Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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REMOTE INTERACTION WITH A WIRELESS DEVICE
RESIDENT DIAGNOSTIC INTERFACE ACROSS A WIRELESS
NETWORK
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application
Serial
No. 10/187,760, filed July l, 2002, which application is incorporated herein
by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to computer networks and
communications across wireless computer networks. More particularly, the
invention
relates to the collection and analysis of data from remote devices, provided
from a
device-resident diagnostic interface, on a wireless network.
IL Description of the Related Art
[0003] Wireless networking connects one or more wireless computer devices to
other
computer devices without a direct electrical connection, such as a copper wire
or optical
cable. Wireless computer devices communicate data, typically in the form of
packets,
across a wireless or partially wireless computer network and. open a "data" or
"communication" channel on the network such that the device can send and
receive data
packets. The computer devices often have computer device resources, such as
programs
and hardware components, which individually use open communication connections
to
transmit and receive data on the network.
[0004] In wireless networking, a peer-to-peer (or point-to-point) wireless
network
means that each computer can communicate directly with every other computer on
the
network. A cellular telecommunication network can be a wireless network
wherein the
cellular devices transmit voice or data packets across the cellular network.
As used
herein, the term "cellular" includes a telecommunication network of any
frequency band
including, but not limited to the common wireless networks operating at
800MHz,
1900MHz, 450MHz, 1800MHz, and 2100MHz, and all forms of wireless networks, to
include CDMA, GSM, TDMA, WCDMA, and UMTS. Some wireless networks are in
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client/server architecture, and have an access point, which is a wired
controller that
receives and transmits data to the wireless adapters installed in each
computer. There
are generally four types of wireless computer networks: Bluetooth, Infrared
Data
Association, HomeRF (SWAP); and WECA (Wi-Fi).
[0005] Bluetooth is not widely available yet and is not expected to replace
the need for
high-speed data networks between computers. Infrared Data Association (IrDA)
is a
standard for computer devices to communicate using infrared light pulses,
similarly to
how remote controls operate. Since IrDA computer devices use infrared light,
they
depend on being in direct line of sight with each other. An IrDA-based network
is
currently capable of transmitting data at speeds up to 4 megabits per second
(Mbps).
HomeRF, RF standing for radio frequency, is based upon a standard called
Shared
Wireless Access Protocol (SWAP), with is a hybrid standard including six voice
channels based on the digital enhanced cordless telecommunications (DECT)
standard
and the IEEE 802.11 wireless-Ethernet specification for data. SWAP devices
make 50
hops per second and transmit at 1 Mbps. In most cases, SWAP-based networks are
point-to-point. The Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA) is
essentially
compliant with a variation of the IEEE 802.11 specification known as IEEE
802.11b.
This specification focuses on direct -sequence spread spectrum (DSSS)
transmission
because of the higher data rate it can attain. Under 802.11b, devices
communicate at a
speed of 11 Mbps whenever possible.
[0006] There are many diagnostic tools usable with an extant wireless network
that can
give technicians feedback and performance data such that the network can be
optimized
among the various nodes thereof. In cellular networks, one method to gather
network
data is to equip automobiles with diagnostic equipment and have them drive
around the
cell coverage area and record connectivity with the cellular base stations.
This method
however is expensive to implement, time consuming, and often cannot obtain
data for
the full coverage area of the cell.
[0007] Moreover, the existing wireless telecommunication devices include
resident
diagnostic tools on their computer platform which are typically included at
the time of
manufacture. The manufacture accesses the diagnostic tools through a serial
port or
other wired connection and evaluates the operating parameters of the wireless
device
and the manufacture will appropriately adjust the hardware or software
parameters of
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the device to yield optimal performance. These diagnostic tools are normally
inaccessible remotely without a serial port connection.
[0008] Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a system and method
that
allows access to the diagnostic interface resident on the wireless device that
is ordinarily
not remotely accessible, thus providing remote access to diagnostic data and
tools. The
system and method may be implemented within existing software resident on the
wireless device and without causing interruption of the existing data
communication
occurring across the wireless network. Further, such system should be able to
take
advantage of manipulating extant commands available on the chipset of the
wireless
device. It is thus to the provision of such a system and method of providing a
remotely
accessible diagnostic interface that the present invention is primarily
directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention is a system, method, and program for accessing a
remote
diagnostic interface on a wireless device in a wireless network having at
least data
communication between computer devices selectively connected thereto, such as
cellular telecommunication devices on a cellular telecommunication network.
