Abstract:
A portable wireless site qualifier device and associated computer systems, software, and methods are disclosed. The portable device comprises a self updating and self configuring portable measuring device that analyzes, tests, and measures quality of service on all available wireless networks and immediately displays an optimal choice(s) when choosing between multiple wireless data providers. All data is also sent to a central configuration, collection, and reporting facility.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application relates to the same subject matter as co-pending provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/995,309, filed by the same applicant on Sep. 26, 2007. This application claims the Sep. 26, 2007 filing date as to the common subject matter. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The disclosure relates generally to wireless communications. More particularly, the present invention relates to measuring, analyzing and comparing wireless service provider quality of service. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Today a dizzying array of wireless networking choices exists and no foreseeable technology in the near future will collapse this matrix. The future additions of new frequencies (700 MHz) and new technologies such as WiMax will enhance the frustrations associated with this problem. Additionally, most users of wireless networks have no idea how or why a wireless technology works and/or which is better suited to their needs. Due to the invisibility and complexity of wireless networking, no good and affordable way exists today to determine the optimal carrier and/or even the user&#39;s choices. Today&#39;s user must play technology and provider roulette often leading to expensive, lengthy, and frustrating process. A simple to use, self configuring, and affordable portable site qualification device is needed. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A portable wireless site qualifier device and associated computer systems, software, and methods are disclosed. The portable device comprises a self updating and self configuring portable measuring device that analyzes, tests, and measures quality of service on all available wireless networks and immediately displays an optimal choice(s) when choosing between multiple wireless data providers. All data is also sent to a central configuration, collection, and reporting facility. A central engine may provide proper device configurations such as code levels/updates and is used to select and coordinate testing for specific devices and specific sites. 
         [0007]    The device can display all test results locally. The device can also collect and send all testing results to a central engine, which may operate as a reporting facility. The engine can send all test results in an email and/or display via a text or graphical display to the end users. The data may also be warehoused within the device for further analysis and reporting. The engine may use authorization and authentication to protect data. Reporting and configuration applications used with the central engine are also capable of being customer branded and translated to other languages. 
         [0008]    The device may have an open modular design that allows the insertion of different wireless technologies e.g. CDMA, UMTS, HSPDA, GSM, 802.16, 802.11, et al. The device may recognize and report on as many networks as possible with as few as possible network interfaces. 
         [0009]    The device and the device specific website allow the input of specific geographic data to allow a specific field test to be correlated with the request. A unique serial number and customer account may be provided in the system of the invention to create a device specific website. Customer with multiple devices may be able to select several devices from a common page. In order to track tests to a specific instance and to allow custom tests at every location, the device may retrieve test and communication information using a repository in electronic communication with the central engine. The tester will be able to enter a correlating field to allow the device to determine the test suite, the destined users, and any other test specific data. In the event that no test data is found an error may be displayed. The user may receive a prompt for the tester to allow a default test. The default test is also provided by the central engine. 
         [0010]    The device will have the ability to perform the following tasks: 
         [0011]    a. Boot the operating system and initialize the test application; 
         [0012]    b. Query the central engine for current firmware level and all hardware specific configurations; 
         [0013]    c. Update firmware if necessary and reboot if necessary; 
         [0014]    d. Upload any archived testing data; 
         [0015]    e. Initialize and confirm hardware; 
         [0016]    f. Query the central engine for tests assigned to the device; 
         [0017]    g. Prompt a user with a list of available pre-set tests and/or the ability to enter a custom test; 
         [0018]    h. Capture tester input; 
         [0019]    i. Run specific tests and generate results; 
         [0020]    j. Display test results to tester on the device; and 
         [0021]    k. Send data to a central engine, or, if a send error occurs, archive data locally. 
         [0022]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the system of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the device of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a data flow diagram for the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a data flow chart of a system embodying the invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  illustrates an input screen for configuration of a device embodying the invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  illustrates an input screen for a testing request for a device embodying the invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  illustrates testing report for a system embodying the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]    The present invention is a system for testing the quality of service of one or more wireless network transmissions, shown generally in  FIG. 1  at  10 . The system includes a device  12  that may be portable so that the device  12  may be brought to various locations for testing. The device  12  includes a plurality of transceivers  14   a  and  14   b,  each of which is capable of transmitting to and receiving from a different type of wireless network transmission  16   a  and  16   b.  Various types of networks may be used with the device, including radio, CDMA, UMTS, HSPDA, GSM, 802.1x and 802.16 technologies. The device further includes a CPU  18  including a testing application for quality of service or tester  20  for each type of wireless network transmission. The tester  20  is in electronic communication with the transceivers  14   a  and  14   b.  The device also includes a quality of service report generator application  22  or report generator in electronic communication with the tester  20 . The device further includes a GUI  24  in electronic communication with the CPU  18 . Thus the GUI  24  is in electronic communication with the tester of quality of service  20  and the quality of service report generator  22 . 
         [0032]    Information from the device  12  is carried from the device  12  via a wireless network transmission through a public network  26  to a remote central engine  28 . The central engine  28  may be a computer such as a network server or the equivalent. The central engine  28  serves the device  12  by transmitting data and instructions to the device  12  and performing other functions as described below. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  is a more detailed schematic diagram of an embodiment of the device  12 . As shown the device  12  includes a CPU  18 . The CPU  18  includes applications including one or more testers  20  and quality of service report generator  22 . The CPU  18  is in electronic communication with a plurality of transceivers  14   a  and  14   b.  As shown, a transceiver  14   a  may comprise a network card  30  in electronic communication with a wireless modem  32 . Examples of transceivers that may be used in the subject invention include Sierra Wireless Models 881u, 595u, Compass 597 and Compass 885. However, other network interface cards or “aircards” are also contemplated. 
