US5784406A
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Method and apparatus for objectively characterizing communications link quality
Assignee: Qualcomm Inc
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Filing: 1995-06-29
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Granted: 1998-07-21
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Expires: 2015-06-29
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for characterizing a communications link. An apparatus is disclosed for performing a series of tests that measure delay time, frequency response, background noise, frame error rate and sample slipping and repetition measurements. A signal generator generates a series of signal optimally selected for the particular test. The generated signal is transmitted through the communication system and then sent back through the system by a loop back element remotely placed. The return signal is then analyzed by a monitor means.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew P. DeJaco
- 👤 Serge D. Willenegger
- 👤 Paul E. Jacobs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:50
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W24/00; H04B; H04B17/00; H04B17/30; H04B17/309; H04L; H04L1/00; H04L1/24; H04L1/242; H04L1/243; H04L43/00; H04L43/50; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/22; H04M3/2236
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for characterizing a communication system, comprising: signal generator means for generating a selected input signal of a predetermined plurality of test signals for transmission in a forward direction over a communication link of said communication system, said input signal for determining a particular quantitative characterization of the quality of the communication link; a mobile station including a transceiver for receiving the input signal, the transceiver being connected to a loopback element, the loopback element sending the input signal back through the transceiver prior to decoding the signal to thereby produce a return signal; and monitor means for receiving the return signal having propagated in a reverse direction over said communication link and for analyzing said return signal to derive said particular quantitative characterization of the quality of said communication link.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for characterizing a communication system, comprising: signal generator means for generating a selected input signal of a predetermined plurality of test signals for transmission in a forward direction over a communication link of said communication system, said input signal for determining a particular quantitative characterization of the quality of the communication link; a mobile station including a transceiver for receiving the input signal, the transceiver being connected to a loopback element, the loopback element sending the input signal back through the transceiver prior to decoding the signal to thereby produce a return signal; and monitor means for receiving the return signal having propagated in a reverse direction over said communication link and for analyzing said return signal to derive said particular quantitative characterization of the quality of said communication link.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said monitor means is also for receiving said input signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input signal is a time delay measurement signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said time delay measurement signal is a bandpass filtered square pulse.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said bandpass filtered square pulse is filtered by a bandpass filter of a passband less than the passband of a public switching telephone network of said communication system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said bandpass filtered square pulse is filtered by a bandpass filter from 1000 Hz to 3000 Hz.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input signal is at least one frequency response test signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input signal is a noise measurement signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input signal is a frame error rate measurement signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input signal is a sample slip measurement signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said sample slip measurement signal is a tone and wherein said monitor means measures the phase of said return signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said monitor means includes means for analyzing a frequency domain representation of said return signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said monitor means includes means for comparing said frequency domain representation of said return signal to a frequency domain representation of said input signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
89 words
A means for characterizing a communication system, comprising: signal generator means for generating an input signal for transmission through said communication system wherein said input signal is at least one frequency response test signal having at least one tone signal of a predetermined duration, the predetermined duration being less than a maximum round trip delay of the frequency response test signal less a near end echo delay; and monitor means for receiving a return signal and for analyzing said return signal to characterize link quality of said communication system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
89 words
A means for characterizing a communication system, comprising: signal generator means for generating an input signal for transmission through said communication system wherein said input signal is at least one frequency response test signal having at least one tone signal of a predetermined duration, the predetermined duration being less than a maximum round trip delay of the frequency response test signal less a near end echo delay; and monitor means for receiving a return signal and for analyzing said return signal to characterize link quality of said communication system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
86 words
A means for characterizing a communication system, comprising: signal generator means for generating an input signal for transmission through said communication system wherein said input signal is at least one frequency response test signal; and monitor means for receiving a return signal and for analyzing said return signal to characterize link quality of said communication system wherein said monitor means subtracts distortion generated by a vocoder from said return signal and compares said return signal less distortion generated by said vocoder with said input test signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
86 words
A means for characterizing a communication system, comprising: signal generator means for generating an input signal for transmission through said communication system wherein said input signal is at least one frequency response test signal; and monitor means for receiving a return signal and for analyzing said return signal to characterize link quality of said communication system wherein said monitor means subtracts distortion generated by a vocoder from said return signal and compares said return signal less distortion generated by said vocoder with said input test signal.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
83 words
An apparatus for characterizing a communication system, comprising: signal generator means for generating an input signal for transmission through said communication system wherein said input signal is a frame error rate measurement signal having a train of tones of a predetermined pattern; and monitor means for receiving a return signal and for analyzing said return signal to characterize link quality of said communication system wherein said monitor means compares said return signal against said predetermined pattern to determine the presence of frame errors.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
83 words
An apparatus for characterizing a communication system, comprising: signal generator means for generating an input signal for transmission through said communication system wherein said input signal is a frame error rate measurement signal having a train of tones of a predetermined pattern; and monitor means for receiving a return signal and for analyzing said return signal to characterize link quality of said communication system wherein said monitor means compares said return signal against said predetermined pattern to determine the presence of frame errors.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said apparatus further comprises a loop back means for providing a predetermined tone indicative of a forward link frame error.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a cellular communication system in which at least one mobile unit is in communication with a base station coupled to a switched telephone network, a system for objectively characterizing communication link quality comprising: means for generating a selected input test signal for determining a particular quantitative characterization of said communication link quality; means for transmitting said input test signal through said switched telephone network to said base station, said base station including means for transmitting said input test signal to said at least one mobile unit over a wireless communication channel; and monitor means for receiving a return signal produced at said at least one mobile unit in response to said input signal, and for analyzing said return signal to determine said particular quantitative characterization.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a cellular communication system in which at least one mobile unit is in communication with a base station coupled to a switched telephone network, a system for objectively characterizing communication link quality comprising: means for generating a selected input test signal for determining a particular quantitative characterization of said communication link quality; means for transmitting said input test signal through said switched telephone network to said base station, said base station including means for transmitting said input test signal to said at least one mobile unit over a wireless communication channel; and monitor means for receiving a return signal produced at said at least one mobile unit in response to said input signal, and for analyzing said return signal to determine said particular quantitative characterization.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said monitor means includes means for analyzing a frequency domain representation of said return signal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said monitor means includes means for comparing said frequency domain representation of said return signal to a frequency domain representation of said input signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said mobile unit includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a loopback element for electrically coupling an electrical representation of said input signal from said receiver to said transmitter.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for characterizing link quality of a communication system including a base station coupled to a switched telephone network and at least one mobile unit in wireless communication with the base station, said method comprising the steps of: generating a selected input test signal through the switched telephone network to the base station for transmission through said communication system to the mobile unit said input signal for determining a particular quantitative characteristic of the signal transmission quality; and receiving from the mobile unit a return signal derived from said input signal, and analyzing a predetermined parameter of said return signal related to at least one said particular quantitative characteristic of said signal transmission quality through said communication system.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for characterizing link quality of a communication system including a base station coupled to a switched telephone network and at least one mobile unit in wireless communication with the base station, said method comprising the steps of: generating a selected input test signal through the switched telephone network to the base station for transmission through said communication system to the mobile unit said input signal for determining a particular quantitative characteristic of the signal transmission quality; and receiving from the mobile unit a return signal derived from said input signal, and analyzing a predetermined parameter of said return signal related to at least one said particular quantitative characteristic of said signal transmission quality through said communication system.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 22 further including the step of generating said return signal by looping back said input signal at a remote location within said communication system.
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-20 | 2002-01-19 | 2002-07-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-20 | 2006-01-19 | 2006-07-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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