HK1117695A

HK1117695A - Apparatus and methods for determining connection quality of a wireless device on a wireless communications network

Info

Publication number: HK1117695A
Application number: HK08108724.8A
Authority: HK
Inventors: 肯尼‧福克; 埃里克‧奇‧庄‧叶; 黄智玄; 勒奈格‧吉纳维芙‧盖莱克
Original assignee: 高通股份有限公司
Priority date: 2005-03-10
Filing date: 2006-03-08
Publication date: 2009-01-16

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for determining a connection quality of a wireless device with a wireless communications network comprise a user manager operable to receive a plurality of communications messages as recorded by the wireless device, where the plurality of communications messages comprise messages transmitted from and received by the wireless device via the wireless communication network. Further, a connection quality module associated with the user manager is operable to generate a connection quality record comprising a connection quality characteristic based on a detection of a predetermined sequence of communications messages within the plurality of communications messages. Optionally, an optimization module may generate a configuration change for the wireless device and/or a network component based on the connection quality characteristic.

Description

Apparatus and method for determining connection quality of a wireless device on a wireless communication network

Technical Field

The disclosed embodiments relate to wireless devices and wireless communication networks, and more particularly, to apparatus and methods for determining connection quality of a wireless device on a wireless network.

Background

Wireless communication devices such as mobile phones, pagers, handheld computers, and the like are becoming increasingly popular for both commercial and personal use. One advantage of such devices is their "wireless" aspect, which allows such devices to be utilized anytime and anywhere the user desires. As the use of wireless devices grows, and as the associated wireless communication networks grow, users have an ever increasing desire to be able to connect with a wireless network at any location. Thus, one aspect that users are satisfied when utilizing a wireless device deals with the ability of the wireless device to establish a communication connection with a wireless network and the ability of the wireless device to maintain that connection.

Some communication protocols have developed definitions and examplesSuch as access failure and call drop connection characteristics. For example, in a code division multiple access ("CDMA") protocol, such mechanisms include a timer associated with an event that fails to be defined, e.g., according to the intermediate standard ("IS") -95 standard, time limit T_5mAssociated with a call drop. Other protocols, such as the universal mobile telephone system ("UMTS") protocol, do not have such standard mechanisms corresponding to connection quality characteristics. Without such standard mechanisms, it is difficult to measure and manage the quality of the connection between the wireless device and the wireless network.

Disclosure of Invention

To address one or more of the shortcomings of the prior art, the disclosed embodiments provide a system and disclose a method for determining connection quality for a wireless device on a wireless network based on standard over-the-air communication messages.

In one embodiment, a method of determining connection quality between a wireless device and a wireless communication network comprises: receiving a plurality of communication messages recorded by the wireless device, wherein the plurality of communication messages comprises messages transmitted from and received by the wireless device via the wireless communication network. The method further includes generating a connection quality record including connection quality characteristics based on detection of a predetermined sequence of communication messages within the plurality of communication messages. In an alternative embodiment, a computer-readable medium for determining connection quality between a wireless device and a wireless communication network comprises at least one sequence of instructions, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor causes the processor to perform the steps as described above.

In another embodiment, a method of determining connection quality between a wireless device and a wireless communication network comprises: receiving a plurality of communication messages transmitted from and received by the wireless device over the wireless communication network; and identifying a connection quality characteristic within the plurality of communication messages based on the detection of the predetermined message sequence. The method further comprises: generating a connection quality record associated with the received plurality of messages, the connection quality record including the connection quality characteristic; generating a configuration change for at least one of the wireless device and a network component in the wireless communication network based on the connection quality record. In an alternative embodiment, a computer-readable medium for determining connection quality between a wireless device and a wireless communication network comprises at least one sequence of instructions, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor causes the processor to perform the steps as described above.

In yet another embodiment, a wireless device connection quality determination apparatus comprises a user manager operable to receive a plurality of communication messages recorded by the wireless device, wherein the plurality of communication messages comprises a transmission message sent from the wireless device via a wireless communication network. The apparatus further comprises a connection quality module operable to generate a connection quality record comprising connection quality characteristics based on detection of a predetermined sequence of communication messages within the plurality of communication messages.

In yet another embodiment, an apparatus for determining connection quality between a wireless device and a wireless communication network comprises: a first means for receiving a plurality of communication messages transmitted from and received by the wireless device over the wireless communication network; and second means for identifying a connection quality characteristic within the plurality of communication messages based on detection of a predetermined message sequence. The apparatus further comprises third means for generating a connection quality record associated with the received plurality of messages, the connection quality record comprising the connection quality characteristic. Additionally, the apparatus comprises means for generating a configuration change for at least one of the wireless device and a network component in the wireless communication network based on the connection quality record.

In another embodiment, a wireless communication apparatus comprises: a processor operable to transmit and receive a plurality of communication messages to and from a wireless network; and a memory having a resident connection quality module. The resident connection quality module comprises executable instructions operable to collect and forward communication messages on the wireless network, wherein the predetermined sequence of the plurality of communication messages corresponds to connection quality characteristics of the wireless device on the wireless network.

In yet another embodiment, a wireless communication device comprises processing logic configured to process a plurality of communication messages for transmission from the wireless communication device to a wireless communication network and reception by the wireless communication device from the wireless communication network. The device further comprises aggregation and transmission logic configured to aggregate the plurality of communication messages in the form of a communication log and transmit the communication log at a predetermined time over the wireless communication network. Further, the predetermined sequence of the plurality of communication messages corresponds to a connection quality characteristic of the wireless device on the wireless network.

In yet another embodiment, a wireless communication device comprises a first means for processing a plurality of communication messages for transmission from the wireless communication device to a wireless communication network and reception by the wireless communication device from the wireless communication network. The apparatus further comprises a second means for aggregating the plurality of communication messages in the form of a communication log and transmitting the communication log at a predetermined time over the wireless communication network, wherein a predetermined sequence of the plurality of communication messages corresponds to a connection quality characteristic of the wireless device over the wireless network.

In another embodiment, a method for determining connection quality characteristics of a wireless communication device includes processing a plurality of communication messages for transmission from the wireless communication device to a wireless communication network and reception by the wireless communication device from the wireless communication network. The method further comprises: aggregating the plurality of communication messages in the form of a communication log; and transmitting the communication log at a predetermined time on the wireless communication network, wherein the predetermined sequence of the plurality of communication messages corresponds to a connection quality characteristic of the wireless device on the wireless network. In an alternative embodiment, a computer-readable medium for determining connection quality between a wireless device and a wireless communication network comprises at least one sequence of instructions, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor causes the processor to perform the steps as described above.

