Portable diagnostic handset

• US 7,277,814 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2002
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shand, Arthur M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nghiem; Michael P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, HIEN XUAN
• Application Number:
  US10/075,179
• Time in Patent Office: 2,056 Days
• Field of Search: 702/122, 701/29, 701/33, 701/1, 340/438, 340/443, 340/449, 340/825.72, 607/59, 707/10
• US Class Current: 702/122
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability

Abstract

A portable diagnostic device. The portable diagnostic device includes a housing, a processor located within the housing, an input device located on the housing and coupled to the processor, and a display screen located on the housing and coupled to the processor. The processor includes a microbrowser module configured for communicating with an external source of information and a diagnostic module configured for analyzing information received from the external source of information.

Claims

1. A portable WAP-enabled diagnostic device for troubleshooting a WAP network having a plurality of elements, the diagnostic device, comprising:

a housing;

a processor located within the housing, wherein the processor includes;

a microbrowser module configured for communicating with an external source of information including a WAP network undergoing troubleshooting; and

a diagnostic module configured for analyzing information associated with elements of the WAP network in a predetermined sequence configured to emulate a sequence of a process flow of signals through the elements of the WAP network undergoing diagnosis by the portable diagnostic device;

an input device located on the housing and coupled to the processor; and

a display screen located on the housing and coupled to the processor to display information pertaining to operating parameters of the WAP network undergoing diagnoses.

2. The portable diagnostic device of claim 1, wherein the WAP network includes a mobile communication network in selective communication with a data network configured for communication with the mobile communication network and the Internet, and the microbrowser is operative for communication with the WAP network.

3. The portable diagnostic device of claim 2, wherein the mobile communication network includes a device selected from the group of devices consisting of a base substation, a mobile switching center, an interworking function, and a remote access server.

4. The portable diagnostic device of claim 2, wherein the data network includes a device selected from the group of devices consisting of an Internet protocol router, a remote access dial-in user services server, a WAP server, an authentication server, and a domain name server.

5. The portable diagnostic device of claim 1, wherein the external source of information includes a server connected to the Internet.

6. The portable diagnostic device of claim 1, wherein the input device includes an input device selected from the group consisting of a keypad, a mouse, a trackball, and a touch screen.

7. The portable diagnostic device of claim 1, wherein the display screen includes a display screen selected from the group consisting of an LCD display screen, a passive matrix display screen, and a TFT active matrix display screen.

8. The portable diagnostic device of claim 1, further comprising a power source located within the housing and coupled to the processor.

9. The portable diagnostic device of claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency transceiver located within the housing and coupled to the processor.

10. The portable diagnostic device of claim 9, wherein the radio frequency transceiver includes an antenna originating within the housing and protruding therefrom.

11. The portable diagnostic device of claim 1, further comprising a modem located within the housing and coupled to the processor.

12. The portable diagnostic device of claim 1, further comprising a speaker located within the housing and coupled to the processor.

13. The portable diagnostic device of claim 1, further comprising a microphone located within the housing and coupled to the processor.

14. The portable diagnostic device of claim 1, further comprising a memory device located within the housing and coupled to the processor.

15. The portable diagnostic device of claim 14, wherein the memory device includes a volatile memory.

16. The portable diagnostic device of claim 15, wherein the volatile memory includes a random access memory.

17. The portable diagnostic device of claim 14, wherein the memory device includes a non-volatile memory.

18. The portable diagnostic device of claim 17, wherein the non-volatile memory includes an electrically erasable programmable read only memory.

19. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

request information from an external source associated with an element of a WAP network;

receive the requested information from the external source element of the WAP network; and

analyze the received information in a predetermined sequence to emulate a process flow of signals through elements of the WAP network for diagnosis of the WAP network.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein receiving the requested information from an element of the WAP network includes receiving the requested information from an element of the WAP network via a server connected to the Internet.