FI115887B - Interface to convey follow-up information - Google Patents

Description

115887

INTERFACE TO TRANSMIT TRACKING INFORMATION

The invention relates to a method for transmitting monitoring data to a network tester according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a tracking system according to the preamble of claim 8. The invention also relates to a terminal device according to the preamble of claim 10. The invention also relates to a network tester according to the preamble of claim 13.

10

Network testers are used to test traffic between a network terminating mobile data terminal (DCE) and a network. In this case, testing is particularly concerned with the interconnection of a terminal, in practice a PC (DTE, Data Terminal Equip-15 ment), and a mobile terminating device, essentially a wireless mobile station, terminating the network. Testing can be used to monitor network activity from a mobile device perspective and, if necessary, to scale network settings for the environment and mobile devices. The network tester can also be used to test products already on the market, which can be used to detect potential malfunctions that have occurred during normal operation and thus allow for faster fault finding.

•: * ': The problem with current testing systems is that:: · · * 25 internal terminal information cannot be resolved without the main; revealing the internal architecture of the telecommunication device, so that the communication traffic on the buses is also visible at the output. Terminal manufacturer-specific interfaces and message structure must be disclosed to different tester manufacturers, which can cause problems of confidentiality. Another problem with network testers 30 is that a portion of the trace data is represented in · ': in the same format as in the product development of the terminal:' 1 ': so the representation of that data simultaneously reveals the internal implementation of the terminal protocols.

• I »35 The present invention can eliminate the above problems or, ·· *. at least reduce. The process according to the invention is characterized in what is stated in the section of the characterization I · · * * 115887 of claim 1. The system of the invention is characterized by what is set forth in the characterizing part of claim 8. The terminal according to the invention is characterized in what is stated in the characterizing part of claim 10. The network tester according to the invention is characterized in what is stated in the characterizing part of claim 13.

With the solution according to the invention, the tracking data is transmitted from the terminal 10 to an external device using a standardized interface, the so-called. Via the DTE-DCE interface. In the solution, the output of the terminal is additionally controlled by specific commands, so-called. AT commands. In particular, the solution is a mobile device and a laptop running the application used for testing.

15

An advantage of the invention is that the trace information is retrieved from the terminal via an interface which is standardized and used especially in all current laptops. Also, the manufacturers of the terminal device support the solution according to the invention because if the terminal supports external applications (e.g. dial-up) that use an interface, they can now use the same interface also for network testing and monitoring. The AT commands according to the invention are compatible with the prior art Hayes AT commands (Hayes Standard ·: ··· 25 AT Command Set), which are now used alongside the AT commands of the invention.

I · · ·

The invention works e.g. Testing of terminals according to GSM / GPRS and VCDCD systems.

30

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example, with reference to an embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

t) I

Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in a simplified diagram, and Figure 115887 3 illustrates a more detailed architecture and system of the invention in diagrammatic form.

Figure 1 shows a Network Tester NT, which obtains trace information 11 from a mobile station (DCE) outlined in block 1. The interface 3, also referred to as DTE-DCE (Data Terminal Equipment), is used in this specification. At the interface 3, on the side of the mobile station 1, there is an interpreting element 4 which processes (AT Command Interpretation) AT-10 commands (commands 10) and controls the interface 3 (DTE Interface Handling). Element 4 receives AT commands 10 from tester NT and transmits tracking data to tester 11. Data is provided by protocol means 5 (Core Network Protocols) or 6 (Radio Access Network Protocols). The mobile station 1, in turn, communicates with the network 9 and its network elements NE (Air element) via a known interface 715 (Air Interface).

The DTE-DCE interface 3 is used to transfer tracking data in the same way as user data is normally transmitted 20 during data transmission. This means that test measurement reports, system information, etc. information is also user data for interface 3, but before the information is sent to tester NT, it is modified before being delivered to interface 3 so that: ·: ··: the most important parts of the data are displayed. In addition, system information and packet system information tracking are buffered; and delaying (Figure 2, System Info Storage, block 15) before sending- Y. ' from which to interface 3, whereby the internal operation of the mobile station 1 can be: concealed.

30 The so-called monitoring system is used for monitoring. specific AT commands, which are presented below. The first command (e.g.

