Device manufacturing using the device's embedded wireless technology

Abstract

Embodiments describe manufacturing, programming, testing, and servicing of wireless computing devices utilizing the embedded wireless technology in the device. According to an aspect is a method for efficient batch processing of a plurality of devices. The method includes sending data to a plurality of wireless devices though a wireless communication. The data included in the wireless communication is received at the plurality of wireless devices and the plurality of wireless devices are programmed or tested with the data included in the wireless communication. The plurality of wireless devices can be programmed and/or tested in batch and/or in parallel.

1 . A method of programming wireless devices in a manufacturing environment, comprising: 
 sending program data to at least one wireless device though a wireless communication during a manufacturing or testing process; and    programming the at least one wireless device with the program data during the manufacturing process or testing.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , the wireless communication is one of Bluetooth, WiFi, Wireless USB, Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA), wide-band CDMA (WCDMA), Global Systems for Mobile Communication (GSM), enhanced data GSM environment (EDGE), WiMAX or IEEE 802.16 standard, and Global Positioning System (GPS) format.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 concurrently receiving the program data at a plurality of other wireless devices at a substantially similar time as the at least one wireless device; and    concurrently programming the plurality of other wireless devices.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 distinguishing among the plurality of other wireless devices based at least in part on a unique identifier; and    configuring the sent program data based at least in part on the unique identifier.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , before the act of sending program data to at least one wireless device though a wireless communication, further comprising: 
 determining a first location of the at least one wireless device; and    configuring the program data based at least in part on the first location.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 determining a second location of the at least one wireless device;    extracting data from the at least one wireless device; and    comparing the extracted data with the program data configured at the first location.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 returning the at least one wireless device to the first location if the extracted data does not match the program data configured at the first location.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 processing the at least one wireless device at the second location if the extracted data matches the program data configured at the first location.    
   
   
       9 . A method of testing a plurality of wireless computing devices, comprising: 
 locating a plurality of wireless computing devices in a manufacturing process;    sending a wireless test signal to the plurality of wireless computing devices; and    processing the wireless test signal at each of the plurality of wireless computing devices at substantially the same time.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 testing the plurality of wireless devices as a batch of devices.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 assigning a unique identifier to each of the plurality of wireless devices; and    distinguishing among the plurality of wireless devices based at least in part on the unique identifier.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , the act of locating a plurality of wireless computing devices in a manufacturing process further comprising: 
 determining where each of the plurality of wireless devices is located based upon a manufacturing process; and    grouping a subset of the plurality of wireless devices based at least in part on the determined manufacturing process.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 beginning a data communication automatically when each device of the plurality of wireless devices enters a signal range; and    ending a data communication automatically when each device of the plurality of wireless devices exits a signal range.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , the data communication is one of a test procedure and a data transfer.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9 , the wireless signal is one of Bluetooth, WiFi, Wireless USB, Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA), wide-band CDMA (WCDMA), Global Systems for Mobile Communication (GSM), enhanced data GSM environment (EDGE), WiMAX or IEEE 802.16 standard, and Global Positioning System (GPS) format.  
   
   
       16 . A method for facilitating wireless testing and programming of wireless devices; comprising: 
 establishing communication between at least one control unit and at least one wireless device;    receiving information at the at least one wireless device from the at least one control unit; and    transmitting response information to the at least one control unit from the at least one wireless device.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 updating a processor of the wireless device with the received information; and    storing the received information in a memory of the wireless device.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 determining a location of the at least one wireless device;    performing a wireless test of the at least one wireless device; and    receiving a signal from the at least one wireless device that contains test result information.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 sending a wireless test signal to a plurality of wireless devices at a substantially similar time; and    processing the wireless test signal at the plurality of wireless devices in parallel; and    receiving respective test result signals from each of the plurality of wireless devices.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , the plurality of wireless devices are in different manufacturing areas.  
   
   
       21 . A manufacturing system, comprising: 
 at least one control unit configured to interface wirelessly with a plurality of wireless devices during at least one manufacturing process.    
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , the plurality of wireless devices and the at least one control unit communicate in a format supported by an embedded wireless technology of the plurality of wireless devices.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 21 , the at least one control unit and the plurality of wireless devices communicate wirelessly utilizing one of Bluetooth, WiFi, Wireless USB, Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA), wide-band CDMA (WCDMA), Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), enhanced data GSM environment (EDGE), WiMAX or IEEE 802.16 standard, and Global Positioning System (GPS) format.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 21 , the at least one manufacturing process is one of a flash, RF calibration, call test, MMI test, audio test, antenna test and provisioning and customization.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 21 , the wireless interface is one of a data transfer, a test procedure, and a customization file.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 21 , the plurality of wireless devices are assigned a unique identifier that identifies a particular wireless device.  
   
   
       27 . A wireless device, comprising: 
 a component that receives program data wirelessly during a manufacturing, testing, or servicing process;    a memory that stores the program data; and    a processor memory that is programmed with the program data.    
   
   
       28 . The wireless device of  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 a unique identifier that facilitates identification of the device offline for customization or identification.    
   
   
       29 . The wireless device of  claim 27  is configured to receive the program data utilizing one of Bluetooth, WiFi, Wireless USB, Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA), wide-band CDMA (WCDMA), Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), enhanced data GSM environment (EDGE), WiMAX or IEEE 802.16 standard, and Global Positioning System (GPS) format.  
   
   
       30 . A system that concurrently programs a plurality of wireless devices during manufacturing or testing, comprising: 
 means for determining location information for a plurality of wireless devices;    means for configuring program data based at least in part on the determined location;    means for wirelessly transmitting the program data to the plurality of wireless devices; and    means for facilitating concurrent programming of the plurality of wireless devices with the program data.    
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 means for concurrently associating each of the plurality of wireless devices with an identifier; and    means for distinguishing the plurality of wireless devices based at least in part on the identifier.    
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 means for communicating a test program wirelessly to the plurality of wireless devices; and    means for concurrently testing the plurality of wireless devices with the communicated test program.    
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 means for receiving a test result from each of the plurality of wireless devices, the test result includes identification information.    
   
   
       34 . A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for: 
 receiving program data during a manufacturing or testing process; and    programming at least one wireless device using the received program data.    
   
   
       35 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 34 , further comprising computer-executable instructions for: 
 receiving a test sequence;    performing the test sequence; and    outputting a wireless signal that includes a test result.    
   
   
       36 . A processor that executes instructions for wireless testing and programming during a manufacturing process, the instructions comprising 
 receiving program data through a wireless communication;    storing the program data in a cache; and    programming a processor with the program data.