Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W24/00—Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Definitions

• the field of the invention is that of controlling and analyzing the operation of radiocommunication devices, such as radiotelephones or terminals equipped with radiocommunication means (installed for example in machines, sensors, automobiles, etc. .).
• radiocommunication devices such as radiotelephones or terminals equipped with radiocommunication means (installed for example in machines, sensors, automobiles, etc. .).
• radiocommunication means installed for example in machines, sensors, automobiles, etc. .
• electronic products are tested as comprehensively as possible, before being placed on the market.
• the complexity of these devices is increasing steadily, and it appears very difficult to test them in full, and to identify all the situations they may face. This is in particular due to the fact that they embed significant and complex software means, and that they can be confronted with very numerous situations and applications. This is particularly the case in the field of radiocommunications.
• measurement and test devices such as protocol analyzers
• protocol analyzers are generally used which are capable of observing and analyzing the data exchanges carried out according to the protocols used by the radiocommunication device.
• This technique is effective, but often not very easy to implement, since it presupposes having close to complex equipment.
• the faulty device is a radiotelephone, the user must therefore send it back to a test laboratory, after having explained as precisely as possible the identified fault and the conditions under which it appears. This is not an easy process, and it deprives the user of his radiotelephone for several days or even weeks.
• an objective of the invention is to provide a technique which does not require the sending of the faulty device to a remote site, nor the movement of a specialist with his test equipment.
• an object of the invention is to provide a technique allowing the analysis of a defect, and if necessary to carry out the necessary repair operations, remotely.
• Another objective of the invention is to provide such a technique, which makes it possible to carry out test, analysis and repair treatments very quickly, without the radiocommunication device being immobilized and unusable for long periods of time, more than several hours or even several days or weeks.
• the invention also aims to provide such a technique, which does not require, on the part of a user, a complex and complete description of the situation in which the identified problem occurs.
• the invention also aims to provide such a technique, which does not require, in radiocommunication devices, complex technical means, bulky and expensive.
• said radiocommunication terminal transmits data representative of at least one operation to be analyzed to a remote analysis device, via a link according to said predetermined radiocommunication protocol.
• the analysis is not performed locally, using dedicated test devices, which must be connected to the terminal, but remotely.
• the terminal itself performs the operations internally and transmits the information to be analyzed to a remote supervisor.
• the method of the invention comprises a step of executing a sequence of at least one operation, in said radiocommunication terminal, and temporary storage of data representative of the said operation or operations, preferably followed by a step of deferred transmission of said data representative of said operation or operations, to said remote analysis device.
• said execution and transmission steps successively using the same radio communication protocol.
• the approach of the invention is therefore to defer the transmission of the data to be analyzed.
• the terminal itself performs all the test operations, then transmits the data resulting from the analysis (it is also possible to provide periodic transmissions, or at predetermined times, of these results, during the test).
• GSM Global System for Mobile Communications
• the method of the invention comprises a prior step of reception in said radiocommunication terminal of an analysis scenario and / or analysis parameters.
• Said parameters may in particular include at least one of the following elements: - identification of at least one software element to be analyzed; - identification of at least one data item to be transmitted; - identification of a sequence of at least one operation to be carried out; - indication of a level of analysis.
• said method also includes a preliminary step of receiving in said radiocommunication terminal data of configuration of the transmission to said remote analysis device.
• Said configuration data can in particular comprise at least one of said following elements: a telephone number corresponding to said remote analysis device; - configuration parameters for the transmission of data to said remote analysis device.
• the method implements an encryption for the transmission of data to and / or from said radiocommunication terminal. In particular, it can use an encryption key for the transmission of said analysis scenario and / or of said analysis parameters.
• the invention may also include a subsequent step of receiving update data in said radiocommunication terminal, as a function of the analysis of said data.
• the said reception step or steps also use said radiocommunication protocol.
• said radiocommunication terminal implements an automaton, controlled by a scenario transmitted by said remote analysis device and / or stored in said radiocommunication terminal.
• said scenario can ensure the realization of at least one operation usually carried out by a user of said radiocommunication terminal.
• said radiocommunication terminal implements http commands, used to control analysis means.
• the invention also relates to radiocommunication terminals comprising means for implementing the analysis method as described above, as well as the corresponding analysis device.
• the invention is therefore based on a new approach to the detection and analysis of problems ("debug" in English) in the field of radio.
• problems "debug" in English) in the field of radio.