The
system particularly utilizes existing diagnostic interfaces on the wireless
device to
obtain status data such as device performance parameters and/or other network
information, and can use commands to the diagnostic tools to alter device
operations. In
the system, a wireless network with at least data communication from computer
devices
selectively connected thereto has and a plurality of wireless devices located
remotely
from each other and each in selective communication with other computer
devices
across the wireless network. Each wireless device includes a computer
platform, which
can have an end-user thereof, and the computer platform further includes a
resident
diagnostic interface for at least accessing status data that can include
either device status
data for the operating parameters of the wireless device, or network status
data, or both,
and the resident diagnostic interface is selectively accessible by other
computer devices
across the wireless network. Thus, other computer devices can access the
diagnostic
interface and at least get data therefrom, and alternately, can send commands
to the
diagnostic interface and alter the wireless device's and/or the wireless
network's
functionality.
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[0010] The method for remotely interacting with a diagnostic interface of a
wireless
device across a wireless network includes the steps of establishing the
wireless network
between computer devices, with at least one of the computer devices a remotely
located
wireless device including a computer platform. The wireless device includes a
resident
diagnostic interface through which at least the status data (either of the
device, network,
or both) is accessible, and the method includes the step of accessing the
wireless device
diagnostic interface from another computer device across the wireless network,
and then
gathering at least status data of the wireless device through the wireless
device
diagnostic interface. If so embodied, the method can include the step of
transmitting
commands to the diagnostic interface of the wireless device to manipulate the
device's
operating parameters.
[0011] It is therefore an object of the system and method to provide remote
access the
resident diagnostic interface of a wireless device to access device data and
tools. The
system and method thus provide significant and valuable wireless device status
and
network status data detailing operation parameters to other devices on the
network.
Further, through commands to the diagnostic interface and manipulation of the
wireless
devices' diagnostic tools, the wireless device's functionality and network can
be altered
which assists in such functions as problem-solving and network optimization.
The
system and method thus provide an advantage in that the remote wireless
devices in a
wireless network, such as a cellular telecommunication network, can have their
basic
operational data accessed without compromising the functionality of the
network, or the
need to use external monitoring equipment or provide new equipment on the
wireless
device. In one embodiment, the access to the diagnostic interface can be
created with a
simple software extension within the device operating system that allows
direct access
to the chipset diagnostic interface. Alternately, an application (or software
agent) can
be downloaded to or manufactured in the wireless devices to provide the access
an
existing or new diagnostic interface, and can cause data to be transmitted
from the
interface to another computer device on the wireless network.
[0012] Other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will
become
apparent after review of the hereinafter set forth Brief Description of the
Drawings,
Detailed Description of the Invention, and the Claims.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Fig. 1 is a representative diagram of one embodiment of a wireless
network,
with a partial LAN, having several computer devices that communicate with each
other
across the network.
[0014] Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the hardware components of the system
embodied
on a cellular wireless network providing communication between different
wireless
devices, such as cellular telephones, and computer devices.
[0015] Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of the process
executing on a
wireless device status data-gathering server in communication with wireless
devices
across the network and gathering status data from the resident diagnostic
interfaces of
the wireless devices.
[0016] Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the process executing on a wireless
device
receiving a software agent that accesses the resident diagnostic interface and
causes
status data to be transmitted to the server of Fig. 3.
[0017] Fig. 5 is an architecture diagram of the interaction between the Garner-
side
devices and the diagnostic interface resident at the wireless device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] With reference to the figures in which like numerals represent like
elements
throughout, Fig. 1 illustrates a wireless network 10 having a plurality of
computer
devices 12,18,20, and 22 in a wireless network area 28. The wireless network
14 is
connected through an interface 26 to a LAN-based network 30, with preferably
at least
one wireless device status data-gathering and/or managing server 16, and in
this
embodiment, the server 16 can selectively download software applications or
agents to
the wireless devices 12,18,20,22 across the wireless interface 26 such that
the wireless
device can supply status data back to the server 16 as is further described
herein. Such
computer devices can include wireless devices, such as cellular telephone 12,
a personal
digital assistant 18, a two-way text pager 20, or even a separate computer
platform 22
that has a wireless communication portal, and may otherwise have a wired
connection
24 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
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wireless network 14, such as remote sensors, diagnostic tools, data relays,
and the like.
