Autonomous drive tests in wireless communication systems

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processing system including at least one processor when deployed in a cellular network, cause the processing system to perform operations, the operations comprising:

• receiving at least a first measurement of at least one network performance indicator associated with the cellular network from at least one of:
• at least a first channel sounding measurement record from at least a first autonomous vehicle;
• or
• a communication from at least one mobile endpoint device, or at least one component of the cellular network;
• identifying at least one condition of a location based upon the at least the first measurement of the at least one network performance indicator;
• directing at least one of:
• the first autonomous vehicle or a second autonomous vehicle to the location to capture at least a second channel sounding measurement record;
• obtaining from the first autonomous vehicle or the second autonomous vehicle the at least the second channel sounding measurement record;
• and
• adjusting at least one aspect of the cellular network in response to the at least the second channel sounding measurement record.

An apparatus comprising:

• a processing system including at least one processor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processing system when deployed in a cellular network, cause the processing system to perform operations, the operations comprising
• receiving at least a first measurement of at least one network performance indicator associated with the cellular network from at least one of:
• at least a first channel sounding measurement record from at least a first autonomous vehicle;
• or
• a communication from at least one mobile endpoint device, or at least one component of the cellular network;
• identifying at least one condition of a location based upon the at least the first measurement of the at least one network performance indicator;
• directing at least one of:
• the first autonomous vehicle or a second autonomous vehicle to the location to capture at least a second channel sounding measurement record associated with at least one wireless signal from at least one base station of the cellular network;
• obtaining from the first autonomous vehicle or the second autonomous vehicle, the at least the second channel sounding measurement record;
• and
• adjusting at least one aspect of the cellular network in response to the at least the second channel sounding measurement record.