Additional aspects and advantages of the disclosed embodiments are set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosed embodiments. The aspects and advantages of the disclosed embodiments may also be realized and attained by the means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Drawings

The disclosed embodiments are described below in conjunction with the appended drawings, which are provided to illustrate and not to limit the disclosed embodiments, wherein like designations denote like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a representative diagram of one embodiment of a connection quality system associated with a wireless device and a wireless communication network;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a cellular telephone network embodiment of the system of FIG. 1, including one embodiment of a computer platform of the computer device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is one embodiment of a block diagram of the computer platform of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a representation of one embodiment of output generated by a user manager summarizing an analysis of at least one connection quality characteristic associated with a plurality of communication messages, including a summary form and an interactive drop down menu providing access to further detailed data;

FIG. 5 is a representation of one embodiment of output generated by the user manager, similar to FIG. 4, including a bar graph;

FIG. 6 is a representation of one embodiment of output generated by a user manager, similar to FIG. 4, including a pie chart;

FIG. 7 is a representation of one embodiment of output generated by the user manager similar to FIG. 4 including an interactive geographic map having a connection quality characterization representation associated with a geographic location;

fig. 8 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method for determining an attempt by a wireless device to establish communication with a wireless network based on a communication message;

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method for determining failure and/or success of the access attempt of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method for determining call interruption based on release and disconnect messages associated with access success of FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method for determining call interruption based on a state change associated with access success of FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 is an example of a sequence of communication messages associated with an access attempt;

fig. 13 is another example of a sequence of communication messages associated with an access attempt, including a repeated connection request message;

FIG. 14 is an example of a sequence of communication messages associated with two access attempts, including one access failure;

FIG. 15 is another example of a communication message sequence associated with two access attempts, including one access failure;

FIG. 16 is yet another example of a communication message sequence associated with two access attempts, including one access failure;

FIG. 17 is yet another example of a sequence of communication messages associated with two access attempts, including one access failure;

FIG. 18 is another example of a communication message sequence associated with two access attempts, including one access failure;

FIG. 19 is another example of a communication message sequence associated with an access attempt;

FIG. 20 is an example of a sequence of communication messages associated with access success and call interruption due to a state change;

FIG. 21 is another example of a sequence of communication messages associated with access success and call interruption due to a state change;

FIG. 22 is yet another example of a sequence of communication messages associated with access success and call interruption due to a state change;

FIG. 23 is yet another example of a sequence of communication messages associated with access success and call interruption due to an abnormal release message;

fig. 24 is an example of a sequence of communication messages associated with access success without call interruption due to a normal release message;

FIG. 25 is an example of a sequence of communication messages that are unrelated to either access success or call interruption due to an undefined establishment cause contained in the connection request message;

fig. 26 is another example of a sequence of communication messages associated with access success without call interruption due to a normal disconnect message;

FIG. 27 is yet another example of a sequence of communication messages associated with access success and call interruption due to a state change;

FIG. 28 is an example of a sequence of communication messages associated with access success and call interruption due to an abnormal disconnect message;

FIG. 29 is yet another example of a sequence of communication messages associated with access success and call interruption due to an abnormal disconnect message;

fig. 30 is another example of a sequence of communication messages associated with access success without call interruption due to a normal disconnect message;

fig. 31 is yet another example of a sequence of communication messages associated with access success without call interruption due to a normal disconnect message; and

figure 32 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method for determining connection quality characteristics of a wireless device with a wireless network.

Detailed Description

The disclosed embodiments include apparatus and methods for determining connection characteristics, such as access failures and call interruptions, associated with communication messages recorded by a wireless device during communication activity with a wireless network. The apparatus and methods identify and associate a predetermined sequence of communication messages (e.g., standard over-the-air messages) with, for example, access failure events and/or call interruption events to allow for measurement, analysis, and/or improvement of connection quality. The described apparatus and methods are particularly applicable to communication protocols that do not have a standardized connection quality related event mechanism, such as, but not limited to, the universal mobile telephone system ("UMTS") protocol.

Referring to fig. 1-3, one embodiment of connection quality determination system 10 includes a plurality of wireless devices 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, each having a resident connection quality module 20, the resident connection quality module 20 operable to communicate respective wireless device communication logs 22 to a user manager server 24 for determining connection quality characteristics 26. For example, connection quality characteristics 26 may be in the form of access failure metrics and/or call interruption metrics associated with a plurality of communication messages 28 transmitted from and/or received by the respective wireless device 12, 14, 16, 17, 18 as reflected by log 22, as will be described in greater detail below. The plurality of wireless devices 12, 14, 16, 17, 18 are located in a wireless network area 29 and communicate with each other and/or other computer devices over a wireless network 30. User manager 24 includes an analysis engine 32 that operates a remote connection quality module 34 to analyze the plurality of communication messages 28 included within received log 22 according to predetermined parameters. For example, the predetermined parameters include identifying one or more predetermined communication message sequences, such as those predetermined sequences 36 defined by access failure module 38 corresponding to access failure events, and those predetermined sequences 40 defined by call interruption module 42 corresponding to call interruption events, for example. Analysis engine 32 outputs connection quality records 44 that include the identified connection quality characteristics 26, if any, associated with the plurality of communication messages 28 from each log 22. The connection quality record 44 may be reviewed manually, such as by a technician, for evaluating connection quality-related issues. Optionally, user manager 24 may include an optimization module 46 that analyzes each respective connection quality record 44, as well as other additional wireless device and network component configurations and performance data, to determine an updated wireless device configuration 48 and/or network component configuration 50 to improve a given connection quality characteristic 26. User manager 24 may then communicate updated configurations 48, 50 to various wireless devices and/or network components in order to improve connection quality characteristics associated with the system.

The wireless device may include any mobile or portable communication device, such as a cellular telephone 12, a personal digital assistant 14, a two-way text pager 16, a laptop computer 17, a tablet computer, and even a separate computer platform 18 that has a wireless communication portal, and which also may have a wired connection 19 to a network or the Internet. In addition, the wireless device may be a remote slave device or other device that does not have an end user thereof, but simply communicates data across the wireless network 30. For example, the wireless device may include remote sensors, diagnostic tools, data relays, and the like. The apparatus and methods for determining the quality of a wireless connection based on communication messages recorded on a wireless device are thus applicable to any form of wireless communication device or module, including a wireless communication portal, wireless modem, PCMCIA card, access terminal, personal computer, telephone, or any combination or sub-combination thereof.

In a cellular telephone embodiment, such as with reference to fig. 2, system 10 (fig. 1) may include wireless network 30 connected to wired network 52 via carrier network 64. The use of cellular telecommunication pathways has increased because wireless devices, such as the plurality of cellular telephones 12 illustrated in fig. 2, are being manufactured with increased computing capabilities and are becoming tantamount to personal computers and hand-held personal digital assistants ("PDAs"), communicating packets including voice and data over wireless network 30. These "smart" cellular telephones 12 have installed an application programming interface ("API") 54 on their native computer platform 56, which application programming interface 54 allows software developers to write software applications that operate on the cellular telephone and control specific functionality on the device. Fig. 2 is a representative diagram that more fully illustrates the components of a cellular wireless network and interrelation of the elements of one embodiment of the present system. Cellular wireless network 52 is merely exemplary and can include any system whereby remote modules, such as wireless devices 12, 14, 16, 17, 18 communicate over-the-air between and among each other and/or between and among components of a wireless network 30, including, without limitation, wireless network carriers and/or servers.

