Method and apparatus employing wireless remote loopback capability for a wireless system repeater to provide end-to-end testing without a wireline connection
First Claim
1. A method for testing a radio frequency (RF) source and an RF repeater, said RF redeater for receiving a first radio signal from a mobile station and retransmitting said first radio signal on a backhaul channel to said RF source, and for receiving a second radio signal from said RF source on said backhaul channel and retransmitting said second radio signal to said mobile station, comprising:
- sending a first loopback mode signaling waveform over a wireless medium to said RF repeater from said RF source to enable a loopback mode in said RF repeater;
sending from said RF source a test signal to said RF repeater over said wireless medium; and
automatically retransmitting over said wireless medium said test signal from said RF repeater to said RF source on a translated frequency.
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Accused Products
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.
153 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for testing a radio frequency (RF) source and an RF repeater, said RF redeater for receiving a first radio signal from a mobile station and retransmitting said first radio signal on a backhaul channel to said RF source, and for receiving a second radio signal from said RF source on said backhaul channel and retransmitting said second radio signal to said mobile station, comprising:
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sending a first loopback mode signaling waveform over a wireless medium to said RF repeater from said RF source to enable a loopback mode in said RF repeater;
sending from said RF source a test signal to said RF repeater over said wireless medium; and
automatically retransmitting over said wireless medium said test signal from said RF repeater to said RF source on a translated frequency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
testing said RF repeater by automatically comparing signal amplitude of said test signal sent from said RF source to said automatically retransmitted test signal received at said RF source from said RF repeater.
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3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
testing said RF repeater by automatically comparing signal frequency response of said test signal sent from said RF source to the signal frequency response of said automatically retransmitted test signal received at said RF source from said RF repeater.
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4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
testing said RF repeater by automatically comparing a signal time delay of said test signal sent from said RF source to said automatically retransmitted test signal received at said RF source from said RF repeater.
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5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
discontinuing said loopback mode upon receiving in said RF repeater a second signaling waveform.
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6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said second signaling waveform is identical to said first signaling waveform.
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7. An apparatus for testing a radio frequency (RF) source and an RF repeater, said RF repeater for receiving a first radio signal from a mobile station and retransmitting said first radio signal on a backhaul channel to said RF source, and for receiving a second radio signal from said RF source on said backhaul channel and retransmitting said second radio signal to said mobile station, comprising:
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means for sending a first loopback mode signaling waveform over a wireless medium to said RF repeater from said RF source;
means for enabling a loopback mode in said RF repeater upon receiving said signaling waveform; and
means for sending a test signal from said RF source to said RF repeater over said wireless medium;
means for automatically retransmitting over said wireless medium said test signal from said RF repeater to said RF source on a translated frequency. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
means for discontinuing said loopback mode upon receiving in said RF repeater a second signaling waveform.
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9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said second signaling waveform is identical to said first signaling waveform.
Specification