Pre-Authentication UE Parameter Measurement via Random Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for testing Long Term Evolution (LTE) user equipment (UE) require authentication and security information, which is often unavailable, making it difficult to perform comprehensive uplink and downlink parameter measurements, especially during initial access and registration procedures.
Innovation Solution
The approach involves measuring transmitted power levels during the physical random access channel (PRACH) and physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) procedures before authentication, allowing for pre-authentication measurements and reducing the need for SIM card removal or replacement, enabling testing without security information and across multiple frequency pairs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If authentication and security information is required for UE testing, then measurement accuracy is improved, but testing time increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs measurements during the random access procedure and before authentication is completed. By conducting measurements at this preliminary stage, the system obtains necessary parameter data without waiting for the full authentication process to complete, thus reducing testing time while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and measures specific parameters (power levels, signal strength) from the random access channel transmissions. By focusing on extracting only the necessary measurement data from available signals rather than requiring full authentication, the system achieves measurements without completing the entire authentication sequence
2Reliability
If authentication and security information is required for UE testing, then measurement reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The testing system extracts measurement data from public random access channel transmissions without requiring access to protected authentication credentials. This extraction approach maintains measurement reliability by using standardized, reliable signal sources while avoiding the complexity of integrating and managing authentication security modules
Solution Approach 2:
The random access channel serves as an intermediary that provides measurable signal characteristics without requiring direct access to authentication data. This intermediary mechanism allows reliable measurements of power levels and signal quality without the testing system needing to handle sensitive security information
3Measurement precision
If SIM card removal or replacement is required for testing, then measurement completeness is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The testing system performs measurements using signals already transmitted by the UE during normal random access procedures. The UE essentially serves itself by providing measurement opportunities through its own transmissions, eliminating the need for SIM card manipulation and enabling continuous testing without device intervention
Solution Approach 2:
Measurements are performed during the initial random access phase before any SIM card operations would be needed. By completing measurements at this preliminary stage, the system eliminates the requirement for SIM card removal or replacement, thereby maintaining measurement completeness while dramatically improving testing productivity
4Reliability
If measurements are performed only after authentication, then security is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs measurements during the random access procedure, which occurs before authentication is completed. This preliminary measurement action captures necessary data at the earliest possible moment, reducing testing time while maintaining security by not accessing or processing authentication credentials
Data Source
AI summary
A testing apparatus obtains user equipment (UE) parametric measurements with unknown and/or unavailable authentication and security information. The testing apparatus may obtain uplink and downlink parameters of a wireless device after the wireless device initiates registration while an associated timer is activated, enabling the testing apparatus to obtain additional measurement information without security information about the tested wireless device. The apparatus may also measure the UE's transmitted power level prior to the initiation of the authentication procedure. The testing apparatus may determine if a wireless device is to be tested at another frequency pair. If so, the testing apparatus redirects the wireless device to a radio resource at the other frequency pair. The testing apparatus then obtains uplink and downlink parameters for the wireless device by performing pre-registration and intra-registration measurements at the other frequency pair. The procedure is repeated until measurements for all desired frequency pairs are completed.