Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for measuring service quality via mobile handsets

• US 7,899,403 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2007
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aaron, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TUAN
• Application Number:
  US11/810,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20080305747A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/405, 455/440, 455/456.1, 455/67.11, 455/407, 455/422.1, 455/423, 455/425, 455/452.2
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/309 Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic

Abstract

Methods, systems and computer-readable media are provided for measuring service quality of wireless communications systems, including automatically detecting, reporting and assessing problems in wireless communications systems. The location measurement capability of a wireless terminal is leveraged to note the position of the wireless terminal when measuring service quality and when service problems are encountered. Descriptive information associated with a service quality is collected and stored and subsequently transmitted to a central processor at a later time along with location information. This information enables service quality maps to be constructed and continuously updated without negatively impacting a wireless communications system. A user of a wireless terminal may be provided the opportunity to provide feedback that is subsequently transmitted to the central processor and used in analyzing and rectifying problems.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring quality-of-service performance of a wireless communications system, wherein the wireless communications system includes a plurality of base stations and wireless terminals, wherein each wireless terminal is configured to communicate via a radio link with a base station, the method comprising the following performed by a wireless terminal:

measuring quality-of-service performance of the wireless communication system on a periodic basis during use of the wireless terminal and when a user of the wireless terminal attempts to access, via the wireless terminal, a wireless communication service application selected from the group consisting of voice, video, image, text, instant messaging, multimedia messaging, video conferencing, gaming, Internet service, location-based services, and data delivery;

determining a geographical location of the wireless terminal in response to measuring the quality-of-service performance of the wireless communication system on the periodic basis and when the user attempts to access the wireless communication service application;

collecting user feedback regarding service quality, wherein the user feedback comprises text entered into the wireless terminal by the user; and

storing quality-of-service performance information measured by the wireless terminal, location information, and collected user feedback for subsequent transmission to a central processor in the wireless communication system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement of quality-of-service performance of the wireless service comprises at least one of a measurement of signal strength of a radio link with a base station and a measurement of signal quality of a radio link with a base station.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a geographical location of the wireless terminal comprises determining a geographical location via a Global Positioning System receiver in the wireless terminal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a geographical location of the wireless terminal comprises determining a geographical location of a base station with which the wireless terminal has a radio link.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the stored quality-of-service performance information and location information to the central processor.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the stored information is transmitted to the central processor according to a predetermined schedule.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the quality-of-service performance information measured by the wireless terminal, location information, and collected user feedback further comprises storing additional information about at least one of the user and wireless terminal.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the stored user feedback, quality-of-service performance information, and location information to the central processor.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting the wireless terminal to a blog in response to measuring quality-of-service performance.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising submitting information to the blog about the measured quality-of-service performance.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions capable of being executed by a computer for performing a method of monitoring quality-of-service performance of a wireless communications system, the method comprising:

measuring quality-of-service performance of the wireless communication service on a periodic basis during use of the wireless terminal and when a user of the wireless terminal attempts to access, via the wireless terminal, a wireless communication service application selected from the group consisting of voice, video, image, text, instant messaging, multimedia messaging, video conferencing, gaming, Internet service, location-based services, and data delivery;

determining a geographical location of the wireless terminal in response to measuring quality-of-service performance of the wireless communication service on the periodic basis and when the user attempts to access the wireless communication service application;

collecting user feedback regarding service quality, wherein the user feedback comprises text entered into the wireless terminal by the user; and

storing quality-of-service performance information measured by the wireless terminal, location information, and collected user feedback for subsequent transmission to a central processor in the wireless communication system.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions for transmitting stored quality-of-service performance information, location information, and collected user feedback to the central processor.