• the invention there is indeed no direct supervision, using a specific device, on or by an independent access, of RS232C type or other, but a deferred transmission of information useful for analysis, preferably using the protocol used for the communications themselves (for example GSM, GPRS, 3GPP, ).
• the protocol used for the communications themselves for example GSM, GPRS, 3GPP, .
• the supervision device 11 sends to the terminal 12 data 13 for debugging configuration.
• the terminal 12 which can be a radiotelephone, or radiotelephony means, such as a module, installed in any type of machine, receives and processes the debug data, which notably comprise a sequence of operations to be carried out. When these operations have been carried out, the terminal 12 sends back debugging results data 14 to the supervision device 11. The latter then carries out, in deferred fashion, the corresponding analyzes.
• An interesting aspect of the invention is that one can use the same communication channel (wireless) to: - configure the terminal for the debugging steps; perform these steps themselves; and - send the results back to the supervisor.
• An example of implementation is illustrated in FIG. 2.
• the processing generally begins with the identification 21 of a problem in the terminal.
• the corresponding problem identification information 22 is transmitted to the supervisor. This transmission can be carried out automatically, using the radiocommunication network, or be requested independently, for example in the case of a voice telephone communication to an operator.
• this step can be omitted, the supervisor being able to decide for himself to carry out tests, because he has identified a problem himself, or simply as a periodic check.
• the supervisor establishes and sends (23) a test scenario, as well as corresponding configuration parameters.
• These parameters can in particular include the following elements: - information to reach the supervisor and transmit the data collected to him: o protocol stacks http, WSP, owner, ...) and "address" (for example, telephone number, URL, IP addresss, ...) ; o preferential transmission links (data, GPRS, ...) and usage strategy (for example GPRS first, and otherwise SMS); o duration of the test or instants for transmitting debug data (the duration may be for example an hour, a day or a week); o security parameters (to avoid malicious use): ⁇ coding authorizing the terminal to identify the supervisor, so as to obtain controlled data; ⁇ user interface allowing the user to accept or refuse a sequence of tests; o debug trace management data: ® maximum size; ® circular buffer or not; ⁇ ...
• the data 24 also includes a test scenario, describing all of the events and operations that the terminal must perform, to produce the debug data.
• the scenario is advantageously a test automaton, installed in the terminal. It can in particular define: events which will generate operations such as: o events which will launch the test process; o network indications (recording, level, incoming communications, incoming SMS or MMS, ...); o timeout expiration; o indications relating to peripherals (USB access, battery levels, battery charge, ...); o user-related interaction (according to this aspect, the terminal can simulate actions performed by the user, such as a keystroke); o ...
• the terminal must have memory areas dedicated to these operations, on the one hand to store the test scenario and the corresponding parameters, and on the other hand to store the corresponding results (debugging traces) produced by the execution. tests.
• the terminal must also have, in its on-board software, elements making it possible to implement the various operations related to debugging.
• the terminal therefore performs (27) various operations, simulating the usual operation, according to the instructions of the scenario received.
• the corresponding data, as defined in the test parameters is stored internally. When the test is finished (either because the fixed duration has elapsed, or because the defined scenario has reached the end of it), all of the stored test data is transmitted (28) to the supervisor, who will be able to analyze them (29) in a delayed manner.
• the supervisor can determine the problem, and send the corresponding update data (30), either independently, or from corrected data programmed by an operator.
• These correction or update data are received (31) in the terminal, which stores them in the places provided for this purpose.
• the only means of communication used are conventional radiotelephone communication means, available in the terminal (GSM, SMS, data, ).
• the terminal performs the test sequence itself, then transmits the results for analysis.
• the terminal implements http commands, for implementing the progress of the automaton.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
• Telephone Function (AREA)
• Debugging And Monitoring (AREA)
• Maintenance And Management Of Digital Transmission (AREA)
• Monitoring And Testing Of Transmission In General (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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• 2003
  • 2003-10-31 FR FR0312837A patent/FR2861945B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2004
  • 2004-10-29 WO PCT/FR2004/002806 patent/WO2005043946A2/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2004-10-29 CN CNA2004800317410A patent/CN1875649A/zh active Pending
  • 2004-10-29 EP EP04805358A patent/EP1736020A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2004-10-29 US US10/577,338 patent/US20080274699A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2006
  • 2006-04-05 ZA ZA200602807A patent/ZA200602807B/xx unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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