Detection of passive intermodulation distortion in open radio access network
AssigneeViavi Solutions Inc.
InventorWei Chen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A test device can be used with an Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) fronthaul and to test an uplink communication channel for passive intermodulation distortion (PIM). The test device generates and transmits O-RAN compliant messages to request resource blocks (RBs) from an O-RAN radio unit (O-RU) installed at a cell site according to a delay time period. Based on the delay time period, the test device identifies the RBs for an uplink signal to be received by the O-RU on the uplink communication channel at a future time period. The test device requests the RBs and receives the RBs from the O-RU to test for PIM.
Claims20
A test device for use with an Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) fronthaul and to test an uplink communication channel, the test device comprising:
- a processor;
- a memory to store machine readable instructions executable by the processor;
- an input/output (I/O) device comprising a display;
- an optical interface connectable to a fiber optic cable in the fronthaul, the fiber optical cable connectable to an O-RAN radio unit (O-RU) installed at a cell site;
- and
- the processor is to execute the machine readable instructions to:
- determine resource blocks (RBs), based on a delay time period, to request for passive intermodulation distortion (PIM) testing in the uplink communication channel;
- transmit at least one O-RAN compliant message to the O-RU via the fronthaul to request receiving the RBs;
- receive the RBs from the O-RU via the fronthaul;
- and
- determine whether PIM is detected in the uplink communication channel based on data in the received RBs.
A method of requesting resource blocks (RBs) via an Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) fronthaul for testing an uplink communication channel by a testing device, the method comprising:
- identifying, based on a delay time period, resource blocks (RBs) for an uplink signal to be received by an O-RAN radio unit (O-RU) on the uplink communication channel;
- transmitting at least one O-RAN compliant message to the O-RU via the fronthaul to request receiving the RBs so a first RB of the RBs is received at an antenna connected to the O-RU prior to the O-RU receiving the at least one O-RAN compliant message from the test device;
- receiving, via the fronthaul, the RBs from the O-RU containing data;
- and
- determining whether the uplink signal contains passive intermodulation distortion (PIM) based on the data.
A portable test device for use with an Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) fronthaul and to field test an uplink communication channel, the test device comprising:
- a battery;
- a processor;
- a memory to store machine readable instructions executable by the processor to perform cell site testing;
- an input/output (I/O) device comprising a display;
- an optical interface connectable to a fiber optic cable in the fronthaul, the fiber optical cable connectable to an O-RAN radio unit (O-RU) installed at a cell site;
- and
- the processor is to execute the machine readable instructions to:
- determine resource blocks (RBs), based on a delay time period, to request for passive intermodulation distortion (PIM) testing in the uplink communication channel;
- transmit at least one O-RAN compliant message to the O-RU via the fronthaul to request receiving the RBs;
- receive the RBs from the O-RU via the fronthaul;
- and
- determine a spectrum of an uplink signal in the uplink communication channel based on IQ data in the received RBs;
- and
- compare the spectrum to a reference spectrum to determine whether the uplink signal includes PIM.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.