Abstract:
There is disclosed a test apparatus for use in a wireless network base station comprising a non-radio unit for processing baseband signals and a radio unit separate from the non-radio unit for transmitting and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals. The test apparatus comprises: 1) a housing; 2) a first connector coupled via a first cable to the radio unit, wherein the first cable comprises signal lines carrying base station signals between the radio unit and the non-radio unit; 3) a second connector coupled via a second cable to the non-radio unit, wherein the second cable comprises signal lines carrying the base station signals between the radio unit and the non-radio unit; and 4) a first access connector that allows a signal measuring device to monitor at least one of the base station signals.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/149,168 for “MODULAR AND DISTRIBUTED ARCHITECTURE FOR A BASE STATION TRANSCEIVER SUBSYSTEM,” filed on Sep. 8, 1998. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/149,168 is hereby incorporated by reference in the present disclosure as if fully set forth herein, which claims benefit of Provisional application Ser. No. 60/058,228, filed Sep. 9, 1997. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed, in general, to wireless communication systems and, more specifically, to a system for monitoring the signal integrity of interconnections in a modular base station in a wireless communication network. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Wireless communication systems, including cellular phones, paging devices, personal communication services (PCS) systems, and wireless data networks, have become ubiquitous in society. Wireless service providers continually try to create new markets for wireless devices and to expand existing markets by making wireless devices and services cheaper and more reliable. The price of end-user wireless devices, such as cell phones, pagers, PCS systems, and wireless modems, has been driven down to the point where these devices are affordable to nearly everyone and the price of a wireless device is only a small part of the end-user&#39;s total cost. To continue to attract new customers, wireless service providers concentrate on reducing infrastructure costs and operating costs while improving quality of service in order to make wireless services cheaper and better. 
     In order to increase the number of subscribers that can be supported in a single wireless network, wireless service providers often maximize frequency reuse by making individual cell sites smaller and using a greater number of cell sites to cover the same geographical area. Accordingly, the greater number of base stations increases infrastructure costs, operating costs, and maintenance costs. To offset these increased costs, wireless service providers are eager to implement any innovations that may reduce equipment costs, maintenance and repair costs, and operating costs, or that may increase service quality. 
     Conventional wireless networks contain “integrated” base stations in which RF (or radio) functions and non-RF (non-radio) functions are performed within the same physical assembly. RF functions include the transmission, reception, modulation, demodulation, amplification, and filtering of inbound and outbound signals. Non-RF functions include signal processing and switching of low-frequency signals, such as baseband and intermediate frequency (IF) signals. In integrated base stations, the RF signal transmitted by the base station may be directly monitored by built-in test equipment, such as a dedicated test equipment circuit board, installed in the chassis of the base station. The measured RF signal parameters may then be transmitted to a central monitoring facility, such as a mobile switching center, along with the normal voice and data traffic associated with the calls handled by base station. 
     Recently, however, base stations have been implemented in modular and distributed architectures, rather than as integrated units. In some modular and distributed designs, RF functions are implemented in one module and non-RF functions are implemented in a separate module remote from the RF functions module. One such modular and distributed base station is disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/058228, filed on Sep. 9, 1997, and in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/149,168, filed on Sep. 8, 1998, both of which are assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the assignee of the present application. The teachings of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/058228 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/149,168 are hereby incorporated by reference into the present application as if fully set forth herein. The Pico-BTS™ system provided by Samsung Electronics Corporation incorporates a modular and distributed base station design in which RF functions are implemented in a radio unit (RU) and non-RF functions are implemented in a separate modular non-radio unit or main unit (MU). 
     The advantages of a modular and distributed design are many. This design results in a compact radio unit that can be mounted close to the antennas, thereby greatly reducing cable losses in the inbound and outbound RF signals. The separation of RF and non-RF elements results in easier adaption of the modular and distributed design to different RF operating conditions. If the radio unit is upgraded or replaced, it is not necessary to simultaneously upgrade or replace the main unit, and vice versa. For example, if a single non-radio main unit supports three radio units in a three sector antenna system and the main unit is replaced in order to upgrade the signal processing capability of the main unit, the three radio units are not affected. In an integrated base station, the radio units would be discarded along with the outdated main unit. 
     In some cases, the separation of the base station into separate modular units, such as a non-radio (main) unit and a radio unit, may make the process of monitoring and trouble-shooting the operation of the base station more difficult. Important signals that could be accessed from a single test connector in an integrated unit now are divided between two modular units. If a base station fails, one or both of the assemblies housing the main unit and the radio unit may have to be opened in order to measure the characteristics of particular signal(s) or to inject selected signals during the trouble-shooting process. This can be especially time consuming, costly, and hazardous if the radio unit is mounted with the antenna at the top of a utility pole. 
