Patent Publication Number: US-2023141053-A1

Title: Mobile terminal test device and parameter setting method thereof

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a mobile terminal test device that tests a mobile terminal. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     When a mobile terminal such as a portable phone or a data communication terminal that performs communication while moving has been developed, it is necessary to test whether or not the developed mobile terminal can perform communication normally. Therefore, a test in which a mobile terminal under test is connected to a test device that operates as a simulated base station that simulates the functions of an actual base station, communication is performed between the test device and the mobile terminal, and the content of the communication is checked is performed. 
     In addition, in a mobile communication system, a service of 5th Generation (5G) New Radio (NR), which is a 5G radio scheme, has started. 
     In 5G NR, specifications of non-standalone (NSA) in which transmission and reception are performed by a 5G line specialized in a user plane (U-Plane: user data signal), and a control plane (C-Plane: communication control signal) using a long term evolution (LTE) line and stand alone (SA) in which an operation is performed independently of 5G NR without cooperation with LTE are defined. 
     Patent Document 1 discloses a communication terminal measurement system that tests a mobile terminal compatible with NSA with an LTE measurement device and an NR measurement device. 
     RELATED ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     [Patent Document 1] JP-A-2021-57814 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Problem that the Invention is to Solve 
     In such a communication terminal measurement system, when a mobile terminal compatible with NSA is tested, it is necessary to prepare an LTE measurement device and an NR measurement device, which increases the size in the configuration of the measurement system. 
     The test configuration can be made smaller by integrating the LTE measurement device and the NR measurement device, but ports connected to the mobile terminal are mixed for LTE and NR. Thus, there is a concern that it is not possible to efficiently proceed the test due to a connection error and the like. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal test device capable of efficiently testing a mobile terminal compatible with NSA while suppressing a test configuration to be small. 
     Means for Solving the Problem 
     According to the present invention, a mobile terminal test device includes two or more analysis units that analyze a signal received from a mobile terminal, ports connected to the mobile terminal, the number of the ports being more than the number of the analysis units, a selection unit that selects the port to be connected to the analysis unit, and a control unit that performs control such that it is not possible to perform measurement setting for a measurement target of which it is not possible to simultaneously perform measurement, based on the measurement target to be measured by the analysis unit. 
     With this configuration, control is performed so that it is not possible to perform measurement setting for the measurement target of which it is not possible to simultaneously perform the measurement. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an occurrence of a situation in which it is not possible to perform measurement due to a setting error, and to efficiently perform a test. 
     In the mobile terminal test device according to the present invention, the control unit performs control so that it is not possible to perform measurement setting for a measurement target of which it is not possible to simultaneously perform measurement, based on the number of the analysis units required for measurement of the measurement target. 
     With this configuration, control is performed so that it is not possible to perform measurement setting for a measurement target of which it is not possible to simultaneously perform measurement, based on the number of analysis units required for measurement of the measurement target. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an occurrence of a situation in which it is not possible to perform measurement due to a setting error, and to efficiently perform a test. 
     In the mobile terminal test device according to the present invention, the ports include a plurality of ports compatible with a first communication standard and a plurality of ports compatible with a second communication standard. The measurement target includes a measurement target measured by using the plurality of ports compatible with the second communication standard. The measurement target of which it is not possible to simultaneously perform measurement includes a measurement target using the port compatible with the first communication standard. 
     Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a parameter setting method of a mobile terminal test device including two or more analysis units that analyze a signal received from a mobile terminal, ports connected to the mobile terminal, the number of the ports being more than the number of the analysis units, and a selection unit that selects the port to be connected to the analysis unit. The parameter setting method includes a step of setting a measurement target to be measured by the analysis unit and a step of making it not possible to perform measurement setting for a measurement target of which it is not possible to simultaneously perform measurement, based on the measurement target. 
     With this configuration, control is performed so that it is not possible to perform measurement setting for the measurement target of which it is not possible to simultaneously perform the measurement. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an occurrence of a situation in which it is not possible to perform measurement due to a setting error, and to efficiently perform a test. 
     [Advantage of the Invention] 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a mobile terminal test device capable of efficiently testing a mobile terminal compatible with NSA while suppressing a test configuration to be small. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a block diagram illustrating a mobile terminal test device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram illustrating an example of a port configuration of the mobile terminal test device according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, a mobile terminal test device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
     In  FIG.  1   , a mobile terminal test device  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured to include a first slot  2 , a second slot  3 , a display unit  4 , an operation unit  5 , and a control unit  6 . 
