U.S. patent application number 11/374924 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-28 for apparatus and methods for providing performance statistics on a wireless communication device.
Invention is credited to Tia Manning Cassett, Kenny Fok, Eric Chi Chung Yip.
Application Number | 20060217116 11/374924 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36778065 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060217116 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cassett; Tia Manning ; et
al. |
September 28, 2006 |
Apparatus and methods for providing performance statistics on a
wireless communication device
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for generating performance statistics and
providing for the display of the performance statistics on the
wireless device. The statistics can be generated at the wireless
device or remotely, at a network device. Once the statistics are
determined, they can be presented on the wireless device and can be
accessible to either the user of the device and any other
predetermined party. By providing for performance statistics at the
wireless device, the user of the device or any other predetermined
party, such as a service provider, can readily determine if a
performance problem is related to the device or to the network.
Inventors: |
Cassett; Tia Manning; (San
Diego, CA) ; Fok; Kenny; (San Diego, CA) ;
Yip; Eric Chi Chung; (San Diego, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
5775 MOREHOUSE DR.
SAN DIEGO
CA
92121
US
|
Family ID: |
36778065 |
Appl. No.: |
11/374924 |
Filed: |
March 13, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60663515 |
Mar 18, 2005 |
|
|
|
60664669 |
Mar 22, 2005 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/423 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 41/5009 20130101;
H04L 41/5035 20130101; H04L 43/0829 20130101; H04L 41/5067
20130101; H04W 24/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/423 |
International
Class: |
H04Q 7/20 20060101
H04Q007/20 |
Claims
1. A method for remotely providing performance statistics to a
wireless communication device, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving performance-related data from a wireless communication
device; determining one or more performance quality characteristics
associated with the performance-related data; determining one or
more performance statistics associated with the one or more
performance quality characteristics; and communicating the one or
more performance statistics to the wireless device.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving
performance-related data from a wireless communication device
further comprises the step of receiving at least one of
network-related data and network independent data.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining one or
more performance quality characteristics associated with the
performance-related data further comprises the step of determining
one or more characteristics associated with a usage of an
application resident on the wireless device.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining one or
more performance quality characteristics associated with the
performance-related data further comprises the step of determining
one or more air interface characteristics associated with the
wireless device.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining one or
more performance quality characteristics associated with the
performance-related data further comprises the step of determining
at least one of an access failure, a call drop and a service
degradation associated with the wireless device.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining one or
more performance statistic associated with the one or more
performance quality characteristics further comprises determining
at least one performance statistic chosen from the group consisting
of an application usage statistic, a device component statistic, a
network-related statistic, and a connection quality statistic.
7. The method of claim 1, further providing the step of determining
if at least one of the one or more performance statistics meets a
corresponding one or more predetermined performance thresholds.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of receiving
an identification of a device type associated with the wireless
device, wherein the one or more predetermined performance
thresholds are device-specific based on the device type.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
receiving an identification of a device type associated with the
wireless device; and determining if the wireless device has a
performance problem based on a comparison of the one or more
performance statistics for the wireless device to a corresponding
one or more standard performance statistics associated with the
device type.
10. The method of claim 7, further providing the step of
communicating a notification to the wireless communication device
if one or more predetermined performance thresholds are met.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of
processing the one or more performance statistics into displayable
performance statistic information.
12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of
receiving position data from the wireless communication device, the
position data corresponding to the one or more performance quality
characteristics.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of determining one or
more performance statistics associated with the one or more
performance quality characteristics further comprises determining
an area-specific performance statistic for the wireless
communication device based on the performance-related data and the
position data.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of
comparing the area-specific performance statistic for the wireless
device to a cumulative area-specific performance statistic for a
plurality of wireless devices; and determining if the wireless
device has a performance problem based on the comparison.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of comparing the
area-specific performance statistic for the wireless device to a
cumulative area-specific performance statistic for a plurality of
wireless devices further comprises comparing the area-specific
performance statistic for the wireless device to a cumulative
area-specific performance statistic for a plurality of wireless
devices having like device type.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of receiving position
data from the wireless communication device further comprises
receiving position data from the wireless communication device that
corresponds to at least one of a geographic position of the
wireless communication device and a geographic position of a
network component in communication with the wireless device.
17. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of determining one or
more performance statistics associated with the one or more
performance quality characteristics further comprises determining
one or more performance statistics associated with the one or more
performance quality characteristics and associated position
data.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving
performance-related data from a wireless communication device
further comprising receiving performance-related data chosen from
the group consisting of an expired timer, a counter threshold, an
access probe attempt, reverse channel log information, access
channel log information and radio frequency-related log
information.
19. A computer-readable medium for providing performance statistics
on a wireless communication device, comprising at least one
sequence of instructions, wherein execution of the instructions by
a processor causes the processor to perform the steps of: receiving
performance-related data from a wireless communication device;
determining one or more performance quality characteristics
associated with the performance-related data; determining one or
more performance statistics associated with the one or more
performance quality characteristics; and communicating the one or
more performance statistics to the wireless device.
20. At least one processor device, implemented in a network device,
configured to perform the operations of: receiving
performance-related data from a wireless communication device;
determining one or more performance quality characteristics
associated with the performance-related data; determining one or
more performance statistics associated with the one or more
performance quality characteristics; and communicating the one or
more performance statistics to the wireless device.
21. A network device for providing performance statistics to a
wireless communication device, the network device comprising: a
communications module that receives performance-related data from a
wireless device; and a performance-monitoring module hat is
operable for determining one or more performance quality
characteristics associated with the performance-related data and
determining one or more performance statistics associated with the
one or more performance quality characteristics, wherein the
communication module communicates the one or more performance
statistics to the wireless device.
22. The network device of claim 21, wherein the
performance-monitoring module further comprises at least one of a
call drop definition, an access failure definition and a service
degradation definition, and wherein the one or more performance
quality characteristics comprise at least one of a call drop, an
access failure, and a service degradation respectively
corresponding to the call drop definition, the access failure
definition and the service degradation definition.
23. The network device of claim 21, wherein the one or more
performance statistics comprise a statistic chosen from the group
consisting of a number of access failures, a number of call drops,
a number of service degradations, an access failure rate, a call
drop rate and a service degradation rate.
24. The network device of claim 21, further comprising a data
repository having a predetermined performance threshold, and
wherein the performance-monitoring module is further operable to
determine if at least one of the one or more performance statistics
meets the corresponding predetermined performance threshold.
25. The network device of claim 21, further comprising a data
repository having a user notification message, and, wherein the
communication module is configured to communicate the user
notification message to a predetermined party when at least one of
the predetermined performance statistics meets the corresponding
predetermined performance threshold.
26. The network device of claim 21, further comprising a display
programming module operable for processing the one or more
performance statistics into displayable performance statistic
information.
27. The network device of claim 15, wherein the communication
module further receives position data from the wireless
communication device that corresponds to one or more performance
quality characteristics and determines one or more performance
statistics corresponding to at least one predetermined geographical
area, wherein the predetermined geographical area is based on the
position data.
28. The network device of claim 27, wherein the step of receiving
position data from the wireless communication device further
comprises receiving position data from the wireless communication
device that corresponds to at least one of a geographic position of
the wireless communication device and a geographic position of a
network component in communication with the wireless device.
29. A network device for providing performance statistics to a
wireless communication device, the network device comprising: a
means for receiving performance-related data from a wireless
device; a means for determining one or more performance quality
characteristics associated with the performance-related data; a
means for determining one or more performance statistics associated
with the one or more performance quality characteristics; and a
means for communicating the one or more performance statistics to
the wireless device.
30. A method for locally providing performance statistics on a
wireless communication device, the method comprising the steps of:
collecting performance-related data at a wireless communication
device; determining one or more performance quality characteristics
associated with the performance-related data; determining one or
more performance statistics associated with the one or more
performance quality characteristics; processing the one or more
performance statistics into displayable performance statistic
information; and storing the displayable performance statistics in
wireless communication device memory.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of collecting
performance-related data at a wireless communication device further
comprises the step of collecting at least one of network-related
data and network independent data.
32. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of determining one or
more performance quality characteristics associated with the
performance-related data further comprises the step of determining
one or more of an application usage characteristic, a device
component usage characteristic, and an air interface
characteristic.
33. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of determining one or
more performance statistic associated with the one or more
performance quality characteristics further comprises determining
at least one performance statistic chosen from the group consisting
of an application statistic, a device component statistic, and an
air interface statistic.
34. The method of claim 30, further providing the step of
determining if at least one of the one or more performance
statistics meets one or more predetermined performance
thresholds.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein at least one of the
predetermined performance thresholds are device-specific based on
the device type.
36. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of
determining if the wireless device has a performance problem based
on a comparison of the one or more performance statistics for the
wireless device to a corresponding one or more standard performance
statistics associated with a device type associated with the
wireless device.
37. The method of claim 34, further providing the step of
communicating a notification to a predetermined party if one or
more predetermined performance thresholds are met.
38. The method of claim 30, further comprising the steps of
collecting position data and associating the position data with the
one or more performance quality characteristics.
39. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of determining one or
more performance statistics associated with the one or more
performance quality characteristics further comprises determining
an area-specific performance statistic for the wireless
communication device based on the performance-related data and the
position data.
40. The method of claim 39, further comprising the steps of
comparing the area-specific performance statistic for the wireless
device to a cumulative area-specific performance statistic for a
plurality of wireless devices; and determining if the wireless
device has a performance problem based on the comparison.
41. The method of claim 40, wherein the step of comparing the
area-specific performance statistic for the wireless device to a
cumulative area-specific performance statistic for a plurality of
wireless devices further comprises comparing the area-specific
performance statistic for the wireless device to a cumulative
area-specific performance statistic for a plurality of wireless
devices having a like device type.
42. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of collecting position
data further comprises collecting position data that corresponds to
at least one of a geographic position of the wireless device and a
geographic position of a network component in communication with
the wireless device.
43. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of determining one or
more performance statistic associated with the one or more
performance quality characteristics further comprises determining
one or more connection quality statistics associated with the one
or more performance quality characteristics and the associated
position data.
44. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of
displaying the displayable performance statistics on a display
associated with the wireless device.
45. A computer-readable medium for providing performance statistics
on a wireless communication device, comprising at least one
sequence of instructions, wherein execution of the instructions by
a processor causes the processor to perform the steps of:
collecting performance-related data at a wireless communication
device; determining one or more performance quality characteristics
associated with the performance-related data; determining one or
more performance statistics associated with the one or more
performance quality characteristics; processing the one or more
performance statistics into displayable performance statistic
information; and storing the displayable performance statistics in
wireless communication device memory.
46. At least one processor device, implemented in a wireless
device, configured to perform the operations of: collecting
performance-related data at a wireless communication device;
determining one or more performance quality characteristics
associated with the performance-related data; determining one or
more performance statistics associated with the one or more
performance quality characteristics; processing the one or more
performance statistics into displayable performance statistic
information; and storing the displayable performance statistics in
wireless communication device memory.
47. A wireless communication device, the device comprising: a data
storage having performance-related data; and a
performance-monitoring module in communication with the data
storage, the performance-monitoring module being operable to
determine one or more performance quality characteristics
associated with the performance-related data and generate one or
more performance statistics associated with the one or more
performance quality characteristics.
48. The wireless communication device of claim 47, wherein the
performance-related data comprises at least one of air interface
data and non-air interface data associated with the wireless
device.
49. The wireless communication device of claim 47, wherein the one
or more performance quality characteristics comprise at least one
of an access failure, a call drop and a service degradation.
50. The wireless communication device of claim 47, wherein the one
or more performance statistics further comprise at least one of a
number of access failures, a number of call drops, a number of
service degradations, an access failure rate, a call drop rate and
a service degradation rate.
51. The wireless communication device of claim 47, wherein the data
storage further comprises at least one predetermined performance
threshold, and, wherein the performance-monitoring module is
further operable for determining if at least one of the one or more
performance statistics meets the predetermined performance
threshold.
52. The wireless communication device of claim 47, wherein the data
storage further comprises a display programming module operable for
processing the one or more performance statistic into displayable
performance statistic information.
53. The wireless communication device of claim 52, further
comprising a display module operable for presenting the displayable
performance statistic information.
54. The wireless communication device of claim 47, wherein the data
storage further comprises position data corresponding to one or
more of the performance quality characteristics.
55. The wireless communication device of claim 54, wherein the
performance-monitoring module determines an area-specific
performance statistic for the wireless communication device based
on the performance-related data and the position data.
56. The wireless communication device of claim 55, wherein the
performance-monitoring module is further operable to compare the
area-specific performance statistic for the wireless device to a
corresponding cumulative area-specific performance statistic for a
plurality of wireless devices and to determine if the wireless
device has a performance problem based on the comparison.
57. The wireless communication device of claim 56, wherein the
wireless device comprises a device type, and wherein the cumulative
area-specific performance statistic for the plurality of wireless
devices comprises a statistic for wireless devices having a
corresponding device type.
58. The wireless communication device of claim 47, wherein the
position data is based on at least one of a geographic position of
the wireless communication device and a geographic position of a
network component in communication with the wireless device.
59. A wireless communication device, the device comprising: a means
for analyzing data; and a means for storing performance-related
data; and a means for determining one or more performance quality
characteristics associated with the performance-related data and
determining one or more performance statistics associated with the
one or more performance quality characteristics.
60. A method for providing performance statistics on a wireless
communication device, the method comprising the steps of:
collecting performance-related data at a wireless communication
device; communicating the performance-related data to a network
device; receiving, at the wireless communication device, one or
more wireless device performance statistics from the network device
based on the collected performance-related data; and providing for
a displayable presentation of the one or more performance
statistics.
61. The method of claim 60, wherein the step of collecting
performance-related data at a wireless communication device further
comprises the step of collecting at least one of data relating to
an expired timer, a counter threshold, an access probe attempt, a
reverse channel log, an access channel log and a radio
frequency-related log.
62. The method of claim 60, wherein the step of receiving, at the
wireless communication device, one or more wireless device
performance statistics from the network device further comprises
receiving, at the wireless device, at least one of an application
usage characteristic, a device component usage characteristic, and
an air interface characteristic.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119
[0001] The present Application for Patent claims priority to
Provisional Application No. 60/663,515 entitled "Methods and
Apparatus for Monitoring Configurable Performance Levels in a
Wireless Device," filed Mar. 18, 2005 and to Provisional
Application No. 60/664,669 entitled "Methods and Apparatus for
Displaying Long-Term Performance Parameters for a Wireless Device,"
filed Mar. 22, 2005, both assigned to the assignee hereof and both
hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.
REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS FOR PATENT
[0002] The present Application for Patent is related to the
following co-pending U.S. Patent Application: "Methods and
Apparatus for Monitoring Configurable Performance Levels in a
Wireless Device," by Tia Cassett et al., having Attorney Docket No.
050472', filed concurrently herewith, assigned to the assignee
hereof, and expressly incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The disclosed aspects relate to wireless devices and
wireless communication networks, and more particularly, to
apparatus and methods for providing performance statistics on a
wireless communication device.
[0004] Wireless communications devices, such as mobile phones,
pagers, handheld computers, etc., are becoming increasingly popular
for both business and personal use. One advantage of such devices
is their "wireless" aspect, allowing them to be utilized whenever
and wherever a user desires. As the use of wireless devices grow,
and as the associated wireless communications networks grow, users
have an ever-increasing expectation of being able to connect with a
wireless network at any location. Thus, one aspect of user
satisfaction when utilizing a wireless device deals with the
ability of the wireless device to establish a communications
connection with a wireless network, as well as the ability of the
wireless device to maintain that connection.
[0005] The most prevalent communication problems are failure to
establish a connection, referred to as an "access failure" and
failure to maintain an established connection, referred to as a
"call drop". Additionally, service degradation or temporary outages
during an established connection may be experienced; typically a
mobile wireless device experiences such service degradation outages
as it moves between network communication links. Almost all of
these communication problems can be classified as either
network-related or wireless device-related. In general, network
problems are a result of wireless communication having grown at
such a rapid pace that the network hardware needed to support the
infrastructure, such as base stations and the like, have not been
able to keep up with the demand for reliable service. Conversely,
device problems can be attributed to an industry that demands
affordable devices for the sake of insuring maximum market
penetration, even if the trade-off is device reliability.
