Patent ID: 7522918
Filing Date: 2009-04-21
Classification: G10L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method to evaluate the radio coverage of a radio system by employing continuous, two-way testing for an allotted period of time at multiple locations using a system including a mobile location apparatus having a mobile test transceiver, a first GPS system, a programmable attenuator, a first RSSI receiver, a second RSSI receiver, an RSSI antenna system, a mobile control computer connected to a display unit and a first event log maintained by the mobile control computer all situated in a test vehicle and a fixed location apparatus having a stationary control computer, a second GPS system, a stationary test transceiver and a second event log maintained by the stationary control computer comprising: performing software startup and initialization and GPS synchronization for both the mobile location apparatus using the first GPS system and the fixed location apparatus using the second GPS system; verifying that the speed of the test vehicle exceeds a pre-selected minimum speed; storing in the first event log a GPS time, GPS location and speed of the test vehicle when the test vehicle exceeds the pre-selected minimum speed; adjusting the programmable attenuator based on the location of the test vehicle; determining and storing noise levels in the first event log; placing the mobile test transceiver in transmit mode; if no transmission occurs within a pre-set period of time, returning to verifying; transmitting a test message having a preamble portion and an audio portion both with known, fixed durations from the mobile location apparatus to the fixed location apparatus through the radio system; further placing the mobile test transceiver in receive mode; detecting reception of a preamble portion at the fixed location apparatus; recording in the second event log the time of detection of a preamble portion; initiating recording of an audio portion at the fixed location apparatus after expiration of the known duration for a preamble portion; stopping recording of an audio portion at the fixed location apparatus after expiration of the known duration for an audio portion; further storing the received recorded audio portion in the second event log as a digital file with a unique identifier together with the time when the received audio portion was received at the fixed location apparatus; if an election was made not to assign DAQ scores in real time, jumping to pausing; comparing the received recorded audio portion with a stored reference audio file; assigning a score for DAQ to the received recorded audio portion; associating the location tested with the score for DAQ for that location; yet additionally storing the assigned DAQ score and associated location in the second event log; pausing for a pre-determined period of time, after the expiration of which, the time is stored by the stationary control computer in the second event log; yet further placing the stationary test transceiver in transmit mode; if no transmission occurs within a pre-determined period of time, returning to detecting; further transmitting a test message having a preamble portion and an audio portion both with known, fixed durations from the fixed location apparatus to the mobile location apparatus through the radio system; still further placing the stationary test transceiver in receive mode; monitoring for reception of a preamble portion transmitted by the stationary test transceiver to the mobile test transceiver; yet further storing in the first event log the GPS time, GPS location and test vehicle speed corresponding to when the preamble portion was detected; collecting and storing RF signal strength levels in the first event log; further initiating recording of an audio portion at the mobile location apparatus after expiration of the known duration for a preamble portion; further stopping recording of an audio portion at the mobile location apparatus after expiration of the known duration for an audio portion; additionally storing the received recorded audio portion in the first event log as a digital file together with a unique identifier; if an election was made not to assign DAQ scores in real time, further comparing the received recorded audio portion with a stored reference audio file; assigning a score for DAQ to the received recorded audio portion; further associating the location tested with the score for DAQ for that location; still further storing the assigned DAQ score and associated location in the first event log; indicating on the display unit whether the location tested has passed or failed the test; further pausing for a pre-defined time delay, and returning to verifying until the allotted period of time has expired.