Mobile device validation

• US 9,749,884 B1
• Filed: 03/22/2016
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Cummings, Oscar
• Primary Examiner(s): Mizrahi, Diane
• Application Number:
  US15/077,838
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/045 for graphical visualisation of monitoring data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0823 Errors, e.g. transmission errors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

The disclosure relates to technology for managing signal distribution and lab resources in design validation environments that replicate a type of communication signal a consumer can experience on a wireless provider'"'"'s network. For example, the validation environment will enable engineers to test VoLTE (“Voice over Long-Term Evolution”) in an LTE (“Long-Term Evolution”) for various smart phone designs and other network-based signals from various hardware combinations and suppliers. Additionally, various embodiments of the present technology provide for an automation framework that allows for efficient management of signal distribution, resource allocation, scheduling, and more.

Claims

1. A system to validate a mobile device, comprising:

a collection of multiple base station transceivers capable of generating testing signals of different types upon demand,

wherein the collection of multiple base station transceivers includes at least two base station transceivers from different manufacturers;

a switching matrix configured to route signals generated by the collection of base station transceivers to a selected testing center within a validation environment; and

a validation platform communicably coupled to the collection of multiple base station transceivers and the switching matrix, the validation platform comprising;

a processor,

a memory,

a communications engine, under control of the processor, to receive requests to validate mobile device designs and requests from one or more computing devices,

wherein the requests include a request for a validation environment and test signal types;

a lab resource engine, under control of the processor, to identify the selected testing center by querying a database for available validation environments;

a testing signal engine, under control of the processor, to automatically cause the collection of multiple base station transceivers to generate a set of testing signals at a specific time and to cause the switching matrix to route the set of testing signals to the selected testing center.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a feedback loop configured to provide feedback from the selected testing center to the validation platform.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a case associated with the selected testing center, wherein the case is communicably coupled to the signal distribution panel and is configured to reduce external radio frequency noise and provide the set of testing signals within the case as routed through the signal distribution panel.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a database that includes data and meta data associated with the requests, the validation environments, the signal types, base station transceivers, and validation plans.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a design application running on a computing device that is communicably coupled to the validation platform,

wherein the validation platform includes a tracking engine, under control of the processor, to receive feedback from the validation environment and to provide validation progress to the design application.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the validation platform further comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) engine, under control of the processor, to provide a status of validation testing recently completed or in progress in a GUI.

7. A method for validating a mobile device design, the method comprising:

receiving, at a validation platform, a request to validate, by generating multiple testing signals in a validation environment, a mobile device design, the request submitted by a requestor through a design application running on a computing device communicably coupled to the validation platform,

wherein the multiple testing signals replicate wireless telecommunication signals a mobile device based on the mobile device design might experience;

wherein the mobile device based on the mobile device design is placed in the validation environment to receive the multiple testing signals; and

wherein the validation platform includes a database having entries stored thereon that maintain data and metadata for the request, availability of validation environments, and associated testing signals;

identifying, in response to receiving the request, an available validation environment capable of providing the multiple testing signals;

sending signal generation instructions to one or more transceivers to generate the multiple testing signals during a specified time period; and

sending routing instructions to a switch associated with the available validation environment to automatically route the multiple testing signals at the available validation environment during the specified time period.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the multiple testing signals include at least one of the following telecommunication signals types:

Long-Term Evolution (LTE);

LTE-unlicensed (LTE-U);

fourth or fifth generation (4G or 5G);

Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS);

Global System Mobile (GSM), GSM radio access network (GRAN), GSM Enhanced Data Rates Radio Access Network (GERAN), Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), or Evolved UTRAN (EUTRAN);

or

LTE Advanced.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

sending a reminder of the request to a user that a validation environment is available with a list of the multiple testing signals.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving feedback data from the available validation environment, wherein the feedback data includes an error found in a validation process;

updating the database to include the error; and

in response to the error, sending instructions to the switch to send another testing signal.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving feedback from a validation environment, wherein the feedback includes an indication that an error occurred in a testing signal; and

in response to error, sending instructions to a signal generation device and a switch to generate a new testing signal at the validation environment.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a machine to:

receive a request to validate a mobile device design from a design application;

based on the request, identify parameters associated with the request, wherein the parameters include testing signals and lab resources;

based on the parameters, generate, a validation plan that includes a protocol for validating the mobile device design;

execute the protocol to control a signal generation device and a switch to distribute signals to a validation environment; and

generate a graphical user interface (GUI) that displays a representation of the execution of the protocol.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the testing signals include at least one of the following telecommunication signal types:

Long-Term Evolution (LTE);

LTE-unlicensed signal (LTE-U);

fourth or fifth generation (4G or 5G);

Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS);

Global System Mobile (GSM), GSM radio access network (GRAN), GSM Enhanced Data rates Radio Access Network (GERAN), Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), or Evolved UTRAN (EUTRAN);

or

LTE Advanced.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions when executed by the one or more processors further cause the machine to:

maintain a database with the mobile device design, the protocol, and the distributed signals; and

transmit at least part of the data in the database to the design application.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions when executed by the one or more processors further cause the machine to:

generate a validation plan associated with the mobile device design, where the validation plan includes project name and email address of each engineer assigned to the project; and

transmit an electronic message to each of the engineers assigned to the project with the validation plan and tasks each engineer should complete for validation.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions when executed by the one or more processors further cause the machine to:

receive feedback from a validation environment, where the feedback indicates an additional testing signal not included in the validation plan is requested;

determine that the additional testing signal fits within the protocol; and

add the additional testing signal for executing the protocol.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions when executed by the one or more processors further cause the machine to:

determine that a mobile device design failed to be validated for based on a testing signal; and

resend instructions to the switch to generate the testing signal associated with a failed validation.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions when executed by the one or more processors further cause the machine to receive an input from the GUI that indicates that the protocol be overridden based on input from an engineer.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the GUI indicates the progress of validation plan.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the GUI provides alerts that validation is complete or alerts that an error has occurred in the validation protocol.