The system and method can accordingly be performed on any form of computer
device
computer module including a wired or wireless communication portal, including
without limitation, wireless modems, PCMCIA cards, access terminals, personal
computers, access terminals, telephones without a display or keypad, or any
combination or sub-combination thereof.
[0019] The use of cellular telecommunication pathways has been increasing
because
wireless devices, such as cellular telephone 12, are being manufactured with
increased
computing capabilities and are becoming tantamount to personal computers and
hand-
held personal digital assistants ("PDAs"), communicating packets including
voice and
data over the wireless network. These "smart" cellular telephones have
installed
application programming interfaces ("APIs") onto their local computer platform
that
allow software developers to create software applications that operate on the
cellular
telephone, and control certain functionality on the device. Fig. 2 is a block
diagram
that more fully illustrates the components of a cellular wireless network and
interrelation of the elements of the present system. The cellular wireless
network is
merely exemplary and can include any system whereby remote modules, such as
wireless devices 12,18,20,22, communicate over-the-air between and among each
other
and/or between and among components of a wireless network 14, including,
without
limitation, wireless network carriers and/or servers.
[0020] The system 10 can utilize the existing wireless device diagnostic
interface and
any resident tools that are manufactured with the device, such as data
throughput, signal
strength, ASIC diagnosis, graphics display, dropped call statistics, access
probe
statistics, RX sensitivity, transmission power, and other hardware and
software
diagnostic tools resident on the wireless device common in the art. The data
at the
diagnostic interface is indicative of wireless device performance, and some of
the data
can be indicative of network status and performance issues. Both types of data
can be
supplied in the system 10. The device operational parameter data are typically
accessed
from a serial connection at the time of manufacture or serving and are not
traditionally
available as data reads or writes from a wireless device computer platform 50
(Fig. 2).
In one embodiment, the wireless device 12,18,20,22 of the system 10 provides a
software extension on the computer platform 50 of the wireless device such
that
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program calls can be made to the resident diagnostic interface, and any
individual
diagnostic tools, from a resident layer on the wireless device, which can be
as
rudimentary as ASIC or processor microcode to as advanced as an OS layer of
the
wireless device, as is shown in Fig. 5.
[0021] Through the use of the diagnostic interface software extension, a
remote server
16 at least reads status data therefrom, and in some instances, writes
commands to the
interface and alters the operation of the wireless device 12,18,20,22.
Accordingly, the
access to the remote device diagnostic interface allows network optimization,
customer
interaction, remote wireless device monitoring, device testing and
certification, and the
gathering of specific user information for a wireless device.
[0022] On the LAN network 30, the server 16 can be in communication with a
separate
storage 32 for the data gathered from the remote wireless devices 12,18,20,22,
such as
device status data. The server 16 and its corresponding PC or data access can
give a
ready view of the wireless device status data collected from the wireless
devices in any
form, such as tables, maps, graphics views, plain text, or any other display
as would be
known to known of skill in the art. The server 16 (or plurality of servers)
can send
software agents or applications to wireless devices 12,18,20,22 in the
wireless network
area 28 such that the wireless devices return data from their resident
diagnostic
interface, such as system performance data, user ID, geographic position,
Network 117,
System ID, model )D, resident software, and the like. The wireless devices
12,18,20,22
then transmit the requested status data to the server 16, or other computer
device on the
network, wherein the data can be used for purposes such as network
optimization, even
in real-time or near-real-time if desired, device diagnosis, or data mining on
end-user
device usage. Further, there can be a separate data management server 34
resident that
works in concert to provide data in usable formats to parties and/or a
separate layer of
control in the data flow between the wireless devices 12,18,20,22 and the
server 16 or
data storage 32.
