Method and apparatus for testing traffic and auxiliary channels in a wireless data communication system

• US 8,780,735 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2011
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Krishnamurthi, Rajeev, Pankaj, Rajesh K., Mohanty, Bibhu, Bender, Paul E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Application Number:
  US13/228,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20110317565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/248
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/0085 using test signal generators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0847 Transmission error
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0888 Throughput
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Techniques to test performance of terminals and access points in CDMA data (e.g., cdma2000) systems. A framework of protocols and messages is provided to support systematic performance testing of terminals and to ensure interface compatibility. The framework comprises a Forward Test Application Protocol (FTAP) for testing forward channels and a Reverse Test Application Protocol (RTAP) for testing reverse channels. Techniques are also provided to (1) test different types of channels (e.g., traffic channels as well as auxiliary channels), (2) test bursty data transmissions, (3) support “persistence” testing (i.e., continued testing over connection and disconnection), (4) force the settings of certain auxiliary channels (e.g., so that the error rate of the channels may be determined), and (5) collect, log, and report various statistics that may be used to derive performance metrics such as throughput and packet error rate.

Claims

1. A method for testing a plurality of channels associated with a forward link in a wireless data communication system, comprising:

receiving a first message having included therein test settings selected from among a plurality of possible test settings for one or more channels comprising a reverse traffic channel, one or more auxiliary channels, or a combination thereof, wherein the test settings selected comprise indications for configuring the reverse traffic channel, one or more auxiliary channels, or a combination thereof and indications of loop back packet transmission procedures to be performed during testing;

configuring the one or more channels based on the selected test settings in the first message;

receiving test packets via a forward traffic channel;

transmitting loop back packets via the reverse traffic channel if indicated by the selected test settings, wherein the loop back packets comprise data for the received test packets, wherein each loop back packet further comprises a record for each test packet correctly received during a particular time interval, and wherein at least one loop back packet includes a field indicative of whether any loop back packets were lost due to buffer overflow; and

transmitting signaling data via the one or more auxiliary channels if indicated by the selected test settings to test the one or more auxiliary channels.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each loop back packet includes data descriptive of one or more test packets.

3. A memory communicatively coupled to a digital signal processing device (DSPD) capable of interpreting digital information to:

receive a first message having included therein test settings selected from among a plurality of possible test settings for one or more channels comprising a reverse traffic channel, one or more auxiliary channels, or a combination thereof, wherein the test settings selected comprise indications for configuring the reverse traffic channel, one or more auxiliary channels, or a combination thereof and indications of loop back packet transmission procedures to be performed during testing;

configure the one or more channels based on the test settings in the first message;

receive test packets via a forward traffic channel;

transmit a plurality of loop back packets via the reverse traffic channel if indicated by the selected test settings, wherein one loop back packet is formed for each particular time interval, wherein the loop back packets comprise data for the received test packets and each loop back packet further comprises a record for each test packet correctly received during a particular time interval, and wherein at least one loop back packet includes a field indicative of whether any loop back packets were lost due to buffer overflow; and

transmit signaling data via the one or more auxiliary channels if indicated by the selected test settings to test the one or more auxiliary channels.

4. A method for testing one or more channels in a wireless data communication system, comprising:

receiving a first data transmission comprising test packets of known test data via a first channel during an observation interval;

identifying parameter values descriptive of the test packets received in the first data transmission during the observation interval, wherein the parameter values for each test packet comprise at least one of a serving sector from which the test packet was received, a sequence number of the test packet, and a length of the test packet;

forming a second data transmission comprising the identified parameter values for all test packets correctly received during the observation interval, wherein the second data transmission comprises a plurality of loop back packets and at least one loop back packet includes a field indicative of whether any loop back packets were lost due to buffer overflow; and

transmitting the second data transmission via a second channel.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first channel is a forward traffic channel and the second channel is a reverse traffic channel.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the loop back packets include the parameter values descriptive of the test packets.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein one loop back packet is formed for each particular time interval.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein each loop back packet covers zero or more test packets.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein each loop back packet includes a field indicative of a specific protocol to which the loop back packet belongs.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein each loop back packet includes a field indicative of a specific packet type for the loop back packet.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein each loop back packet includes a field indicative of a start of a specific time interval covered by the loop back packet.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein each loop back packet includes a field indicative of a specific number of records included in the loop back packet, wherein one record is included for each test packet covered by the loop back packet.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein each loop back packet includes one record for each test packet covered by the loop back packet, each record including a set of fields for a set of parameter values identified for the corresponding covered test packet.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein each record includes a field indicative of whether or not the record includes a sequence number of a signaling message used to assign the first channel.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein each record includes a field indicative of the sequence number for the signaling message.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein each record includes a field indicative of a transmission source of the test packet covered by the record.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein each record includes a field indicative of a time period over which the test packet covered by the record was received.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein each record includes a field indicative of a number of MAC packets received in a Physical Layer packet containing the test packet covered by the record.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein each record includes a field indicative of whether or not a sequence number for the covered test packet is included in the record.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein each record includes a field indicative of a sequence number for the covered test packet.

