Methods and apparatus for determining forward and reverse link performance in a wireless communication system

An apparatus for measuring link performance in a wireless communication system in which a mobile station communicates with a base station, the apparatus comprising:

• a first attenuator arranged in a common portion of a transmit path and a receive path of the mobile station;
• and
• a second attenuator arranged in one of:
• (i) a transmit-only portion of the transmit path, and (ii) a receive-only portion of the receive path, such that a different amount of attenuation can be provided on the transmit path than on the receive path, and wherein performance of the system is measured while varying a value of at least one of the first and second attenuators so as to simulate a reconfiguration of a plurality of base stations of the system.

A mobile station for use in a wireless communication system, comprising:

• an antenna;
• a mobile receiver coupled to the antenna;
• a circulator connected between the mobile receiver and the antenna;
• a first attenuator connected between a port of the circulator and the antenna;
• and
• a second attenuator connected in a path in parallel with the circulator, wherein the first and second attenuators are arranged such that a different amount of attenuation can be provided on a transmit path of the mobile station than on a receive path of the mobile station.

A method of measuring link performance in a wireless communication system in which a mobile station communicates with a base station, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a first amount of attenuation in a common portion of a transmit path and a receive path of the mobile station;
• and
• selecting a second amount of attenuation in one of:
• (i) a transmit-only portion of the transmit path, and (ii) a receive-only portion of the receive path, such that the selected amounts of attenuation simulate a reconfiguration of a plurality of base stations of the system.

An apparatus for measuring link performance in a wireless communication system in which a mobile station communicates with a base station, the apparatus comprising:

• a first attenuator arranged in a common portion of a transmit path and a receive path of the mobile station;
• a second attenuator arranged in one of:
• (i) a transmit-only portion of the transmit path, and (ii) a receive-only portion of the receive path, such that a different amount of attenuation can be provided on the transmit path than on the receive path, and wherein performance of the system is measured while varying a value of at least one of the first and second attenuators;
• an antenna associated with the mobile station;
• a mobile receiver associated with the mobile station and coupled to the antenna;
• and
• a circulator connected between the mobile receiver and the antenna, wherein the first attenuator is connected in the common portion of the receive and transmit paths in series between a port of the circulator and the antenna, and the second attenuator is connected in a path in parallel with the circulator.