Method and apparatus for testing traffic and auxiliary channels in a wireless data communication system
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A method for testing a plurality of channels associated with a forward link in a wireless data communication system, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A memory communicatively coupled to a digital signal processing device (DSPD) capable of interpreting digital information to:
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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.
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4. A method for testing one or more channels in a wireless data communication system, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A memory communicatively coupled to a digital signal processing device (DSPD) capable of interpreting digital information to:
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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.
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26. A method for testing one or more channels in a wireless data communication system, comprising:
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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.
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27. A method for testing one or more channels in a wireless data communication system, comprising:
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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.
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28. A method for testing one or more channels in a wireless data communication system, comprising:
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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.
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29. A memory communicatively coupled to a digital signal processing device (DSPD) capable of interpreting digital information to:
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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.
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30. A method for testing a traffic channel in a wireless data communication system, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A memory communicatively coupled to a digital signal processing device (DSPD) capable of interpreting digital information to:
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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.
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40. A method for testing a reverse traffic channel in a wireless data communication system, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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42. A method for testing a reverse traffic channel in a wireless data communication system, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (43)
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44. A terminal in a wireless data communication system comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (45)
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46. An apparatus in a wireless data communication system comprising:
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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.
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47. A terminal in a wireless data communication system comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (48)
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49. An apparatus in a wireless data communication system comprising:
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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.
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50. An access point in a wireless data communication system comprising:
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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.
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51. An apparatus in a wireless data communication system comprising:
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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:
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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.
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Specification