Multi-phone programming application
View Patent ↗Automated provisioning of radiotelephone handsets 20 at a fulfillment center and automated quality assurance uses a computer database of specifications 16 for authentication and activation from multiple handset manufacturing vendors, radiotelephone service providers, and distributors. A universal interface system 10 is provided to efficiently access diverse makes and models of handsets. The handsets are attached to the interface system in accordance with a build request, checked to see if the attached handset matches the build request, and automatically provisioned via the interface in accordance with the build request.
1. A universal production provisioning system for radiotelephone handset units of varying model, manufacturer, and platform comprising:
an interface having at least one universal connector adapted for connection to radiotelephone handsets having different specifications;
a computer operably connected to the interface;
memory storage in communication with the computer containing production provisioning data and instruction data for a specified radiotelephone handset connected via the interface, wherein the instruction data comprise a production build request number and a plural quantity of phones to production provision under said production build request number;
software for verifying connection of the specified handset and automatically transferring the production provisioning data to handset memory storage via the interface in accordance with the instruction data, wherein the software further comprises instructions for:
generating a build request comprising the radiotelephone handset specification and production provisioning and instruction data for the specified handset;
storing the build request in the memory storage;
retrieving data from the build request;
generating instructions to connect the provisioning system to a handset in accordance with the build request specification; and
generating instructions to disconnect the provisioned handset from the provisioning system;
a first workstation networked with the computer for the build request generation and storage;
a second workstation to display the retrieved data and handset connection instructions; and
a third workstation to inspect a plurality of the provisioned handsets and inspection software for an inspection method comprising the steps of:
entering a production build request number via the third workstation;
connecting to the third workstation a provisioned handset selected from the plurality of provisioned handsets according to the build request data associated with the production build request number;
comparing provisioning information in the memory storage of the provisioned handset to the provisioning data associated with the production build request number;
marking the handset with a passing indicator if the provisioning information matches the provisioning data;
marking the handset with a failed indicator if the provisioning information differs from the provisioning data;
repeating the connection, comparison, and marking on additional handsets for the production build request number;
determining whether the production build request passes or fails based on the instruction data associated with the production build request number and returning a pass/fail for the production build request; and
sending failed handsets from a passing production build request to a repair station;
and sending handsets from a failing production build request to an area for segregation.
2. The universal provisioning system of claim 1 wherein the third workstation has access to a database comprising ANSI Quality tables for inspection under ANSI Z 1.4 to determine whether the production build request passes or fails.
3. A universal production provisioning system for radiotelephone handset units of varying model, manufacturer, and platform, comprising:
an interface having at least one universal connector adapted for connection to radiotelephone handsets having different specifications;
a computer operably connected to the interface;
memory storage in communication with the computer containing production provisioning data and instruction data for a specified radiotelephone handset connected via the interface, wherein the instruction data comprise a production build request number and a plural quantity of phones to production provision under said production build request number; and
software for verifying connection of the specified handset and automatically transferring the production provisioning data to handset memory storage via the interface in accordance with the instruction data, wherein the software further comprises instructions for:
generating a build request comprising the radiotelephone handset specification and production provisioning and instruction data for the specified handset;
storing the build request in the memory storage;
retrieving data from the build request;
generating instructions to connect the provisioning system to a handset in accordance with the build request specification;
generating instructions to disconnect the provisioned handset from the provisioning system;
generating, storing in memory, and retrieving data from a plurality of the build requests;
inspecting the memory storage of the automatically provisioned handset to verify provisioning data integrity;
entering a production build request number;
connecting the provisioned handset according to the build request data associated with the production build request number;
comparing the provisioning information in the memory storage of the connected handset to the provisioning data associated with the production build request number;
marking the handset with a passing indicator if the provisioning information matches the provisioning data;
marking the handset with a failed indicator if the provisioning information differs from the provisioning data;
repeating the connection, comparison, and marking for additional handsets for the production build request number;
determining whether the production build request passes or fails based on the instruction data associated with the production build request number and returning a pass/fail for the production build request; and
sending failed handsets from a passing production build request to a repair station;
and sending handsets from a failing production build request to an area for segregation.
4. The universal provisioning system of claim 3 wherein the system has access to a database comprising ANSI Quality tables for inspection under ANSI Z 1.4 to determine whether the production build request passes or fails.
5. A universal provisioning system for radiotelephone handset units of varying model, manufacturer, and platform, comprising:
an interface adapted for connection to radiotelephone handsets having different specifications;
a computer operably connected to the interface;
memory storage in communication with the computer containing production provisioning data and instruction data for a specified radiotelephone handset connected via the interface; and
provisioning software for:
generating a build request comprising the radiotelephone handset specification and production provisioning and instruction data for the specified handset; storing the build request in the memory storage;
retrieving data from the build request;
generating instructions to connect the provisioning system to a handset in accordance with the build request specification;
verifying connection of the specified handset and automatically transferring the production provisioning data to handset memory storage via the interface in accordance with the instruction data; and
generating instructions to disconnect the provisioned handset from the provisioning system; and
inspection software for:
entering a production build request number;
operably connecting to the inspection software a provisioned handset selected from a plurality of provisioned handsets according to the build request data associated with the production build request number;
comparing provisioning information in the memory storage of the provisioned handset to the provisioning data associated with the production build request number;
recording the handset as passing if the provisioning information matches the provisioning data;
recording the handset as failed if the provisioning information differs from the provisioning data;
repeating the connection, comparison, and marking on additional handsets for the production build request number; and
determining whether the production build request passes or fails based on the instruction data associated with the production build request number and returning a pass/fail for the production build request.
6. The universal provisioning system of claim 5 wherein the inspection software has access to a database comprising ANSI Quality tables for inspection under ANSI Z 1.4 to determine whether the production build request passes or fails.
7. A universal provisioning system for radiotelephone handset units of varying model, manufacturer, and platform, comprising:
an interface adapted for connection to radiotelephone handsets having different specifications;
a computer operably connected to the interface;
memory storage in communication with the computer containing production provisioning data and instruction data for a specified radiotelephone handset connected via the interface; and
provisioning software for automatically transferring the production provisioning data to handset memory storage via the interface in accordance with the instruction data; and
inspection software for:
entering a production build request number;
operably connecting to the inspection software a provisioned handset selected from a plurality of provisioned handsets according to the build request data associated with the production build request number;
comparing provisioning information in the memory storage of the provisioned handset to the provisioning data associated with the production build request number;
recording the handset as passing if the provisioning information matches the provisioning data;
recording the handset as failed if the provisioning information differs from the provisioning data;
repeating the connection, comparison, and marking on additional handsets for the production build request number; and
determining whether the production build request passes or fails based on the instruction data associated with the production build request number and returning a pass/fail for the production build request.
8. The universal provisioning system of claim 7 wherein the inspection software has access to a database comprising ANSI Quality tables for inspection under ANSI Z 1.4 to determine whether the production build request passes or fails.