     Therefore, there is a need in the art for systems and methods that allow important signals to be easily monitored in a modular base station comprising a main (or non-radio) unit and a radio unit. There is a further need in the art for systems and methods which allow important signals to be monitored without having to open up the assemblies housing the base station modules. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a test apparatus for use in a wireless network base station comprising a non-radio unit capable of processing baseband signals and a radio unit separate from the non-radio unit capable of transmitting and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals. In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the test apparatus comprises: 1) a housing; 2) a first connector associated with the housing and capable of being coupled to a first cable coupled to the radio unit, wherein the first cable comprises a first plurality of signal lines carrying a plurality of base station signals between the radio unit and the non-radio unit; 3) a second connector associated with the housing and capable of being coupled to a second cable coupled to the non-radio unit, wherein the second cable comprises a second plurality of signal lines carrying the plurality of base station signals between the radio unit and the non-radio unit; and 4) a first access connector capable of allowing a signal measuring device to monitor at least one of the plurality of base station signals. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the test apparatus further comprises a second access connector capable of allowing a first test signal to be injected into the radio unit via the first cable. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the test apparatus further comprises a first switch capable of coupling a first selected one of the first plurality of signal lines to a second selected one of the second plurality of signal lines when the first switch is in a first switch position. 
     According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the first switch is further capable of coupling the first selected one of the first plurality of signal lines to a test point on the second access connector when the first switch is in a second switch position. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the test apparatus further comprises a third access connector capable of allowing a second test signal to be injected into the non-radio unit via the second cable. 
     According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the second test signal is injected into the non-radio unit via the second cable when the first switch is in the second switch position. 
     According to a still further embodiment of the present invention, the first access connector is capable of allowing a test signal to be injected into the non-radio unit via the second cable. 
     According to a yet further embodiment of the present invention, the test apparatus further comprises an indicator light associated with the housing. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the indicator light is coupled to at least one of the first plurality of signal lines and illuminates to indicate the presence of a first selected one of the base station signals. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the first selected base station signal is a power supply voltage. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form. 
     Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers designate like objects, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary wireless network according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates in greater detail an exemplary base station in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates in greater detail an exemplary test box in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1 through 3, discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present invention in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present invention may be implemented in any suitably arranged wireless network base station. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary wireless network  100  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The wireless telephone network  100  comprises a plurality of cell sites  121 - 123 , each containing one of the base stations, BS  101 , BS  102 , or BS  103 . Base stations  101 - 103  communicate with a plurality of mobile stations (MS)  111 - 114 . Mobile stations  111 - 114  may be any suitable cellular devices, including conventional cellular telephones, PCS handset devices, portable computers, metering devices, and the like. 
     Dotted lines show the approximate boundaries of the cell sites  121 - 123  in which base stations  101 - 103  are located. The cell sites are shown approximately circular for the purposes of illustration and explanation only. It should be clearly understood that the cell sites also may have irregular shapes, depending on the cell configuration selected and natural and man-made obstructions. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, BS  101 , BS  102 , and BS  103  may comprise a base station controller (BSC) and a base transceiver station (BTS). Base station controllers and base transceiver stations are well known to those skilled in the art. A base station controller is a device that manages wireless communications resources, including the base transceiver station, for specified cells within a wireless communications network. A base transceiver station comprises the RF transceivers, antennas, and other electrical equipment located in each cell site. This equipment may include air conditioning units, heating units, electrical supplies, telephone line interfaces, and RF transmitters and RF receivers, as well as call processing circuitry. For the purpose of simplicity and clarity in explaining the operation of the present invention, the base transceiver station in each of cells  121 ,  122 , and  123  and the base station controller associated with each base transceiver station are collectively represented by BS  101 , BS  102  and BS  103 , respectively. 
     BS  101 , BS  102  and BS  103  transfer voice and data signals between each other and the public telephone system (not shown) via communications line  131  and mobile switching center (MSC)  140 . Mobile switching center  140  is well known to those skilled in the art. Mobile switching center  140  is a switching device that provides services and coordination between the subscribers in a wireless network and external networks, such as the public telephone system. Communications line  131  may be any suitable connection means, including a T1 line, a T3 line, a fiber optic link, a network backbone connection, and the like. In some embodiments of the present invention, communications line  131  may be several different data links, where each data link couples one of BS  101 , BS  102 , or BS  103  to MSC  140 . 
