Method and apparatus employing wireless remote loopback capability for a wireless system repeater to provide end-to-end testing without a wireline connection

Abstract

A method and apparatus for using a loopback capability of a radio frequency (RF) repeater to provide for end-to-end testing without a wireline connection is disclosed. A RF source sends a signaling waveform to the RF repeater. Upon receiving the signaling waveform, the RF repeater enters the loopback mode. The RF source sends another identical signaling waveform to the RF repeater to end the loopback mode. In another embodiment, a base transceiver station (BTS) sends a signaling waveform to an intelligent RF repeater-translator upon detection of a lack of activity. The received signaling waveform places the intelligent RF repeater translator into a loopback mode. If alarms are present in the intelligent RF repeater-translator, the intelligent RF repeater-translator ceases processing and the BTS informs the OMC of the error condition. Otherwise, the loopback mode is entered and BTS initiates testing of the intelligent RF repeater-translator. The loopback mode is discontinued when the intelligent RF repeater-translator receives another identical signaling waveform or after a time-out period elapses. The intelligent RF repeater-translator has the capability to alternate the selected diversity uplink path from one loopback test to the next loop back test to ensure full testing of all RF paths.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.