21. The method of claim 6, wherein each loop back packet includes a parameter value indicative of omission of one or more test packets.

22. The method of claim 6, within each test packet includes a field indicative of a specific protocol to which the test packet belongs.

23. The method of claim 6, wherein each test packet includes a field indicative of a specific packet type for the test packet.

24. The method of claim 6, wherein each test packet includes a field indicative of a sequence number of the test packet.

25. A memory communicatively coupled to a digital signal processing device (DSPD) capable of interpreting digital information to:

receive a first data transmission during an observation interval via a first channel, wherein the first data transmission comprises a plurality of packets of known test data;

identify parameter values descriptive of the test packets received in the first data transmission during the observation interval, wherein the parameter values for each test packet comprise at least one of a serving sector from which the test packet was received, a sequence number of the test packet, and a length of the test packet;

form a second data transmission comprising the identified parameter values for all test packets correctly received during the observation interval, wherein the second data transmission comprises a plurality of loop back packets and at least one loop back packet includes a field indicative of whether any loop back packets were lost due to buffer overflow; and

transmit the second data transmission via a second channel.

26. A method for testing one or more channels in a wireless data communication system, comprising:

receiving a plurality of test packets of known test data during an observation interval via a forward traffic channel;

identifying a transmission source and a sequence number of each received test packet received during the observation interval;

forming a plurality of loop back packets for the plurality of received test packets, wherein each loop back packet covers zero or more test packets, and includes the transmission source and the sequence number of every covered test packet correctly received during the observation interval, wherein at least one loop back packet includes a field indicative of whether any loop back packets were lost due to buffer overflow; and

transmitting the loop back packets via a reverse traffic channel.

27. A method for testing one or more channels in a wireless data communication system, comprising:

sending a first data transmission via a first channel, wherein the first data transmission comprises test packets of known test data;

receiving a second data transmission via a second channel, wherein the second data transmission includes parameter values descriptive of all test packets in the first data transmission received during an observation interval, and further comprises a record for each test packet correctly received during the observation interval, wherein the parameter values are configured to be used to update a plurality of variables employable in testing the one or more channels, and wherein the second data transmission comprises a plurality of loop back packets and at least one loop back packet includes a field indicative of whether any loop back packets were lost due to buffer overflow;

updating a plurality of variables based on the parameter values included in the second data transmission; and

determining a packet error rate based on information included in the second data transmission.

28. A method for testing one or more channels in a wireless data communication system, comprising:

sending a plurality of test packets of known test data via a forward traffic channel;

receiving a plurality of loop back packets via a reverse traffic channel, wherein each loop back packet covers zero or more test packets received during an observation interval, and includes a transmission source and a sequence number of every covered test packet correctly received during the observation interval, wherein at least one loop back packet includes a field indicative of whether any loop back packets were lost due to buffer overflow;

updating a plurality of variables for a plurality of transmission sources based on the transmission source and the sequence number of any test packet covered by the received loop back packets; and

determining a packet error rate based on information included in the loop back packets.

29. A memory communicatively coupled to a digital signal processing device (DSPD) capable of interpreting digital information to:

send a plurality of test packets of known test data via a forward traffic channel;

receive a plurality of loop back packets via a reverse traffic channel during an observation interval, wherein each loop back packet covers zero or more test packets, and includes a transmission source and a sequence number of every test packet correctly received during the observation interval, and wherein at least one loop back packet includes a field indicative of whether any loop back packets were lost due to buffer overflow; and

update a plurality of variables for a plurality of transmission sources based on the transmission source and the sequence number of any test packet sent during the observation interval and covered by the received loop back packets.