[0006] In many instances, if a wireless device user is confronted
with persistent communication problems, the frustrated user will be
left with no other option than to return the device to the network
service provider (also referred to as the network carrier),
claiming the device to be defective. In turn, the service provider
will return the device to the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)
and the OEM will perform necessary failure analysis on the device
to determine the cause of the communication problems. Statistics
have consistently shown that of the devices returned to the OEM
actual device defects are only present in between 20% and 50% of
the devices. The remaining 50% to 80% are designated by the OEM as
being "no trouble found" and returned to the service provider as
functional devices. Hence, in these instances, the problems that
the device user is experiencing are network related and not
associated with the wireless device.
[0007] From the service provider perspective, returning suspect
wireless devices to the OEM for failure analysis and repair is a
very costly undertaking. The service provider absorbs the burden of
an expensive failure analysis charge even if the device is found to
be defect-free. Thus, service providers would greatly benefit from
a mechanism that would allow for the performance of the device to
be monitored during normal use, such that failure analysis can
occur before the device is sent to the OEM for failure analysis and
repair. A mechanism that would allow the service provider to gauge
whether communication problems are attributable to the device or to
the network would insure that only defective devices are sent to
the OEM for repair, thus, eliminating avoidable costs related to
sending out defect-free devices for failure analysis and
repair.
[0008] In addition to service providers benefiting from a
performance-monitoring mechanism, users of the wireless device may
also benefit if the performance-monitoring results can be made
readily available to the wireless device user. In such a scenario,
the user of the wireless device would be able to deduce whether
experienced problems are related to the device or the network. In
this instance, the user would only return the device as being
defective, or otherwise engage the service provider in faulty
device discussion, if the performance-monitoring results justify
such. In this regard, if the performance-monitoring is performed at
the user level, the service provider can additionally benefit from
less customer care involvement.
[0009] Thus a need exists to provide for systems, methods, devices
and apparatus that provide wireless device performance-monitoring
at the service provider and/or user level. Specifically, the need
exists to provide for a mechanism that will allow for the service
provider or the user to be able to readily understand whether the
communication problems encountered by a user are device-related
and/or network-related. Such a system will avoid unnecessary OEM
involvement on behalf of the service providers and, potentially,
less involvement by service provider customer care representatives.
In addition, users may benefit from having the assurance that
communication problems are network-related and not attributable to
their device.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0010] To address one or more of the drawbacks of the prior art,
the disclosed aspects provide a system and method for providing
network-related and/or network independent performance statistics
based on information obtained from a wireless device. Performance
data is collected and analysis is performed at the wireless device,
or remotely at a network entity, to define the nature and cause of
the defect (i.e., device-related or network-related). Once the
performance problem and the cause have been determined, statistical
analysis is performed for the purpose of generating
performance-monitoring statistics, such as network versus device
performance rates and the like. The statistical data is then
processed into displayable data that can be accessed by a user or a
service provider via the wireless device display. Thus, the aspects
described herein provide for performance-monitoring to occur either
at the user-level or the service provider level, thereby
eliminating the need of, and the costs associated with, having
failure analysis performed at the OEM level.
[0011] In one aspect, a method for remotely providing performance
statistics to a wireless communication device is defined. The
method includes the steps of receiving performance-related data
from a wireless communication device, determining performance
quality characteristics associated with the performance-related
data, determining performance statistics associated with the
performance quality characteristics and communicating the
performance statistics to the wireless device. Additionally, the
method may provide for determining if a performance statistic meets
a predetermined performance threshold and, if so notifying the
wireless device of such. The method may also provide for the
processing of the performance statistics into displayable
performance statistic information.
[0012] An alternate aspect is defined by a computer-readable medium
for providing performance statistics on a wireless communication
device. The computer-readable medium includes a sequence of
instructions, such that execution of the instructions by a
processor causes the processor to perform the steps of receiving
performance-related data from a wireless communication device,
determining performance quality characteristics associated with the
performance-related data, determining performance statistics
associated with the performance quality characteristics and
communicating the performance statistic to the wireless device.
[0013] Another aspect is defined by a processor device, implemented
in a wireless device, configured to perform the operations of
receiving performance-related data from a wireless communication
device, determining performance quality characteristics associated
with the performance-related data, determining one or more
performance statistics associated with the one or more performance
quality characteristics and communicating the one or more
performance statistics to the wireless device.
[0014] A further aspect includes a network device for providing
performance statistics to a wireless communication device. The
network device includes a communications module that receives
performance-related data from a wireless device and a
performance-monitoring module that is operable for determining
performance quality characteristics associated with the
performance-related data and determining performance statistics
associated with the performance quality characteristics. Once the
performance statistics have been determined, the communication
module communicates the performance statistics to the wireless
device. The performance-monitoring module may further determine if
a performance statistics meets a predetermined performance
threshold and, if so, the communication module may communicate a
notification message to the wireless device. The network device may
also include a display-programming module operable for processing
the performance statistic into displayable performance statistic
information.
[0015] Yet another aspect is defined by a method for locally
providing performance statistics on a wireless communication
device. The method includes the steps of collecting
performance-related data at a wireless communication device,
determining characteristics associated with the performance-related
data, determining performance statistics associated with the
performance quality characteristics, processing the performance
statistics into displayable performance statistic information and
storing the displayable performance statistics in wireless
communication device memory.
[0016] A related aspect is defined by a computer-readable medium
for providing performance statistics on a wireless communication
device. The computer-readable medium includes a sequence of
instructions, such that execution of the instructions by a
processor causes the processor to perform the steps of collecting
performance-related data at a wireless communication device,
determining performance quality characteristics associated with the
performance-related data, determining performance statistics
associated with the performance quality characteristics, processing
the performance statistics into displayable performance statistic
information and storing the displayable performance statistics in
wireless communication device memory.
[0017] An additional related aspect is defined by a processor
device, implemented in a wireless device, and configured to perform
the operations of collecting performance-related data at a wireless
communication device, determining performance quality
characteristics associated with the performance-related data,
determining performance statistics associated with the performance
quality characteristics, processing the performance statistics into
displayable performance statistic information and storing the
displayable performance statistics in wireless communication device
memory.
[0018] According to yet another aspect, a wireless communication
device is defined that includes a data storage having
performance-related data and a performance-monitoring module in
communication with the data storage. The performance-monitoring is
operable to determine one or more performance quality
characteristics associated with the performance-related data and to
generate one or more performance statistics associated with the one
or more performance quality characteristics. The
performance-monitoring module may further be operable for
determining if a performance statistic meets a predetermined
performance threshold.
[0019] An alternate aspect is described by a method for providing
performance statistics on a wireless communication device. The
method includes the steps of collecting performance-related data at
a wireless communication device, communicating the
performance-related data to a network device, receiving, at the
wireless communication device, wireless device performance
statistics from the network device based on the collected
performance-related data and providing for a displayable
presentation of the one or more performance statistics.
[0020] Thus, the present aspects provide for a presentation of
wireless device performance statistics, such as network performance
related statistics and network independent statistics based on data
collected from the wireless device. The statistics can be
determined at the wireless device or remotely, at a network device.
Once the statistics are determined they can presented on the
wireless device and can accessible to either the user of the
device, the service provider or both. By providing for performance
statistics at the wireless device, the user of the device or the
service provider can readily determine if performance problems are
related to the device or to the network. By providing such
performance-monitoring at the device or service provider level,
costly failure analysis at the OEM level can be avoided.
