Base Station Test Apparatus Timing Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Testing base stations for wireless communication systems is complex and time-consuming, requiring extensive computations and synchronization, which is inefficient and not feasible for fast and economical production testing.
Innovation Solution
A test apparatus with a signal processing unit that analyzes downlink signals for timing information to generate a timing synchronization signal, allowing a signal generator to emit predetermined signal frames at specific times without decoding complex protocols, eliminating the need for dedicated synchronization cables and reducing system complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the test system decodes the complete downlink signal and uses protocol knowledge to synchronize with the base station (signaling mode), then accurate synchronization and signal quality measurement are achieved, but extensive computations are required and synchronization is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential timing information from the downlink signal without performing complete protocol decoding. The signal processing unit identifies timing patterns and synchronization signals directly from the raw downlink signal, separating the timing extraction function from the complex protocol interpretation, thereby achieving fast synchronization while maintaining measurement accuracy.
2Productivity
If cable-based synchronization output is provided from the base station to the test system, then synchronization is achieved without decoding complex protocols, but device complexity increases and not all base stations (e.g., femto cells) provide such outputs
Solution Approach 1:
The test system performs self-synchronization by autonomously analyzing the downlink signal to extract timing information. Instead of relying on external cable-based synchronization outputs from the base station, the test system independently identifies synchronization patterns in the wireless downlink signal, making the solution universally applicable to all base station types including femto cells.
3Reliability
If real-time data frame generation corresponding to specific protocols is performed, then accurate protocol compliance is achieved, but computation complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of generating real-time protocol-compliant data frames through complex computations, the test system uses a stored template or copy of a valid uplink data frame. The signal generator transmits this predetermined frame structure at the synchronized timing points, which is sufficient for base station reception quality testing without requiring real-time protocol generation capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A test apparatus for testing a base station of a wireless communication system, comprises a downlink port, which receives a downlink signal from the base station, an uplink port, which emits an uplink signal to the base station, a signal processing unit, which is coupled to the downlink port and analyzes the downlink signal for timing information and generates a timing synchronization signal based on the downlink signal, and a signal generator, which is coupled to the signal processing unit and the uplink port and generates a predetermined signal frame and emits the generated predetermined signal frame based on the synchronization signal via the uplink port to the base station.