In system 52, user manager 24 may communicate with a separate data repository 60 via LAN network 58 for storing data aggregated from remote wireless devices 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, such as individual communication logs 22. Further, data management server 62 may communicate with user manager 24 to provide post-processing capabilities, data flow control, and the like. User manager 24, data repository 60, and data management server 62 may be present on cellular network 100 with any other network components needed to provide cellular communication services. User manager 24 and/or data management server 62 communicate with carrier network 64 via a data link 66 (e.g., the internet, a secure LAN, WAN, or other network). The carrier network 64 controls messages (typically data packets) sent to a mobile switching center ("MSC") 68. In addition, the carrier network 64 communicates with the MSC68 by a network 70, such as the Internet and/or POTS ("plain old telephone service"). Typically, in the network 70, the network or internet portion transfers data and the POTS portion transfers voice information. The MSC68 may be connected to multiple base stations ("BTS") 72 through another network 74, such as a data network and/or internet portion for data transfer and a POTS portion for voice information, for example. BTS72 ultimately broadcasts messages wirelessly to wireless devices, such as cellular telephone 12, by short message service ("SMS") or other over-the-air methods.

Further, each wireless device, such as the plurality of cellular telephones 12 in this cellular telephone embodiment, has a computer platform 56, the computer platform 56 can transmit data across the wireless network 30, and can receive and execute software applications and display data transmitted from the user manager 24 or another computer device connected to the wireless network 30. The computer platform 52 also includes an application specific integrated circuit ("ASIC") 76 or other chipset, processor, microprocessor, logic circuit, or other data processing device. ASIC76 or other processor may execute application programming interface ("API") layer 54 that interfaces with any resident programs in the memory 78 of the wireless device, such as connection quality module 20. API54 is a runtime environment executing on the respective wireless device. One such runtime environment is binary runtime environment for wireless ® (BREW ®) developed by Qualcomm, inc. Other runtime environments may be utilized that, for example, operate to control the execution of applications on wireless computing devices. The memory 78 may comprise read-only and/or random-access memory (RAM and ROM), EPROM, EEPROM, flash cards, or any memory common to computer platforms. The computer platform 56 also includes a local database 80 that can hold software applications, files, or data in memory 78 that are not actively used, such as software applications or data downloaded from the user manager 24. The local database 80 typically includes one or more flash memory cells, but can be any secondary or tertiary storage device, such as magnetic media, EPROM, EEPROM, optical media, tape, or soft or hard disk. Additionally, the native database 80 may ultimately hold a native copy of the connection quality module 20 or agent, as further described herein.

Referring to FIG. 3, in one embodimentIn an example, computer platform 56 includes a resident version of connection quality module 20 that interfaces with API54 and is executable by communication processing engine 82, such as a processor associated with a chipset and/or ASIC76 of each wireless device. The communication processing engine 82 includes various processing subsystems 84 embodied in hardware, firmware, software, and combinations thereof, that enable the functionality of the various wireless devices 12, 14, 16, 17, 18 and the operability of the various devices on the wireless network 30, such as for initiating and maintaining communications and exchanging data with other networked devices. For example, the communication processing engine 82 may include one or a combination of processing subsystems 84, such as: voice, non-volatile memory, file system, transmit, receive, searcher, layer 1, layer 2, layer 3, master control, remote program, handset, power management, diagnostics, digital signal processor, vocoder, messaging, call manager, bluetooth^®System, bluetooth^®LPOS, location determination, location engine, user interface, sleep, data services, security, authentication, USIM/SIM, voice services, graphics, USB, multimedia such as MPEG, GPRS, etc. In one embodiment, API54 comprises a class of software extensions that allow the resident version of connection quality module 20 to access communication processing engine 82. These software class extensions may communicate with processing subsystems 84 on the wireless device, which allows for data reads and commands. For example, such a category may send a command on behalf of the application that invokes it, including a retrieval request for communication message 28 and/or communication log 22. The class object may then forward the response of the subsystem to the resident version of connection quality module 20 or ultimately to user manager 24 over wireless network 30.

For example, in the described embodiment, the plurality of communication messages 28 may be generated by one or more of the processing subsystems 84 and collected by another subsystem, such as a diagnostic subsystem. The resident version of connection quality module 20 executes through API54 to collect this information and manage the transfer of this information to user manager 24.

Additionally, wireless device communication log 22 may be a collection of a plurality of communication messages 28 and may include additional wireless device-related information 86, as discussed below. The plurality of communication messages 28 includes a set of messages transmitted from, received by, and generated within each respective wireless device 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, such as from each respective wireless device 12, 14, 16, 17, 18. For example, the communication messages 28 include standard over-the-air messages exchanged between the various wireless devices 12, 14, 16, 17, 18 and the wireless network 30. The wireless network 30 includes any communication network operable, at least in part, for enabling wireless communication between the various wireless devices 12, 14, 16, 17, 18 and any other device connected to the wireless network 30. Further, the wireless network 30 includes all network components (e.g., the BTS72) and all connected devices that form the network.

Further, the resident version of connection quality module 20 may execute to retrieve additional wireless device-related information 86 from computer platform 56 or elsewhere on the respective wireless device 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, and manage the transfer of this information to user manager 24. For example, the additional wireless device-related information 86 may include a wireless device identification 88, such as a mobile identification number, international mobile subscriber identity ("HVISI"), mobile directory number ("MDN"), and any other unique identification number associated with the respective wireless device. Also, additional wireless device-related information 86 may include location information 90, such as from a global positioning system ("GPS"), geographic information system ("GIS"), land network-based positioning system, combined land network-based and GPS system (such as QPoint, available from Qualcomm, Inc., of San Diego, Calif.)^TMPositioning software and gpsOne^®Hybrid assisted GPS wireless location technology) and/or any other system or tool for gathering, transforming, manipulating, analyzing, and generating information related to the location/position of individual wireless devices. The location information 90 may further include identification of other network components having known locations, such as the BTS72, in communication with the various wireless devices 12, 14, 16, 17, 18 to thereby provide information about the relative location of the wireless devicesInformation of the location. Further, additional wireless device-related information 86 may include processing-related data generated by processing subsystem 84 or any other component of the respective wireless device in the form of communication message 28 and/or related to communication message 28.

Referring back to FIG. 1, user manager 24 may be at least one of any type of server, personal computer, mini-host, or the like. User manager 24 and its corresponding components may give an easy view of the communication log 22 collected from the wireless device in any form, such as a table, map, graphical view, plain text, or any other type of display, printing, and/or interactive output.

Referring to fig. 4-7, in one embodiment, the output generated by user manager 24 may be in the form of an interactive report 85, the interactive report 85 having a plurality of drop-down menus 87 for obtaining more detailed information related to the summary information provided by the report. For example, referring to fig. 4, some of the summary information may include a table 89 that presents specific information related to wireless device and connection quality characteristics. In another example, referring to fig. 5 and 6, some of the summary information may be presented in the form of bar graphs 91, 93 and pie charts 95, 97 relating to different connection quality characteristics. In yet another example, referring to FIG. 7, user manager 24 may generate a geographic map 99 that includes connection quality characteristic representations 101, 103, 105 associated with different geographic locations 107, 109, 111.

