Method and apparatus for monitoring and adjusting multiple communication services at a venue

• US 9,351,182 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2014
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Elliott, Shane Michael, Gandhi, Mehul, Tidwell, Ryan, Bolloju, Sreekanth, Dravid, Ravindra, Chakrabarty, Shoubha, Kaveeshwar, Amol
• Primary Examiner(s): CHO, HONG SOL
• Application Number:
  US14/319,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20150382212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, initiating first and second groups of communication sessions according to testing criteria where the first group of communication sessions is established via a local area wireless access technology utilizing the distributed antenna system and the second group of communication sessions is established via the second radio access technology utilizing the distributed antenna system, and measuring performance data for the first and second groups of communication sessions according to the testing criteria. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A probe device, comprising:

a first wireless interface enabling communications via a first local area wireless access technology;

a second wireless interface enabling communications via a second radio access technology;

a processor coupled with the first and second wireless interfaces; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising;

receiving testing criteria from a management portal server;

initiating first and second groups of communication sessions according to the testing criteria, the first group of communication sessions being established via the first local area wireless access technology utilizing a distributed antenna system, and the second group of communication sessions being established via the second radio access technology utilizing the distributed antenna system;

measuring performance data for the first and second groups of communication sessions according to the testing criteria;

storing the performance data in the memory responsive to a determination of a failure of a communications connection with a network server;

monitoring for a restoration of the communications connection with the network server; and

responsive to a detection of the restoration of the communications connection with the network server, providing the performance data to the network server to enable adjustment of the distributed antenna system, adjustment of a network providing communication services to a first location where the probe device is positioned, or a combination thereof.

2. The probe device of claim 1, wherein the first and second groups of communication sessions comprise a voice call, messaging, a data upload, and a data download.

3. The probe device of claim 2, wherein the operations further comprise identifying a testing schedule from the testing criteria, wherein the initiating of the first and second groups of communication sessions is according to the testing schedule.

4. The probe device of claim 2, comprising:

a single hardwire interface enabling the providing of the performance data to the network server, wherein the probe device receives power via the single hardwire interface, and wherein the operations further comprise;

receiving command signals via the single hardwire interface; and

adjusting operations of the probe device according to the command signals.

5. The probe device of claim 1, wherein the providing of the performance data to the network server enables adjustment of network parameters for the network providing communication services to the first location where the probe device is positioned.

6. The probe device of claim 1, wherein at least some of the first group of communication sessions overlap in time with at least some of the second group of communication sessions.

7. The probe device of claim 1, comprising:

a third wireless interface enabling communications via a third radio access technology, wherein the operations further comprise;

initiating a third group of communication sessions according to the testing criteria, the third group of communication sessions via the third radio access technology utilizing the distributed antenna system, wherein the performance data is measured for the third group of communication sessions according to the testing criteria.

8. The probe device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving an upgrade command from the management portal server; and

adjusting the executable instructions according to the upgrade command to generate adjusted executable instructions.

9. The probe device of claim 8,

wherein the adjusted executable instructions, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of adjusted operations, comprising:

initiating fourth and fifth groups of communication sessions, the fourth group of communication sessions via the first local area wireless access technology utilizing the distributed antenna system, and the fifth group of communication sessions via the second radio access technology utilizing the distributed antenna system;

measuring adjusted performance data for the fourth and fifth groups of communication sessions; and

providing the adjusted performance data to the network server to enable adjustment of the distributed antenna system, adjustment of the network providing communication services to the first location where the probe device is positioned, or a combination thereof.

10. The probe device of claim 1, comprising:

a housing that encloses the first wireless interface, the second wireless interface, the processor, and the memory, wherein the housing includes a connection structure for affixing the probe device at a second location that is provided communication services via the distributed antenna system; and

a visual indicator that provides a visual indication representing operational status of the processor.

11. The probe device of claim 1, wherein the measuring of the performance data for the first and second groups of communication sessions comprises establishing a separate thread for each of the first wireless interface and the second wireless interface.

