Cellular Network Fault Diagnostics Using Consumer Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network fault management systems in cellular communications networks face challenges in effectively diagnosing and addressing network issues, particularly in simulating real-user experiences and detecting issues that are difficult to identify using traditional diagnostic techniques.
Innovation Solution
A network fault management system that utilizes consumer-type communication devices, such as smartphones and tablets, provisioned as test devices to perform diagnostic tests across the cellular network infrastructure, selecting appropriate tests and devices based on model, location, and capabilities, and communicates through non-cellular interfaces to analyze performance metrics and identify faults.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional diagnostic techniques are used to monitor network infrastructure, then the system complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the ability to simulate real-user experiences and detect difficult-to-identify issues deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses consumer-type communication devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops) as test devices to perform diagnostic tests. These devices copy the functionality of real user devices, allowing the system to simulate real-user experiences and detect issues that traditional diagnostic techniques miss. The test devices are provisioned with test applications that replicate user behavior patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system selects test devices based on multiple parameters including device model, geographic location, and capabilities. By changing and optimizing these selection parameters, the system can target specific network conditions and fault types, improving the ability to detect difficult-to-identify issues while maintaining operational simplicity through automated parameter-based selection.
2Measurement precision
If consumer-type communication devices are provisioned as test devices to simulate real-user experiences, then the measurement precision of network performance is improved, but the device complexity and infrastructure requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs universally available consumer-type communication devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops) that users already possess. These multi-functional devices can perform multiple diagnostic tests across different network conditions and scenarios, eliminating the need for specialized expensive test equipment while maintaining high measurement precision through diverse device capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages existing consumer devices that users already have and use daily. By provisioning these self-owned devices for testing purposes, the system avoids the complexity of maintaining a separate fleet of specialized test equipment. The devices serve dual purposes: personal communication and network diagnostics.
3Reliability
If multiple test devices are used to perform diagnostic tests across different locations and conditions, then the reliability of fault detection is improved, but the loss of time for test coordination and data aggregation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automated feedback loops where test results from multiple devices are continuously aggregated, analyzed, and used to adjust subsequent test selections. This real-time feedback mechanism coordinates tests across distributed devices efficiently, reducing manual intervention time while maintaining high reliability through continuous data collection from multiple sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-provisions test devices with necessary test applications and configurations before field deployment. Test parameters and selection criteria are predetermined based on network conditions and fault types. This preliminary preparation reduces on-site coordination time and enables rapid deployment of reliable multi-device testing campaigns.
Data Source
AI summary
A cellular communications network is supported by an infrastructure that has many different parts. A fault management system can be used to monitor status and faults of the infrastructure. In response to certain types of faults, the fault management system initiates diagnostic testing, which may be performed using one or more communication devices such as those that might commonly be used in conjunction with the cellular communications network. One type of test might consist of installing an application on a communication device and measuring responsiveness of the application. The application is selected as one that relies at least in part on communicating through the cellular communications network. The responsiveness of the application may therefore be relevant to evaluating network performance and infrastructure status.