Method and a device for finding imperfections in an RF path
First Claim
1. A method for finding differences in path loss between a plurality of radio frequency (RF) paths between a first transceiver and a second transceiver in a wireless communications system, the method comprising:
- using different ones of the RF paths during respective different defined intervals of time to receive signals at one of the first and second transceivers from the other one of the first and second transceivers,measuring first and second signal strengths of the signals received using respective first and second ones of the RF paths during first and second ones of said respective different intervals,comparing the first and second signal strengths of the first and second RF paths using measurements from the first and second intervals,wherein one of the first and second transceivers comprises a base station comprising different physical transmission antennas,wherein a different one of the first and second transceivers comprises a mobile device,andwherein the different ones of the RF paths are defined by transmission from the different physical transmission antennas of the base station and/or by different transmission polarizations, and by reception at the mobile device; and
communicating between the first and second transceivers using a third RF path, andnot the first RF path and not the second RF path, between the first and second transceivers,during a third interval that follows the first and second intervals,the method further comprising;
determining an average difference between a third signal strength of the third RF path and the first signal strength;
determining an average difference between the third signal strength and the second signal strength; and
identifying greater attenuation provided by one of the different ones of the RF paths responsive to determining an average difference between the signal strengths of the different ones of the RF paths, respectively.
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Abstract
The invention discloses a method (700) for finding differences in path loss between a plurality of RF paths between a first (120, 130) and a second (120, 130) transceiver in a wireless communications system (100). During defined 5 intervals of time (SACCH1-SACCH4), only one RF path is used to transmit from one of said transceivers to the other of said transceivers, and the receiving transceiver measures the strength of the signal received during at least a number of said intervals, thus making it possible to compare signal strength and thereby path loss between different RF paths, which in turn 10 makes it possible to find imperfections in one or more of said RF paths.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for finding differences in path loss between a plurality of radio frequency (RF) paths between a first transceiver and a second transceiver in a wireless communications system, the method comprising:
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using different ones of the RF paths during respective different defined intervals of time to receive signals at one of the first and second transceivers from the other one of the first and second transceivers, measuring first and second signal strengths of the signals received using respective first and second ones of the RF paths during first and second ones of said respective different intervals, comparing the first and second signal strengths of the first and second RF paths using measurements from the first and second intervals, wherein one of the first and second transceivers comprises a base station comprising different physical transmission antennas, wherein a different one of the first and second transceivers comprises a mobile device, and wherein the different ones of the RF paths are defined by transmission from the different physical transmission antennas of the base station and/or by different transmission polarizations, and by reception at the mobile device; and communicating between the first and second transceivers using a third RF path, and not the first RF path and not the second RF path, between the first and second transceivers, during a third interval that follows the first and second intervals, the method further comprising; determining an average difference between a third signal strength of the third RF path and the first signal strength; determining an average difference between the third signal strength and the second signal strength; and identifying greater attenuation provided by one of the different ones of the RF paths responsive to determining an average difference between the signal strengths of the different ones of the RF paths, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 18)
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3. The method of claim 2,
where the first transceiver and the second transceiver communicate with each other in specified data frames which have a certain extension in time, where the second transceiver carries out the measurements of the received signal strength during at least a specified period of one of said data frames, and where said intervals in which only one RF path is used at least in part coincide with the measurement periods of the second transceiver. -
4. The method of claim 3, where the intervals that an RF path is used is a same as said period during which the second transceiver makes its measurements.
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5. The method of claim 1,
where said second transceiver is the transmitting transceiver during said intervals, and where the first transceiver is the receiving transceiver during said intervals. -
6. The method of claim 5,
where the first transceiver and the second transceiver communicate with each other in specified data frames which have a certain extension in time, where the first transceiver carries out measurements of the received signal strength during at least a specified period of one of said data frames, and where said intervals in which only one RF path is used at least in part coincide with the measurement periods of the first transceiver. -
7. The method of claim 6, where the intervals that an RF path is used is a same as said period during which the first transceiver makes its measurements.
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8. The method of claim 1, where the comparing includes:
comparing the signal strengths from two different ones of said intervals, said two different ones of said intervals being from a same session between said first and second transceivers, where said two different ones of said intervals are two consecutive intervals.
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9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
sending reports on the measurements to a third node in the wireless communications system, the reports allowing for the signal strengths to be compared and conclusions to be drawn regarding path losses between the different RF paths.
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10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
compiling, via the first transceiver, reports on said measurements, the reports allowing conclusions to be drawn regarding path losses between the different RF paths.
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18. The method of claim 1, wherein the different ones of the RF paths are defined by different transmission polarizations and by reception at the mobile device.
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11. A transceiver for use in a wireless communications system, the transceiver comprising:
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at least a first transmitter and a second transmitter, and at least a first receiver and a second receiver, the at least the first transmitter and the second transmitter and the at least the first receiver and the second receiver being configured to provide communication with another transceiver in said wireless communications system, so that at least a first radio frequency (RF) path and a second RF path are available, in both the transmit and receive direction for said transceiver, for communication with said other transceiver in the wireless communications system, where the transceiver further comprises; a switch configured to switch between the first and second RF paths so that, during defined intervals of time, only one RF path, of the first and second RF paths, is used for transmission or reception in the communication with said other transceiver in the wireless communications system, wherein switching between the first and second RF paths comprises switching between either the first and second transmitters or between the first and second receivers, wherein each defined interval comprises a measurement period, wherein the switch is configured to switch between the first and second RF paths such that each measurement period corresponds to a change between the first and second RF paths, and wherein the first and second RF paths correspond to first and second signal strengths, respectively; and a processor configured to; control communication with said other transceiver using a third RF path, and not the first RF path and not the second RF path, between the transceiver and said other transceiver, during a third measurement period that follows first and second measurement periods in which the first and second RF paths are used; determine an average difference between a third signal strength of the third RF path and the first signal strength; determine an average difference between the third signal strength and the second signal strength; and identify greater attenuation provided by one of the first and second RF paths responsive to determining an average difference between the first and second signal strengths of the first and second RF paths. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 19)
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16. A method for finding differences between first and second radio frequency (RF) paths that are between a first transceiver and a second transceiver in a wireless communications system, the method comprising:
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communicating between the first and second transceivers using the first RF path and not the second RF path during a first measurement period; communicating between the first and second transceivers using the second RF path and not the first RF path during a second measurement period; measuring first and second characteristics of the first and second RF paths, respectively, during the first and second measurement periods, respectively; comparing the first and second characteristics of the respective first and second RF paths; wherein one of the first and second transceivers comprises a base station comprising different physical transmission antennas, wherein a different one of the first and second transceivers comprises a mobile device, and wherein the different ones of the RF paths are defined by transmission from the different physical transmission antennas of the base station and/or by different transmission polarizations, and by reception at the mobile device; and communicating between the first and second transceivers using a third RF path, and not the first RF path and not the second RF path, between the first and second transceivers, during a third measurement period that follows the first and second measurement periods, wherein the first and second characteristics comprise first and second signal strengths, respectively, the method further comprising; determining an average difference between a third signal strength of the third RF path and the first signal strength; determining an average difference between the third signal strength and the second signal strength; and identifying greater attenuation provided by one of the first and second RF paths responsive to determining an average difference between the first and second characteristics of the respective first and second RF paths. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification