Method for testing communication protocol having collection of internal information of a mobile communication terminal by an external module

A mobile communication system comprising:

• a mobile communication terminal;
• and
• an external module for installation into said mobile communication terminal;
• wherein said mobile communication terminal comprises:
• an internal acquisition mechanism for acquiring information, in response to commands from said external module, from said mobile communication terminal relating to an internal state of said mobile communication terminal during performance of a communication protocol during transmission between said mobile communication terminal and a base station;
• and
• an output mechanism for supplying information that has been acquired by said acquisition mechanism to said external module;
• and wherein said external module comprises:
• an internal collection mechanism for collecting information from said mobile communication terminal that has been supplied by said output mechanism of said mobile communication terminal;
• and
• a storage mechanism for storing therein information that has been collected by said collection mechanism.

A method for testing communication protocol in a mobile communication terminal, an external module being installed into said mobile communication terminal, said method comprising the steps of:

• requesting said mobile communication terminal, by said external module, to execute a communication protocol;
• executing, by said mobile communication terminal, said communication protocol in accordance with said request by said external module;
• internally acquiring, in response to commands from said external module, from said mobile communication terminal, information relating to an internal state of said mobile communication terminal during execution of said communication protocol during transmission between said mobile communication terminal and a base station;
• supplying, by said mobile communication terminal, the acquired information to said external module;
• collecting, by said external module, information that has been supplied by said mobile communication terminal;
• and
• storing, in said external module, the collected information as stored information.

An external module for installation into a mobile communication terminal, said external module comprising:

• a portable storage device comprising:
• a test program execution unit for performing test programs relating to testing the proper execution of a communication protocol between said mobile communication terminal and a base station during transmission between said mobile communication terminal and said base station;
• an internal collection mechanism for communicating with said mobile communication terminal to collect information from said mobile communication terminal relating to an internal state of said mobile communication terminal during execution of said communication protocol during transmission between said mobile communication terminal and said base station;
• and
• a storage mechanism for storing therein stored information that has been collected by said collection mechanism.

A mobile communication system comprising:

• a mobile communication terminal;
• and
• an external module for installation into said mobile communication terminal;
• wherein said mobile communication terminal comprises:
• an internal acquisition mechanism for acquiring information, in response to commands from said external module, from said mobile communication terminal relating to an internal state of said mobile communication terminal during execution of a communication protocol during transmission between said mobile communication terminal and a base station;
• and
• an output mechanism for supplying information that has been acquired by said acquisition mechanism to said external module;
• and wherein said external module comprises:
• a test program execution unit for performing test programs;
• a collection mechanism for collecting information from said mobile communication terminal for test programs, relating to testing the proper execution of a communication protocol between said mobile communication terminal and a base station during transmission between said mobile communication terminal and said base station, executing on said test program execution unit that has been supplied by said output mechanism of said mobile communication terminal;
• and
• a storage mechanism for storing therein stored information that has been collected by said collection mechanism for utilization during the execution of said test programs.

A method for testing the performance of a communication protocol by a mobile communication terminal by executing test programs in said mobile communication terminal, an external module being installed into said mobile communication terminal, said method comprising steps of:

• requesting said mobile communication terminal, by said external module, to execute a communication protocol;
• executing, by said mobile communication terminal, said communication protocol during transmission between said mobile communication terminal and a base station in accordance with said request by said external module;
• internally acquiring, in response to commands from said external module, from said mobile communication terminal, information relating to an internal state of said mobile communication terminal during performance of said communication protocol during transmission between said mobile communication terminal and said base station;
• supplying, by said mobile communication terminal, the acquired information to said external module;
• collecting, by said external module, information that has been supplied by said mobile communication terminal as part of said test program;
• and
• storing, in said external module, the collected information as stored information from during the performance of said communication protocol, for use with said test program to determine if the performance of the communication protocol is proper.