Abstract:
In a monitoring system for testing a performance of a plurality of mobile communications terminals and networks, the monitoring system has a main body coupled with a plurality of mobile communications terminals through cables for transmitting DM data and data stream by using serial and USB interfacing with the mobile communications terminals, memory means for storing data collected by the main body, which is coupled with the main body and a data control unit for conducting an application software preinstalled therein to preset an operation schedule.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a system for monitoring performance of various communications terminals for use in a mobile communications networks.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In a mobile communications system such as a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, there is utilized a performance evaluation equipment to evaluate the performance of a mobile communications terminal and its networks. A prior CDMA terminal adopts a serial interface for communications with an external equipment through a carkit that is usually installed or attached thereto. Through the serial interface, the prior CDMA terminal transmits diagnostic monitor (DM) data including measured parameters such as Mobile Assistant Handoff metrics and a full air interface message. Therefore, a prior monitoring system utilizes the DM data received from the mobile communications terminal through a serial interface thereof for testing a CDMA terminals and networks performance. The prior monitoring system carries out terminal evaluation and compliance testing such as a call test and a short message service (SMS) test.  
           [0003]    However, at present, a mobile communications terminal adopts various types of interfaces such as a serial interface, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, an Ethernet interface or a wireless interface for forwarding data to an external process. Since various types of interfaces are used in the mobile communications terminals, various types of apparatus for monitoring and analyzing a performance of the respective mobile communications terminals are required, which can accommodate the various types of interfaces.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a system for monitoring a mobile communications performance, wherein the monitoring of a mobile communications terminal having various interface types can be performed without using other corresponding main body.  
           [0005]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a monitoring system for testing a performance of a plurality of mobile communications terminals in networks environment, wherein the monitoring system includes a plurality of mobile communications terminals for outputting diagnostic monitor (DM) data and data stream; a main body coupled with a plurality of mobile communications terminals through cables for receiving DM data and data stream from the mobile communications terminals by using a serial interface and a USB interface and modifying them to a specific data format; memory means for storing the transmitted-data of the main body, which is coupled with the main body; and a data control unit for conducting an application software preinstalled therein to preset a test plan including instructions for collecting the DM data and the data stream at the plurality of mobile communications terminals. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram showing a structure of a monitoring system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 shows a main body of the monitoring system shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 describes a block diagram of a structure of a monitoring system in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 offers a block diagram of a structure of a monitoring system in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0011]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram showing a structure of the monitoring system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, having a main body  100 , a memory device  102 , five mobile communications terminals  104  and a data control unit (DCU)  106 .  
         [0013]    The main body  100  is coupled with the DCU  106  through a cable for interfacing with an application software preinstalled in the DCU  106  and coupled with the mobile communications terminal  104  through a cable.  
         [0014]    The mobile communications terminals  104  adopt various types of interfaces for output of parameter data. The parameter data including DM data and data stream are transmitted to the main body  100  through a serial interface and a USB interfacing. The DM data is always outputted when the mobile communications terminals are in power-on state, representing a network environment of the mobile communications terminals and networks.  
         [0015]    The memory device  102  stores temporarily data collected at the mobile communications terminal when a large amount of data is transmitted to the main body  100  and there is need to store the collected data for further analysis. The memory device  102  may be implemented by a flash memory card, which is attached in a slot type.  
         [0016]    The data control unit has specific application software previously installed therein and a user can configure the setting thereof for monitoring of the mobile communications terminals and networks status. And also, the specific application software can display a result of the monitoring and analyzing in a predetermined format.  
         [0017]    Additionally, a temperature sensor (not shown) for checking a temperature rise in the main body  100  can be added to activate an inner cooling fan against overheating thereof. Further, a speaker (not shown) can be added to output an audio message for enabling the system user to know a present status of the main body  100 .  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the main body  100  of FIG. 1 in detail. The main body  100  includes a main interface module (MIM)  16 , control interface modules (CIMS)  14  and phone interface modules (PIMs)  12 .  
