Self-diagnostic system for cellular-transceiver systems with remote-reporting capabilities

Claim 2

In an auto-diagnostic apparatus for testing the proper functioning of a cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver and a cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit operatively coupled to said cellular transceiver, which interface unit couples a land-type telephone device to the cellular transceiver whereby DTMF or pulse-type dialing signals are converted into digital format for sending to said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver, whereby the dialed number made on the land-type of telephone may be used to call a number over the cellular, or cellular-like, system, and wherein said auto-diagnostic apparatus comprises auto-diagnostic means coupled to said interface unit for generating signals for testing the operation of said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver and said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit, the improvement comprising: remote-testing initiation means for generating a signal for initiating in said auto-diagnostic means the initiation of the testing of the proper functioning of the cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver and the cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit operatively coupled to said cellular transceiver; and signal-responsive means associated with said auto-diagnostic means responsive to said signal from said remote-testing initiation means for starting the testing process of said auto-diagnostic apparatus.

Claim 3

The auto-diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising remote-reporting means operatively associated with said auto-diagnostic apparatus for reporting data representing the results of the test of said auto-diagnostic apparatus to a remote telemaintenance center by means of said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver.

Claim 4

The auto-diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a remote telemaintenance center which receives said test-results data caused to be sent by said remote-reporting means, said remote telemaintenance center comprising means for receiving and processing said test-results data.

Claim 5

The auto-diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said remote telemaintenance center comprises signal means for answering said remote-reporting means for indicating that the test-results data should be sent.

Claim 6

The auto-diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said remote telemaintenance center comprises signal means for answering said remote-reporting means for indicating that the test-results data have been successfully received.

Claim 7

The auto-diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each said signal means comprises means for generating a 1020 Hz. tone; said remote-reporting comprising signal-receiving means for receiving said 1020 Hz. tone.

Claim 8

The auto-diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said remote-reporting means comprises means for retrying the transmission of said test-results data; said means for retrying comprises means for limiting the number of attempts of retrying the transmission of said test-results data.

Claim 9

The auto-diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said remote-reporting means comprises means for establising a call to the telephone number of said remote telemaintenance center via the cellular, or cellular-like, network, and means for retrying to establish said call if a first attempt has failed.

Claim 10

The auto-diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said remote telemaintenance center comprises test-initiation means for sending a signal via the cellular, or cellular-like, network, to said remote-reporting means for causing said remote-reporting means to actuate said self-diagnostic apparatus in order to perform a self-diagnostic test; said remote-reporting means having signal-receiving means for receiving said test-initation signal.

Claim 11

The auto-diagnostic apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said remote-reporting means comprises means for establising a call to the telephone number of said remote telemaintenance center via the cellular, or cellular-like, network, and means for retrying to establish said call if a first attempt has failed.

Claim 12

In an auto-diagnostic apparatus for testing the proper functioning of a cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver and a cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit operatively coupled to said cellular transceiver, which interface unit couples a land-type telephone device to the cellular transceiver whereby DTMF or pulse-type dialing signals are converted into digital format for sending to said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver, whereby the dialed number made on the land-type of telephone may be used to call a number over the cellular, or cellular-like, system, and wherein said auto-diagnostic apparatus comprises auto-diagnostic means coupled to said interface unit for generating signals for testing the operation of said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver and said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit, the improvement comprising: off-site, remote-test initiation means for generating a signal for initiating in said auto-diagnostic means the initiation of the testing of the proper functioning of the cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver and the cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit operatively coupled to said cellular transceiver, said remote-testing initiation means being located off-site from the location where said auto-diagnostic apparatus is located; signal-responsive means associated with said auto-diagnostic means responsive to said signal from said remote-testing initiation means for starting the testing process of said auto-diagnostic apparatus; and remote-reporting means operatively associated with said auto-diagnostic apparatus for reporting data representing the results of the test of said auto-diagnostic apparatus to a remote location by means of said cellular, or cellular-like, network.

Claim 13

In an auto-diagnostic apparatus for testing the proper functioning of a cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver and a cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit operatively coupled to said cellular transceiver, which interface unit couples a land-type telephone device to the cellular transceiver whereby DTMF or pulse-type dialing signals are converted into digital format for sending to said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver, whereby the dialed number made on the land-type of telephone may be used to call a number over the cellular, or cellular-like, system, and wherein said auto-diagnostic apparatus comprises auto-diagnostic means coupled to said interface unit for generating signals for testing the operation of said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver and said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit, the improvement comprising: off-site, remote-test initiation means for generating a signal for initiating in said auto-diagnostic means the initiation of the testing of the proper functioning of the cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver and the cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit operatively coupled to said cellular transceiver, said remote-testing initiation means being located off-site from the location where said auto-diagnostic apparatus is located; signal-responsive means associated with said auto-diagnostic means responsive to said signal from said remote-testing initiation means for starting the testing process of said auto-diagnostic apparatus; and remote-reporting means operatively associated with said auto-diagnostic apparatus for reporting data representing the results of the test of said auto-diagnostic apparatus to a remote location by means of said cellular, or cellular-like, network.

Claim 14

The auto-diagnostic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said auto-diagnostic means comprises means for 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.

Claim 15

The auto-diagnostic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means for simulating the functions performed by said standard, land telephone-like instrument comprises means for generating an off-hook signal to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit.

Claim 16

The auto-diagnostic apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said auto-diagnostic means comprises means for monitoring and reporting the proper functioning of said interface unit to said off-site location by means of said remote-reporting means.

Claim 17

The auto-diagnostic apparatus according to claim 11, 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.

Claim 18

The auto-diagnostic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means for simulating the functions performed by said standard land telephone-like instrument comprises means for generating a DTMF signal and sending the signal to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit.

Claim 19

The auto-diagnostic apparatus according to claim 11, 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.

Claim 20

The auto-diagnostic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means for simulating the functions performed by said standard, land telephone-like instrument comprises means for generating an on-hook signal to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit.

Claim 21

The auto-diagnostic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said diagnostic means comprises means for simulating the presence of an incoming telephone call to said transceiver in order to cause said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit to actuate its ring generator; said diagnostic means comprising means for detecting the ring-signal produced thereby.

Claim 22

The auto-diagnostic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said diagnostic means further comprises means for 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.

Claim 23

The auto-diagnostic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said diagnostic means comprises means for generating an outgoing telephone call through the cellular, or cellular-like, telephone network, when said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit is coupled to a transceiver, and back to said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver, whereby said diagnostic means causes said cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver to make a telephone call to itself; said diagnostic means further comprising means for detecting the generation of a busy-signal by the cellular, or cellular-like, transceiver in response to said telephone call; said means for generating an outgoing telephone call calling the telephone number which has been assigned to the transceiver coupled to said cellular, or cellular-like, interface unit.

Claim 24

The auto-diagnostic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said auto-diagnostic means comprises means for monitoring and reporting the proper functioning of said interface unit to said off-site location by means of said remote-reporting means.