     In the exemplary wireless network  100 , MS  111  is located in cell site  121  and is in communication with BS  101 , MS  113  is located in cell site  122  and is in communication with BS  102 , and MS  114  is located in cell site  12   3  and is in communication with BS  103 . MS  112  is also located in cell site  121 , close to the edge of cell site  123 . The direction arrow proximate MS  112  indicates the movement of MS  112  towards cell site  123 . At some point, as MS  112  moves into cell site  123  and out of cell site  121 , a “handoff” will occur. 
     As is well known, the “handoff” procedure transfers control of a call from a first cell to a second cell. For example, if MS  112  is in communication with BS  101  and senses that the signal from BS  101  is becoming unacceptably weak, MS  112  may then switch to a BS that has a stronger signal, such as the signal transmitted by BS  103 . MS  112  and BS  103  establish a new communication link and a signal is sent to BS  101  and the public telephone network to transfer the on-going voice, data, or control signals through BS  103 . The call is thereby seamlessly transferred from BS  101  to BS  103 . An “idle” handoff is a handoff between cells of a mobile device that is communicating in the control or paging channel, rather than transmitting voice and/or data signals in the regular traffic channels. 
     In an advantageous embodiment of wireless network  100 , one or more of the base stations may be implemented as modular and distributed units, rather than as integrated units. For example, one or more of BS  101 , BS  102 , or BS  103  may comprise a radio (or RF) unit in which RF functions are implemented and a separate non-radio (or non-RF or main) unit in which non-RF functions are implemented. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates in greater detail exemplary base station  101  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Exemplary base station  101  comprises radio unit (RU)  210 , utility pole  220 , non-radio or main unit (MU)  230 , test box  240 , cables  245  and  250 , and antenna array  255 . In an advantageous embodiment, base station  101  is implemented as at least one radio unit  210  mounted at the top of utility pole  220  close to antenna array  255 , thereby minimizing RF signal losses in lengthy cables. Additionally, the signal processing components of base station  101  may be implemented as at least one non-radio unit  230  located at a position remote from radio unit  210 , such as at the bottom of utility pole  220 . The present invention provides a testing interface for performing test measurements on the signals transferred between radio unit  210  and non-radio unit  230  without adding test equipment to each modular unit or requiring the use of test point patch panels on the housing of each modular unit. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, test box  240  is located on utility pole  220  somewhere between non-radio unit  230  and radio unit  210 . For example, test box  240  may be located at a height that is easily accessible by a technician standing next to utility pole  220 . Test box  240  comprises interface circuitry that allows measurement of selected signals transferred between radio unit  210  and non-radio unit  230 , and that also allows test signals to be injected into radio unit  210  or non-radio unit  230 . Test box  240  may comprise one or more access connectors, such as test pads, test points, test connectors, test circuit boards, and input connectors for injecting selected test signals. Cable  245  and cable  230 , including associated connectors, couple radio unit  210  and non-radio unit  230  to test box  240 , respectively. Test box  240 , cable  245 , and cable  250  do not introduce a greater signal degradation between radio unit  210  and non-radio unit  230  than would occur with a single interconnecting cable and no intermediate test box. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates in greater detail exemplary test box  240  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Test box  240  comprises cable connectors  305  and  310 , switch banks  315  and  320 , indicator  325 , and access connectors  330 ,  335 ,  340 , and  345 . Exemplary test box  240  further comprises internal wiring between switch bank  315  and cable connectors  305  and  310 , between switch bank  320  and cable connectors  305  and  310 , between cable connector  305  and access connectors  330  and  340 , between access connector  335  and switch bank  315 , between access connector  345  and switch bank  320 , and between indicator  325  and +48V and −48V power signal wires. Indicator  325  provides a visual indication for the presence of power in test box  240 . Indicator  325  may be one of several devices, including a light-emitting-diode (LED) or low-powered incandescent lamp. Indicator  325  is lit (ON) when the +48V and −48V power signals are present and is unlit (OFF) if the power signals are not present. 
     Cable connector  305  mates with cable  250  which in turn connects to non-radio unit  230 . Cable connector  305  transfers signals between cable  250  and the internal wiring of test box  240 . In a similar manner, cable connector  310  mates with cable  245  which in turn mates with radio unit  210 . Cable connector  310  transfers signals between cable  245  and the internal wiring of test box  240 . Test box  240  provides access to selected important system signals transmitted between non-radio unit  230  and radio unit  210 , such as a 239 MHz in-phase (I) signal, a 239 MHz quadrature (Q) signal, a 10 MHz reference (REF) signal, and +48V, −48V, +RX, −RX, +TX, and −TX signals. The +48V and −48V labeled connections are connected directly to connector  305 , connector  310 , indicator  325 , and TP 1  and TP 2  on connector  330 . The remaining signals are connected through switch bank  315  or switch bank  320  to points in test box  240 . 