         [0019]    The system user uses the application software to set a specific test plan to be performed and corresponding instructions of the test plan are transmitted from the DCU  106  to the main body  100 . At the main body  100 , the MIM  16  receives the instructions and distributes them to the corresponding CIMs  14 , respectively. After receiving the specific instruction from the MIM  16 , the respective CIMs  14  activate the corresponding mobile communications terminals  104  through the corresponding PIMs  12  and then the respective instructions are sent to the corresponding mobile communications terminals  104 .  
         [0020]    Then, the DM data or data stream corresponding to the inputted instruction are outputted from the mobile communications terminals  104  and transmitted to the PIMs  12  after specific time interval, which is set in the DCU  106 . Herein, not only the DM data but also the data stream are outputted from the mobile communications terminals  104  when the mobile communications terminals  104  provide a data communication service. The PIMs  12  play a role for adjusting the processing speed between the mobile communications terminals  104  and the CIMs  14  since the CIMs  14  process the transmitted data at a speed relatively higher than that in the mobile communications terminals  104 . In the CIMs  14 , the transmitted data are sorted and processed to match with a specific format that is suitable for analyzing at the DCU  106 . The processed data in the CIMs  14  are transmitted to the MIM  16  afterward.  
         [0021]    The MIM  16  receives and transmits the collected data to the memory device  102  for storing if the amount of the collected data is too large to process at a time in the DCU  106 ; and if otherwise, transmits the collected data directly to the DCU  106  such that the data can be analyzed in real time by employing the application software.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 describes a block diagram of a structure of a monitoring system in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]    As described in the FIG. 3, each of main bodies  100 A,  100 B,  100 C and  100 D includes four mobile communications terminal sets  104 A,  104 B,  104 C and  104 D, each of which has five mobile communications terminals and therefore twenty terminals can be used for monitoring in such a system. Each of the main bodies  100 A,  100 B,  100 C and  100 D has a hub module in the CIMs  14  therein and are coupled with each other for enabling communications between CIMs  14  therein.  
         [0024]    And also, each of the main bodies  100 A,  100 B,  100 C and  100 D has an output port and an input port at the exterior side thereof. The output port is used for interfacing with the DCU  106  and the input port is used for interconnection between the main bodies  100 A,  100 B,  100 C and  100 D. By using the input and the output port, the four main bodies  100 A,  100 B,  100 C and  100 D can be connected in series. That is, the output port of  100 A is coupled to the input port of  100 B, the output port of  100 B is coupled to the input port of  100 C and the output port of  100 C is coupled to the input port of  100 D. Through these connections, the collected data at the respective main bodies  100 A,  100 B and  100 C are assembled with the data collected in the main body  100 D and transmitted to the DCU  106  through a connection between the output port of  100 D and the DCU  106 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 offers a block diagram of a structure of a main body in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein a pseudo noise (PN) scanner module  19  and a voice quality module (VQM)  20  are installed therein. The PN scanner  19  and the VQM  20  can be installed by a card inserting in the main body  100 . Therefore, the monitoring system can conduct not only a basic DM or data monitoring and analysis but also a PN scanning or a VQM measuring in one main body at the same time.  
         [0026]    Further, it should be noted that the above-described embodiments of the present invention could be applied to CDMA-2000 1× service which is provided at present and further to high speed wireless data transmission service, such as, a CDMA-2000 1× evolution-data only (1×EV-DO), a wideband CDMA (W-CDMA) and a third generation mobile communications such as an international mobile telecommunications 2000 (IMT-2000) which will be provided in due course for monitoring a quality of voice and wireless data communications. For an example, when the monitoring system in accordance with the present invention is applied to the mobile communications terminal providing an IMT-2000 service, it is enough to modify a row of CIM and PIM  18  for such a system to be applicable for monitoring of the performance thereof.  
         [0027]    While the invention has been shown and described with respect to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.