     The first slot  2  transmits and receives radio frequency (RF) signals to and from a mobile terminal under test. In the first slot  2 , the RF signal received from the mobile terminal is measured, or a set RF signal is generated and transmitted to the mobile terminal. 
     The first slot  2  is configured to include a first port  21   a , a second port  21   b , a selection unit  22 , a transmission and reception unit  23 , and a simulated base station unit  26 . 
     The first port  21   a  and the second port  21   b  are connected to the mobile terminal by cables or the like, and output an RF signal to the mobile terminal and receive an RF signal input from the mobile terminal. 
     The selection unit  22  connects the first port  21   a  and the second port  21   b  of the first slot  2 , and a first port  31   a  and a second port  31   b  of the second slot  3  to the transmission and reception unit  23 . 
     The transmission and reception unit  23  transmits and receives an RF signal to and from the mobile terminal. The transmission and reception unit  23  outputs an RF signal received from the mobile terminal to the simulated base station unit  26  and transmits an RF signal generated by the simulated base station unit  26  to the mobile terminal. The transmission and reception unit  23  measures the RF signal received from the mobile terminal. The transmission and reception unit  23  outputs, to the control unit  6 , information on a measurement result of the RF signal received from the mobile terminal. 
     The transmission and reception unit  23  is configured to include a first analysis unit  24   a , a second analysis unit  24   b , a first hardware control unit  25   a , and a second hardware control unit  25   b.    
     The first analysis unit  24   a  and the second analysis unit  24   b  analyze the RF signal received by the port selected and connected by the selection unit  22 . The first analysis unit  24   a  and the second analysis unit  24   b  can analyze RF signals for both LTE and NR. 
     The first hardware control unit  25   a  and the second hardware control unit  25   b  control hardware such as the transmission and reception unit  23  and the selection unit  22 . 
     The first hardware control unit  25   a  and the second hardware control unit  25   b , for example, control the selection unit  22  to set a connection destination of each port. 
     Under the control of the control unit  6 , the simulated base station unit  26  transmits and receives an RF signal to and from the mobile terminal via the transmission and reception unit  23 . The simulated base station unit  26  controls communication with the mobile terminal based on a command input from the control unit  6 . The simulated base station unit  26  outputs the state of the communication with the mobile terminal and the like to the control unit  6 . 
     The simulated base station unit  26  can control an LTE RF signal, an NR RF signal, and an NSA RF signal. 
     The second slot  3  includes the first port  31   a  and the second port  31   b  and connects the first port  31   a  and the second port  31   b  to the selection unit  22 . 
     The first port  31   a  and the second port  31   b  are connected to the mobile terminal by cables or the like, and output an RF signal to the mobile terminal and receive an RF signal input from the mobile terminal. 
     The first slot  2  and the second slot  3  are configured, for example, as illustrated in  FIG.  2   . In  FIG.  2   , the first port  21   a  and the second port  21   b  of the first slot  2  are configured as ports for inputting and outputting LTE RF signals. The first port  31   a  and the second port  31   b  of the second slot  3  are configured as ports for inputting and outputting NR RF signals. 
     In  FIG.  1   , the display unit  4  is configured by an image display device such as a liquid crystal display, and displays an image for inputting necessary information, an image indicating a state during a test, and the like. 
     The operation unit  5  is configured by an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel, and outputs information and the like input by an operation to the control unit  6 . 
     In accordance with an instruction input to the operation unit  5 , the control unit  6  causes the display unit  4  to display a test scenario creation screen to input information required for generating the test scenario, or to generate the test scenario based on the information input to the operation unit  5  on the test scenario creation screen. In accordance with an instruction input to the operation unit  5 , the control unit  6  transmits the instruction to the simulated base station unit  26  to perform a test based on the test scenario stored in a storage device or to display the state or the like during the test on the display unit  4  based on information on the state of communication with the mobile terminal, which is transmitted from the simulated base station unit  26 , and the like. 
     Here, the mobile terminal test device  1  is configured by a computer device (not illustrated) provided with a communication module for communicating with the mobile terminal. The computer device includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a hard disk device, an input and output port, and a touch panel (not illustrated). 
     A program for causing the computer device to function as the mobile terminal test device  1  is stored in the ROM and the hard disk device of the computer device. That is, the computer device functions as the mobile terminal test device  1  by the CPU executing the program stored in the ROM by using the RAM as a work area. 
     In the present embodiment, the selection unit  22  connects the first port  21   a  of the first slot  2  and the first port  31   a  of the second slot  3  to the first analysis unit  24   a  in the transmission and reception unit  23  in a normal state, for example. The selection unit  22  also connects the second port  21   b  of the first slot  2  and the second port  31   b  of the second slot  3  to the second analysis unit  24   b  in the transmission and reception unit  23 . 