. ··. AT * NTESTSYSTEM) is used to set the current interface 3 Y to a state where the actual user data is not transmitted via the 3: .Y interface and where the available AT commands are limited to those commands that are necessary: .Y 35 network testing. ···. for example, the use of the prior art ATD command (dialing the [γ number]) is blocked. This blocking is necessary to prevent (tl 4 115887 users from establishing a data call using the same interface 3 during tracking. If it were possible to establish that call, the tracking data and user data would mix at interface 3 and could not be separated on the terminal 5).

The second command is used (e.g., AT * NLOGGING) to activate the sending of the tracking information from the mobile station 1 and to set the format change to be suitable for the NT tester. Here, for example, 10 can be selected to convert the tracking data to, for example, either pure binary data or convert the binary data to text format. The command parameters indicate what kind of trace set is being used to select, for example, all possible tracking data, or only, for example, the tracking associated with the measurements. The most appropriate output format can also be selected using command parameters.

In addition to the above, there are a number of commands for controlling the operation of the mobile station 1. These commands are used to lock, for example, bandwidth or channel locking used by 20 mobile stations, or to control cell barring. The set can be expanded with new commands as needed.

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The invention is applied as follows. First, the user connects ·: ··: 25 terminals NT to the mobile station 1 using the appropriate method. Terminal: is usually a PC and can be connected as such: v. ' well-known methods such as infrared (IR, IrDA), Bluetooth,

USB connection or RS232 interface. The user can connect the terminal to the NT

• t * ·· * in addition to another terminal (DTE) in some other way to the mobile station 1, to establish a second connection if you want to!!: Browse the Internet sites and monitor how it affects the behavior of the network ". The interface supports multiple concurrent connections, making it easier to connect the terminals. Once the necessary connections have been made, the application used in testing 8: ,,, · 35 (application) gives the mobile station 1 AT commands to start 10 monitoring, ···. the tracking information is provided through interface 3 and coupling 12 to the tracking application 8. If 1 I # 115887 5 is connected to a mobile terminal 1 by another terminal (DTE), the user can use it for normal operations such as dial-up connection or web browsing. the two PC connections can be independent of each other, if the user wants 5, he may, using the application 8 of the tester NT, give the mobile station 1 AT commands, for example, to lock the frequency band. When all necessary tracking has been completed, the NT application of the tester gives the mobile station 1 an AT command which terminates the tracking and allows the user to disconnect the terminal (DTE) from the mobile station 1.

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The following is a look at the various AT commands used in the invention (<...> describes the command's adjustable parameters): AT * NTESTSYSTEM = <selection>, which enables and disables the enable / disable network test mode, AT * NLOGGING = <selection>, which turns on and off information logging, AT * NBALOCK = <band>, which turns on and off the desired bandwidth lock, 20 - AT * NCHLOCK = <oper>, <band >, <channel>, which sets the desired channel lock on and off, AT * NCELLBARR = <state>, which sets the cell barring, and: - AT * NEOTD = <oper>, <max response time> , <position accu- ·: · 25 racy>, bracking intervals that triggers the so-called. EOTD: a positioning procedure whereby this j * v 'functionality enables the location of the mobile station to be calculated.

30 The new AT commands are designed to support testing and activate PDU (Packet Data Unit) and Parameter information collection. The tracking tracks all packet data units (PDUs) sent to and received from the network in the mobile station. Tracking data: ··· 'processing is preferably performed on a separate device (NT). Airfield I * 35 and Air Interface parameters and internally calculated parameters in the mobile station are monitored by requesting information from protocol entities »*.; Entity (entity, eg CC, Call Control) or software components performing their functions. All PDU tracking information is based on standards known per se.

A new function of the AT command interpreter 14 (AT Command Interpreter) of the mobile station is to interpret these new functions, obtain information in response from the internal components of the mobile station, and return the responses to an external test system. Tracking messages and responses to queries for protocol entities are passed through an AT shell to the network test system.

In addition, standard AT commands required for the connection between the tester NT and the mobile station 1 are supported in the prior art. The commands control that connection and only affect that connection. The commands include: 15 - ATE, command echo, - ATV, response format, - ATI, request identification information, - ATZ, reset to default configuration, 20 - AT&V, view active configuration, and - AT&F, Restore factory settings.

