IL108809A

Self-diagnostic apparatus and method for cellular-transceiver systems

Abstract

A self-diagnostic system for checking all functions of a cellular-transceiver system having a cellular-interface unit (10), which interface unit (10) couples a standard telephone set (T,R) to a cellular transceiver, which interface unit (10) converts the DTMF or pulse-type dialing signals into digital format for transmission to the cellular transceiver in which, the dialed number made on the landline telephone may be used to call a number over the cellular system. The present invention not only monitors and checks the proper functioning of the transceiver and associated power supply (figure 11), but will also monitor and check the interface unit (10).

IL108809A, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 19

Term

No projected expiry on record.

  1. Priority
  2. Filed
  3. Published
  4. Today

43 claims: 8 independent, 35 dependent

  1. 1
    WHAT WE CLAIM IS:CLAIM 1. In a cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver apparatus comprising a cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver, a cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit, and a standard, land telephone-like set coupled to said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver, said interface unit converting DTMF or pulse-type of dialing signals into digital format for sending to said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver, whereby the dialed number made on the landtype of telephone may be used to call a number over the cellular, or cellular-like, system, the improvement comprising: auto-diagnostic means for monitoring and reporting the proper functioning of said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver and said cellular,, or cellular-like, interface unit;means for alternately coupling said auto-diagnostic means to said cellular, , or cellular-like, interface unit;said means for alternately coupling said autodiagnostic means comprising means for uncoupling the connection of said standard, land telephone-like set from said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit when said autodiagnostic means is coupled to said cellular, , or cellularlike, interface unit;said auto-diagnostic means comprising means for simulating the functions performed by said standard, land telephone-like set for generating in said cellular, , or cellular-like, interface unit respective, corresponding responses in said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit, in order to determine if said cellular, or cellularlike, interface unit is operating correctly.
  2. 9
    CLAIM 10. A testing apparatus for testing the proper operation of a cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit, which cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit is capable of being coupled to a land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument, said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit capable of converting DTMF signals or pulse-type dialing signals from a land-type telephone instrument coupled thereto into digital data format for sending the digital data to a cellular, or cellular-like transceiver, said testing apparatus comprising:diagnostic means for monitoring and reporting the proper functioning of said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit.
  3. 10
    CLAIM 11. The testing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said testing apparatus further comprises means for alternately coupling said diagnostic means to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit;said diagnostic means comprising means for simulating the functions performed by a standard, land telephone-like instrument for generating in said cellular, or cellularlike, interface unit respective, corresponding responses in s said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit, in order to determine if said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit is operating correctly.
  4. 11
    CLAIM 12. The testing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means for alternately coupling said diagnostic means comprises means capable of uncoupling the connection of a standard, land telephone-like instrument from said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit when said diagnostic means is coupled to said cellular, or cellularlike, interface unit.
  5. 13
    CLAIM 14. The testing apparatus according to claim to claim 13, wherein said diagnostic means comprises means for detecting the presence of a dial-tone signal generated from said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit in response to said generation of said off-hook signal.
  6. 15
    CLAIM 16. The testing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said diagnostic means comprises means for detecting the DTMF signal output by said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit in response to the DTMF signal generated by said means for generating a DTMF signal.
  7. 18
    CLAIM 19. The testing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said diagnostic means further comprises means for generating an off-hook signal to said cellular, or cellularlike, interface unit during the time that said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit is generating its ring-signal, in order to determine that the cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit properly disconnects the ring-signal upon the answering of an incoming telephone call.
  8. 20
    CLAIM 21. A method of testing for the proper operation of a cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit by means of a diagnostic unit, which cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit is capable of being coupled to a land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument, said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit capable of converting DTMF signals or pulse-type dialing signals from a land-type telephone instrument coupled thereto into digital data format for sending the digital data to a cellular, or cellular-like transceiver, said method comprising:(a) monitoring and reporting the functions performed by said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit.
  9. 21
    CLAIM 22. The method according to claim 21, wherein said step (a) comprises:(b) alternately coupling said diagnostic unit to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit;(c) simulating the functions performed by a standard, land telephone-like instrument for generating in said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit respective, corresponding responses in said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit, in order to determine if said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit is operating correctly.
  10. 22
    CLAIM 23« The method according to claim 22, wherein said step (b) comprises uncoupling the connection of a standard, land telephone-like instrument from said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit when said diagnostic unit is coupled to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit.
  11. 24
    CLAIM 25. The method according to claim to claim 24, further comprising detecting the presence of a dial-tone signal generated from said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit in response to said generation of said off-hook signal.
  12. 26
    CLAIM 27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising detecting the DTMF signal output by said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit in response to the DTMF signal generated.
  13. 29
    CLAIM 30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said step (a) further comprises generating an off-hook signal to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit during the time that said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit is generating its ring-signal, in order to determine that the cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit properly disconnects the ring-signal upon the answering of an incoming telephone call.
  14. 31
    CLAIM 32. In a radio-transceiver apparatus comprising a radio transceiver, an interface unit, and a communications device coupled to said radio transceiver, said interface unit operatively coupling said communications device to said radio transceiver for either calling out or receiving calls through said radio transceiver, the improvement comprising:auto-diagnostic means for monitoring and reporting the proper functioning of said radio transceiver and said interface unit;means for alternately coupling said auto-diagnostic means to said interface unit;said means for alternately coupling said autodiagnostic means comprising means for uncoupling the connection of said communications device from said interface unit when said auto-diagnostic means is coupled to said interface unit;said auto-diagnostic means comprising means for simulating the functions performed by said communications device for generating in said interface unit respective, correspending responses in said interface unit, in order to determine if said interface unit is operating correctly.
  15. 32
    CLAIM 33. The cellular-transceiver apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said means for simulating the functions performed by said communications device comprises means for generating an off-hook signal to said interface unit.
  16. 33
    CLAIM 34. The cellular-transceiver apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said auto-diagnostic means comprises means for detecting the presence of a dial-tone signal generated from said interface unit in response to said generation of said off-hook signal.
  17. 35
    CLAIM 36. The cellular-transceiver apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said auto-diagnostic means comprises means for detecting the DTMF signal output by said interface unit in response to the DTMF signal generated by said means for generating a DTMF signal.
  18. 38
    CLAIM 39. A testing apparatus for testing the proper operation of an interface unit, which interface unit is capable of being coupled to a communications device for operatively coupling the communications device to a radio transceiver for either calling out or receiving calls through the radio transceiver, comprising:diagnostic means for monitoring and reporting the proper functioning of said interface unit.
  19. 39
    CLAIM 40. The testing apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said testing apparatus further comprises means for alternately coupling said diagnostic means to said interface unit;said diagnostic means comprising means for simulating the functions performed by a communications device for generating in said interface unit respective, corresponding responses in said interface unit, in order to determine if said interface unit is operating correctly.
  20. 40
    CLAIM 41. A method of testing for the proper operation of an interface unit by means of a diagnostic unit, which interface unit is capable of being coupled between a communications device and radio transceiver, so that the communications device may make outgoing calls or receive incoming calls by means of the radio transceiver, said method comprising:(a) monitoring and reporting the functions performed by said interface unit;(b) alternately coupling said dignostic unit to said interface unit, and (c) simulating the functions performed by a communications device for generating in said interface unit respective, corresponding responses in said interface unit, in order to determine if said interface unit is operating correctly.
  21. 41
    CLAIM 42. The method according to claim 41, wherein said step (b) comprises uncoupling the connection of a communications device from said interface unit when said diagnostic unit is coupled to said interface unit.
Independent claims21