[0023] The wireless device status data-gathering server 16 and the wireless
device
status and, in this embodiment, a network optimization database 32, and data
management server 34, will be present on the cellular data network with any
other
components that are needed to provide cellular telecommunication services. The
server
16, and/or data management server 34 communicate with a Garner network through
a
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data manager 40, through a data link, such as the Internet, a secure LAN, WAN,
or other
network. The carrier network controls messages (generally being data packets)
sent to a
messaging service controller ("MSC") 42. The carrier network communicates with
the
MSC 42 by a network, the Internet, and/or POTS ("plain ordinary telephone
system").
Typically, the network or Internet connection between the carrier network and
the MSC
42 transfers data, and the POTS transfers voice information. The MSC 42 is
connected
to multiple base stations ("BTS") 44. In a similar manner to the carrier
network, the
MSC 42 is typically connected to the BTS 44 by both the network and/or
Internet for
data transfer and POTS for voice information. The BTS 44 ultimately broadcasts
messages wirelessly to the wireless devices, such as cellular telephone 12, by
short
messaging service ("SMS"), or other over-the-air methods known in the art.
[0024] Each wireless device, such as cellular telephone 12, has a computer
platform 50
that can receive and execute software applications and display data
transmitted from the
application download server 16 or other network servers 34. The computer
platform 50
also includes an application-specific integrated circuit ("ASIC") 52, or other
chipset,
processor, microprocessor, logic circuit, or other data processing device. The
ASIC 52
is installed at the time of manufacture of the wireless device and is not
normally
upgradeable. The ASIC 52 or other processor executes the application
programming
interface ("API") layer 54 that interfaces with any resident programs in the
memory 56
of the wireless device. The memory can be comprised of read-only or random-
access
memory (RAM and ROM), EPROM, EEPROM, flash cards, or any memory common to
computer platforms. The computer platform 50 also includes a local database 58
that
can hold the software applications, file, or data not actively used in memory
56, such as
the software applications or data downloaded from the server 16. The local
database 58
is typically comprised of one or more flash memory cells, but can be any
secondary or
tertiary storage device as known in the art, such as magnetic media, EPROM,
EEPROM, optical media, tape, or soft or hard disk. The local database 58 can
ultimately hold a resident copy of a network optimization application or agent
as is
further described herein
[0025] In one embodiment, the wireless device diagnostic interface can be
accessed
through a class of software commands on the wireless device 12,18,20,22. A
software
class extension can communicate with the diagnostic tools of the phone, which
allows
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both data reads and commands. This class can send commands, including register
for
log messages and event notifications, on behalf of the applications that
invoke it. The
class object can then forward the responses of the diagnostic tools units to
the
. applications or ultimately across the network. Notifications of connection
and
disconnection of external interfaces (outside the wireless device) can be sent
to
applications if they register with the device manager for notice. Each
wireless device
resident application can create an instance of this new software class to
communicate
with the diagnostic tools independently. Such internal connections, i.e. among
applications and the diagnostic tools, operate independently and can also
operate
simultaneously with an external interface, but the external interface has the
option to
also monitor the internal interface.
[0026] Thus, in one embodiment, the system 10 can push at least one network
optimization application to be resident, at least temporarily, on the computer
platform
50 of each wireless device 12,18,20,22 that causes that wireless device to
selectively
transmit wireless device status data for that wireless device and/or network
status to
another computer device on the wireless network. Alternately, the network
optimization
application can be placed on the platform 50 at the time of manufacture or
initial
programming, or the wireless device 12,18,20,22 can "pull" the application
from
another computer device on the network, such as server, either with a request
from the
end-user, or automatically. The status data can include, but is not limited
to, data from
both the diagnostic tools and from other device components, such as signal
strength,
Ec/Io, Latitude-Longitude or other geographical data, Time, FER, BER, RSSI,
PN,
System ID, or Network ID, Model 1D, and can capture wireless device
12,18,20,22 state
data, such as idleness, data or voice call, dormancy or inoperation, which is
generated
from wireless device operation. Moreover, the wireless device status data can
allow for
specific troubleshooting of a device within the wireless network 14 based upon
the
gathered status data. The network optimization application or agent can be
permanently
stored in the local database 58 of the wireless device computer platform 50,
or can only
be temporarily held in memory 56 thereof for a one time (or n-time) execution
to
transmit network status data.