The testing system is implemented, for example, by means of a special application connected to a normal ·: ··: mobile station which receives AT commands via the DTE-DCE interface and performs the desired operations.

Il * I t i: s Let us now look at the architecture and systems of the special application: ··· with reference to Figure 2. The implementation of the system utilizes the AT command interpreter 14 (AT Command Interpreter!) Of the mobile station 1, which is subject to the necessary modifications to implement the functions of the invention. The main components of the system are the actual network tester NT, which comprises a Test System Unit 16, which also receives the tracking information -: ,,, · 35 and performs queries for protocol entities. In this description, · '··. within the same physical device with the tester NT also includes a Connection Control Unit 13 which provides a call or packet data transmission and whose functionality is monitored by the network tester NT. The communication between a network test system NT (network test system) and various media modules MM (terminal adapter) depends on the media used, such as the infrared (IrDA) already mentioned above. Each connection using different media is described as a separate session. For each physical connection 17 and 18 of the media module MM, a logical connection to the AT command interpreter is established. These connections can also be multiple (e.g., USB connection), allowing the network tester to be processed in two sessions in 10 AT shells. One session is for monitoring and controlling the functionality of the tester and another for controlling the actual data connection. The tester NT is thus connected to the mobile station 1, for example, by means of one USB interface, or, two Bluetooth interfaces, or, via a Bluetooth interface and an IrDA interface, or an IrDA interface and an RS232 interface, for two separate sessions.

In mobile station 1, communication between different units takes place just as in normal mobile stations. Follow-up information is obtained using product development software with 20 additional features over the standard version. Tracking can be activated and deactivated in run-time. Protocol units 5 and 6 (Figure 1) and other units send tracking information via interface 3. The follow-up from protocol entities system info tracing and packet system tracing are different. These include:. trackings are not sent directly to the NT tester because the associated timings are confidential information, which is why the trackings are stored in the DTE-DCE interface management software component SW sys * · * Theme Info Store 15, buffering and for delay. After a suitable delay, the component SW sends the stored tracking to the tester NT in numerical order.

The tester NT is connected to the mobile station 1 in a manner dependent on the physical • tl

'·: ·' On the basis of which the media modules MM used by the tester

35 (one or two media modules) know that the connection has taken place.

. · *. Thereafter, the media modules MM send the necessary messages to the interface management component SW to establish logical connections 17, 18. The connections allow the NT tester to send AT commands 10 (Figure 1) to the AT command interpreter 14, which in turn sends the response 11. In the normal mode of mobile station 1, normal AT commands are possible (e.g. AT * CHSN) and network tester (NT) AT commands are not. -5 are not allowed (eg AT * NBALOCK) and produce an error. After the AT * NTESTSYSTEM = 1 command is given to the mobile station 1, the mobile station enters the network test mode and no longer accepts normal AT commands, which now only produce an error. In contrast, configurations made with standard AT commands are still valid, but cannot be changed or displayed at this time. In this mode, only special AT commands are accepted. At the end of the test session, the command AT * NTESTSYSTEM = 0 is given, after which the mobile station returns to normal mode and normal AT commands are possible.

15 When the network tester NT sends the AT * NLOGGING = 1 command to the mobile station, the trace is activated. The AT command interpreter 14 receives the acknowledgment, acknowledges it, and in turn sends a message (e.g., via an internal interface, such as the ISI, Inter-System interface) to the monitoring component 19 (Monitor Server), defining in sub blocks 20 which tracking should be sent to the DTE for component SW. After activation, the tracking data is sent to the component in messages, the content of which is forwarded to the network tester NT. Tracking can also be deactivated.

The operation of the invention requires modifications to the AT command interpreter and control functionality of the mobile station, including configuration files if necessary. For example, a new module is added to the AT shell that handles defined new specific AT commands. The necessary changes will also be made to the interpreter's internal operation. tester commands are disabled if mobile station 1 is not in i '\: network test mode. The control software core functionality must also be modified to receive * ground tracking information from the tracking component 19 and provide it to the DTE interface 3. The control software 35 of the mobile station 1 therefore also needs a warehouse 15 for system info monitoring, which in practice means e.g. a linked list of received blocks or multiple lists.