Referring back to fig. 1, user manager 24 (or multiple servers) may send software agents or applications, such as resident connection quality module 20, to wireless devices 12, 14, 16, 17, 18 in wireless network area 29 so that the wireless devices return data from their resident applications and subsystems. Wireless devices 12, 14, 16, 17, 18 may transmit data, such as communication log 22, over a network to user manager 24 or some other computer device. User manager 24 utilizes communication log 22 for purposes such as connection quality determination, product setup, device and/or network diagnostics and configuration, and/or data refinement. Further, there may be separate servers or computer devices associated with user manager 24 that work in concert to provide data in usable formats to multiple parties, and/or a separate layer of control over the flow of data between wireless devices 12, 14, 16, 17, 18 and user manager 24.

Additionally, as mentioned above, analysis engine 32 executes connection quality module 34 to view communication log 22 and generate connection quality records 44. The analysis engine 32 includes at least one of an application specific integrated circuit ("ASIC"), a chipset, a processor, a microprocessor, a logic circuit, and any other data processing device. Connection quality module 34 may include software, hardware, firmware, and generally any executable instructions operable by analysis engine 32. Connection quality module 34 may download a resident version of connection quality module 20 to each wireless device 12, 14, 16, 17, 18. Alternatively, the resident version of connection quality module 20 may be loaded onto the various wireless devices via a serial connection during an initial assembly process or during a configuration process. Further, connection quality module 34 may be executed by user manager 24 to manage the set of communication logs 22 from wireless devices 12, 14, 16, 17, 18. Connection quality module 34 may "pull" logs 22 based on commands from a user, or may "push" logs from various devices at predetermined times or upon reaching predetermined memory/data storage levels.

Access failure module 38 includes instructions executable by analysis engine 32 to determine whether one or more predetermined communication message sequences 36 exist within communication log 22, thereby indicating an access failure event. Such access failure events are reported as a type of connection quality characteristic 26 in a record 44 associated with log 22. For example, in one embodiment, the access failure event is based on a relationship between access attempts and access success. As such, connection quality characteristics 26 may include any type of metric associated with access failure events, such as access failure event total, access failure event rate, and so forth.

In one embodiment, the sequence of predetermined communication messages 36 relating to access failures includes messages relating to the difference between access attempts and access successes. The access attempt includes a sequence of communication messages containing a radio connection request message of a first type having an originating conversational call, a terminating conversational call, or an emergency call as an establishment cause. Further, the access attempt comprises a sequence of communication messages including a second type of radio connection request message with registration as an establishment cause and followed by one of a connection management service request signaling message or a setup signaling message without any new radio connection request message in between. In addition, the access success message sequence includes: (1) an alert signaling message associated with one of the radio connection request messages of the first type or the second type, respectively; or (2) connection signaling messages associated with one of the first type or second type of radio connection request messages, respectively, without an associated alert signaling message; or (3) a connection confirmation signaling message associated with one of the first type or second type of radio connection request messages, respectively, without an associated alert signaling message or an associated connection signaling message.

Similarly, call interrupt module 42 includes instructions executable by analysis engine 32 to determine whether one or more predetermined sequences of communication messages 40 exist within communication log 22, thereby indicating a call interrupt. Such call interruption events are reported as a type of connection quality characteristic 26 in a record 44 associated with log 22. For example, in one embodiment, the call interrupt event is based on a state change, an abnormal release, and an abnormal disconnect that occurs after the access is successful. As such, the connection quality characteristics 26 may include any type of metric associated with call interruption events, such as a sum of call interruption events, a rate of call interruption events, and so forth.

In one embodiment, the call interruption related predetermined sequence of communication messages 40 are messages associated with access success relating to abnormal release, abnormal disconnection and/or status change. The abnormal release includes a release signaling message having an abnormal reason code and associated with an alert signaling message corresponding to access success and not previously an associated disconnect signaling message. An abnormal disconnect includes a disconnect signaling message having an abnormal reason code and associated with access success and not preceded by any associated release signaling messages. For both release and disconnect messages, a normal reason code is associated with proper operation of the system. For example, a normal reason code may be associated with a successful connection, a normal call clear, a call reject, or other unspecified reason. In particular, as identified in 3GPP specification 24.008 and as utilized in signaling messages in the UMTS protocol, the normal cause code includes at least a cause number: 0. 2, 4, 5, 7, 9-16, 20, 21, 23, 24 and 31. Rather, the exception cause code is associated with some error in the communication message and/or within the communication network, and/or with some call disabling event. For example, the anomaly reason code may be associated with an unacceptable channel, a busy user, a changed number, an operator determined exclusion, and so forth. In particular, as identified in 3GPP specification 24.008 and as utilized in signaling messages in the UMTS protocol, an abnormal cause code includes at least all cause numbers that are not considered normal cause codes, such as a cause number: 1. 3, 6, 8, 17-19, 22, 25-30 and 32-127. The call interruption state change includes a change from an active state to an idle state except when there is a normal release signaling message or a normal disconnect signaling message between the state change messages.

Moreover, the connection quality record 44 may further associate the access failure and call drop type connection quality characteristics 26 with additional information from the various wireless devices, such as various wireless device IDs 88, location information 90, and other wireless device related information 86 (see fig. 3). This additional associated information may be used, for example, to look up connection quality issues and identify problem areas and/or devices when analyzing logs 22 from multiple wireless devices and outputting results in a manner that correlates connection quality characteristics 26 with geographic location 90. As such, connection quality record 44 includes any form of output representative of connection quality characteristics 26, as well as any other relevant data, associated with a plurality of communication messages 28 from communication log 22 of one or more respective wireless devices.

Additionally, as mentioned above, optimization module 46 may access connection quality records 44 and apply predetermined algorithms or procedures to optimize settings of one or more device and/or network related configurations to improve connection quality, such as by reducing access failures and/or call interruptions. Optimization module 46 may include any hardware, software, firmware, and/or other set of executable instructions operable to analyze connection quality record 44 and determine modified network-specific and/or wireless device-specific configuration changes to reduce the occurrence of access failure events and/or call interruption events. In addition, optimization module 46 may be operable to initiate further communications with the various wireless devices 12, 14, 16, 17, 18 and/or network components (e.g., base stations) to retrieve additional communication-related data associated with the plurality of communication messages 28 in order to perform further analysis and optimization on the one or more connection quality characteristics 26. The optimization performed by the optimization module 46 is also performed in whole or in part by a technician manually reviewing the connection quality records 44 and any associated communication-related data.

For example, referring to fig. 8, after receiving the plurality of communication messages 28 recorded by the various wireless devices 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, one embodiment of a method of determining an access attempt includes looking at the first communication message to determine if it is a connection request message (block 110 and 112). If it is not a connection request message, the method identifies the message as not an access attempt (block 114), jumps to the next message (block 116) and performs the same look-up. If it is a connection request message, the method involves determining if it is preceded by another connection request message (block 118).

If it is preceded by another connection request, the method determines if there is a signaling message between the two connection request messages (block 120). If there are no signaling messages between the connection request messages, the connection request message being analyzed (i.e., the next connection request message) is ignored as a duplicate (block 122) and is not considered an access attempt (block 114) and the method jumps to the next message (block 116). If there is a signaling message between the two connection request messages, the two connection requests are for distinct access attempts, so the reason code of the connection request under examination is then further analyzed to determine if it is a registration call or a dialogue/emergency call (blocks 124, 126).

Similarly, if the connection request message is not preceded by another connection request message, the method determines whether the reason for the connection request message is a registration call or a conversational/emergency call (blocks 124, 126).

If it is not either a registration call or a dialogue/emergency call, the method identifies the message as not an access attempt and jumps to the next message (block 114- > 116).

If the connection request is a registration call, the method determines if the connection request is followed by a service request, type 1, or a setup signal (block 128). If it is not followed by a service request, type 1 or set signal, the method identifies the message as not an access attempt and jumps to the next message (block 114- > 116). If it is followed by a service request, type 1 or set signal, the method treats the connection request message as an access attempt (block 130).

On the other hand, if the connection request message is an originating or terminating conversational or emergency call, the method treats the connection request message as an access attempt (block 130).

Referring to fig. 13, continuing with the analysis of the sequence of messages as access attempts (fig. 8, block 126), one embodiment of a method for determining access success continues by determining whether a connection request has an associated alert signaling message (block 132). If there is an associated alert signaling message, the method treats the sequence as an access success (block 134). If there is no associated alert signaling message, the method includes a determination as to whether there is an associated connection signaling message (block 136). If there is an associated connection signaling message, the method treats the sequence as an access success (block 134). If there is no associated connection signaling message, the method includes a determination as to whether there is an associated acknowledgement signaling message (block 138). If there is an associated acknowledgement signaling message, the method treats the sequence as an access success (block 134). If there is no associated acknowledgement signaling message, the method treats the attempt as an access failure (block 140) and jumps to the next message (block 116) to return to the flow of FIG. 8.

Referring to fig. 10, continuing with the analysis of the sequence of messages as access success (fig. 9, block 134), one embodiment of a method for determining call interruption continues by determining whether a connection request is associated with a release message or a disconnect message (blocks 142, 144).

If the connection request is associated with a release message or a disconnect message, the method determines whether each release or disconnect message contains a normal reason code (block 146). If a normal reason code is present, the sequence is not related to the call interruption (block 148) and the message is skipped and the process moves to the next message (FIG. 8, block 116). If no normal reason code exists, the method treats the sequence as a call drop (block 150) and jumps to the next message to evaluate the next message sequence (FIG. 8, block 116).

If the connection request is not associated with either a release message or a disconnect message, the method proceeds to determine if the connection request message is associated with a state change (FIG. 11, block 154).

Referring to fig. 11, if the connection request is not associated with either of an abnormal release message or an abnormal disconnect message (from fig. 10), the method proceeds to determine if the connection request is associated with a state change from active to idle (block 154). If there is no state change from active to idle, the method determines that the sequence is not a call interrupt (block 156) and the method proceeds to the next message (FIG. 8, block 116). If there is a state change from active to idle, the method determines that the sequence is a call interrupt (block 158) and the method proceeds to the next message (fig. 8, block 116).

In one embodiment associated with UMTS protocols, a user manager or other computer device performs the described methods to determine a UMTS access failure rate and a UMTS call interruption rate. The UMTS access failure rate is defined as follows:

UMTS access failure rate [% ] ═

(Σaccess attempt- ∑ access success)/(Σaccess attempt) × 100%

Wherein:

sigma access attempt

Sum of number of unique RRC _ connection _ request messages with establishment cause originating _ dialog _ call, terminating _ dialog _ call or emergency _ call

+

Sum of the number of unique RRC _ connect _ request messages with CM _ service _ request _ NAS _ signaling or set _ NAS _ signaling messages (without any new RRC _ connect _ request message in between) registered for establishment cause and followed by SERV _ type 1;

note that: if the RRC connection _ request message is followed by another RRC _ connection _ request message without an RRC signaling message in between, the second RRC _ connection _ request message is considered a duplicate.

Success of sigma access

Sum of number of alarm _ NAS _ signaling messages associated with RRC _ connect _ request message counted above

+

Sum of number of connect _ NAS _ signaling messages without alert _ NAS _ signaling message associated with RRC _ connect _ request message counted above

+

The sum of the number of connect _ ACK _ NAS _ signaling messages without the alarm _ NAS _ signaling or connect _ NAS _ signaling messages associated with the RRC _ connect _ request message counted above.

Similarly, the UMTS call drop rate is defined as follows:

UMTS call interruption rate [% ] ═

(Sigma interruption due to state change +. Sigma Exception Release _ NAS _ Signaling +. Sigma Exception Break _ NAS _ Signaling)/(. Sigma Access success). 100%

Wherein:

success of Σ access is the same as defined above;

sigma call interruption due to state change

Sum of number of NAS _ MM state changes from connected _ active to idle with the following exceptions: (1) when there is a release _ NAS _ signaling message between state changes; (2) when there is a disconnect _ NAS _ signaling message between state changes; and (3) when the call is not considered as successful access. For example, if the establishment cause is not one of the causes listed above, then, for example, a packet data call may have an establishment cause-originating-interactive-call.

Σ abnormal release _ NAS _ signaling ═

Sum of the number of release _ NAS _ signaling messages with reason ≠ normal and associated with alert _ NAS _ signaling message as access success and not preceded by any associated disconnect _ NAS _ signaling message;

sigma abnormal disconnect _ NAS _ signaling ═

Sum of the number of disconnect _ NAS _ signaling messages with reason ≠ normal and associated with alarm _ NAS _ signaling message as access success and not preceded by any associated release _ NAS _ signaling message;

the reason for releasing the _ NAS _ signaling and disconnecting the _ NAS _ signaling messages is normally related to: successful connection, reason code: 0; normal call clear, reason code: 16; call rejection, reason code: 21 (note: this is a user initiated event); and unspecified normal reason code: 2. 4-5, 7, 9-15, 20, 23-24, 31; and where the reason for release _ NAS _ signaling and disconnect _ NAS _ signaling messages ≠ normal has all reason codes not listed above as normal.

Referring to fig. 12-19, various examples of UMTS access attempts and access successes are illustrated. In each of these cases, the downwardly extending arrow 170 represents a timeline in which messages are transmitted or received at the wireless device 12.

Referring to fig. 12, this message sequence 28 represents a single access attempt and a single access success, as a connection request message 172 with an appropriate establishment cause 174 is appropriately followed by an alert message 176.

Referring to fig. 13, this sequence of messages 28 represents a single access attempt and a single access success because the connection request message 172 with the appropriate establishment cause 174 is appropriately followed by an alert message 176 and because the second connection message 172 is considered a duplicate because there is no signaling message between the two connection messages.

Referring to fig. 14, this message sequence 28 represents two access attempts with one access failure and one access success. The first access attempt fails because none of the following is associated with the first connection request message 172: alert _ NAS _ signaling message, attach _ ACK _ NAS _ signaling message. Further, the RRC _ connection _ setup message is a radio resource control ("RRC") signaling message 178, which message 178 is interpreted since it occurred between the two connection request messages to indicate that the first access attempt has ended. The second access attempt is successful due to the alert message 176.

