Method and apparatus for objectively characterizing communications link quality
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for characterizing a communication system, comprising:
- signal generator means for generating a selected input signal of a predetermined plurality of test signals for transmission in a forward direction over a communication link of said communication system, said input signal for determining a particular quantitative characterization of the quality of the communication link;
a mobile station including a transceiver for receiving the input signal, the transceiver being connected to a loopback element, the loopback element sending the input signal back through the transceiver prior to decoding the signal to thereby produce a return signal; and
monitor means for receiving the return signal having propagated in a reverse direction over said communication link and for analyzing said return signal to derive said particular quantitative characterization of the quality of said communication link.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for characterizing a communications link. An apparatus is disclosed for performing a series of tests that measure delay time, frequency response, background noise, frame error rate and sample slipping and repetition measurements. A signal generator generates a series of signal optimally selected for the particular test. The generated signal is transmitted through the communication system and then sent back through the system by a loop back element remotely placed. The return signal is then analyzed by a monitor means.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus for characterizing a communication system, comprising:
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signal generator means for generating a selected input signal of a predetermined plurality of test signals for transmission in a forward direction over a communication link of said communication system, said input signal for determining a particular quantitative characterization of the quality of the communication link; a mobile station including a transceiver for receiving the input signal, the transceiver being connected to a loopback element, the loopback element sending the input signal back through the transceiver prior to decoding the signal to thereby produce a return signal; and monitor means for receiving the return signal having propagated in a reverse direction over said communication link and for analyzing said return signal to derive said particular quantitative characterization of the quality of said communication link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A means for characterizing a communication system, comprising:
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signal generator means for generating an input signal for transmission through said communication system wherein said input signal is at least one frequency response test signal having at least one tone signal of a predetermined duration, the predetermined duration being less than a maximum round trip delay of the frequency response test signal less a near end echo delay; and monitor means for receiving a return signal and for analyzing said return signal to characterize link quality of said communication system.
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15. A means for characterizing a communication system, comprising:
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signal generator means for generating an input signal for transmission through said communication system wherein said input signal is at least one frequency response test signal; and monitor means for receiving a return signal and for analyzing said return signal to characterize link quality of said communication system wherein said monitor means subtracts distortion generated by a vocoder from said return signal and compares said return signal less distortion generated by said vocoder with said input test signal.
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16. An apparatus for characterizing a communication system, comprising:
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signal generator means for generating an input signal for transmission through said communication system wherein said input signal is a frame error rate measurement signal having a train of tones of a predetermined pattern; and monitor means for receiving a return signal and for analyzing said return signal to characterize link quality of said communication system wherein said monitor means compares said return signal against said predetermined pattern to determine the presence of frame errors. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. In a cellular communication system in which at least one mobile unit is in communication with a base station coupled to a switched telephone network, a system for objectively characterizing communication link quality comprising:
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means for generating a selected input test signal for determining a particular quantitative characterization of said communication link quality; means for transmitting said input test signal through said switched telephone network to said base station, said base station including means for transmitting said input test signal to said at least one mobile unit over a wireless communication channel; and monitor means for receiving a return signal produced at said at least one mobile unit in response to said input signal, and for analyzing said return signal to determine said particular quantitative characterization. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for characterizing link quality of a communication system including a base station coupled to a switched telephone network and at least one mobile unit in wireless communication with the base station, said method comprising the steps of:
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generating a selected input test signal through the switched telephone network to the base station for transmission through said communication system to the mobile unit said input signal for determining a particular quantitative characteristic of the signal transmission quality; and receiving from the mobile unit a return signal derived from said input signal, and analyzing a predetermined parameter of said return signal related to at least one said particular quantitative characteristic of said signal transmission quality through said communication system. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification