APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING NETWORK ACCESS PERFORMANCE OF A WIRELESS DEVICE

• US 20100296409A1
• Filed: 08/03/2010
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Manning Cassett, Tia, Hwang, Jihyun, Fok, Kenny
• Granted Patent: US 8,494,452 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

Apparatus, methods, processors and computer readable media for determining the wireless network access performance or capability of a wireless device. Embodiments include a wireless device having a computer platform with a processing engine operable to generate a plurality of network access performance data during processing activities on the wireless device. The wireless device further includes a network access performance module operable to collect selected ones of the plurality of network access data associated with a predetermined data processing capability of the wireless device, and based on a predetermined collection configuration. The embodiments may also include an apparatus operable to generate the predetermined collection configuration, and operable to receive the collected network access data and to generate a performance report characterizing the network access performance or capability of the wireless device.

Claims

1. A wireless device, comprising:

a communication hardware module operable to receive an access data collection configuration identifying test data and at least one of a plurality of network access data to collect;

a simulator module operable to execute the test data to simulate an access scenario to generate the at least one of the plurality of network access data; and

a network access performance module operable to collect the at least one of the plurality of network access data based on the access data collection configuration, wherein the at least one of the plurality of network access data corresponds to a network access characteristic of the wireless device during the access scenario.

2. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the access data collection configuration is received from across a wireless network.

3. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of network access data comprises at least one of a network access related event, a protocol-related access message, an access channel message, a Radio Resource Control message, a non-access station message, a number of access probe sequences, an acknowledgement timeout from an access channel message, a randomization for access channel probe time, access channel message capsule information, or a power level change for an access probe attempt.

4. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of network access data comprises at least one of position/location information, diagnostic information, a state of a device component during a network access attempt by the wireless device, or a statistic or state associated with non-access-related processing occurring on the wireless device during the network access attempt.

5. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the network access performance module is further operable to selectively initiate transmission of the collected network access data to another computer device based on the access data collection configuration.

6. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the network access performance module is further operable to initiate transmission of the collected network access data across a wireless network.

7. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the network access performance module is further operable to receive a new device operational configuration operable to change a selected network access characteristic of the wireless device, wherein the new device operational configuration is based on the collected network access data.

8. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein the network access performance module is further operable to receive the new device operational configuration from across a wireless network.

9. The wireless device of claim 1, further comprising a test program, wherein the simulator module is operable to execute the test program and the test data to generate the at least one of the plurality of network access data.

10. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the access data collection configuration further comprises a tracking parameter selected from a plurality of tracking parameters and a reporting parameter selected from a plurality of reporting parameters, and wherein the network access performance module collects the identified network access data based on the tracking parameter, and further selectively initiates transmission of the collected network access data based on the reporting parameter.

11. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of network access data comprises at least one of searcher information, finger assignment information, interoperability information, access channel information, dedicated paging channel information, forward traffic channel information, reverse traffic channel information, messaging information, system acquisition information, high speed packet data information, call type information, plain old telephone system information, 3-way calling information, call waiting information, voice mail information, authentication information, provisioning information, over-the-air parameter administration, Internet Protocol over-the-air information, short message service information, multimedia service information, or browser data information.

12. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the access scenario comprises at least one of a network access environment, a wireless device state, and a wireless network access scenario.

13. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of network access data comprises at least one of call access-related data, Internet access-related data, text messaging access-related data, or video conferencing access-related data.

14. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the access data collection configuration further comprises a network access-related parameter, wherein the network access-related parameter comprises one of a plurality of network access-related parameters based on the network access characteristic.

15. A wireless device, comprising:

means for receiving an access data collection configuration identifying test data and at least one of a plurality of network access data to collect;

means for executing the test data to simulate an access scenario to generate the at least one of the plurality of network access data; and

means for collecting the at least one of the plurality of network access data based on the access data collection configuration, wherein the at least one of the plurality of network access data corresponds to a network access characteristic of the wireless device during the access scenario.

16. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the access data collection configuration is received from across a wireless network.

17. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of network access data comprises at least one of a network access related event, a protocol-related access message, an access channel message, a Radio Resource Control message, a non-access station message, a number of access probe sequences, an acknowledgement timeout from an access channel message, a randomization for access channel probe time, access channel message capsule information, or a power level change for an access probe attempt.

18. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of network access data comprises at least one of position/location information, diagnostic information, a state of a device component during a network access attempt by the wireless device, or a statistic or state associated with non-access-related processing occurring on the wireless device during the network access attempt.

19. The wireless device of claim 15, further comprising means for selectively initiating transmission of the collected network access data to another computer device based on the access data collection configuration.

20. The wireless device of claim 15, further comprising means for initiating transmission of the collected network access data across a wireless network.

21. The wireless device of claim 15, further comprising means for receiving a new device operational configuration operable to change a selected network access characteristic of the wireless device, wherein the new device operational configuration is based on the collected network access data.

22. The wireless device of claim 21, wherein the means for receiving a new device operational configuration is further operable to receive the new device operational configuration from across a wireless network.

23. The wireless device of claim 15, further comprising a test program, wherein the means for executing the test data is further operable to execute the test program to generate the at least one of the plurality of network access data.

24. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the access data collection configuration further comprises a tracking parameter selected from a plurality of tracking parameters and a reporting parameter selected from a plurality of reporting parameters, and wherein the means for collecting collects the identified network access data based on the tracking parameter, and further selectively initiates transmission of the collected network access data based on the reporting parameter.

25. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of network access data comprises at least one of searcher information, finger assignment information, interoperability information, access channel information, dedicated paging channel information, forward traffic channel information, reverse traffic channel information, messaging information, system acquisition information, high speed packet data information, call type information, plain old telephone system information, 3-way calling information, call waiting information, voice mail information, authentication information, provisioning information, over-the-air parameter administration, Internet Protocol over-the-air information, short message service information, multimedia service information, or browser data information.

26. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the access scenario comprises at least one of a network access environment, a wireless device state, or a wireless network access scenario.

27. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of network access data comprises at least one of call access-related data, Internet access-related data, text messaging access-related data, or video conferencing access-related data.

28. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the access data collection configuration further comprises a network access-related parameter, wherein the network access-related parameter comprises one of a plurality of network access-related parameters based on the network access characteristic.

29. A method of determining a network access performance of a wireless device, comprising:

generating, at a processor, and transmitting an access data collection configuration across a wireless network to a wireless device having a communication module and a simulator module, the access data collection configuration comprising a network access-related parameter and test data, wherein the test data is executable by a simulator module on the wireless device to simulate an access scenario, wherein the network access-related parameter defines network access data to retrieve from a computer platform integrated within the wireless device, wherein the network access data corresponds to a network access characteristic of the wireless device during the access scenario; and

receiving and storing the network access data generated by execution of the test data on the wireless device and collected from the computer platform of the wireless device.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising generating and transmitting a network access-related test that is executable with the test data by the simulator module of the wireless device.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising generating a tracking parameter and a reporting parameter each associated with the network access-related parameter, the tracking parameter defining to when to collect the network access data and the reporting parameter defining when to transmit the collected network access data.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising comparing the collected network access data to an access performance standard to generate the network access characteristic of the wireless device.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising generating an optimal device configuration for the wireless device based on the received network access data, wherein the optimal device configuration is executable by the wireless device to optimize the network access characteristic.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising selecting the network access-related parameter from a plurality of network access-related parameters.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the collected network access data comprises at least one of a power level change for an access probe attempt, a base station parameter, an air interface parameter, a handoff parameter, a power control parameter, a registration parameter, an authentication parameter, a service redirection parameter, roaming information, a message driven indicator, application interface information, field test information, termination information, signal origination information, signal maintenance information, radio frequency information, a receive parameter, a sensitivity parameter, an isolated magnetic dipole parameter, a self-jamming parameter, a transmit parameter, a waveform quality parameter, broadband information, digital signal processing information, signal acquisition information, or soft handoff information.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the collected network access data further comprises information relating to at least one of a state of a device component or a statistic associated with non-access-related processing, occurring on the respective wireless device during a network access attempt.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein the network access data comprises at least one of call access-related data, Internet access-related data, text messaging access-related data, or video conferencing access-related data.

38. The method of claim 29, wherein the network access data further comprises associated data including at least one of position/location information, time information, diagnostic information, a state of a device component during a network access attempt by the wireless device, or a statistic or state associated with non-access-related processing occurring on the wireless device during the network access attempt.

39. The method of claim 29, further comprising generating a network access performance report based on the collected network access data, wherein the network access performance report comprises at least the network access characteristic.