     Since the frequency characteristics of the first analysis unit  24   a  and the second analysis unit  24   b  differ depending on the ports to which the first analysis unit  24   a  and the second analysis unit  24   b  are connected, the received signals are corrected by using a correction value for each port. 
     The first analysis unit  24   a  stores the correction values for the first port  21   a  of the first slot  2  and the first port  31   a  of the second slot  3 , for example. The second analysis unit  24   b  stores the correction values for the second port  21   b  of the first slot  2  and the second port  31   b  of the second slot  3 . 
     When the first analysis unit  24   a  is connected to the second port  21   b  of the first slot  2  or the second port  31   b  of the second slot  3 , the first analysis unit  24   a  acquires the correction value from the second analysis unit  24   b  and corrects the received signal. 
     When the second analysis unit  24   b  is connected to the first port  21   a  of the first slot  2  or the first port  31   a  of the second slot  3 , the second analysis unit  24   b  acquires the correction value from the first analysis unit  24   a  and corrects the received signal. 
     As described above, since the transmission and reception unit  23  includes two analysis units being the first analysis unit  24   a  and the second analysis unit  24   b , it is possible to analyze the RF signal from the two ports, that is, the first port  21   a  and the second port  21   b  of the first slot  2  and the first port  31   a  and the second port  31   b  of the second slot  3 . 
     For example, when multi-input multi-out (MIMO) in an NR uplink is measured, the first port  31   a  and the second port  31   b  of the second slot  3  are respectively connected to the first analysis unit  24   a  and the second analysis unit  24   b , and RF signals input to the first port  31   a  and the second port  31   b  are measured. 
     At this time, it is not possible to measure RF signals input to the first port  21   a  and the second port  21   b  of the first slot  2 . 
     Therefore, the control unit  6  sets a measurement target when creating a test scenario for setting information on the simulated base station and the test content. The control unit  6  performs control based on the set measurement target, so that it is not possible to perform measurement setting for a measurement target of which it is not possible to simultaneously perform measurement. Here, the measurement target here is a measurement item of the test scenario stored in the storage device. 
     For example, when measurement of MIMO in an NR uplink is set, the control unit  6  causes the LTE measurement setting not to be performed by not displaying an interface for setting the LTE measurement setting or displaying the interface in a grayed-out manner. 
     As described above, in the above-described embodiment, the control unit  6  performs control so that it is not possible to perform measurement setting for a measurement target of which it is not possible to simultaneously perform measurement, based on the set measurement target. 
     As a result, it is possible to prevent an occurrence of a situation in which measurement setting is not made for a measurement target of which it is not possible to simultaneously perform measurement, and it is not possible to measure the measurement target due to a setting error, and thus it is possible to perform a test with high efficiency. 
     In addition, the control unit  6  performs control so that it is not possible to perform measurement setting for a measurement target of which it is not possible to simultaneously perform measurement, based on the number of first analysis units  24   a  and the second analysis units  24   b  required for measuring the set measurement target. 
     As a result, based on the number of analysis units required for measuring the set measurement target, it is possible to prevent an occurrence of a situation in which measurement setting is not made for a measurement target of which it is not possible to simultaneously perform measurement due to insufficiency in the number of analysis units required for measurement, and it is not possible to measure the measurement target due to a setting error. Thus, it is possible to perform a test with high efficiency. 
     In the present embodiment, an example of an integrated mobile terminal test device has been described. The present invention is not limited to this. For example, the functions of the control unit  6  may be realized by a program operating on a personal computer, and the personal computer may control the first slot  2 , the second slot  3 , and the like. 
     Hitherto, the embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed, but it is clear that changes can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. All such modifications and equivalents are intended to be included in the claims as follows. 
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SIGNS 
     
         
         
           
               1  MOBILE TERMINAL TEST DEVICE 
               2  FIRST SLOT 
               3  SECOND SLOT 
               6  CONTROL UNIT 
               21   a  FIRST PORT (PORT) 
               21   b  SECOND PORT (PORT) 
               22  SELECTION UNIT 
               23  TRANSMISSION AND RECEPTION UNIT 
               24   a  FIRST ANALYSIS UNIT (ANALYSIS UNIT) 
               24   b  SECOND ANALYSIS UNIT (ANALYSIS UNIT) 
               31   a  FIRST PORT (PORT) 
               31   b  SECOND PORT (PORT)