30. A method for testing a traffic channel in a wireless data communication system, comprising:

receiving a first message having included therein test settings for the traffic channel;

forming a plurality of test packets for transmission on the traffic channel, wherein at least one test packet individually comprises information corresponding to a range of rates usable for testing the traffic channel;

selecting rates for transmitting the test packets within the range of rates based on a rate selection scheme in which the selected rates are cycled between a maximum rate and a minimum rate;

transmitting the test packets at the selected rates on the traffic channel; and

receiving a plurality of loop back packets corresponding to the plurality of test packets, wherein at least one loop back packet includes a field indicative of whether any loop back packets were lost due to buffer overflow.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the minimum rate and the maximum rate for the test packets are included in the first message.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the selected rates for the test packets are further limited by a maximum rate specified by a media access control (MAC) protocol.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the first message includes an indication of maintenance of a test mode on the traffic channel in event of a connection closure or a lost connection.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein each test packet includes a field indicative of a specific protocol to which the test packet belongs.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein each test packet includes a field indicative of a specific packet type for the test packet.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein each test packet includes a field indicative of a particular time instance when the test packet was generated.

37. The method of claim 30, wherein each test packet includes a field for each of the plurality of rates being tested, and wherein the field for each rate includes a sequence number of a test packet last transmitted at the corresponding rate.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein each test packet includes fields for all possible reverse link rates.

39. A memory communicatively coupled to a digital signal processing device (DSPD) capable of interpreting digital information to:

receive a first message having included therein test settings for the traffic channel;

form a plurality of test packets for transmission on the traffic channel, wherein at least one test packet individually comprises information corresponding to a range of rates usable for testing the traffic channel;

select rates for transmitting the test packets within the range of rates based on a rate selection scheme in which the selected rates are cycled between a maximum rate and a minimum rate;

transmit the test packets at the selected rates on the traffic channel; and

receive a plurality of loop back packets corresponding to the plurality of test packets, wherein at least one loop back packet includes a field indicative of whether any loop back packets were lost due to buffer overflow.

40. A method for testing a reverse traffic channel in a wireless data communication system, comprising:

receiving a first message having included therein a minimum rate and a maximum rate for data transmission on the reverse traffic channel;

forming a plurality of test packets for transmission on the reverse traffic channel, wherein each test packet includes a sequence number of a test packet last transmitted at each of a plurality of possible rates;

selecting rates for the test packets based on a rate selection scheme and limited by the minimum and maximum rates, wherein the selected rates are cycled between a maximum rate and a minimum rate; and

transmitting the test packets at the selected rates on the reverse traffic channel, wherein at least one loop back packet corresponding to the test packets includes a field indicative of whether any loop back packets were lost due to buffer overflow.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising queuing the formed test packets.

42. A method for testing a reverse traffic channel in a wireless data communication system, comprising:

sending a first message having included therein test settings selected for the reverse traffic channel;

receiving an indication of configuration completion within a predetermined time interval on the reverse traffic channel, wherein the configuration is based on the test settings;

receiving a plurality of test packets at a plurality of rates on the reverse traffic channel, wherein at least one test packet individually comprises information corresponding to a range of rates usable for testing the reverse traffic channel, and wherein at least one loop back packet corresponding to the test packets includes a field indicative of whether any loop back packets were lost due to buffer overflow;

updating a plurality of variables maintained for the plurality of rates based on the rates of the received test packets; and

determining a packet error rate based on the information included in the plurality of test packets for the plurality of rates.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising:

for each received test packet, updating a first variable based on a sequence number of the test packet.

44. A terminal in a wireless data communication system comprising:

a receive data processor operative to receive a plurality of test packets of known test data during an observation interval via a forward traffic channel;

a controller operative to identify a transmission source and a sequence number of each received test packet and to form a loop back packet covering all test packets received during the observation interval, wherein each loop back packet includes the transmission source and the sequence number of every covered test packet correctly received during the observation interval, and wherein at least one loop back packet includes a field indicative of whether any loop back packets were lost due to buffer overflow; and

a transmit data processor operative to process the loop back packets for transmission via a reverse traffic channel.

45. The terminal of claim 44, further comprising a buffer operative to queue the loop back packets.

46. An apparatus in a wireless data communication system comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of test packets of known test data during an observation interval via a forward traffic channel;

means to identify a transmission source and a sequence number of each test packet received during the observation interval;

means for forming a plurality of loop back packets, wherein each loop back packet covers all test packets received during the observation interval, and each loop back packet includes the transmission source and the sequence number of every covered test packet correctly received during the observation interval, and wherein at least one loop back packet includes a field indicative of whether any loop back packets were lost due to buffer overflow; and

means for processing the loop back packets for transmission via a reverse traffic channel.