[0027] In one embodiment, the network optimization application transmits the
wireless
device status data from that wireless device 12,18,20, 22 to a server 16
across the
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wireless network 14 when requested. Alternately, the network status data is
transmitted
over an open communication connection from the wireless device 12,18,20,22 to
the
wireless network 14, and thus "piggybacked" across an open connection, such as
a voice
or data call at the cellular telephone 12. In a cellular network configuration
such as that
shown in Fig. 2, the wireless device status data can be transmitted to the
server 12
through short message service.
[0028] The specific process of the program executing on the server 16 for
optimizing
the wireless network 14 through use of the wireless device resident diagnostic
interface
is shown in the flowchart of Fig. 3. The process to send a data access agent
to the
wireless device starts, as shown at step 66, and a determination is made as to
whether
permission is required of the end-user to have the application pushed thereto,
as shown
at decision 68. In another embodiment, a simple notification of the end-user
may be all
that is necessary to permit pushing of the application. If the end-user
permission is
required at decision 68, then a request to send a data access application
(agent) is sent to
a wireless device 12,18,20,22, as shown at step 70. Otherwise, if end-user
permission is
not required at decision 68, then the agent is pushed to the wireless device,
as shown at
step 74. Returning to step 70, afterwards the server 16 makes a determination
as to
whether an approval to transmit the agent has been received from the wireless
device
12, 18,20,22, as shown at decision 72. If the approval has not been received
at the
server 16, then the process ends. Otherwise, if the approval has been received
at the
server 16 at decision 72, then the data access agent is transmitted to the
wireless device
12,18,20,22 as shown at step 74, and then the wireless device 12,18,20,22 is
prompted
to transmit status data to the server 16, as shown at step 76. The prompting
can be for
any active status data, or any data stored at the wireless device 12,18,
20,22, or both.
[0029] A determination is made as to whether the status data has been received
at the
server 16, as shown at decision 78. If the status data has not been received,
then an
error is returned to the calling process, as shown at step 80, and the process
ends.
Otherwise, if the status data has been received at the server 16 at decision
78, then the
wireless network 14 is optimized with the gathered wireless device status
data, as shown
at step 82. The optimization can occur on the specific server 16 that gathered
the
wireless device status data, or alternately, the optimization can occur on
another
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computer device, such as data management server 34, or other wireless device,
such as
personal computer 22 on the wireless network 14.
[0030] As embodied here, the server 16 also transmits the optimization command
data
back to the wireless device 12,18,20,22 such that the wireless device can
modify its
functionality in accord with the optimal network through, at least,
manipulation of the
diagnostic tools, as shown at step 84, although such step is preferable and
not necessary
to operation of the present system. After the transmission of the command data
to the
wireless device at step 84, a determination is made as to whether the wireless
device has
the requisite agents for future status data transmission, as shown at decision
86. If the
wireless device 12,18,20,22 does have the proper network optimization
application or
agent to transmit status data, then the process returns to step 76 and
selectively prompts
the wireless device to transmit status data when necessary. Otherwise, if the
wireless
device 12,18,20,22 does not have the requisite application or agent, then the
process
returns to step 66 and attempts to load the specific application or agent onto
the wireless
device 12,18,20,22 with any end-user permission requested.
[0031] Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the process executing upon the
computer
platform 50 of a wireless device 12,18,20,22 in tandem with the process
executing on
the server 16 shown in the flowchart of Fig. 3. The wireless device
12,18,20,22
receives the attempted push of the agent, as shown at step 87, and then makes
a
determination as to whether end-user action is requested for the push attempt,
as shown
at decision 88. If end-user interaction is not requested, then the process
forwards to step
96 and downloads the pushed agent. Otherwise, if end-user action is requested,
the
wireless device and prompts (or notifies) the end-user to download the network
optimization application or agent, as shown at step 90. It should be noted
that such
prompting could occur from an application installed on the wireless device
12,18,20,22
at manufacture and which prompts the end-user thereof for download permission
during
device configuration or at some other predefined moment. A determination is
then
made as to whether the end-user has accepted the download, as shown at
decision 92. If
not, the server 16 is notified of the end-user refusal to download the network
optimization application or agent, as shown at step 94, and the download
process
terminates. Otherwise, if the end-user has accepted the download at decision
92, then
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the network optimization application or agent is downloaded (and preferably
installed
shortly thereafter) as shown at step 96.
