the radio network; and

determining the network status information based on the designated parameters for the radio network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the network status information comprises at least one of a bar value indicative of received signal strength for the radio network, a roaming bit indicator (RBI), an indication of radio technology of the radio network, and system time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing the diagnostic messages to obtain device status information indicative of a status of the wireless mobile device; and

providing the device status information to the application running on the wireless mobile device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the device status information comprises at least one of an Electronic Serial Number (ESN), a Mobile Directory Number (MDN), a modem version, and a Preferred Roaming List (PRL) version for the wireless mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a command request message for at least one parameter to the modem, and wherein the receiving diagnostic messages comprises receiving a command response message with the at least one parameter.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending at least one configuration message to the modem to configure the modem to send log messages, and wherein receiving the diagnostic messages comprises receiving the log messages sent by the modem as configured by the at least one configuration message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the diagnostic messages further comprises receiving the diagnostic messages via a diagnostic interface used by the modem to provide parameters for testing functionalities of the modem, and wherein the second interface comprises Application Programming Interfaces.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the application an Application Programming Interface requesting a parameter for the network status information; and

providing the requested parameter to the application.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the network status information is used by the application to determine whether to activate a service and to select the radio network for the service if activated.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

defining the dictionary based on the set of parameters to report in the data block; and

assigning a different field code to each parameter in the set of parameters.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing the diagnostic messages to obtain the parameter values for designated parameters in the set of parameters, the designated parameters being indicative of performance of at least one of a radio connection or a data session for the wireless mobile device.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a start message to initiate a reporting session with the network server; and

receiving from the network server a reply message accepting the reporting session, wherein the data block is generated and sent during the reporting session.

14. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one processor of a wireless mobile device configured to;

receive, by a diagnostic monitoring module on the wireless mobile device, diagnostic messages from a modem of the wireless mobile device via a first interface;

process, by the diagnostic monitoring module, the diagnostic messages to obtain a set of parameters, wherein to process the diagnostic messages the at least one processor is further configured to provide network status information via a second interface to an application running on the wireless mobile device, wherein the application uses the network status information to control communication with a radio network;

generate, by the diagnostic monitoring module, a data block comprising a dictionary and a set of records, the dictionary comprising a set of field codes for the set of parameters, the set of records comprising parameter values for the set of field codes defined in the dictionary; and

send the data block from the wireless mobile device to a network server.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

parse the diagnostic messages to obtain designated parameters for the network status information indicative of a status of the radio network; and

determine the network status information based on the designated parameters for the radio network.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

process the diagnostic messages to obtain device status information indicative of a status of the wireless mobile device; and

provide the device status information to the application running on the wireless mobile device.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

define the dictionary based on the set of parameters to report in the data block; and

assign a different field code to each parameter in the set of parameters.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to process the diagnostic messages to obtain the parameter values for designated parameters in the set of parameters, the designated parameters being-indicative of performance of at least one of a radio connection or a data session for the wireless mobile device.

19. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving, on a wireless mobile device, diagnostic messages from a modem of the wireless mobile device via a first interface;

means for processing, on the wireless mobile device, the diagnostic messages to obtain a set of parameters, wherein the means processing of the diagnostic messages includes means for providing network status information via a second interface to an application running on the wireless mobile device, wherein the application uses the network status information to control communication with a radio network;

means for generating, on the wireless mobile device, a data block comprising a dictionary and a set of records, the dictionary comprising a set of field codes for the set of parameters, the set of records comprising parameter values for the set of field codes defined in the dictionary; and

means for sending the data block from the wireless mobile device to a network server.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for processing the diagnostic messages further comprises:

means for parsing the diagnostic messages to obtain designated parameters for the network status information indicative of a status of the radio network; and

means for determining the network status information based on the designated parameters for the radio network.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

means for processing the diagnostic messages to obtain device status information indicative of a status of the wireless mobile device; and

means for providing the device status information to the application running on the wireless mobile device.

22. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable code for wireless communication at a wireless mobile device, comprising:

code executable to cause the wireless mobile device to receive diagnostic messages, by a diagnostic monitoring module on a wireless mobile device, from a modem of the wireless mobile device via a first interface;

code executable to cause the wireless mobile device to process, by the diagnostic monitoring module, the diagnostic messages to obtain a set of parameters, wherein the code executable to cause the wireless mobile device to process the diagnostic messages includes code to provide network status information via a second interface to an application running on the wireless mobile device, wherein the application uses the network status information to control communication with a radio network;

code executable to cause the wireless mobile device to generate, by the diagnostic monitoring module, a data block comprising a dictionary and a set of records, the dictionary comprising a set of field codes for the set of parameters, the set of records comprising parameter values for the set of field codes defined in the dictionary; and

code for causing the at least one computer to send the data block from the wireless mobile device to a network server.

23. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

receiving, by a diagnostic monitoring module on a wireless mobile device, diagnostic messages from a modem of the wireless mobile device via a first interface;

processing, by the diagnostic monitoring module, the diagnostic messages to obtain a set of parameters and diagnostic information indicative of performance of at least one of a radio connection or a data session for the wireless mobile device, wherein the processing of the diagnostic messages includes providing network status information via a second interface to an application running on the wireless mobile device, wherein the application uses the network status information to control communication with a radio network;

generating, by the diagnostic monitoring module, a data block comprising a dictionary and a set of records, the dictionary comprising a set of field codes for the set of parameters, the set of records comprising parameter values for the set of field codes defined in the dictionary;

parsing the diagnostic messages to obtain the parameter values in the set of records; and

sending the data block from the wireless mobile device to a network server for network monitoring and debugging.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

sending at least one configuration message to the modem to configure the modem to send log messages, the at least one configuration message defining at least one of specific log messages to send, parameters to send in the log messages, and conditions for sending the log messages, and wherein the receiving of the diagnostic messages comprises receiving the log messages sent by the modem as configured by the at least one configuration message.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

sending at least one configuration message to the modem to configure the modem to send event messages, each event message being sent when triggered by an associated event, and wherein the receiving of the diagnostic messages comprises receiving the event messages sent by the modem as configured by the at least one configuration message.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein processing the diagnostic messages further comprises:

parsing the diagnostic messages to obtain designated parameters and to discard remaining parameters in the diagnostic messages; and

storing the designated parameters in a buffer.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

generating a report comprising a stored set of parameters stored in the buffer, the stored set of parameters forming the diagnostic information; and

sending the report to the network server.

28. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one processor of a wireless mobile device configured to;

receive, by a diagnostic monitoring module on a wireless mobile device, diagnostic messages from a modem of the wireless mobile device via a first interface;

process, by the diagnostic monitoring module, the diagnostic messages to obtain a set of parameters and diagnostic information indicative of performance of at least one of a radio connection or a data session for the wireless mobile device, wherein the processing of the diagnostic messages includes providing network status information via a second interface to an application running on the wireless mobile device, wherein the application uses the network status information to control communication with a radio network;

generate, by the diagnostic monitoring module, a data block comprising a dictionary and a set of records, the dictionary comprising a set of field codes for the set of parameters, the set of records comprising parameter values for the set of field codes defined in the dictionary; and

send the data block from the wireless mobile device to a network server for network monitoring and debugging.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send at least one configuration message to the modem to configure the modem to send log messages, and to receive the log messages sent by the modem as configured by the at least one configuration message, the at least one configuration message defining at least one of specific event messages to send, parameters to send in the log messages, and conditions for sending the log messages.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send at least one configuration message to the modem to configure the modem to send event messages, each event message being sent when triggered by an associated event, and to receive the event messages sent by the modem as configured by the at least one configuration message.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one processor is configured to parse the diagnostic messages to obtain designated parameters and to discard remaining parameters in the diagnostic messages, and to store the designated parameters in a buffer.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

generate a report comprising a stored set of parameters stored in the buffer, the stored set of parameters forming the diagnostic information, and

send the report to the network server.