40. The method of claim 29, further comprising generating a device configuration setting effective to change an operational parameter of the wireless device, wherein the device configuration setting is based on the collected network access data.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising generating the device configuration setting according to an optimization algorithm.

42. The method of claim 29, wherein the access scenario comprises at least one of a network access environment, a wireless device state, or a wireless network access scenario.

43. The method of claim 29, wherein the network access data comprises at least one of searcher information, finger assignment information, interoperability information, access channel information, dedicated paging channel information, forward traffic channel information, reverse traffic channel information, messaging information, system acquisition information, high speed packet data information, call type information, plain old telephone system information, 3-way calling information, call waiting information, voice mail information, authentication information, provisioning information, over-the-air parameter administration, Internet Protocol over-the-air information, short message service information, multimedia service information, or browser data information.

44. A computer program resident in a non-transitory computer readable medium that, when executed, directs a computer device to perform the actions of:

generating and transmitting an access data collection configuration across a wireless network to a wireless device having a communication module and a simulator module, the access data collection configuration comprising a network access-related parameter and test data, wherein the test data is executable by a simulator module on the wireless device to simulate an access scenario, wherein the network access-related parameter defines network access data to retrieve from a computer platform integrated within the wireless device, wherein the network access data corresponds to a network access characteristic of the wireless device during the access scenario; and

receiving and storing the network access data generated by execution of the test data on the wireless device and collected from the computer platform of the wireless device.

45. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the computer readable medium, when executed, directs the computer device to perform the further actions of generating and transmitting a network access-related test that is executable with the test data by the simulator module of the wireless device.

46. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the computer readable medium, when executed, directs the computer device to perform the further actions of generating a tracking parameter and a reporting parameter each associated with the network access-related parameter, the tracking parameter defining to when to collect the network access data and the reporting parameter defining when to transmit the collected network access data.

47. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the computer readable medium, when executed, directs the computer device to perform the further action of comparing the collected network access data to an access performance standard to generate the network access characteristic of the wireless device.

48. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the computer readable medium, when executed, directs the computer device to perform the further action of generating an optimal device configuration for the wireless device based on the received network access data, wherein the optimal device configuration is executable by the wireless device to optimize the network access characteristic.

49. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the computer readable medium, when executed, directs the computer device to perform the further action of selecting the network access-related parameter from a plurality of network access-related parameters.

50. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the collected network access data comprises at least one of a power level change for an access probe attempt, a base station parameter, an air interface parameter, a handoff parameter, a power control parameter, a registration parameter, an authentication parameter, a service redirection parameter, roaming information, a message driven indicator, application interface information, field test information, termination information, signal origination information, signal maintenance information, radio frequency information, a receive parameter, a sensitivity parameter, an isolated magnetic dipole parameter, a self-jamming parameter, a transmit parameter, a waveform quality parameter, broadband information, digital signal processing information, signal acquisition information, or soft handoff information.

51. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the collected network access data further comprises information relating to at least one of a state of a device component or a statistic associated with non-access-related processing, occurring on the respective wireless device during a network access attempt.

52. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the network access data comprises at least one of call access-related data, Internet access-related data, text messaging access-related data, or video conferencing access-related data.

53. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the network access data further comprises associated data including at least one of position/location information, time information, diagnostic information, a state of a device component during a network access attempt by the wireless device, or a statistic or state associated with non-access-related processing occurring on the wireless device during the network access attempt.

54. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the computer readable medium, when executed, directs the computer device to perform the further action of generating a network access performance report based on the collected network access data, wherein the network access performance report comprises at least the network access characteristic.

55. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the computer readable medium, when executed, directs the computer device to perform the further action of generating a device configuration setting effective to change an operational parameter of the wireless device, wherein the device configuration setting is based on the collected network access data.

56. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the computer readable medium, when executed, directs the computer device to perform the further action of generating the device configuration setting according to an optimization algorithm.

57. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the access scenario comprises at least one of a network access environment, a wireless device state, or a wireless network access scenario.

58. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the network access data comprises at least one of searcher information, finger assignment information, interoperability information, access channel information, dedicated paging channel information, forward traffic channel information, reverse traffic channel information, messaging information, system acquisition information, high speed packet data information, call type information, plain old telephone system information, 3-way calling information, call waiting information, voice mail information, authentication information, provisioning information, over-the-air parameter administration, Internet Protocol over-the-air information, short message service information, multimedia service information, or browser data information.