UE Location Reporting for Conformance Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for wireless network testing, such as drive testing, are manual, costly, and environmentally impactful, and existing technologies lack efficient mechanisms for minimizing these drawbacks while ensuring conformance testing of user equipment.
Innovation Solution
The method involves a user equipment receiving location information from a network node, generating measurement reports linked to this location information, and sending them back to the network node, enabling conformance testing without the need for GPS signaling, using a system simulator to simulate network conditions for certification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS signaling is used for location determination in conformance testing, then location accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network node acts as an intermediary that provides location information to the user equipment. Instead of the UE directly using GPS, the network node receives location data (from GPS or other sources) and forwards it to the UE, simplifying the UE's hardware requirements while maintaining location accuracy for conformance testing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a simulated location environment where the network node provides location information that represents real-world GPS data. This copying approach allows conformance testing to be performed without actual GPS hardware in the test device, using network-provided location data instead
2Reliability
If manual drive testing is used for network coverage assessment, then comprehensive field measurement is improved, but cost and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical drive testing with an automated system where user equipment collects measurement data and the network node processes location and measurement information. This substitution eliminates the need for physical vehicles and manual operations while maintaining measurement reliability through automated data collection and processing
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service testing where user equipment automatically collects measurement data, determines its location using network-provided information, and reports results back to the network node. This automated self-testing eliminates the need for manual drive testing operations while maintaining comprehensive field measurement capabilities
3Manufacturing precision
If conformance testing is performed in RF shield rooms with simulators, then test control accuracy is improved, but real-world network condition representation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The network node pre-provides location information to user equipment before conformance testing begins. This preliminary provision of location data allows the UE to perform measurements with accurate location context, bridging the gap between controlled lab testing and real-world conditions by incorporating location-awareness into the test setup
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal testing approach that can be performed both in controlled RF shield rooms and in field conditions. By using network-provided location information rather than GPS, the same testing methodology works in both environments, making the conformance testing process versatile across different testing scenarios
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for testing of wireless devices. In one aspect there is provided a method. The method may include receiving, at a user equipment, location information provided by a network node (306); generating, by the user equipment, a report including at least one measurement and the received location information linked to the at least one measurement; and sending, by the user equipment, the report to the network node, the report including the at least one measurement and the received location information (320). Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.