Referring to fig. 15, this sequence of messages 28 represents two access attempts with one access failure and one access success. The first access attempt fails because none of the following is associated with the first connection request message 172: alert _ NAS _ signaling message, attach _ ACK _ NAS _ signaling message. Further, WCDMA: the system information message block is a signaling message that is interpreted since it occurred between two connection request messages to indicate that the first access attempt has ended. The second access attempt is successful due to the alert message 176.

Referring to fig. 16, this sequence of messages 28 represents two access attempts with one access failure and one access success. The first access attempt fails because none of the following is associated with the first connection request message 172: alert _ NAS _ signaling message, attach _ ACK _ NAS _ signaling message. Further, the RRC _ connection _ setup message is a signaling message 178, which signaling message 178 is interpreted since it occurred between the two connection request messages to indicate that the first access attempt has ended. The second access attempt is successful due to the associated connection signaling message 180.

Referring to fig. 17, this message sequence 28 represents two access attempts with one access failure and one access success. The first access attempt fails because none of the following is associated with the first connection request message 172: alert _ NAS _ signaling message, attach _ ACK _ NAS _ signaling message. Further, WCDMA: the system information message block is a signaling message 178, which signaling message 178 is interpreted since it occurred between two connection request messages to indicate that the first access attempt has ended. The second access attempt is successful due to the associated connection acknowledgement signaling message 182.

Referring to fig. 18, this message sequence 28 represents two access attempts with one access failure and one access success. The first access attempt, which includes the first connection request message 172 with establishment cause 174 "registered" and the corresponding service request message 184, fails because neither of the following is associated with the first connection request message 172: alert _ NAS _ signaling message, attach _ ACK _ NAS _ signaling message. The second access attempt, which includes the second connection request message 172 with establishment cause 174 "registered" and the corresponding setup message 188, is successful due to the associated alert message 176.

Referring to fig. 19, this sequence of messages 28 represents one access attempt with no access failure and one access success. The first connection request message 172 with the establishment cause 174 in the form of a "registration" is not considered an access attempt because it is followed by a service type 186 that is not "type 1". The second access attempt (i.e., the second connection request 172) is successful due to the associated alert message 176.

Referring to fig. 20-31, various examples of UMTS call drops are illustrated. Referring to fig. 20, this message sequence 28 represents one access success with no access failure and one call interruption. The access success is considered because the connection request message 172 is followed by an alert message 176. The call interruption occurs based on a change from the active state 190 to the idle state 192 without a normal release message or a normal disconnect message between state change messages.

Referring to fig. 21, this message sequence 28 indicates that there is no access failure and one access success with one call interruption. The access success is considered because the first connection request message 172 is followed by an alert message 176. The second connection request message 172 is a duplicate because there is no RRC signaling message between the two connection request messages 172. The call interruption occurs based on a change from the active state 190 to the idle state 192 without a normal release message or a normal disconnect message between state change messages.

Referring to fig. 22, this message sequence 28 represents an access success with an access failure and a call interruption. The first connection request 172 results in an access failure because it is not associated with one of the alert message 176, the connection message 180, or the connection confirmation message 182. In addition, a signaling message 178 in the form of a connection setup message is between the two connection request messages, resulting in attempts and failures. The access success is considered because the second connection request message 172 is followed by an alert message 176. The call interruption occurs based on a change from the active state 190 to the idle state 192 without a normal release message or a normal disconnect message between state change messages.

Referring to fig. 23, this message sequence 28 represents one access success with no access failure and one call interruption. The access success is considered because the first connection request message 172 is followed by an alert message 176. The call drop occurs based on the associated exception release message 194.

Referring to fig. 24, this message sequence 28 represents an access success without access failure and without call interruption. The access success is considered because the first connection request message 172 is followed by an alert message 176. The normal release message 196 between state changes from the active state 190 to the idle state 192 precludes call interruption events.

Referring to fig. 25, this message sequence 28 represents no access failure and no access success without call interruption. The connection request messages 172 followed by the alert message 176 are not counted because the establishment cause 174 of the connection request is not satisfied as a requirement for an attempt. Thus, the state change from active state 190 to idle state 192 is irrelevant because no access was successful.

Referring to fig. 26, this message sequence 28 represents an access success without access failure and without call interruption. The access success is considered because the first connection request message 172 is followed by the connection message 180. The normal disconnect message 198 between the state change from the active state 190 to the idle state 192 precludes a call interruption event.

Referring to fig. 27, this message sequence 28 represents one access success with no access failure and one call interruption. The first connection request message 172 with the "register" establishment cause 174 followed by the setup message 188 constitutes an access attempt. The associated connection acknowledgement message 182 in turn results in a successful access. A call interruption event occurs due to a lack of a normal disconnect or normal release between state changes from the active state 190 to the idle state 192.

Referring to fig. 28, this message sequence 28 represents one access success with no access failure and one call interruption. The access success is considered because the first connection request message 172 is suitably followed by an alert message 176. A call drop event occurs due to the presence of an abnormal disconnect message 200 after the access was successful.

Referring to fig. 29, this message sequence 28 represents one access success with no access failure and one call interruption. The access success is considered because the first connection request message 172 is suitably followed by an alert message 176. Even if the normal release message 196 occurs after the access is successful, the call interruption event occurs because the abort message 200 occurs before the normal release message.

Referring to fig. 30, this message sequence 28 represents an access success without access failure and without call interruption. The access success is considered because the first connection request message 172 is suitably followed by an alert message 176. Even if an exception release message 196 occurs between a state change from active state 190 to idle state 192, a call interruption event does not occur because a normal disconnect message 198 occurs before the exception release message.

Referring to fig. 31, this message sequence 28 represents an access success without access failure and without call interruption. The access success is considered because the first connection request message 172 is suitably followed by an alert message 176. Even if an abnormal disconnect message 200 occurs between a state change from the active state 190 to the idle state 192, a call interruption event does not occur because the normal release message 196 occurs before the abnormal disconnect message.

Thus, in summary, referring to fig. 32, one embodiment of a method of determining connection quality of a wireless device with a wireless communication network includes receiving a plurality of communication messages (block 210). For example, such communication messages include messages 28 recorded by the wireless device 12, 14, 16, 17, 18 and sent from the wireless device 12, 14, 16, 17, 18 to the communication log 22 of the user manager 24 via the wireless network 30. In an optional step, the method may include receiving location information and/or device identification information related to the received communication message (block 212). For example, such location information includes location information 90, and such device identification information includes a wireless device ID 88 sent from the wireless device 12, 14, 16, 17, 18 to the user manager 24 via the wireless network 30. Next, the method includes analyzing the communication messages of the predetermined sequence of messages associated with the connection quality characteristic (block 214). This step includes, for example, analysis engine 32 executing connection quality module 34 to search for a sequence of communication messages 36 related to a predetermined access failure and to search for a sequence of communication messages 40 related to a predetermined call interruption included within plurality of communication messages 28. Further, the method includes generating a connection quality record associated with the received communication and having connection quality characteristics (block 216). For example, this step includes the analysis engine generating a connection quality record 44 including connection quality characteristics 26 (such as access failures and call interruptions) based on the predetermined sequence 36, 40. Optionally, the method further includes correlating the connection quality characteristic with location information and/or wireless device identification information (block 218). For example, this step includes presenting the results with the given connection quality characteristics 26 associated with the device-related information 86 (e.g., device ID 88 and location information 90) in a table, geographic map, or the like. Additionally, the method optionally may include optimizing the configuration of the wireless device and/or the network component based on the connection quality record (block 220). For example, this step includes analysis engine 32 executing optimization module 46 to run a predetermined algorithm or program to optimize the settings of one or more device and/or network related configurations to improve connection quality, such as by reducing access failures and/or call interruptions. In another example of this step, the method may include a technician or analyst viewing the results and manually making configuration adjustments. Additionally, it should be noted that the methods may be implemented in different locations within a system, in different devices, and by centralized or decentralized processing mechanisms.