[0032] A determination is then made as to whether the status data has been
requested,
as shown at decision 98, such request coming from server 16 at step 70 in Fig.
3. If no
request has been made, then the thread process returns to decision 98 to enter
a wait-
state until the status data is requested. Otherwise, if the status data has
been requested
at decision 98, then active status data can be gathered from the resident
diagnostic
interface, as shown at step 100, and the status data is transmitted to the
requesting server
16 or other computer device on the wireless network 14, as shown at step 102.
At step
102, if the system 10 is embodied so as to store the status data, such stored
status data
can be gathered and forwarded at this time. Then a determination is made as to
whether
command data for network optimization has been sent from the server 16, as
shown at
decision 104. Such step corresponds to the command data transmission step 84
of the
server 16 in Fig. 3, and is only one embodiment that can optimize the network
through
wireless device modification. If command data has been received at decision
104, then
the wireless device 12,18,20,22 performance is modified based upon the
received
command data at least manipulating the device through the diagnostic interface
to alter
wireless device performance or operation, as shown at step 106. If there is no
command
data received at decision 104, or after wireless device modification at step
106, the
process returns to determine if status data has been requested at decision 98.
If the data
access application or agent is only temporarily active, then the process will
end after
step 106, and will only resume upon the redownload of a data access
application, i.e.
return to step 90.
[0033] Fig. 5 is an architecture diagram of the interaction between the
carrier side
devices and the diagnostic interface resident at the wireless device
12,18,20,22. On the
wireless device 12,18,20,22 side, the resident applications 110 include a
diagnostic
interface application 112 which allows the remote access of the diagnostic
interface 118
of the chipset operating system (OS) 120. In this embodiment, the Device OS
114
includes an application programming interface (API) extension to interface
with the
resident diagnostic interface 118 of the chipset OS 120. Thus, the wireless
device
12,18,20,22 can access the application download server 122 or other Garner-
side,
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service providing device, and also transmit data to the carrier side, either
with the
application or service download, or independently therefrom.
[0034] While the diagnostic interface 118 is accessed through a software
application
extension in this embodiment, the interface can alternately be constructed in
hardware
or firmware, or combinations thereof with software. The importance of the
interface is
that the resident diagnostic interface 118, which is typically only accessible
via a
hardwire connection during manufacture or servicing, is accessible remotely
such that
the carrier or other network entity can access the diagnostic data and/or
commands
across the network, without a hardwire connection.
[0035] The data generated from the diagnostic interface 118 of the wireless
device
12,18,20,22 can then be uploaded from the wireless device through a standard
H'TTP,
such as shown at block 124, or other FTP or data transfer protocols can be
used. The
device data is then gathered at a data server 126 and can be stored there or
other
processes can be executed thereupon, such as by post processor 130, which can
include
canonization, normalization, data mining or other process. Other business or
commercial systems, shown by block 128, can access the gathered data,
preferably in a
monitored fashion such as through a user manager 132 to maintain security
and/or
integrity of the data of the data server 126. Other computer devices, both
storage and
processing, can be located on the Garner side, and accordingly, the Garner
architecture is
readily scalable.
[0036] The present system therefore provides a method for remotely interacting
with a
diagnostic interface 118 of a wireless device 12,18,20,22 across a wireless
network 14,
comprising the steps of establishing a wireless network 14 having at least
data
communication between computer devices selectively connected thereto, at least
one of
the computer devices a remotely located wireless device 12,18,20,22 including
a
computer platform 50, possibly having an end-user thereof, and the wireless
device
12,18,20,22 including a resident diagnostic interface 118 through which at
least status
data include the wireless device status of the operating parameters of the
wireless device
and/or network 14 status data is accessible. Then the method can include the
steps of
accessing the wireless device diagnostic interface 118 from another computer
device,
such as server 16, across the wireless network 14, and gathering at least the
status data
of the wireless device 12,18,20,22 through the wireless device diagnostic
interface 118.