47. A terminal in a wireless data communication system comprising:

a receive data processor operative to receive a first message having included therein a minimum rate and a maximum rate for data transmission on a reverse traffic channel;

a controller operative to form a plurality of test packets for transmission on the reverse traffic channel, wherein each test packet includes a sequence number of a test packet last transmitted at each of a plurality of possible rates, and to select rates for the test packets based on a rate selection scheme and limited by the minimum and maximum rates, wherein the selected rates are cycled between the maximum rate and the minimum rate; and

a transmit data processor operative to process the test packets for transmission at the selected rates on the reverse traffic channel, wherein at least one loop back packet corresponding to the test packets includes a field indicative of whether any loop back packets were lost due to buffer overflow.

48. The terminal of claim 47, further comprising a buffer operative to queue the loop back packets.

49. An apparatus in a wireless data communication system comprising:

means for receiving a first message having included therein a minimum rate and a maximum rate for data transmission on a reverse traffic channel;

means for forming a plurality of test packets for transmission on the reverse traffic channel, wherein each test packet includes a sequence number of a test packet last transmitted at each of a plurality of possible rates;

means for selecting rates for the test packets based on a rate selection scheme and limited by the minimum and maximum rates, wherein the selected rates are cycled between the maximum rate and the minimum rate; and

means for processing the test packets for transmission at the selected rates on the reverse traffic channel, wherein at least one loop back packet corresponding to the test packets includes a field indicative of whether any loop back packets were lost due to buffer overflow.

50. An access point in a wireless data communication system comprising:

a transmit data processor operative to process a plurality of test packets of known test data for transmission via a forward traffic channel;

a receive data processor operative to process a plurality of loop back packets received via a reverse traffic channel, wherein each loop back packet covers zero or more test packets received during an observation interval, and includes a transmission source and a sequence number of every covered test packet correctly received during the observation interval, wherein at least one loop back packet includes a field indicative of whether any loop back packets were lost due to buffer overflow; and

a controller operative to update a plurality of variables for a plurality of transmission sources based on the transmission source and the sequence number of every test packet received during the observation interval and covered by the received loop back packets.

51. An apparatus in a wireless data communication system comprising:

means for processing a plurality of test packets of known test data for transmission via a forward traffic channel;

means for processing a plurality of loop back packets received via a reverse traffic channel, wherein each loop back packet covers zero or more test packets received during an observation interval, and includes a transmission source and a sequence number of every covered test packet correctly received during the observation interval, wherein at least one loop back packet includes a field indicative of whether any loop back packets were lost due to buffer overflow; and

means for updating a plurality of variables for a plurality of transmission sources based on the transmission source and the sequence number of every test packet received during the observation interval and covered by the received loop back packets.

52. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and comprising code that, when executed, causes a computer to perform the following:

receive a plurality of test packets of known test data during an observation interval via a forward traffic channel;

identify a transmission source and a sequence number of each test packet received during the observation interval;

form a plurality of loop back packets, wherein each loop back packet covers all test packets received during the observation interval, and each loop back packet includes the transmission source and the sequence number of every covered test packet correctly received during the observation interval, and wherein at least one loop back packet includes a field indicative of whether any loop back packets were lost due to buffer overflow; and

process the loop back packets for transmission via a reverse traffic channel.

53. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and comprising code that, when executed, causes a computer to perform the following:

receive a first message having included therein a minimum rate and a maximum rate for data transmission on a reverse traffic channel;

form a plurality of test packets for transmission on the reverse traffic channel, wherein each test packet includes a sequence number of a test packet last transmitted at each of a plurality of possible rates;

select rates for the test packets based on a rate selection scheme and limited by the minimum and maximum rates, wherein the selected rates are cycled between the maximum rate and the minimum rate; and

process the test packets for transmission at the selected rates on the reverse traffic channel, wherein at least one loop back packet corresponding to the test packets includes a field indicative of whether any loop back packets were lost due to buffer overflow.

54. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and comprising code that, when executed, causes a computer to perform the following:

process a plurality of test packets of known test data for transmission via a forward traffic channel;

process a plurality of loop back packets received via a reverse traffic channel, wherein each loop back packet covers zero or more test packets received during an observation interval, and includes a transmission source and a sequence number of every covered test packet correctly received during the observation interval, wherein at least one loop back packet includes a field indicative of whether any loop back packets were lost due to buffer overflow; and

update a plurality of variables for a plurality of transmission sources based on the transmission source and the sequence number of every test packet received during the observation interval and covered by the received loop back packets.