US 6,804,512 B1 · Method for conformance testing of radio communication equipment

Abstract

A method of conformance testing of a secondary station for use in a radio communication system which permits a soft handover process in which the secondary station engages in communication with a plurality of primary stations. The method permits testing the response of the secondary station to power control commands received simultaneously from each of the plurality of primary stations instructing it to adjust its output transmission power. In particular, the method enables testing the secondary station's assessment of the reliability of the power control commands received from each primary station, which has not been possible previously. The test is performed by transmitting known sequences of power control commands to the secondary station from each of the primary stations, then comparing the actual pattern of changes in output transmission power with the expected pattern of changes.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A test method for conformance testing of a secondary station engaging in a soft handover process in which the secondary station simultaneously communicates with at least two primary stations whereby an output transmission power of the secondary station is adjustable in response to power control commands received by the secondary station from each of the at least two primary stations, the test method comprising:

receiving a test signal including a sequence of power commands from each primary station of the at least two primary stations;
adjusting and monitoring the output transmission power of the secondary station based on the test signals received from the at least two primary stations;
and
determining whether a function of the output transmission power of the secondary station is within a specified tolerance associated with the secondary station.

1 more element

A secondary station engaging in a soft handover process in which the secondary station simultaneously communicates with at least two primary stations whereby an output transmission power of the secondary station is adjustable in response to power control commands received by the secondary station from each of the at least two primary stations, the secondary station comprising:

a transceiver operable to receive a test signal including a sequence of power commands from each primary station of the at least two primary stations;
a power controller in electrical communication with the transceiver, wherein the power controller is operable to adjust the output transmission power based on the test signals received from the at least two primary stations;
and
a microcontroller in electrical communication with the transceiver and power controller,
wherein the microcontroller is operable to monitor an adjustment of the output transmission power by the power controller based on the test signals received from the at least two primary stations, and
wherein the microcontroller is further operable to determine whether a function of the output transmission power is within a specified tolerance associated with the secondary station.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for conformance testing of radio communication equipment

Life of this patent

Method for conformance testing of radio communication equipment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19