Method of, apparatus and graphical user interface for automatic diagnostics

Abstract

The present invention includes a method, apparatus and graphical user interface (GUI) that allows a simple, precise, thorough, automatic and interactive diagnostic system for electronic devices. The present invention fully automates every test item, as a memory device including the diagnostic test items is inserted into the electronic device and is configured to automatically begin the diagnostic method. The present invention allows for interactive diagnostic analysis and a user is able to automatically repair many of the defects detected by the diagnostic method.

1 . A method of automatically diagnosing software and hardware defects in an electronic device, the method of diagnosing comprising: 
 a. executing an application automatically;    b. completing a set of test features included in the application; and    c. displaying a progress status corresponding to the set of test features.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising setting a hold button to an off position, wherein the hold button is set to the off position before a memory is inserted into the electronic device.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2  further comprising performing a hard reset on the electronic device, wherein the hard reset is performed before the hold button is set to the off position.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the set of test features includes a set of basic OS features including a set of OS button tests.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4  wherein the set of OS button tests include one or more of: 
 a. a power button test;    b. a datebook button test;    c. an address button test;    d. an up button test;    e. a down button test;    f. a to do button test; and    g. a memo button test.    
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the set of test features includes a set of device features including one or more of: 
 a. a charging test;    b. a light test, wherein the light test includes a backlight test and a brightness test;    c. a soft reset test;    d. an LCD test;    e. a digitizer test;    f. an IR beaming test;    g. a device specific buttons test; and    h. a jog dial test.    
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein the device specific buttons test includes one or more of: 
 a. a hold button test;    b. a capture button test;    c. a record button test;    d. a home button test; and    e. a graffiti button test.    
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein the jog dial test includes one or more of: 
 a. a jog up test;    b. a jog down test;    c. a jog press test; and    d. a back test.    
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the set of test features includes a set of advanced device features including one or more of: 
 a. a memory test;    b. a RAM test;    c. a sound test; and    d. a hotsync test.    
   
   
       10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising interfacing a user and the electronic device with a graphical user interface, wherein the user manually confirms completion of one or more of the set of test features.  
   
   
       12 . A diagnostic system for automatically diagnosing software and hardware defects in an electronic device, the diagnostic system comprising: 
 a. means for executing an application automatically;    b. means for completing a set of test features included in the application; and    c. means for displaying a progress status corresponding to the set of test features.    
   
   
       13 . The system according to  claim 12  further comprising means for setting a hold button to an off position, wherein the hold button is set to the off position before the memory is inserted into the electronic device.  
   
   
       14 . The system according to  claim 13  further comprising means for performing a hard reset on the electronic device, wherein the hard reset is performed before the hold button is set to the off position.  
   
   
       15 . The system according to  claim 12  wherein the set of test features includes a set of basic OS features including a set of OS button tests.  
   
   
       16 . The system according to  claim 15  wherein the set of OS button tests include one or more of: 
 a. a power button test;    b. a datebook button test;    c. an address button test;    d. an up button test;    e. a down button test;    f. a to do button test; and    g. a memo button test.    
   
   
       17 . The system according to  claim 12  wherein the set of test features includes a set of device features including one or more of: 
 a. a charging test;    b. a light test, wherein the light test includes a backlight test and a brightness test;    c. a soft reset test;    d. an LCD test;    e. a digitizer test;    f. an IR beaming test;    g. a device specific buttons test; and    h. a jog dial test.    
   
   
       18 . The system according to  claim 17  wherein the device specific buttons test includes one or more of: 
 a. a hold button test;    b. a capture button test;    c. a record button test;    d. a home button test; and    e. a graffiti button test.    
   
   
       19 . The system according to  claim 17  wherein the jog dial test includes one or more of: 
 a. a jog up test;    b. a jog down test;    c. a jog press test; and    d. a back test.    
   
   
       20 . The system according to  claim 12  wherein the set of test features includes a set of advanced device features including one or more of: 
 a. a memory test;    b. a RAM test;    c. a sound test; and    d. a hotsync test.    
   
   
       21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . The system according to  claim 12  further comprising interfacing a user and the electronic device with a graphical user interface, wherein the user manually confirms completion of one or more of the set of test features.  
   
   
       23 - 41 . (canceled)  
   
   
       42 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the application is contained on a memory.  
   
   
       43 . The method according to  claim 42  wherein the memory is removable.  
   
   
       44 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the progress status is a set of results.  
   
   
       45 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein completion of the set of test features is confirmed automatically by the application.  
   
   
       46 . The method according to  claim 44  wherein the set of results includes a main test listing, a sub-test listing and a test result listing for each of the set of test features.  
   
   
       47 . The method according to  claim 44  wherein the set of results are generated in a log file.  
   
   
       48 . The system according to  claim 12  wherein the application is contained on a memory.  
   
   
       49 . The system according to  claim 48  wherein the memory is removable.  
   
   
       50 . The system according to  claim 12  wherein the progress status is a set of results.  
   
   
       51 . The system according to  claim 12  wherein completion of the set of test features is confirmed automatically by the application.  
   
   
       52 . The system according to  claim 50  wherein the set of results includes a main test listing, a sub-test listing and a test result listing for each of the set of test features.  
   
   
       53 . The system according to  claim 50  wherein the set of results are generated in a log file.  
   
   
       54 . A diagnostic system for automatically diagnosing software and hardware defects, the diagnostic system comprising: 
 a. a storage device including an application;    b. an electronic device for storing the storage device, wherein the application is automatically executed and a set of test features is automatically completed, and further wherein the set of test features are included in the application; and    c. a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to display a progress status corresponding to the set of test features.    
   