[0021] Additional aspects and advantages of the disclosed aspects
are set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part
are obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of
the disclosed aspects. The aspects and advantages of the disclosed
aspects may also be realized and attained by the means of the
instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the
appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The disclosed aspects will hereinafter be described in
conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and
not to limit the disclosed aspects, wherein like designations
denote like elements, and in which:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a representative diagram of one aspect for
providing performance statistics to a wireless device in wireless
communication network;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one aspect of a communication
network that includes a network device that provides performance
statistics to wireless communication devices;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating one aspect of the
architecture of a wireless device that provides for performance
statistics;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a representative diagram of a cellular telephone
network aspect of the system of FIG. 1, including one aspect of a
computer platform of the computer device of FIG. 1;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a message flow diagram illustrating one aspect of
communication between a network device and a wireless device, in
which performance statistics are created at the network device and
communicated to the ireless device;
[0028] FIG. 6 is flow diagram depicting one aspect of a method for
determining performance statistics at a wireless device and
subsequently presenting the statistics at the device, in accordance
with an aspect;
[0029] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram depicting one aspect of method of
collecting performance-related data at a wireless device,
communicating the data to a network device and receiving, in
return, performance statistics from the network device, in
accordance with an aspect;
[0030] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram depicting one aspect of a method
for determining performance statistics at a network device and
subsequently communicated the statistics to a wireless device, in
accordance with an aspect.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] The present devices, apparatus, methods, computer-readable
media and processors now will be described more fully hereinafter
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which aspects of
the invention are shown. The devices, apparatus, methods,
computer-readable media and processors may, however, be embodied in
many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the
aspects set forth herein; rather, these aspects are provided so
that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully
convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like
numbers refer to like elements throughout.
[0032] The present devices, apparatus, methods, computer-readable
media and processors provide for performance statistics to be
determined and displayed on a wireless device or a device
associated with the wireless device. Performance statistics include
information associated with the wireless device relating to device
functionality and usage, including wireless network-related
statistics and wireless network independent statistics. For
example, in one aspect, by providing for performance statistics
such as access failure statistics, call drop statistics, service
degradation statistics and the like, either a device user or a
service provider can readily determine if connection quality
problems that are being encountered by the device are
device-related and/or network-related. It should be understood,
however, that the previous example is but one of many potential
performance statistics that may be monitored and displayed. Thus,
the described aspects allow for performance-monitoring to occur on
the device at the user-level and/or the service provider-level and,
as such, minimize the need to perform costly failure analysis by
returning the device for service, such as to the original equipment
manufacturer (OEM).
[0033] Referring to FIG. 1, according to one aspect, a schematic
diagram of a method for providing performance-monitoring on a
wireless device is illustrated. A wireless communication device 10
having an analysis entity 12 executes a performance-monitoring
module 14 to determine and display performance statistics. In the
illustrated aspect, performance statistics are generated at the
wireless device, in alternative aspects, as will be discussed at
length below, the performance statistics associated with the
wireless device may be generated at a network device and
subsequently communicated to the wireless device.
[0034] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the performance-monitoring module
14 may be downloaded (Event 16), wirelessly or otherwise, to the
device from a network service provider 18. Alternatively, the
performance-monitoring module may be locally transferred to
wireless device 10, such as through a serial connection, or may be
preloaded on the wireless device 10. The performance-monitoring
module may utilize performance data to determine performance
quality characteristics. For example, performance data may include,
but is not limited to, information such as: application usage data,
such as video-related, text messaging-related, media
player-related, call-related, and web-related data; air interface
performance data, including service-related information,
marketing-related information, communication log data, and
communication event data, signal transmission-related data, signal
receiving-related data, antenna-related data; and non-air interface
performance data, including battery-related information,
application usage information, device-component-related
information, etc. Performance quality characteristics are defined
by the performance-monitoring module and may include, but are not
limited to, all of the performance-related data mentioned above, or
some predetermined event or state of the performance-related data,
such as usage information, expired timers, counter thresholds,
access probe attempts, reverse channel log information, access
channel log information, radio frequency-related log information
and the like. Once relevant performance quality characteristics are
determined, the performance-monitoring module uses the performance
quality characteristics to determine performance statistics.
Performance statistics may include, but are not limited to:
application usage statistics, such as what applications are used,
how often they are used, and when they are used; wireless device
component usage and performance information, such as battery power,
standby time, output mechanism information such as display or
speaker quality, key or keypad-related information, such as what
keys are used, how often, and when or in relation to what
applications, etc.; transmit and/or receive chain information;
network related information, such as what base stations are used,
when and how often; and communications-related statistics, such as
the number of access failures, the number of call drops, the number
of service degradations and corresponding access failure rates,
call drop rates, service degradation rates and the like. Once
performance statistics are determined a display-processing module
will provide for processing the performance characteristics into
displayable performance statistic information, which can
subsequently be displayed on the wireless device or on a display
associated with the wireless device.
[0035] In some aspects, if the wireless device 10 experiences a
high volume or rate of performance-related problems (Event 20),
such as, in a communications-related example, a high rate of access
failures, call drops, service degradation or the like, the user 22
will desire to know if the problems are device-related or
network-related. In some aspects, the wireless device may be
configured to allow for the user to access the performance
statistics on the device display. In this regard, the user 22 may
be able to determine if the experienced problems are device-related
and/or network related. In other aspects, such as shown in FIG. 1,
access to the performance statistics may be protected and limited
to access by the service provider. In such aspects, the user of the
device will be required to return the wireless device 10 to the
service provider 18 (Event 24) and the service provider will access
the performance statistics to determine if the problems are
device-related or network-related. If the problems are
device-related the service-provider will send the wireless device
to the OEM for repair (Event 26); however, if the problems are
network-related, then the device is functional and no repair is
required (Event 28).
[0036] Referring to FIG. 2, according to other aspects, a schematic
diagram is illustrated that depicts a wireless network in which
performance statistics are generated at a network device. The
generation of performance statistics at a device remote from the
wireless device is optional, and may or may not be utilized
depending on, for example, device memory and processing power,
among other factors. The wireless network includes a plurality of
wireless devices 10A (cellular telephone), 10B (personal digital
assistant (PDA)), 10C (handheld computing device), 10D (laptop
computer), 10E (desktop computer) that each have a resident
communication module 30 operable to transfer wireless device
performance-related data, to a network device 38, such as
performance-monitoring server 38. The performance-monitoring server
will include a processing engine, such as analysis engine 40
configured to execute performance-monitoring module 14 for
determining performance statistics.
[0037] Performance-monitoring server 38 may comprise at least one
of any type of server, personal computer, mini computer, mainframe
computer, or any computing device either special purpose or general
computing device further comprising analysis engine 40. Further,
there can be separate servers or computer devices associated with
performance-monitoring server 38 that work in concert to provide
data in usable formats to parties, and/or to provide a separate
layer of control in the data flow between the wireless devices 10
and performance-monitoring server 38. Performance-monitoring server
38 (or plurality of servers) may, via communications module 42,
send data, such as performance statistics, software agents or
applications, such as any portion of performance-monitoring modules
16 to wireless device 10 across wireless network 46.
[0038] The performance-monitoring server 38 includes a data
registry 44 that stores collected data 31 associated with the
wireless device, which may be communicated from the wireless
devices 10 across the wireless network 46 and received by the
communication module 42. The data registry 44 may include any type
of memory or storage device. The collected data 31 stored by
registry 44 may include any data gathered from the wireless device
and related to a predetermined performance statistic. For example,
in some aspects where communications-related performance statistics
are of interest, the collected data 31 may comprise communication
event information and/or communication log data. Communication log
data may be data that is stored in a wireless device subsystem
register and may include, but is not limited to, communication
characteristics such as reverse channel log information, access
channel log information, radio frequency-related log information
and the like. Communication event information may be data that is
found in over-the-air (OTA) messages and may include, but is not
limited to, communication characteristics, such as expired timers,
counter thresholds, access probe attempts and the like. The
collected data may have corresponding wireless device identifiers
and, in some aspects, wireless-device type identifiers to identify
the device corresponding to the data and in some aspects, the
"type," i.e., manufacturer and model identification of the device.
The performance-monitoring module 14 may use wireless device
information to determine performance statistics based on the
particular attributes of a given wireless device.
[0039] In some aspects, the performance-monitoring module may
utilize position data in association with performance statistics.
In these aspects, the collected data 31 may optionally include
position data that may be used to correlate the performance
characteristics with the geographic position of the device or a
network entity in communication with the device at the moment the
performance characteristic occurred.
[0040] Performance-monitoring module 14 may further include
software, hardware, data, and generally any executable instructions
operable to manage determination of performance statistics. The
performance-monitoring module will include performance quality
characteristic module 50 for defining and determining performance
quality characteristics 52 relevant to the determination of
performance characteristics. In some aspects, the ability to define
and determine performance quality characteristics 52 may be
dependent upon the protocol used for wireless communication. For
example, some communications protocols have developed standard
mechanisms that define an event associated with a performance
quality characteristic, such as an access failure and a call drop.