While various disclosed embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the subject matter of this document is not limited to these embodiments only. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed embodiments as described in the claims.

Claims

1. A method of determining connection quality between a wireless device and a wireless communication network, comprising:

receiving a plurality of communication messages recorded by the wireless device, wherein the plurality of communication messages comprises messages transmitted from and received by the wireless device via the wireless communication network; and

generating a connection quality record including connection quality characteristics based on detection of a predetermined sequence of communication messages within the plurality of communication messages.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection quality characteristic comprises at least one of an access failure and a call interruption.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving location information corresponding to at least one location of the wireless device during the plurality of communications and associating the location information with the connection quality characteristics in the generated connection quality record.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the location information relates to at least one of a geographic location of the wireless device and a geographic location of a network component in communication with the wireless device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising generating an optimal configuration for at least one of the wireless device and the network component based on the connection quality characteristics.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection quality characteristic comprises an access failure, wherein the access failure is based on a predetermined relationship between access attempts and access success.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the access attempt comprises a unique radio connection request message of a first type having an establishment cause selected from the group consisting of an originating conversational call, a terminating conversational call, and an emergency call, or the unique radio connection request message of a second type comprising an establishment cause of registration followed by one of a connection request signaling message or a setup signaling message.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the access success comprises an alert signaling message associated with one of the first type or the second type of unique radio connection request message, respectively, or a connection acknowledgement signaling message associated with one of the first type or the second type of unique radio connection request message, respectively.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication messages comprise messages in a universal mobile telephone system ("UMTS") protocol, and wherein the connection quality characteristic comprises an access failure determined according to the equation:

access failure number ═ Σ access attempt- Σ access success

Wherein:

sigma access attempt

A sum of the number of unique RRC _ connection _ request messages of a first type having an establishment cause including one of originating _ dialog _ call, terminating _ dialog _ call, and emergency _ call;

plus with

Sum of the number of unique RRC _ connection _ request messages of the second type with either CM _ service _ request _ NAS _ signaling or setjnas _ signaling messages registered for the establishment cause and followed by SERV _ type 1; and is

Success of sigma access

A sum of a number of alert _ NAS _ signaling messages associated with messages in the unique RRC _ connection _ request messages of the first type and the second type, respectively;

plus with

A sum of the number of connection _ NAS _ signaling messages associated with messages in the unique RRC _ connection _ request messages of the first type and the second type, respectively, without an associated alarm _ NAS _ signaling message;

plus with

A sum of a number of connection _ ACK _ NAS _ signaling messages associated with messages in the unique RRC _ ConnectionRequest messages of the first type and the second type, respectively, without an associated alarm _ NAS _ signaling message or an associated connection _ NAS _ signaling message.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection quality characteristic comprises a call interruption based on at least one of a state change, an abnormal release, and an abnormal disconnect.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the state change comprises a change from an active state to an idle state after an access success without an associated release signaling message or disconnect signaling message between the state changes.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the access success comprises an alert signaling message associated with one of a first type and the second type of unique radio connection request message, respectively, or a connection signaling message associated with one of the first type and the second type of unique radio connection request message, respectively, or a connection acknowledgement signaling message associated with one of the first type and the second type of unique radio connection request message, respectively.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first type of unique radio connection request message comprises an establishment cause selected from the group consisting of an originating conversational call, a terminating conversational call, and an emergency call, and wherein the second type of unique radio connection request message comprises an establishment cause with registration followed by one of a service request signaling message or a setup signaling message.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the abnormal release comprises a release signaling message having an abnormal reason code and associated with an alert signaling message corresponding to access success.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the abnormal disconnection comprises a disconnection signaling message having an abnormal reason code and associated with the alert signaling message corresponding to the access success.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication messages comprise messages in a universal mobile telephone system ("UMTS") protocol, and wherein the connection quality characteristic comprises a call interruption determined according to the equation:

call interruption + 'sigma' abnormal release + 'sigma' abnormal disconnection caused by state change for number

Wherein:

sigma call interruption due to state change

Sum of the number of NAS _ MM state changes from connectionactive to connectionidle except when there is a release _ NAS _ signaling message or a disconnect _ NAS _ signaling message between the state changes and associated with access success, wherein the access success comprises:

an alert _ NAS _ signaling message associated with a message of the unique RRC _ connection _ request messages of the first type and the second type, respectively;

or

A connect _ NAS _ signaling message associated with a message of the first and second types of unique RRC _ connect _ request messages, respectively, without an associated alarm _ NAS _ signaling message;

or

A connection _ ACK _ NAS _ signaling message associated with a message of the first and second types of unique RRC _ connection _ request messages, respectively, in the absence of an associated alert _ NAS signaling message or an associated connection _ NAS _ signaling message;

wherein the first type of unique RRC _ connect _ request message includes an establishment cause including one of an originating _ dialog _ call, a terminating _ dialog _ call, and an emergency _ call;

wherein the second type of unique RRC _ connection _ request message comprises a CM _ service _ request _ NAS _ signaling or a set _ NAS _ signaling message that is registered for an establishment reason and followed by a SERV _ type 1; and there is no new RRC _ connection _ request message between them;

abnormal release ═ sigma

Sum of the number of Release _ NAS _ Signaling messages with a reason ≠ Normal and associated with the alarm _ NAS _ Signaling message corresponding to the access success and not preceded by an associated disconnect _ NAS _ Signaling message; and is

Abnormal disconnection ═ sigma ═

(ii) a sum of the number of disconnect _ NAS _ signallings associated with the alert _ NAS _ signaling message corresponding to the access success and not preceded by an associated release _ NAS _ signaling message with a reason ≠ normal.

17. A method of determining connection quality between a wireless device and a wireless communication network, comprising:

receiving a plurality of communication messages transmitted from and received by the wireless device over the wireless communication network;

identifying connection quality characteristics within the plurality of communication messages based on the detection of a predetermined sequence of messages;

generating a connection quality record associated with the received plurality of messages, the connection quality record including the connection quality characteristic; and

generating a configuration change for at least one of the wireless device and a network component in the wireless communication network based on the connection quality record.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: receiving a second plurality of communication messages transmitted from and received by a second wireless device over the wireless communication network; receiving a first set and a second set of location information corresponding to the plurality of communications and the second plurality of communications, respectively, and corresponding to the wireless device and the second wireless device, respectively, and wherein generating the connection quality record further comprises associating the connection quality characteristic with a location from the first set and the second set of location information.

19. A wireless device connection quality determination apparatus, comprising:

a user manager operable to receive a plurality of communication messages recorded by the wireless device, wherein the plurality of communication messages comprises a transmission message sent from the wireless device via a wireless communication network; and

a connection quality module operable to generate a connection quality record including connection quality characteristics based on detection of a predetermined sequence of communication messages within the plurality of communication messages.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the connection quality characteristic comprises at least one of an access failure and a call interruption.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising the user manager operable to receive location information corresponding to at least one location of the wireless device during the plurality of communications, and wherein the connection quality module is further operable to associate the location information with the connection quality characteristic in the generated connection quality record.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the location information comprises at least one of a geographic location of the wireless device and a geographic location of a network component in communication with the wireless device.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising an optimization module operable to generate an optimal configuration for at least one of the wireless device and a network component of the wireless communication network based on the connection quality characteristics.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the connection quality characteristic comprises an access failure, wherein the access failure is based on a predetermined relationship between access attempts and access success.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the access attempt comprises a unique radio connection request message of a first type having an establishment cause selected from the group consisting of an originating conversation call, a terminating conversation call, and an emergency call, or the unique radio connection request message of a second type comprising a registered establishment cause followed by one of a connection request signaling message or a setup signaling message.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the access success comprises an alert signaling message associated with one of the first type or the second type of unique radio connection request message, respectively, or a connection acknowledgement signaling message associated with one of the first type or the second type of unique radio connection request message, respectively.

27. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the plurality of communication messages comprise messages in a universal mobile telephone system ("UMTS") protocol, and wherein the connection quality characteristic comprises an access failure, wherein the connection quality module determines the access failure according to the equation:

access failure number ═ Σ access attempt- Σ access success

Wherein:

sigma access attempt

plus with

Success of sigma access

plus with

A sum of the number of connect _ NAS _ signaling messages associated with messages in the unique RRC _ CONNECT _ REQUEST messages of the first type and the second type, respectively, without an associated alarm _ NAS _ signaling message;

plus with

A sum of a number of connection _ ACK _ NAS _ signaling messages associated with messages in the unique RRC _ CONNECTION _ REQUEST messages of the first type and the second type, respectively, without associated alarm _ NAS _ signaling messages or associated CONNECTION _ NAS _ signaling messages.

28. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the connection quality characteristic comprises a call interruption based on at least one of a state change, an abnormal release, and an abnormal disconnect.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the connection quality module is operable to identify the state change by identifying a change from an active state to an idle state after an access success within the plurality of communication messages without an associated release signaling message or disconnect signaling message between the state changes.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the access success comprises an alert signaling message associated with one of a first type or the second type of unique radio connection request message, respectively, or a connection signaling message associated with one of the first type or the second type of unique radio connection request message, respectively, or a connection acknowledgement signaling message associated with one of the first type and the second type of unique radio connection request message, respectively.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the first type of unique radio connection request message comprises an establishment cause selected from the group consisting of an originating conversational call, a terminating conversational call, and an emergency call, and wherein the second type of unique radio connection request message comprises an establishment cause with registration followed by one of a service request signaling message or a setup signaling message.

32. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the abnormal release comprises a release signaling message having an abnormal reason code and associated with an alert signaling message corresponding to access success.

33. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the abnormal disconnection comprises a disconnection signaling message having an abnormal reason code and associated with the alert signaling message corresponding to the access success.

34. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the plurality of communication messages comprise messages in a universal mobile telephone system ("UMTS") protocol, and wherein the connection quality characteristic comprises a call interruption, wherein the connection quality module is operable to determine the call interruption according to the equation:

Wherein:

sigma call interruption due to state change

an alert _ NAS _ signaling message associated with one of the unique RRC _ connection _ request messages of the first type and the second type, respectively;

or

A connection _ NAS _ signaling message associated with one of the first type and the second type of unique RRC _ connection _ request messages, respectively, without an associated alarm _ NAS _ signaling message;

or

A connection _ ACK _ NAS _ signaling message associated with one of the first type and the second type of unique RRC _ connection _ request messages, respectively, without an associated alarm _ NAS _ signaling message or an associated connection _ NAS _ signaling message;

abnormal release ═ sigma

Abnormal disconnection ═ sigma ═

A sum of the number of disconnect _ NAS _ signaling messages with a reason ≠ normal and associated with the alert _ NAS _ signaling message corresponding to the access success and not preceded by any release _ NAS _ signaling message.

35. An apparatus for determining connection quality between a wireless device and a wireless communication network, comprising:

a first means for receiving a plurality of communication messages transmitted from and received by the wireless device over the wireless communication network;

second means for identifying connection quality characteristics within the plurality of communication messages based on detection of a predetermined sequence of messages;

third means for generating a connection quality record associated with the received plurality of messages, the connection quality record comprising the connection quality characteristic; and

means for generating a configuration change for at least one of the wireless device and a network component in the wireless communication network based on the connection quality record.

36. A computer-readable medium for determining connection quality between a wireless device and a wireless communication network, comprising:

at least one sequence of instructions, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor causes the processor to perform the steps of claim 1.

37. A computer-readable medium for determining connection quality between a wireless device and a wireless communication network, comprising:

at least one sequence of instructions, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor causes the processor to perform the steps of claim 16.

38. A computer-readable medium for determining connection quality between a wireless device and a wireless communication network, comprising:

at least one sequence of instructions, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor causes the processor to perform the steps of claim 17.

39. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a processor operable to transmit and receive, respectively, a plurality of communication messages to and from a wireless network; and

a memory having a resident connection quality module comprising executable instructions operable to collect and forward the communication messages over the wireless network, wherein a predetermined sequence of the plurality of communication messages corresponds to connection quality characteristics of the wireless device over the wireless network.

40. A wireless communication device, comprising:

processing logic configured to process a plurality of communication messages for transmission from the wireless communication device to a wireless communication network and reception by the wireless communication device from the wireless communication network; and

aggregation and transmission logic configured to aggregate the plurality of communication messages in the form of a communication log and transmit the communication log over the wireless communication network at a predetermined time;

wherein the predetermined sequence of the plurality of communication messages corresponds to a connection quality characteristic of the wireless device on the wireless network.

41. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a first means for processing a plurality of communication messages for transmission from the wireless communication device to a wireless communication network and reception by the wireless communication device from the wireless communication network; and

second means for aggregating the plurality of communication messages in the form of a communication log and transmitting the communication log over the wireless communication network at a predetermined time;

42. A method for determining connection quality characteristics of a wireless communication device, comprising:

processing a plurality of communication messages for transmission from the wireless communication device to a wireless communication network and for reception by the wireless communication device from the wireless communication network;

aggregating the plurality of communication messages in the form of a communication log; and

transmitting the communication log over the wireless communication network at a predetermined time;

43. A computer-readable medium for determining connection quality between a wireless device and a wireless communication network, comprising:

at least one sequence of instructions, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor causes the processor to perform the steps recited in claim 42.