Abstract:
A method for setting parameter identities of a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WIMAX) customer premises equipments (CPE) which includes a plurality of parameter groups and a plurality of critical parameter groups correspondingly, each critical parameter group includes a plurality of critical parameter identities correlative to each other. The WIMAX CPE receives a setting package from a server and determines whether the setting package contains critical parameter identities of a critical parameter group. If the setting package contains critical parameter identities of the critical parameter group, the WIMAX CPE determines whether the setting package contains all critical parameter identities of the critical parameter group. If the setting package misses at least one critical parameter identities of the critical parameter group, the WIMAX CPE waits to receiving the missing critical parameter identities until receiving all critical parameter identities of the critical parameter group.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The disclosure generally relates to Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WIMAX) customer premises equipments (CPE) and method for setting parameter identities of the equipment, particularly to a method for setting parameters of WIMAX CPEs using Open Mobile Alliance Device Management (OMA-DM) protocol. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    OMA-DM protocol is a device management protocol constituted by the Open Mobile Alliance. WIMAX CPEs download operational commands from a remote DM server via OTA (Over the air) technology using the OMA-DM protocol, and execute the operational commands to implement various management functions, such as firmware update, parameters and settings configuration, data collection, and diagnosis. Each WIMAX CPE has a management tree which is used to manage parameter identities of the WIMAX CPE correspondingly managed by the DM server. 
         [0005]    DM servers can set and update parameters of the WIMAX CPEs using the OMA-DA protocol in real time. Some critical parameter identities of the WIMAX CPE are correlated to each other, if even one parameter identity of these correlative parameter identities has not been set properly or updated, the WIMAX CPE will run in error. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Many aspects of the exemplary WIMAX CPE and method can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. These drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present WIMAX CPE and method. Moreover, in the drawings like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a WIMAX CPE  10  in communication with a server of a communication service provider via a network, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary WIMAX CPE. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  schematically illustrates a management tree and several parameter groups of an application module according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a schematic flowchart of an exemplary method for setting parameters of a WIMAX CPE. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    In general, the word “module,” as used herein, refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a programming language, such as, for example, Java, C, or assembly. One or more software instructions in the modules may be embedded in firmware, such as an EPROM. It will be appreciated that modules may comprise connected logic units, such as gates and flip-flops, and may comprise programmable units, such as programmable gate arrays or processors. The modules described herein may be implemented as either software and/or hardware modules and may be stored in any type of non-transitory computer-readable medium or other computer storage device. Some non-limiting examples of non-transitory computer-readable mediums include DVDs, CDs, and hard disk drives. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a WIMAX CPE  10  in communication with a server  50  of a communication service provider via a network  30 , according to an exemplary embodiment. The WIMAX CPE  10  downloads operational commands from the server  50  using the OMA-DM to procure services. The network  30  can be an intranet, the Internet, a WAN (wide area network), a LAN (local area network), or cellular telephone network such as GSM (global System for mobile communication) network, CDMA (code division multiple access) network, or other communication network such as an IEEE 802.16 (WIMAX) network, or an IEEE 802.11x (WiFi) network. 
         [0013]      FIG. 2  shows an exemplary WIMAX CPE  10  which includes an application module  11 , a communication module  13 , a generation module  15 , a determining module  16 , and a timer  17 . The communication module  13  receives setting packages from the server  50 , and assigns the values of parameter identities in the setting packages to the application module  11 . The WIMAX CPE  10  further includes a processor  18  and a storage system  19 . The processor  18  executes one or more computerized operations of the WIMAX CPE  10  and other software applications, to implement basic functions of the WIMAX CPE  10 . The storage system  19  stores at least one program, such as an operating system, and other software applications of the WIMAX CPE  10 . The application module  11  can be integrated in the storage system  19 . The modules  13 ,  15 ,  16  and timer  17  each includes at least one computerized code stored in the storage system  19  to be executed by the processor  18  to perform corresponding operations of the WIMAX CPE  10 . Details of these operations will be provided below. 
         [0014]    The application module  11  includes several software components (not shown). Each software component has a corresponding parameter group  111  which includes a plurality of parameter identities  1111 . The server  50  managements the software components by setting and updating the values of the parameter identities  1111  of the corresponding parameter group  111 . Referring  FIG. 3 , the parameter groups  111  include but are not limited to parameter groups named WiMAX Supplicant, WiMAX Network Scan, and DevDetail. The parameter group WiMAX Supplicant includes three parameter identities  1111  named Auth Type, identity, and Realm respectively. The parameter group WiMAX Network Scan includes four parameter identities  1111  named Band, NextFreq, FFTSize, and Duplex respectively. The parameter group DevDetail includes two parameter identities  1111  named FwV and SwV respectively. Each parameter identity  1111  has a corresponding value. 
         [0015]    The communication module  13  includes a management tree  130  and a communication unit  133 . The management tree  130  is constructed according to the structure of the parameter groups  111  of the application module  11 . The management tree  130  includes a plurality of sub-trees  131  which are constructed in a manner corresponding to the parameter groups  111 . Each sub-tree  131  includes a plurality of parameter identities  1311 . Each sub-tree  131  and the corresponding parameter group  111  may have a different name, but substantially consist of the same parameter identities. The parameter identities  1311  of the sub-tree  131  and the corresponding parameter identities  1111  of the parameter group  111  may also have different names, but have the same values. For example, the sub-trees  131  include sub-trees named WmxAutch, ChannelPlan, and DevDetail which respectively correspond to the parameter groups WiMAX Supplican, WiMAX Network Scan, and DevDetail. The parameter identities  1311  include parameter identities named Bandwidth, NextFreq, FFTSzie, and DuplexMd of the sub-tree ChannelPlan which respectively correspond to the parameter identities Band, NextFreq, FFTSize, and Duplex of the parameter group WiMAX Network Scan. The parameter identities FwV and SwV of the sub-tree DevDetail respectively correspond to the parameter identities FwV and SwV of the parameter group DevDetail. 
         [0016]    The communication unit  133  communicates with the server  50  via the network  30 , and receives setting packages from the server  50 . The server  50  transmits the setting packages to the WIMAX CPE  10  to set and update values of the parameter identities of the WIMAX CPE  10  using OMA-DM protocol. The setting packages contain related information of the parameter groups  111  needing to be configured, parameter identities  1111  of the parameter groups  111  and values of the parameter identities  1111 . The values of the parameter identities  1111  in the setting packages are assigned to the parameter identities  1311  by the server  50 , and are then assigned to the parameter identities  1111  by the management tree  130 . 
         [0017]    The generation module  15  is used to generate critical parameter groups. When some of the parameter identities  1311  of the sub-tree  131  are correlated to each other, the generation module  15  generates a critical parameter group including all correlative parameter identities  1311  of the sub-tree  131 , and the correlative parameter identities are defined as critical parameter identities. For example, the parameter identities Type, Identity, and Realm of the sub-tree WmxAuth are correlated to each other, so the generation module  15  generates a critical parameter group including the parameter identities Type, Identity, and Realm of the sub-tree WmxAuth. The critical parameter groups can be generated by the generation module  15  according to the correlative parameter identities of the sub-tree  131 , and the critical parameter groups can also be formed by labeling the correlative parameter identities of the sub-tree  131  as critical parameter identities of critical groups by the generation module  15 . In the exemplary embodiment, the critical parameter groups are generated by the generation module  15  according to the correlative parameter identities of the sub-tree  131 . If the sub-tree  131  corresponding to a critical parameter group configured by the server  50  includes correlative parameter identities (critical parameter identities), all correlative parameter identities (critical parameter identities) should be configured so the software component can execute correct operations corresponding to the sub-tree  131 . 
         [0018]    The determining module  16  is used to determine whether the setting packages transmitted by the server  50  are for configuring critical parameter groups. When one setting package contains at least one critical parameter identity of one critical parameter group, the determining module  16  further determines whether the setting package contains all critical parameter identities of the corresponding critical parameter group. If the setting package contains all critical parameter identities of the critical parameter group, the sub-tree  131  corresponding to the critical parameter group communicates with the parameter group  111  and assigns the values to the parameter identities  1111 . Otherwise, if the setting package is missing one or more critical parameter identities of the critical parameter group, the timer  17  starts timing, and the communication unit  133  waits to receiving another setting package which contains the missing critical parameter identity (identities). If the communication unit  133  has not received the missing critical parameter identity (identities) when time is up according to the timer  17 , the communication unit  133  transmits a feedback package indicating the missing critical parameter identity (identities) to the server  50 , and requests the server  50  to transmit the missing critical parameter identity (identities). In addition, if the setting packages do not contain any critical parameter identities, the communication unit  133  assigns the value contained in the setting package to the parameter identities  1311  of the sub-tree  131  collectively, and then the sub-tree  131  assigns the value to the parameter identities  1111  of the parameter group  111  collectively. 
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a schematic flowchart of an exemplary method for setting parameter identities of a WIMAX CPE of  FIG. 2 , according to the exemplary embodiment. Depending on the embodiment, additional blocks may be added, others removed, and the ordering of the blocks may be changed. 
         [0020]    Step S 1 , the communication unit  133  receives a setting package from the server  50 . The setting package contains related information of parameter groups that need to be configured, parameter identities of the parameter groups, and values of the parameter identities. 
         [0021]    Step S 2 , the determining module  16  determines whether the setting package contains critical parameter identities of a critical parameter group. If the setting package contains at least one critical parameter identities of a critical parameter group, Step S 3  is executed. Otherwise, if the setting package does not contain any critical parameter identities, Step S 4  is executed. 
         [0022]    Step S 3 , the determining module  16  determines whether the setting package contains all critical parameter identities of the critical parameter group. If the setting package contains all critical parameter identities of the critical parameter group, Step  4  is executed. Otherwise, if the setting package is missing at least one critical parameter identity of the critical parameter group, Step S 5  is executed. 
         [0023]    Step S 4 , the communication unit  133  assigns the values of the critical parameter identities to the parameter group  111 . The communication unit  133  assigns the values contained in the setting package to the parameter identities  1311  of the sub-tree  131  collectively, and then the sub-tree  131  assigns the values to the parameter identities  1111  of the parameter group  111  collectively. 
         [0024]    Step S 5 , the communication unit  133  assigns the values of the parameter identities contained in the setting package to the parameter identities  1311  of the sub-tree  131  correspondingly, and waits to receive the missing critical parameter identity (identities) of the critical parameter group, meanwhile the timer  17  starts timing to restrict waiting time of the communication unit  133 . 
         [0025]    Step S 6 , The determining module  16  determines whether the communication unit  133  has received all of the missing critical parameter identity (identities). If the communication unit  133  has received the missing critical parameter identity (identities), the procedure returns to step S 4 . Otherwise, if the communication unit  133  does not receive the missing critical parameter identity (identities), Step S 7  is executed. 
         [0026]    Step S 7 , the determining module  16  determines whether time is up according to the timer  17 . If waiting time is up, Step S 8  is executed, otherwise, if the timer  17  still timing, the procedure returns to Step S 5 . 
         [0027]    Step S 8 , the sub-tree  131  does not assign the value of the critical parameter identities to the parameter  1111 , and the communication unit  133  feeds back a alarm package to the server  50  to notify the server  50  of parameter setting failure. 
         [0028]    Step S 9 , the communication unit  133  transmits a feedback package indicating the missing critical parameter identity (identities) to the server  50 , and requests the server  50  to transmit the missing critical parameter identity (identities) thereto. The procedure returns to Step S 6 . 
         [0029]    Although certain inventive embodiments of the present disclosure have been specifically described, the present disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.