         [0034]    The device  12  includes a power source  34  that may be attached to the device  12 , such as a battery. Also, the GUI  22  associated with the device  12  may include a display with a keypad, a touch-screen or other user interface known in the art. 
         [0035]    In illustration of the operation of the subject invention,  FIGS. 3 and 4  show a flow chart illustrating a data flow for an embodiment of the device. Beginning at the starting block  110 , the operating system of the device is booted and hardware such as the GUI can be initialized and confirmed. 
         [0036]    Then in block  120  the testing and reporting applications can be started and transceivers such as the network cards can be initialized. 
         [0037]    In block  130 , signal strength for all wireless network transmissions can be received by the device. 
         [0038]    In block  140 , the received signal strengths are compared be the device. 
         [0039]    In block  150 , the device can initiate a wireless network link to the public network using the wireless network transmission with the strongest signal 
         [0040]    In block  160 , the device can query the central engine for updates to the firmware associated with the device. If updates are available the updates can be downloaded into the device at block  180 . 
         [0041]    In block  190 , the central engine can communicate to the device that a reboot is required to initialize downloaded firmware, and the central engine will automatically reboot the device. The device may alternatively be rebooted manually. 
         [0042]    After the firmware has been initialized, in block  200 , the device can transmit to the central engine archived data from prior tests, if the archived data exists. 
         [0043]    In block  210 , the device can query the central engine for specific tests to be performed by the device. The central engine can then respond to the query and provide data as required. For example, specifically named files, or a series of specific files, may be uploaded and/or downloaded to the device for the test. Also, the device may receive configuration changes for the transceivers from the central engine. 
         [0044]    In block  220 , a website specific for the device is identified. The website is in electronic communication with the central engine. The website may be used for the reporting of test results, identification of files to be used for testing, and the identification of changes in the configuration of the transceivers of the device. 
         [0045]    In block  230 , the device can run a requested and identified test on a wireless network transmission. 
         [0046]    A report on the results of the test is then generated. In block  240 , the results of the test can be displayed on the GUI of the device. 
         [0047]    In block  250 , an email, a web report data file, or both can be created by the device. In block  260 , the email, the web report data file, or both, can be sent to the central engine via the wireless network identified and used in block  150 . 
         [0048]    The device then can query whether a sending error is detected by the device in block  270 . If an error has been detected then in block  280  the test results can be archived. Once archived, a second attempt at sending the test results can be performed. 
         [0049]    In an embodiment of the invention, the system includes the ability to determine the location of the device electronically. This ability may be achieved through a means for determining the location of the device, such as a GPS antenna. Alternatively, the location may be determined by utilizing the operation of the transceiver such as  14   a  or  14   b  through cell tower triangulation, or equivalent means for determining the location of the device known in the art. 
         [0050]    In another embodiment of the invention, the system  10  may include a website specific to the device  12  in electronic communication with the device  12 . The website may in turn be in electronic communication with the central engine  28 . The website may also be capable of allowing input of requests for alteration to testing protocols for the system  10 . The website may also allow the input of specific geographic data related to the location of the device, so that the testing of the networks has the local geography as a defined variable for the test. 
         [0051]    In yet another embodiment of the invention, the quality of service report generator  22  is in electronic communication with an email generator on the device  12 . Thus the results of the test may be transmitted directly from the device. Alternatively, the quality of service report generator  22  may be in electronic communication with the central engine  28 , and the central engine may generate an email containing the test results. 
         [0052]    In still another embodiment of the invention, a user of the tester of quality of service  20  is capable of testing uploads and downloads of data files from a wireless network transmission to the device. The data files to be used during testing may be specified in the central engine. Further, the data files to be used in a test may be specified in the website specific to the device  12 . 
         [0053]    Among the tests which may be performed by the device are low-level connectivity and latency, upload and download bandwidths, and mixed packet transfer liability, latency and throughput of the wireless network transmission. However, other tests known in the art are also contemplated for this invention. 
         [0054]      FIG. 5  illustrates an input screen for configuration of a device embodying the invention at  400 . As shown, a user of the system  10  may select various configuration for the transceivers of the device. Further, the user may obtain information regarding the last test at a particular location and the last update of the firmware of the device at the time of the last test. 
         [0055]      FIG. 6  illustrates an input screen for a testing request for a device embodying the invention at  500 . As shown, standard pre-set testing files or custom testing files may be used by the system to perform its testing functions. Furthermore, a user may identify an individual transceiver to be tested. 
         [0056]      FIG. 7  illustrates a summary testing report for a system embodying the invention at  600 . As shown, the system can provide a comparison of several wireless network transmissions. Also, a unique site ID may be provided for the test. Details of each network tested may also be provided to the user of the system. 
         [0057]    In another embodiment of the invention, the device  12  and the device specific website allow the input of specific geographic data to allow a specific field test to be correlated with the request. Each time a user purchases a device the serial number and customer account may be used to create a device specific website. Customer with multiple devices may be able to select devices from a common page. In order to track tests to a specific instance and to allow custom tests at every location, the device may have the ability to retrieve specific test and communication information using a central repository in electronic communication with the central engine. A user of the system may enter in the configuration screen  400  and the test selection screen  500  information to allow the device to determine a test suite, the destined users, and any other test specific data. In the event that no test data is found an error may be displayed and a prompt for the user to allow a default test. The default test is also provided by the central configuration engine. 
         [0058]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 
         [0059]    Embodiments of the invention can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment containing both hardware and software elements. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is implemented in hardware and software, which includes but is not limited to firmware, resident software, microcode, and the like. Furthermore, the invention can take the form of a computer program product accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable medium providing program code for use by or in connection with a computer or any instruction execution system.