Method and apparatus for measuring bit rates in digital communication systems

• US 20010026150A1
• Filed: 04/02/2001
• Published: 10/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Acterna Munchen GmbH
• Original Assignee: Acterna Munchen GmbH
• Inventors: Klenner, Gunther
• Application Number:
  US09/822,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20010026150A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/76.26
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/23 Indication means, e.g. displays, alarms, audible means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/29 Performance testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/309 Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/20 using signal quality detector

Abstract

In a method for measuring the receiver sensitivity of communication devices provided for operation in a digital communication net, wherein the fulfillment of a first criterion is tested at a pre-determined data transmission rate and at a pre-determined reception level, a substantial increase of the testing speed is realized by conducting the testing at a higher data transmission rate than the pre-determined data transmission rate at the pre-determined reception level, wherein the fulfillment of a second criterion is tested, and wherein the second criterion is determined from the first criterion. Further, in a method for measuring the bit error rate of communication devices provided for operation in a digital communication net, wherein at a pre-determined data transmission rate and at a pre-determined reception level a first bit error rate has to be obtained, a substantial increase of the speed of the measurement process is achieved by conducting the measurement at a higher data rate than the pre-determined data rate at the pre-determined reception level, wherein at the higher data transmission rate a second bit error rate is detected and wherein the first bit error rate is determined from the second bit error rate. Finally, the present invention relates to a testing device for carrying out the methods.

Claims

1. Method for measuring the receiver sensitivity of communication terminals provided for operation in a digital communication net, wherein the fulfillment of a first criterion at a pre-determined data transmission rate and at a pre-determined reception level is tested characterized in that the testing is conducted at a higher data transmission rate than the pre-determined data transmission rate and at the pre-determined reception level wherein the fulfillment of a second criterion is tested and wherein the second criterion is determined from the first criterion.

2. Method according to

claim 1

, wherein the criterion is that a bit error rate or frame error rate is smaller than a pre-determined threshold value with a pre-determined safety.

3. Method according to

claim 2

, wherein the second pre-determined threshold value is a function of the first pre-determined threshold value and the higher data transmission rate.

4. Method according to

claim 3

, wherein in accordance with the pre-determined safety a number of frames is examined for the presence of an error wherein the measurement is ended when the frame error rate is smaller than the pre-determined threshold value with the pre-determined safety or when the necessary safety cannot be achieved in a pre-determined maximum measurement time.

5. Method for measuring the bit error rates of communication terminals provided for operation in a digital communication net wherein at a pre-determined data transmission rate and a pre-determined reception level a first bit error rate has to be obtained characterized in that the measurement is conducted at a higher data transmission rate than the pre-determined data transmission rate at the pre-determined reception level, wherein at the higher data transmission rate a second bit error rate is obtained, and wherein the first bit error rate is determined from the second bit error rate.

6. Method according to

claim 5

, wherein the communication terminals are mobile or cellular telephones, in particular according to the CDMA standard.

7. Method according to

claim 6

, wherein the bit error rate is a frame error rate.

8. Method according to

claim 7

, wherein it is further checked whether the first bit error rate is smaller than a pre-determined threshold value with a pre-determined safety.

9. Method according to

claim 8

, wherein for checking whether the first bit error rate is smaller than the pre-determined threshold value with a pre-determined safety the second bit error rate is compared to a pre-determined threshold value.

10. Method according to

claim 9

, wherein the threshold value is a function of the data transmission rate.

11. Method according to

claim 10

, wherein the second threshold value is determined from the first threshold value.

12. Method according to

claim 11

, wherein in accordance with the pre-determined safety a number of frames is examined for the presence of an error wherein the measurement is ended when the frame error rate is smaller than the pre-determined threshold value with a pre-determined safety or when the necessary safety can not be achieved anymore within a pre-determined maximum measurement time.

13. Testing device for measuring the receiver sensitivity of communication terminals provided for operation in a digital communication net, wherein the fulfillment of a first criterion at a pre-determined data transmission rate and at a pre-determined reception level is tested characterized in that the testing is conducted at a higher data transmission rate than the pre-determined data transmission rate and at the pre-determined reception level wherein the fulfillment of a second criterion is tested and wherein the second criterion is determined from the first criterion.

14. Testing device for measuring the bit error rates of communication terminals provided for operation in a digital communication net wherein at a pre-determined data transmission rate and a pre-determined reception level a first bit error rate has to be obtained characterized in that the measurement is conducted at a higher data transmission rate than the pre-determined data transmission rate at the pre-determined reception level, wherein at the higher data transmission rate a second bit error rate is obtained, and wherein the first bit error rate is determined from the second bit error rate.

15. Testing apparatus according to

claim 14

, wherein the testing apparatus comprises a control means for controlling the process of testing.

16. Testing apparatus according to

claim 15

, wherein the testing apparatus comprises a display means for displaying a measurement or test result.