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14
The method can further include the steps of selectively transmitting status
data from at
least one wireless device 12,18,20,22 to at least one other computer device,
such as
server 16, on the wireless network 14, and receiving the transmitted status
data at the at
least one other computer device.
[0037] The method can include the step of optimizing the wireless network 14
based
upon the received status data, and the step of transmitting wireless status
data can occur
from the execution of an application resident on the computer platform 50 of
the at least
one wireless device that accesses the diagnostic interface, such as diagnostic
interface
application 112. The method can also include the steps of transmitting command
data
across the wireless network 14 to the at least one wireless device
12,18,20,22, receiving
the command data at the diagnostic interface 118 of the at least one wireless
device, and
modifying the wireless device operation through manipulation of operating
parameters
based upon the received command data. Further, the method can include the step
of
pushing or pulling an application onto the computer platform 50 of the at
least one
wireless device 12,18,20,22 to provide access of one or more computer devices
on the
wireless network 14 to the diagnostic interface 118 of that wireless device,
such as
pushing diagnostic interface application 112 onto cellular telephone 12.
[0038] In one embodiment, the system can be implemented solely on the wireless
device 12,18,20,22 that provides remote access to its resident diagnostic
interface. The
wireless device can have at least one application or agent resident (either
permanent or
temporarily) on the computer platform 50 thereof which causes the gathering of
status
data from the resident diagnostic tools, such as diagnostic interface
application 112,
which can effect selective transmission of the status data for that wireless
device to
another computer device (such as server 16) on the wireless network 14. If the
wireless
device 12,18,20,22 is so embodied, the wireless device status data and/or
network data
is transmitted over an open communication connection from the wireless device
12,18,20,22 to the wireless network 14, such as an open voice or data call. If
the
wireless device is a cellular telephone 12 and the wireless network is a
cellular
telecommunication network, such as shown in Fig. 2, the network status data
can be
transmitted through short message service or other wireless communication
methods.
[0039] In view of the method being executable on the computer platforms of a
wireless
device 12,18,20,22, and a server 16, the method includes a program resident in
a
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computer readable medium, where the program directs a computer device
12,18,20,22
having a device platform 50 to perform the steps of the method. Such program
can be
executed on any single computer platform, or can be multithreaded among
several
computer platforms. Furthermore, the method can be implemented by a program
that
directs a computer device such as server 16 to perform the steps of optimizing
the
network through gathering and processing status data from the wireless devices
12,18,20,22.
[0040] The computer readable medium can be the memory 56 of the computer
platform
50 of the cellular telephone 12, or other wireless device 18,20,22, or can be
in a local
database, such as local database 58 of the device platform 50. Further, the
computer
readable medium can be in a secondary storage media that is loadable onto a
wireless
device computer platform, such as a magnetic disk or tape, optical disk, hard
disk, flash
memory, or other storage media as is known in the art.
[0041] In the context of Figs. 3 and 4, the present method may be implemented,
for
example, by operating portions) of the wireless network 14 and/or LAN 30 to
execute a
sequence of machine-readable instructions, such as device platform 50 and
server 16.
The instructions can reside in various types of signal-bearing or data storage
primary,
secondary, or tertiary media. The media may comprise, for example, RAM (not
shown)
accessible by, or residing within, the components of the wireless network 14
or LAN
30. Whether contained in RAM, a diskette, or other secondary storage media,
the
instructions may be stored on a variety of machine-readable data storage
media, such as
DASD storage (e.g., a conventional "hard drive" or a RAID array), magnetic
tape,
electronic read-only memory (e.g., ROM, EPROM, or EEPROM), flash memory cards,
an optical storage device (e.g. CD-ROM, WORM, DVD, digital optical tape),
paper
"punch" cards, or other suitable data storage media including digital and
analog
transmission media.
[0042] While the foregoing disclosure shows illustrative embodiments of the
invention,
it should be noted that various changes and modifications could be made herein
without
departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Furthermore, although elements of the invention may be described or claimed in
the
singular, the plural is contemplated unless limitation to the singular is
explicitly stated.