12. The probe device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a recover command from the management portal server;

adjusting an IP address associated with the probe device responsive to the recover command; and

providing, to a second probe device, recover instructions to be executed by the second probe device responsive to a failure of the second probe device, wherein the providing of the recover instructions is facilitated by the adjusting of the IP address, wherein the second probe device is located at a same venue as the probe device, and wherein the providing of the recover instructions enables the second probe device to measure other performance data for other groups of communication sessions initiated by the second probe device.

13. A method comprising:

receiving, by a system including a processor, performance data from a probe device, the performance data being for first and second groups of communication sessions initiated by the probe device, the performance data being measured according to testing criteria, the first group of communication sessions being established via a local area wireless access technology utilizing a distributed antenna system, and the second group of communication sessions being established via a second radio access technology utilizing the distributed antenna system;

analyzing, by the system, the performance data;

adjusting, by the system, the distributed antenna system, a network providing communication services to a location where the probe device is positioned, or a combination thereof, wherein the adjusting is based on the analyzing of the performance data;

providing, by the system, an upgrade command to the probe device to cause the probe device to generate adjusted executable instructions for initiating third and fourth groups of communication sessions, the third group of communication sessions being established via the local area wireless access technology utilizing the distributed antenna system, and the fourth group of communication sessions being established via the second radio access technology utilizing the distributed antenna system;

receiving, by the system from the probe device, adjusted performance data for the third and fourth groups of communication sessions that is measured by the probe device according to the adjusted executable instructions;

analyzing, by the system, the adjusted performance data; and

further adjusting, by the system, the distributed antenna system, the network providing communication services to the location where the probe device is positioned, or a combination thereof, wherein the further adjusting is based on the analyzing of the adjusted performance data.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second groups of communication sessions comprise a voice call, messaging, a data upload, a data download or a combination thereof, wherein the system includes a testing server, and wherein the testing server monitors activation of radio module identifications of the probe device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the first and second groups of communication sessions overlap in time, wherein the system includes a management portal server, and further comprising:

providing, from the management portal server, testing criteria to the probe device, wherein the testing criteria includes a testing schedule and types of tests to be performed by the probe device to obtain the performance data.

16. The method of claim 13, comprising:

providing, by the system, a first recover command to the probe device to cause the probe device to adjust a first IP address associated with the probe device.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising:

providing, by the system, a second recover command to a second probe device to cause the second probe device to power cycle, to adjust a second IP address associated with the second probe device, and to obtain recover instructions from the probe device to be executed by the second probe device responsive to a failure of the second probe device, wherein providing of the recover instructions between the probe device and the second probe device is facilitated by the adjusting of the first and second IP addresses, wherein the probe device is located at a same venue as the second probe device, and wherein the providing of the recover instructions enables the second probe device to measure second performance data for other groups of communication sessions initiated by the second probe device utilizing the distributed antenna system.

18. A machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a probe device, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:

initiating, by a first wireless interface of the probe device, a first group of communication sessions according to testing criteria, the first group of communication sessions being established via a local area wireless access technology utilizing a distributed antenna system;

initiating, by a second wireless interface of the probe device, a second group of communication sessions according to the testing criteria, the second group of communication sessions being established via a second radio access technology utilizing the distributed antenna system;

establishing a first thread for the first wireless interface and a second thread for the second wireless interface;

measuring first performance data for the first group of communication sessions according to the testing criteria utilizing the first thread;

measuring second performance data for the second group of communication sessions according to the testing criteria utilizing the second thread;

providing the first and second performance data to a network server to enable adjustment of the distributed antenna system, adjustment of a network providing communication services to a location where the probe device is positioned, or a combination thereof;

receiving a recover command from a management portal server;

adjusting an IP address associated with the probe device responsive to the recover command; and

providing, to a second probe device, recover instructions to be executed by the second probe device responsive to a failure of the second probe device, wherein the providing of the recover instructions is facilitated by the adjusting of the IP address, wherein the second probe device is located at a same venue as the probe device, and wherein the providing of the recover instructions enables the second probe device to measure other performance data for other groups of communication sessions initiated by the second probe device utilizing the distributed antenna system.

19. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving the testing criteria from the management portal server, wherein the first and second groups of communication sessions comprise a voice call, messaging, a data upload, and a data download.

20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving command signals via a hardwire interface of the probe device; and

adjusting operations of the probe device according to the command signals.