For example, in the Code Division Multiple Access ("CDMA")
protocol, such mechanisms include timers that are associated with
an event that defines a failure, e.g. from the Interim Standard
("IS")-95 standard, time limit T.sub.5m is associated with a call
drop. As such, for example, in aspects in which the wireless device
communicates using a protocol that incorporates a standardized
connection-quality-related event mechanism, such as CDMA protocol
or the like, the performance quality characteristic module 50 may
identify relevant communication characteristics in the
communication log data and the communication event data.
[0041] Other protocols, such as the Universal Mobile Telephone
System ("UMTS") protocol, may not have all or some portion of such
standard mechanisms that define a performance quality
characteristic 52. In such protocols, any combination of the log
data and/or the event data and/or a sequence of communications
messages, such as Over-The-Air (OTA) messages, may be used to
determine a performance quality characteristic. A suitable method,
routine and/or apparatus for determining such sequences is
disclosed in United States patent application Ser. No. 11/078,235,
entitled, "Apparatus and Methods for Determining Connection Quality
of a Wireless Device on a Wireless Communication Network", filed on
Mar. 10, 2005, assigned to the assignee of the present invention
and hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth fully herein.
As such, in aspects in which the wireless communication device
communicates via a protocol that does not incorporate one or more
standardized performance-quality-related event mechanisms, such as
UMTS or the like, the performance quality characteristic module 50
may identify relevant message sequences and associated
communications data that define a performance quality
characteristic 52.
[0042] The performance-monitoring module 14 will additionally
include performance statistic module 54 for generating performance
statistics 56. The performance statistic module will rely on the
performance quality characteristics to generate any beneficial
performance statistic. The performance-monitoring module 14 will
typically be configured, either by the device user, the service
provider, or an authorized user, to generate performance statistics
56 of interest to the device user, the service provider, or the
authorized user, such as a marketing representative. Examples of
performance statistics include, but are not limited to, non-air
interface statistics such as application usage information, device
component usage/performance information, network component
usage/performance information, and air interface information, such
a connection quality statistics like the number of access failures,
the number of call drops, the number of service degradations, the
access failure rate (number of access failures versus total access
attempts over a specified time period), the call drop rate (number
of call drops versus total number of calls over a specified
period), the service degradation rate (number of calls experiencing
service degradation versus total number of calls over a specified
time period). Performance rates may be based on one or more
specified time periods, such as an hour, a day, a week, a month, a
year or the like and/or the performance rates may be cumulative
over the life of the wireless device. Additionally, performance
statistics may be categorized based on a wireless device attribute,
such as numbers or rates based upon the geographic position of the
device at the time of the event, number or rates based on the
"type" of wireless device and the like
[0043] The performance-monitoring module 14 may additionally
include threshold module 58 for determining if a performance
statistic meets a predetermined threshold 60. For example,
predetermined thresholds 60 may include, but are not limited to, a
specified number or rate of application usage metrics, device
component metrics, network component metrics, and connection
quality metrics such as access failures, call drops or service
degradations. Predetermined threshold 60 may include one or more
values corresponding to one or more conditions. For example,
predetermined threshold 60 may include one or any combination of an
upper limit value, a lower limit value, and a range of values
relating to the corresponding performance statistic. Further, for
example, predetermined threshold 60 may include one or more
conditions such as equal to, less than, greater than, and
combinations thereof in correspondence with one or more threshold
values. As such, a given performance statistic may meet the
predetermined threshold if the monitored value of the statistic
achieves the threshold condition and the threshold value, for
example, if the monitored statistic is greater than (or greater
than or equal to) the upper limit value, less than (or less than or
equal to) the lower limit value, and/or inside or outside of the
range of values. The threshold module 58 may additionally be
configured to send, via the communication module 42, a "threshold
exceeded" message/notification to the appropriate wireless device,
service provider, OEM or any predetermined party. Such notification
may serve to inform the user of a device problem, the service
provider of a network or device problem and/or the OEM of a device
component problem.
[0044] The performance-monitoring server 38 may additionally
include a display-processing module 62 that provides for processing
of the performance statistics into displayable performance
statistic information. In alternate aspects, performance statistics
56 may be communicated to the wireless device and display
processing may occur at the wireless device 10.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 3, according to another aspect, a block
diagram is depicted of a wireless communication device 10 for
generating and displaying performance statistics. In some aspects,
the wireless device 10 will include the processing and memory
capability to implement the performance-monitoring module 14, while
in alternate aspects, as shown in FIG. 2, some aspects of the
performance-monitoring module 14 will be executed remotely at a
network device. In those aspects in which a network device
implements the performance-monitoring module, the wireless device
is responsible for communicating the collected data 31, as
collected by the performance monitoring module 14, to the network
device 38 and receiving, in response to the transmitted collected
data, performance statistics 56 that are stored at the wireless
device and may be presented in displayable format on the wireless
device.
[0046] The wireless device 10 may include computer platform 64
operable to transmit data, i.e., performance-related data, across
wireless network 46 (FIG. 1), and receive and execute software
applications and configurations, i.e. performance-monitoring module
14.
[0047] Wireless device 10 may include any type of computerized,
wireless device, such as cellular telephone, personal digital
assistant, two-way text pager, portable computer, and even a
separate computer platform that has a wireless communications
portal, and which also may have a wired connection to a network or
the Internet. The wireless device can be a remote-slave, or other
device that does not have an end-user thereof but simply
communicates data across the wireless network 46, such as remote
sensors, diagnostic tools, and data relays.
[0048] Wireless device 46 may also include input mechanism 66 and
output mechanism 68 interconnected to computer platform 64. Input
mechanism 66 is operable to generate an input into wireless device
10, and may include a mechanism such as a key or keyboard, a mouse,
a touch-screen display, and a voice recognition module. Output
mechanism 68, may include a display, an audio speaker, and a haptic
feedback mechanism, for example, for relaying information, such as
performance statistics, to the user of the wireless device 10.
[0049] Computer platform 64 may also include a memory 70, such as
data registry 70, which may comprise volatile and nonvolatile
memory such as read-only and/or random-access memory (RAM and ROM),
EPROM, EEPROM, flash cards, or any memory common to computer
platforms. Further, memory 70 may include one or more flash memory
cells, or may be any secondary or tertiary storage device, such as
magnetic media, optical media, tape, or soft or hard disk.
Additionally, memory 70 may be operable to store original equipment
manufacturer supplied instructions as well as third party client
applications downloaded via network 46 or loaded via a personal
computer (PC).
[0050] Further, computer platform 60 includes a processing engine
72, which may be an application-specific integrated circuit
("ASIC"), or other chipset, processor, module circuit, or other
data processing device. Processing engine 72 is operable to execute
an application programming interface ("API") layer 74 that may
interface with any resident programs, such as
performance-monitoring module 14, stored in memory 70. In such
aspects in which the processing engine and the API interface to
operate the performance-monitoring modules, the processing engine
72 and API 70 serve as the requisite analysis entity. In alternate
aspects, the computer platform may include a separate engine,
analysis entity (AE) 12 that interfaces with the
performance-monitoring module 14 to determine and generate
performance statistics. The analysis entity 12 may be an
application-specific integrated circuit ("ASIC"), or other chipset,
processor, module circuit, or other data processing device.
[0051] In one aspect, API 74 is a runtime environment executing on
the respective wireless device. One such runtime environment is
Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless.RTM. (BREW.RTM.) software
developed by Qualcomm, Inc., of San Diego, Calif. Other runtime
environments may be utilized that, for example, operate to control
the execution of applications on wireless computing devices.
[0052] Processing engine 72 includes various processing subsystems
78 embodied in hardware, software, firmware, executable
instructions, data, and combinations thereof, that enable the
functionality of wireless device 10 and the operability of the
wireless device on wireless network 46 (FIG. 1). For example,
processing subsystems 78 allow for initiating and maintaining
communications, and exchanging data, with other networked devices.
In one aspect, such as in a cellular telephone, processing engine
72 may include one or a combination of processing subsystems 78,
such as: sound, non-volatile memory, file system, transmit,
receive, searcher, layer 1, layer 2, layer 3, main control, remote
procedure, handset, power management, diagnostic, digital signal
processor, vocoder, messaging, call manager, Bluetooth.RTM. system,
Bluetooth.RTM. LPOS, position determination, position engine, user
interface (UI), sleep, limited services, security, authentication,
USIM/SIM, voice services, graphics, USB, multimedia such as MPEG,
GPRS, etc.