   
       55 . The system according to  claim 54  wherein the set of test features includes a set of basic operating system features including a set of operating system button tests.  
   
   
       56 . The system according to  claim 55  wherein the set of operating system button tests include one or more of: 
 a. a power button test;    b. a datebook button test;    c. an address button test;    d. an up button test;    e. a down button test;    f. a to do button test; and    g. a memo button test.    
   
   
       57 . The system according to  claim 54  wherein the set of test features includes a set of device features including one or more of: 
 a. a charging test;    b. a light test, wherein the light test includes a backlight test and a brightness test;    c. a soft reset test,    d. an LCD test;    e. a digitizer test;    f. an IR beaming test; and    g. a device specific buttons test; and    h. a jog dial test.    
   
   
       58 . The system according to  claim 57  wherein the device specific buttons test includes one or more of: 
 a. a hold button test;    b. a capture button test;    c. a record button test;    d. a home button test; and    e. a graffiti button test.    
   
   
       59 . The system according to  claim 57  wherein the jog dial test includes one or more of: 
 a. a jog up test;    b. a jog down test;    c. a jog press test; and    d. a back test.    
   
   
       60 . The system according to  claim 54  wherein the set of test features includes a set of advanced device features including one or more of: 
 a. a storage device test;    b. a RAM test;    c. a sound test, wherein the sound test includes a system sound test, a FM speaker test and a headphone test; and    d. a hotsync test.    
   
   
       61 . The system according to  claim 54  wherein the progress status includes a set of results.  
   
   
       62 . The system according to  claim 61  wherein the set of results includes a main test listing, a sub-test listing and a test result listing for each of the set of test features.  
   
   
       63 . The system according to  claim 61  wherein the set of results are generated in a log file.  
   
   
       64 . The system according to  claim 54  wherein the user manually confirms completion of one or more of the set of test features.  
   
   
       65 . The system according to  claim 54  wherein the storage device is a memory.  
   
   
       66 . The system according to  claim 65  wherein the memory is removable.  
   
   
       67 . A diagnostic system for automatically diagnosing software and hardware defects, the diagnostic system comprising: 
 a. an application;    b. an electronic device for storing the application, wherein the application is automatically executed and a set of test features is automatically completed, and further wherein the set of test features are included in the application; and    c. a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to display a progress status.    
   
   
       68 . The system according to  claim 67  wherein the set of test features includes a set of basic operating system features including a set of operating system button tests.  
   
   
       69 . The system according to  claim 67  wherein the set of operating system button tests include one or more of: 
 a. a power button test;    b. a datebook button test;    c. an address button test;    d. an up button test;    e. a down button test;    f. a to do button test; and    g. a memo button test.    
   
   
       70 . The system according to  claim 67  wherein the set of test features includes a set of device features including one or more of: 
 a. a charging test;    b. a light test, wherein the light test includes a backlight test and a brightness test;    c. a soft reset test;    d. an LCD test;    e. a digitizer test;    f. an IR beaming test; and    g. a device specific buttons test; and    h. a jog dial test.    
   
   
       71 . The system according to  claim 67  wherein the device specific buttons test includes one or more of: 
 a. a hold button test;    b. a capture button test;    c. a record button test;    d. a home button test; and    e. a graffiti button test.    
   
   
       72 . The system according to  claim 67  wherein the jog dial test includes one or more of: 
 a. a jog up test;    b. a jog down test;    c. a jog press test; and    d. a back test.    
   
   
       73 . The system according to  claim 67  wherein the set of test features includes a set of advanced device features including one or more of: 
 a. a memory test;    b. a RAM test;    c. a sound test, wherein the sound test includes a system sound test, a FM speaker test and a headphone test; and    d. a hotsync test.    
   
   
       74 . The system according to  claim 67  wherein the progress status includes a set of results.  
   
   
       75 . The system according to  claim 74  wherein the set of results includes a main test listing, a sub-test listing and a test result listing for each of the set of test features.  
   
   
       76 . The system according to  claim 74  wherein the set of results are generated in a log file.  
   
   
       77 . The system according to  claim 67  wherein the user manually confirms completion of one or more of the set of test features.  
   
   
       78 . The system according to  claim 67  wherein the graphical user interface is further configured to display the set of test features.  
   
   
       79 . A diagnostic system for automatically diagnosing software and hardware defects, the diagnostic system comprising: 
 a. an application;    b. an electronic device for storing the application, wherein the application includes a set of test features, further wherein the set of test features includes: 
 i. a storage device test;  
 ii. a backlight test;  
 iii. a button test; and  
 iv. an audio test; and  
   c. a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to display a progress status.    
   
   
       80 . The system according to  claim 79  wherein the set of test features further includes a lighting test.  
   
   
       81 . The system according to  claim 79  wherein the application is stored on a storage device.  
   
   
       82 . The system according to  claim 81  wherein the storage device is a memory.  
   
   
       83 . The system according to  claim 82  wherein the memory is removable.  
   
   
       84 . The system according to  claim 79  wherein the storage device test is a memory test.  
   
   
       85 . The system according to  claim 79  wherein the application is automatically executed and the set of test features is automatically completed.  
   
   
       86 . The system according to  claim 79  wherein the progress status includes a set of results.  
   
   
       87 . The system according to  claim 86  wherein the set of results includes a main test listing, a sub-test listing and a test result listing for each of the set of test features.  
   
   
       88 . The system according to  claim 86  wherein the set of results are generated in a log file.  
   
   
       89 . The system according to  claim 79  wherein the user manually confirms completion of one or more of the set of test features.  
   
   
       90 . The system according to  claim 79  wherein the graphical user interface is further configured to display the set of test features.