I * »» 115887 9 Responses to AT commands are divided into three categories. First, there is the standard AT command response, which is in ASCII (ASCII character) format. Secondly, the ISI trace indication responses (IPI traces) that contain the protocol PDU trace are used. This tracking information is known per se and has been used in the context of prior art testing, which is further defined by appropriate protocol standards. Some of the information used in the internal interfaces 10 20 may be deleted before providing the information to the network tester, as the information may be redundant. Thirdly, the responses in question to the queries sent to the protocol entities. However, the unnecessary fields of the answer will be removed before sending the final answer to the web tester.

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When activating tracking, an external AT command for logging activates multiple trace groups and queries for protocol entities internally in mobile station 1. Commands are internally replaced by trace activation re-20 quest and query requests. There are several external commands that allow for selective data collection and have internal configuration. is also configurable.

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Internal trace indication messages and ·: ··: 25 protocol entity response messages can be prefixed before being given to a network tester so that standard AT responses and data collection responses can be easily distinguished.

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The necessary changes in the functionality of the mobile device and the changes in the software are obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art from the foregoing conditions. The detailed implementation may vary as needed. The invention is not limited to the above example, but may vary according to the appended claims.

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Claims (13)

A method for transmitting follow-up data to a network device (NT), wherein data transmission between a mobile terminal (1) and a network (9) is followed, characterized in that follow-up data (11) is transmitted using a standard interface determination (3), at the same time controlling the insertion of follow-up parameters and the dissemination of follow-up data through specific AT commands (10). 10 Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the follow-up data (11) is buffered and delayed in said terminal (1) prior to its transmission, whereby timing associated with the operation of the terminal (1) can be covered. 15 Method according to claim 2, characterized in that follow-up data on the at least terminal (1) system information and on packet system information are buffered. Method according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that, in addition to the specific AT command amount (10), a per se known normal AT command quantity is used to control the operation of the terminal (1), but the use of only a set of commands the thread was allowed in the terminal (1) control. • · ·: ··: 25 Method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that in the follow-up data (11) sent to the network device (NT), I 4 * · | · is modified; tili a form in which it only includes data that is most essential for! ···. Update. . 30 Method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the relevant interface (3) is also used for other data transmission, in which it is a conduit for transmitting:: ': normal user data. • · »·» 35 Method according to any of claims 1-6, characterized in that the relevant line is used for data transmission between the network device (NT) and the network (9), from which the follow-up data (11) is simultaneously collected. A follow-up system comprising a network device (NT) and a mobile terminal (1), which system is arranged to collect and transmit follow-up data to the network device (NT), the follow-up data relating to data transmission between the terminal (1) and the network (9), characterized in that the system comprises a standardized interface (3) arranged to convey follow-up data (11), and control means (14,15) for setting follow-up parameters and convey follow-up data, which can be controlled by specific AT commands (10), Follow-up system according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises additional means (14, 15) for buffering and delaying the follow-up data (11) in said terminal (1) prior to its transmission to the network device (NT), wherein timings connecting to it the operation of the terminal (1) in question can be covered. A terminal arranged for data transmission between said terminal (1) and a network (9), further arranged to collect follow-up data (11) relating to said data transmission, and to convey it further, characterized in that the terminal in question comprises a standardized interface (3), which is arranged to transmit follow-up data (11), and control means: (14, 15) for setting follow-up parameters and for transmitting follow-up data, which can be controlled by specific AT commands (10). ). Terminal according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises additional means (14, 15) for buffering and delaying follow-up data (11) in said terminal (1) prior to its transmission; ': Through said interface. t I I 12. Terminal according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that it comprises additional means (MM) for coupling an external network device 115887 (NT) in the terminal, which network device is intended for receiving follow-up data, for issuing said AT commands. Network device arranged for data transmission between a terminal (1) and a network (9), and further arranged to collect follow-up data (11) relating to said data transfer, characterized in that the network device in question comprises a standardized interface (3), which is configured to set follow-up parameters and to transmit follow-up data, which can be controlled with specific AT-10 commands (10). • 1 1 * 1: t · · »·» * »· II» • I »Mill