[0053] For the disclosed aspects, processing subsystems 78 may
include any subsystem components that interact with applications
executing on computer platform 64. For example, processing
subsystems 78 may include any subsystem components that receive
data reads and data writes from API 74 on behalf of the resident
performance-monitoring module 14. Further, at least a portion of
information relating to performance-related data 32 and/or the
other collected data 31 gathered by performance monitoring module
14 may be available from these subsystems 78.
[0054] In one example relating to associating air interface
statistics with location information, the performance-monitoring
module 14 may use OTA messages to determine when the wireless
device is in a call. Once the wireless device 16 is in a call, the
location of the wireless device 10 may be determined and logged,
for example, using location determining information retrieved from
processing engine 72 and/or one or more processing subsystems 78
and/or analysis entity 12. For example, location determining
information, such as wireless device position data 48 and/or
network position data 96, may be included in processing subsystems
such as a global positioning system (GPS) system monitor, and a
diagnostic system monitor. Such location determining information
may include a GPS fix, such as longitude and latitude information,
and cell site and/or network information such as pseudo noise (PN)
offset, network identification (NID), system identification (SID),
and base station identification (BSID). In some aspects, wireless
device 10 may include one or more modules, such as position module
86, that specifically function to determine location information.
These modules including one or more of: a Global Positioning System
(GPS); an Assisted GPS (A-GPS) system, such as the QPoint.TM.
Positioning Software and gpsOne.RTM. hybrid Assisted GPS wireless
location technology available from Qualcomm, Inc., San Diego,
Calif.; and Localization Based Systems (LBS) such as Cell-ID,
Enhanced Observed Time Difference (E-OTD), and Observed Timed
Difference of Arrival (OTDOA).
[0055] Computer platform 64 may further include a communications
module 30 embodied in hardware, software, executable instructions,
data, and combinations thereof, operable to enable communications
among the various components of the wireless device 10 and wireless
network 46. Communications module 30 may comprise any
component/port/interface that may include any point of entry into,
and/or any point of exit from wireless device. As such,
communications module 30 may include interface components for
hardwired communications and for wireless communications. Further,
communications module 30 may include any transmit, receive,
modulation, and demodulation components necessary to effect
wireless communication exchanges.
[0056] In those aspects in which the performance statistics are
generated at the wireless device, the memory 70 of the computer
platform 64 will include the statistic determining portions of the
performance-monitoring module 14. The performance-monitoring module
14 may further include software, hardware, data, and generally any
executable instructions operable to manage determination of
performance statistics. The performance-monitoring module will
include performance quality characteristic module 50 for defining
and determining performance quality characteristics 52 relevant to
the determination of performance statistics.
[0057] For example, in aspects related to determining connection
quality statistics, the performance quality module 50 may access
the communication log data and communication event data stored in
the communication database to determine performance quality
characteristics 52, such as expired timers, counter thresholds,
access probe attempts, reverse channel log information, access
channel log information and radio frequency-related log
information. The ability to define and determine performance
quality characteristics 52, for example those characteristics
relating to connection quality, may be dependent upon the protocol
used for wireless communication. As such, in aspects in which the
wireless device communicates using a protocol that incorporates a
standardized performance-quality-related event mechanism, such as
CDMA protocol or the like, the performance quality characteristic
module 50 may identify relevant communication characteristics based
on the communication log data and the communication event data. In
other aspects, in which the wireless communication device
communicates via a protocol that does not incorporate one or more
standardized connection-quality-related event mechanisms, such as
UMTS or the like, the performance quality characteristic module 50
may identify relevant message sequences and data within OTA
messages that define a performance quality characteristic 52.
[0058] In aspects where statistics are determined locally, the
performance-monitoring module 14 will additionally include
performance statistic module 54 for generating performance
statistics 56. The performance statistic module may utilize the
performance quality characteristics 52 to generate requisite
performance statistics. The performance-monitoring module 14 will
typically be configured, either by the device user or by the
service provider, to generate performance statistics 56 of interest
to the device user, the service provider, an OEM, or any other
party interested in information stored on the wireless device.
Examples of performance statistics 56 include, but are not limited
to, non-air interface statistics, such as application usage
statistics, and air interface statistics, such as the number of
access failures, the number of call drops, the number of service
degradations, the access failure rate (number of access failures
versus total access attempts over a specified time period), the
call drop rate (number of call drops versus total number of calls
over a specified period), the service degradation rate (number of
calls experiencing service degradation versus total number of calls
over a specified time period). Performance rates may be based on a
specified time period such as an hour, a day, a week, a month, a
year or the like or the performance rates may be cumulative over
the life of the wireless device.
[0059] Additionally, in some aspects, performance statistics 56 may
be generated by the statistic module 54 that are associated with
wireless device-related attributes. For example, performance
statistics may be associated with wireless device position data 48
and/or network position data 96 stored in memory 70, such as in a
device database 84. In some aspects, the position information is
collected in association with the performance statistic, while in
other aspects a predetermined position may function as a
performance quality characteristic and trigger the collection of
other characteristics and/or the determination of predetermined
performance statistics. As discussed above, the wireless device
position data 48 may correspond to device position data and be
generated internally from a position generating device, such as a
GPS sensor or the like. Alternately, or in addition, the network
position data 96 may correspond to the position of wireless network
entities, such as base stations and the like. Position module 86,
which may incorporate all or portions of the position-related
systems discussed above, may be implemented to determine the
position data 48 and/or 96. The device database 84 may also include
the device identification (ID) 88, such as a name, make and/or
model number, general wireless device information 90 and the like,
which may be associated with the generated performance statistics
and/or threshold values 60. For example, wireless device
information 90 may include any information associated with the
device that may be relevant to the performance data, including, but
not limited to: software information, such as a list of
applications stored on and/or running on the device, a software
name, a software version, software registration and/or licensing
related information; and hardware information, such as device
hardware component names, model numbers, versions, capabilities
etc. Further, for example, some threshold values 60 may correspond
to particular wireless device information 90, such as having
different thresholds for different device models and/or different
model versions, among other things. In addition, the device id 88
and the device information 90 may be communicated to the
performance-monitoring server 38 in aspects in which the
performance statistics 56 are generated remote from the wireless
device 10.
[0060] In addition, performance statistics may be generated by the
statistic module 54 based on network data 94 communicated to the
wireless device, such as via communication module 30 and stored in
device database 84. Network data 94 may include, but is not limited
to, performance data for other similar type wireless devices,
and/or for geographical and/or network areas, e.g. statistics
associated with a given region or statistics associated with a
given based station. The network data 94 may be utilized by
statistics module 54 to compare the performance statistics 56 of
the given wireless device with the corresponding statistics of
other devices, which may be useful in determining whether a given
performance issue is network-related and/or device-related.
[0061] The performance-monitoring module 14 may additionally
include threshold module 58 for determining if a performance
statistic 56 meets a predetermined threshold 60, which may comprise
one or more conditions and one or more corresponding values. The
details of the functionality of threshold module 58 are discussed
above. Additionally, the threshold module 58 may be configured to
send, via the communication module 30, a "threshold exceeded"
message/notification to the wireless device, service provider, OEM
or the like. Such notification may serve to inform the user of a
device problem, the service provider of a network or device problem
and the OEM of a device component problem.
[0062] The memory 70 of the computer platform 64 may additionally
include a display-processing module 62 that provides for processing
of the performance statistics into displayable performance
statistic information 98 that may be presented to the device user
via the output mechanism 68. For example, the computer platform may
include a display module 100 for displaying the performance
statistic information 98 on an output mechanism 68 such as a
display.
[0063] Wireless network 46 includes any communications network
operable, at least in part, for enabling wireless communications
between the wireless device and any device connected to wireless
network. Further, wireless network 46 may include all network
components, and all connected devices that form the network. For
example, wireless network 46 may include at least one, or any
combination, of: a cellular telephone network; a multicast network
such as a Forward Link Only (FLO) network, such as the MEDIAFLO.TM.
System available from Qualcomm, Inc. of San Diego, Calif.; a
digital video broadcasting (DVB) network, such as DVB-S for
satellite, DVB-C for cable, DVB-T for terrestrial television, DVB-H
for terrestrial television for handhelds; a terrestrial telephone
network; a satellite telephone network; an infrared network such as
an Infrared Data Association ("IrDA")-based network; a short-range
wireless network; a BLUETOOTH.RTM. technology network; a
ZIGBEE.RTM. protocol network; an ultra wide band ("UWB") protocol
network; a home radio frequency ("HomeRF") network; a shared
wireless access protocol ("SWAP") network; a wideband network, such
as a wireless Ethernet compatibility alliance ("WECA") network, a
wireless fidelity alliance ("Wi-Fi Alliance") network, and a 802.11
network; a public switched telephone network; a public
heterogeneous communications network, such as the Internet; a
private communications network; and a land mobile radio
network.
[0064] Suitable examples of telephone networks include at least
one, or any combination, of analog and digital
networks/technologies, such as: code division multiple access
("CDMA"), wideband code division multiple access ("WCDMA"),
universal mobile telecommunications system ("UMTS"), advanced
mobile phone service ("AMPS"), time division multiple access
("TDMA"), frequency division multiple access ("FDMA"), orthogonal
frequency division multiple access ("OFDMA"), global system for
mobile communications ("GSM"), single carrier ("1X") radio
transmission technology ("RTT"), evolution data only ("EV-DO")
technology, general packet radio service ("GPRS"), enhanced data
GSM environment ("EDGE"), high speed downlink data packet access
("HSPDA"), analog and digital satellite systems, and any other
technologies/protocols that may be used in at least one of a
wireless communications network and a data communications
network.
[0065] Referring to FIG. 4, an aspect of a cellular wireless system
110 comprises at least one wireless device 10 and a cellular
telephone wireless network 112 connected to a wired network 114 via
a carrier network 116. Cellular wireless system 110 is merely
exemplary and may include any system whereby remote modules, such
as wireless devices 10 communicate packets including voice and data
over-the-air between and among each other and/or between and among
components of wireless network 112, including, without limitation,
wireless network carriers and/or servers.
[0066] According to system 110, performance-monitoring server 38
may communicate over a wired network 114 (e.g. a local area
network, LAN) with data repository 44 for storing collected data
31, gathered from wireless devices 10. Further, a data management
server 118 may be in communication with performance-monitoring
server 38 to provide post-processing capabilities, data flow
control, etc. performance-monitoring server 38, data repository 44
and data management server 118 may be present on the cellular
telephone system 110 along with any other network components needed
to provide cellular telecommunication services.
[0067] Performance-monitoring server 38, and/or data management
server 118 may communicate with carrier network 116 through data
links 120, such as the Internet, a secure LAN, WAN, or other
network. Carrier network 116 controls messages (generally being
data packets) sent to a mobile switching center ("MSC") 124.
Further, carrier network 116 communicates with MSC 124 by a network
122, such as the Internet, and/or POTS ("plain old telephone
service"). Typically, in network 122, a network or Internet portion
transfers data, and the POTS portion transfers voice information.
MSC 124 may be connected to multiple base stations ("BTS") 126 by
another network 128, such as a data network and/or Internet portion
for data transfer and a POTS portion for voice information. BTS 126
ultimately broadcasts messages wirelessly to the wireless devices,
such as wireless device 10, by short messaging service ("SMS"), or
other over-the-air methods.
[0068] Referring to FIG. 5, according to another aspect, a message
flow diagram is illustrated for generating performance statistics
at a network device and communicating the statistics to a wireless
device. At Event 200, the wireless device 10 collects
performance-related data from various wireless device databases.
For example, in a connection quality determination aspect, the
collected data may include communication log data, communication
event data, position data 48, 96 and the like. At Event 210, the
wireless device initiates the uploading of the collected data to a
network device 38, such as a performance-monitoring server.
Uploading of the collected data initiates the process that results
in updating the performance statistics stored at the wireless
device. The wireless device may be configured to upload collected
data upon the occurrence of predetermined events, upon request,
and/or at predetermined intervals, such as daily, weekly, monthly
or like, thus resulting in updated performance statistics being
provided to the wireless device at the corresponding interval.
Alternatively, the wireless device may be configured to allow for
user-initiated uploading of collected data. User-initiated
uploading of collected data results in on-demand updating of the
performance statistics at the wireless device.
[0069] At Event 220, uploading of the collected data is initiated
by the wireless device 10, which establishes a network connection
using an appropriate communication protocol, for example Hyper Text
Transfer Protocol (HTTP). At Event 230, the collected data is
uploaded to the performance-monitoring server 38 and, once the
upload is successfully completed, at Event 240, the
performance-monitoring server may return an acknowledgement message
to the wireless device. The performance-monitoring server typically
is configured to store the collected data in temporal storage while
the performance statistics are being generated. In alternative
aspects, the performance-monitoring server may be configured to
store the collected data in a permanent database for future
statistical processing.
[0070] At Event 250, the performance-monitoring server 38,
specifically the performance-monitoring module 14 is executed by
the analysis engine 40 to define and determine performance quality
characteristics, which are then used to generate performance
statistics. Once the performance-monitoring module 14 has generated
updated performance statistics, at Event 260, the
performance-monitoring server sends a bootstrap command to the
wireless device notifying the device that updated performance
statistics are available for downloading. The
performance-monitoring server typically uses an appropriate
communication means to send the bootstrap command, such as Short
Message Service (SMS), Auto Call Back (ACB) or the like.
[0071] At Event 270, the wireless device 10 establishes a network
connection with the performance-monitoring server 38 using an
appropriate communication protocol, for example Hyper Text Transfer
Protocol (HTTP). At Event 280, the performance statistics are
downloaded to the wireless device 10 and, once the download is
successfully completed, at Event 290, the wireless device returns
an acknowledgement message to the performance-monitoring server. At
Event 300, the wireless device updates the performance statistics
stored in an associated database and the newly updated performance
statistics are available for display on the wireless device or on a
display of a device in network communication with the wireless
device.
[0072] Referring to FIG. 6, according to another aspect, a flow
diagram is depicted of one aspect of a method for generating and
displaying performance statistics at a wireless device. At Event
400, performance-related data is collected at the wireless device
10. Exemplary performance-related data includes, but is not limited
to network-related data, device related data, air interface related
data, non-air interface related data, and connection quality data
such as communication event data; i.e., information in over-the-air
messages and communication log data; i.e., information stored in
subsystem registries. Additionally, the collected information may
include positional data 48 and/or 96 or any other information
related to the wireless device or related to other wireless devices
in the communication network. At Event 410, the
performance-monitoring module will use the collected data to define
and determine performance quality characteristics 52; i.e., data
that is associated with device and/or network performance and that
is used to generate performance statistics. For example, in aspects
relating to connection quality, performance quality characteristics
include, but are not limited to, expired timers, counter
thresholds, access probe attempts, reverse channel log information,
access channel log information, radio frequency-related log
information and the like. As previously noted, the ability to
define and determine performance quality characteristics 52 may be
dependent upon the protocol used for wireless communication. As
such, in aspects in which the wireless device communicates using a
protocol that incorporates a standardized
performance-quality-related event mechanism, such as CDMA protocol
or the like, relevant characteristics are identifiable in the
communication log data and the communication event data. In other
aspects, in which the wireless communication device communicates
via a protocol that does not incorporate one or more standardized
performance-quality-related event mechanisms, such as UMTS or the
like, relevant performance quality characteristics may be
identified by locating message sequences and associated data in the
communication logs that define a performance quality characteristic
52.
[0073] Additionally, at Event 420, the performance-monitoring
module 14 will associate performance quality characteristic 52 with
device-performance and/or network-performance. In this regard, the
performance-monitoring module will associate certain predetermined
performance quality characteristics with device-performance and
certain predetermined performance quality characteristics with
network-performance. By associating certain quality characteristics
with device-performance and network-performance, the
performance-monitoring module is able to generate performance
statistics that are categorized according to being device-related
or network-related.
