Mobile radio paging test system

• US 4,977,399 A
• Filed: 08/09/1988
• Issued: 12/11/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Protocol-ip.com, LLC, Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: AT&T, Inc.
• Inventors: Price, Gary A., Gehring, Mark R., Park, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Magistre, Dervis
• Application Number:
  US07/230,201
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 340/825.47, 340/825.48, 340/825.52, 340/825.54, 340/311.1, 340/825.49, 455/38, 455/39, 455/33, 455/32, 455/31, 379/57, 379/58, 379/63, 379/64, 379/59, 370/94, 370/95, 370/94.1
• US Class Current: 340/7.21
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/00 Network topologies

Abstract

In a ratio paging system of the type having digital data modulated onto radio signals transmitted from a radio station to receiving units at remote sites, a test system. The test system includes a transmitter test module coupled to a radio transmitter at the station and a test bed module located at the remote site. The transmitter test module includes a microprocessor for generating digital test data, and a modulator coupled to the microprocessor for modulating the test data onto a radio signal and for injecting the radio signal into the station transmitter. The test bed includes a receiver for receiving the modulated radio signal, a demodulator for demodulating the received radio signal to recover the digital test data, and a computer for processing the recovered digital test data to generate paging test information. The mobile test bed also includes means for determining the latitude and longitude of a site to generate digital location data which is used to generate test information. The test system further includes a mobile vehicle for transporting the test bed, a power supply in the vehicle for providing power to the test bed, and means for determining the distance travelled by the vehicle to provide a test sampling rate. The test bed and the transmitter test module may communicate using a cellular phone ystem for transmitting and receiving coded dial tones. The coded dial tones correspond to predetermined digital test data patterns and other test information.

Claims

1. In a paging system of the type having digital data modulated onto a radio signal to communicate a pager request, said radio signal transmitted from a radio station by a transmitter to a pager receiver located at a site remote from said station, a test system comprising:

a transmitter test module coupled to a radio transmitter at said station and a test bed located at said remote site,

said transmitter test module including;

a microprocessor for generating digital test data;

means coupled to said microprocessor for modulating said digital test data onto a radio signal and for injecting said modulated radio signal into said station transmitter;

said test bed including;

an antenna and a receiver for receiving said modulated ratio signal;

means coupled to said receiver for demodulating said modulated radio signal to recover said digital test data;

a computer coupled to said demodulator, said computer processing said recovered digital test data to generate paging test information; and

means for determining the latitude and longitude of said site to generate digital location data, said computer coupled to said means for determining location for processing said digital location data to generate said test information.

2. The invention of claim 1 and wherein said transmitter test module and said test bed are portable modules.

3. The invention of claim 1 further comprising:

a mobile vehicle for transporting said test bed; and

a power supply on said vehicle for providing power to said test bed.

4. The invention of claim 3, further comprising:

means coupled to said vehicle for measuring the distance travelled by said vehicle to generate digital distance data, said computer means coupled to said distance measuring means for generating test information at a sampling rate determined by said digital distance data.

5. The invention of claim 4 and wherein said test bed further includes:

means for determining the latitude and longitude of said site to generate digital location data; and

wherein said computer is coupled to said location determining means for processing said digital location data to generate said paging test information.

6. The invention of claim 5 and wherein said means for determining location includes a LORAN antenna and receiver.

7. In a paging system of the type having digital data modulated onto a radio signal, said radio signal transmitted from a radio transmitter at a radio station to a power receiver located at a remote site, a test system comprising:

a test bed located at a remote site and a transmitter test module located at said radio station;

said test bed including;

a first cellular phone system for communicating a plurality of coded dial tones to said radio station;

said transmitter test module including;

a second cellular phone system for receiving said coded dial tones;

a tone decoder and a microprocessor combination coupled to said second cellular phone system for decoding said coded dial tones to generate a plurality of digital test data patterns, each corresponding to one of said coded dial tones;

means coupled to said microprocessor for modulating a test subcarrier signal with said digital test data patterns and for injecting said modulated subcarrier signal into said radio transmitter;

said test bed further including;

an antenna and a receiver for receiving said modulated signal;

means for demodulating said received signal to recover said digital test data patterns;

computer means coupled to said demodulator for processing said recovered digital test data patterns to generate test information;

a mobile vehicle for transporting said test bed; and

a power supply on said vehicle for providing power to said test bed.

8. The invention of claim 7, further comprising:

means coupled to said vehicle for measuring the distance travelled by said vehicle to generate digital distance data, said computer coupled to said distance measuring means for generating test data at a sampling rate determined by said digital distance data.

9. The invention of claim 8 and wherein said means coupled to said vehicle for measuring the distance travelled by said vehicle includes a magnet coupled to the drive train of said vehicle and a reed relay coupled to said magnet for generating a signal each fixed distance segment traveled.

10. In a paging system of the type having digital data modulated onto a radio signal to communicate a pager request, said radio signal transmitted from a radio station by a transmitter to a pager receiver located at a site remote from said station, a method for testing said system comprising:

generating digital test data at said station;

modulating said digital test data onto a radio signal;

injecting said modulated radio signal into said station transmitter;

transmitting said modulated radio signal;

receiving said modulated radio signal at a test location;

demodulating said modulated radio signal to recover said digital test data;

processing said recovered digital test data to generate paging test information;

determining the latitude and longitude of said test location to generate digital location data; and

processing said digital location data to generate said test information.