Pulse interference testing in a CDMA communication system

• US 7,240,252 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Fessler, Braden, Cubine, John, Hiesberger, Chris, Tkatch, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): TU, CHRISTINE TRINH LE
• Application Number:
  US10/883,251
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 714/712
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/345 Interference values signal-to-interference ratio [SIR] or carrier-to-interference ratio [CIR] H04B17/336

Abstract

Inducing desired frame error patterns and rates in a CDMA wireless communication channel. The induced frame errors may be used to test a digital radio receiver'"'"'s behavior in the presence of frame errors. Preferred methods include providing a carrier signal having at least one data channel, where the data channel has a plurality of data frames; generating discrete noise bursts of radio frequency noise, where the noise bursts have a duration characteristic and an interval characteristic; and, combining the noise bursts and the carrier signal to induce a desired frame error characteristic.

Claims

1. A method of providing a desired frame error characteristic comprising the steps of:

providing a carrier signal having a plurality of data frames;

generating discrete noise bursts of radio frequency noise, wherein the noise bursts have a duration characteristic and an interval characteristic; and

,

combining the noise bursts and the carrier signal to induce a desired frame error characteristic.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of generating noise bursts comprises gating a noise source using a pulse train signal.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the pulse train signal has a duration characteristic and an interval characteristic that induce the duration characteristic and interval characteristic of the noise bursts.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the duration characteristic of the noise bursts is configured to provide individual noise bursts of sufficient duration to be coincident with a predetermined number of frames.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the pulse train signal is provided by a programmable function generator.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the duration characteristic and interval characteristic are configurable.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the noise bursts are synchronous with the data frames.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the noise bursts are asynchronous with the data frames.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the frame error characteristic comprises a frame error pattern.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the frame error characteristic comprises a frame error rate.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the frame error characteristic is configurable by selecting one of a plurality of predetermined frame error characteristics.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein each of the plurality of predetermined frame error characteristics includes a predetermined frame error rate.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein each of the plurality of predetermined frame error characteristics includes a predetermined frame error pattern.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing the combined noise bursts and carrier signal to a mobile unit under test.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the interval characteristic is constant.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the duration characteristic is a time duration sufficient for the pulse to be coincident with a predetermined number of frames.

17. An apparatus for providing a desired frame error characteristic, comprising:

a signal combiner having a first combiner input, a second combiner input, and a combiner output;

a noise generator for providing a noise signal;

a pulse generator for providing a gating signal having a duration characteristic and an interval characteristic;

a radio frequency switch having a switch input connected to the noise generator, a switch output connected to the first combiner input, and a control input coupled to the pulse generator for selectively coupling the switch input to the switch output to provide a noise burst signal; and

a data source coupled to the second combiner input for providing a carrier signal having a plurality of data frames;

wherein the combiner output provides a combined carrier signal and burst noise signal.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the pulse generator is programmable.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the duration characteristic is a time duration sufficient for the pulse to be coincident with a predetermined number of frames.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the data source provides a frame synchronization signal to the pulse generator, and wherein the gating signal is synchronous with the frame synchronous signal.

21. A method of providing a desired frame error characteristic comprising the steps of:

providing a carrier signal having a plurality of data frames;

gating the carrier signal using a pulse train signal applied to a gating device to induce a desired frame error characteristic; and

,

providing the gated carrier signal to mobile unit under test.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the pulse train signal has a duration characteristic and an interval characteristic that induce a frame error duration characteristic and interval characteristic.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the carrier signal undergoes a loss of at least 15 dB when the gating device is off.