[0074] At Event 430, the performance-monitoring module uses the
quality characteristics to generate performance statistics. Based
on association of the quality characteristics with the device
and/or the network, the performance statistics may be
device-related, network-related or generic statistics that account
for both device-related and network-related performance. In
addition, the performance statistics may be service
provider-configured performance statistics or, in some aspects,
user-configured performance statistics. For example, in a
connection quality aspect, performance statistics may include, but
are not limited to, one or more of numbers of access failures, call
drops and service degradations, as well as, access failure rates,
call drop rates, service degradation rates and the like. In
addition to basing the performance statistics on the performance
quality characteristics, performance statistics may be based on
and/or associated with other wireless device attributes, such as
position data (i.e., the geographical position of the wireless
device or a network entity in communication with the wireless
device at the point in time of a quality characteristic
occurrence). Alternatively, the performance statistics may take
into account performance attributes of other networked devices,
such as all other wireless devices in the network or other wireless
devices in the network of a like device "type."
[0075] At optional Event 440, the performance-monitoring module may
determine if a statistic meets a predetermined threshold. If the
threshold is met, at optional Event 450, the module may choose to
notify a predetermined party, such as the user of the device and/or
the service provider, that a performance threshold has been met.
For example, if the performance statistic is device-related and
meets a threshold, the module may be configured to notify the user
of the device and service provider that a device malfunction may be
occurring. Further, for example, if the performance statistic is
network-related and meets a threshold, the module may be configured
to notify the service provider that the network is experiencing
service-related problems. Typically, notifying the device user will
involve internal communication, such as a displayed message, a
haptic feedback, and/or an audio signal. Further, for example,
notifying the service provider may entail sending an external
communication, such as an SMS or ACB communication, to the service
provider.
[0076] At Event 460, the generated performance statistics are
processed into displayable performance statistic information and,
at Event 470, the displayable performance statistic information is
stored in wireless device memory. At Event 480, the performance
statistic information is displayed either on the wireless device
display or on a remote display associated with a device that has
access to the wireless device.
[0077] Referring to FIG. 7, according to an alternate aspect, a
flow diagram is illustrated of a method for receiving network
device-generated performance statistics at a wireless device and
subsequent display of the performance statistics. It should be
noted that this aspect is optional, depending on the capabilities
of a given wireless device. At Event 500, performance-related data
are collected at the wireless device 10. For example, in a
connection quality aspect, exemplary data includes, but is not
limited to, communication event data; i.e., information in
over-the-air messages, and communication log data; i.e.,
information stored in subsystem registries. Additionally, collected
information may include positional data 48 and/or 96, or any other
information related to any performance aspect of the wireless
device. In addition, device-related data, such as device
identification and device information may be collected. At Event
510, the performance data and the device-related data is
communicated to a network device 38, such as a
performance-monitoring server.
[0078] Once the performance-monitoring server has received the
performance-related data, the server generates performance
statistics and, at Event 520, the wireless device will receive
performance statistics transmitted from the network device. If the
performance statistics have not been processed at the network
device into displayable performance statistic information then, at
optional Event 530, the performance statistics will be processed
into displayable performance statistic information. In some
aspects, once the performance statistics have been properly
processed into displayable information, at Event 540, the
displayable performance statistics information is stored in
wireless device memory. It should be noted, however, that other
forms of the performance statistics may be stored for later recall
and presentation to the user. Optionally, at Event 550, the
performance statistic information is displayed either on the
wireless device display or on a display associated with a device
that has remote-access to the wireless device.
[0079] Referring to FIG. 8, according to another aspect, a flow
diagram is illustrated of a method for generating performance
statistics at a network device and communicating the performance
statistics to a wireless device. At Event 600, performance-related
data and wireless device-related data may be received at a network
device 38, such as performance-monitoring server. For example, in a
connection quality determination aspect, Exemplary communication
data includes, but is not limited to communication event data;
i.e., information in over-the-air messages and communication log
data; i.e., information stored in subsystem registries.
Additionally, the collected information may include positional data
48, 96 or any other information related to the wireless device. In
addition, the received data may include device-related data, such
as device identification and device information. At Event 610, the
network device performance-monitoring module 14 will use the
received data to define and determine performance quality
characteristics 52; i.e., data that is associated with device
performance and that is used to generate performance statistics.
For example, in the connection quality aspects, performance quality
characteristics may include, but are not limited to, expired
timers, counters, access probe attempts, reverse channel log
information, access channel log information, radio
frequency-related log information and the like.
[0080] Additionally, or alternately, at Event 620, the
performance-monitoring module 14 may associate performance quality
characteristics 52 with device-performance and/or
network-performance. In this regard, the performance-monitoring
module will associate certain predetermined performance quality
characteristics with device-performance and certain predetermined
performance quality characteristics with network-performance. By
associating certain quality characteristics with device-performance
and network-performance, the performance-monitoring module is able
to generate performance statistics that are categorized according
to being device-related or network-related.
[0081] At Event 630, the performance-monitoring module uses the
quality characteristics to generate performance statistics. Based
on association of the quality characteristics with the device
and/or the network, the performance statistics may be
device-related, network-related or generic statistics that account
for both device-related and network-related performance. In
addition, the performance statistics may be service
provider-configured performance statistics or, in some aspects,
user-configured performance statistics. Performance statistics
include, but are not limited to, numbers of access failures, call
drops and service degradations, as well as, access failure rates,
call drop rates, service degradation rates and the like. In
addition to basing the performance statistics on the performance
quality characteristics, performance statistics may be based on
other wireless device attributes, such as position data (i.e., the
geographical position of the wireless device or a network entity at
the point in time of a quality characteristic occurrence).
Alternatively, the performance statistics may take into account
performance attributes of other networked devices, such as all
other wireless devices in the network or other wireless devices in
the network of a like device "type."
[0082] At optional Event 640, the performance-monitoring module may
determine if a statistic meets a predetermined threshold. If the
threshold is met, at optional Event 650, the module may choose to
notify a predetermined party, such as the user of the device and/or
the service provider, that a performance threshold has been met. If
the performance statistic is device-related and meets a threshold,
the module may be configured to notify the user of the device and
service provider that a device malfunction may be occurring. If the
performance statistic is network-related and meets a threshold, the
module may be configured to notify the service provider that the
network is experiencing service-related problems. Typically,
notifying the user of the device and/or the service provider will
involve external communication, such as an SMS or ACB
communication, to the wireless device.
[0083] At optional Event 660, the generated performance statistics
are processed into displayable performance statistic information.
If the generated performance statistics are not processed into
displayable performance statistic information at the network device
then, such processing may occur at the wireless device. At Event
670, the performance statistics are communicated to the wireless
device for subsequent display on the wireless device or display by
a device having remote-access to the wireless device.
[0084] The various illustrative logics, logical blocks, modules,
and circuits described in connection with the aspects disclosed
herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose
processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application
specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array
(FPGA) or other programmable module device, discrete gate or
transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination
thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A
general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but, in the
alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,
controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also
be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a
combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of
microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a
DSP core, or any other such configuration.
[0085] Further, the steps of a method or algorithm described in
connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be embodied
directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor,
or in a combination of the two. A software module may reside in RAM
memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory,
registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other
form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage
medium is coupled to the processor, such that the processor can
read information from, and write information to, the storage
medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to
the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in
an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal. In the
alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as
discrete components in a user terminal.
[0086] While the foregoing disclosure shows illustrative aspects
and/or aspects, it should be noted that various changes and
modifications could be made herein without departing from the scope
of the described aspects as defined by the appended claims.
Furthermore, although elements of the described aspects may be
described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated
unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated.
Additionally, all or a portion of any aspect may be utilized with
all or a portion of any other aspect, unless stated otherwise.
[0087] Thus, the present aspects provide for a presentation of
wireless device performance statistics, such as access
failure-related statistics, call drop-related statistics, service
degradation-related statistics and the like. The statistics can be
determined at the wireless device or remotely, at a network device.
Once the statistics are determined they can presented on the
wireless device and can accessible to either the user of the
device, the service provider or both. By providing for performance
statistics at the wireless device, the user of the device or the
service provider can readily determine if performance problems are
related to the device and/or to the network. By providing such
performance-monitoring at the device or service provider level,
costly failure analysis by having to return the device to the OEM
can be avoided.
[0088] Many modifications and other aspects of the invention will
come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention
pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the
foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it
is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the
specific aspects disclosed and that modifications and other aspects
are intended to be included within the scope of the appended
claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used
in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of
limitation.
* * * * *