     Access connector  330  comprises five access test points, labeled TP 1  through TP 5 . Access connector  335  comprises three access test points, labeled TP 6  through TP 8 . Access connector  340  comprises four access test points, labeled TP 9  through TP 12 . Access connector  345  comprises four access test points, labeled TP  13  through TP  16 . Switch bank  315  comprises three switches, arbitrarily labeled S 1 , S 2 , and S 3 . Switch bank  320  comprises four switches, arbitrarily labeled S 4  through S 7 . 
     The 239 MHZ in-phase signal is connected to TP 3  of access connector  330  and one input of switch S 1 . The 239 MHZ quadrature signal is connected to TP 4  of access connector  330  and one input of switch S 2 . The 10 MHZ reference signal is connected to TP 5  of access connector  330  and one input of switch S 3 . The 239 MHz in-phase signal, the 239 MHz quadrature signal, and the 10 MHz reference signal may be measured directly at TP 3 , TP 4 , and TP 5 . The other inputs of switches S 1 , S 2  and S 3  are connected to TP 6 , TP 7 , and TP 8  on access connector  335 . In one switch position, switches S 1 , S 2 , and S 3  connect the 239 MHz quadrature signal, and the 10 MHz reference signal, respectively, to cable connector  310 . In the other switch position, switches S 1 , S 2 , and S 3  connect TP 6 ,  15 . TP 7 , and TP 8  to cable connector  310 , thereby allowing test signals to be injected into TP 6 , TP 7 , and TP 8  and into radio unit  210 . Thus, if one or more of the 239 MHz in-phase signal, the 239 MHz quadrature signal, and the 10 MHz reference signal are not being properly generated by non-radio unit  230 , switches S 1 , S 2  and S 3  may be switched to receive substitute test signals from TP 6 , TP 7  and TP 8  instead. 
     The +RX signal is connected to TP 12  of access connector  340  and one input of switch S 4 . The −RX signal is connected to TP 11  of access connector  340  and one input of switch S 5 . The +TX signal is connected to TP 10  of access connector  340  and one input of switch S 6 . The −TX signal is connected to TP 9  of access connector  340  and one input of switch S 7 . The +RX, −RX, +TX, and −TX signals may be measured directly at TP 12 , TP 11 , TP 10 , and TP 9 . The other inputs of switches S 4 , S 5 , S 6 , and S 7  are connected to TP 13 , TP 14 , TP 15 , and TP 16  on access connector  345 . In one switch position, switches S 4 , S 5 , S 6 , and S 7  connect the +RX, −RX, +TX, and −TX signals, respectively, to cable connector  310 . In the other switch position, switches S 4 , S 5 , S 6 , and S 7  connect TP 13 , TP 14 , TP 15 , and TP 16  to cable connector  310 , thereby allowing test signals to be injected into TP 13 , TP 14 , TP 15 , and TP 16  and into radio unit  210 . Thus, if one or more of the +RX, −RX, +TX, and −TX signals are not being properly generated by non-radio unit  230 , switches S 4 , S 5 , S 6 , and S 7  may be switched to receive substitute test signals from TP 13 , TP 14 , TP 15 , and TP 16  instead. 
     In order to better understand the functionality of exemplary test box  240 , consider the operation of switch S 3  of switch bank  315  and the 10 MHz reference signal. The 10 MHz reference signal is connected to connector  305 , TP 5  on connector  330 , and to one input of switch S 3  in switch bank  315 . A second input of switch S 3  is connected to TP 6  on connector  335 . The output of switch S 3  is connected to connector  310 . During normal operation, switch S 3  provides a straight-through connection between connector  305  and connector  310 , allowing the 10 MHz reference signal to flow through cables  250  and  245 . In this position, the 10 MHz reference signal is also available at TP 5  for analysis purposes. 
     In its second position, switch S 3  connects TP 6  to connector  310 . In the second position, switch S 3  allows a 10 MHz test signal to be injected at TP 6  into radio unit  210  (through switch S 3 , connector  310 , and cable  245 ). At the same time, TP 5  still allow the 10 MHz signal generated by non-radio unit  230  to be measured at test box  240 . 
     Switch bank  315  and  320  also allow signals generated in radio unit  210  to be measured in test box  240  and also allow signals to be injected into non-radio unit  230  from test box  240 . Suppose that radio unit  210  generates the 10 MHz reference signal and transmits it to non-radio unit  230 . When switch S 3  is in the second position, the 10 MHz reference signal can be monitored at TP 6 , while a 10 MHz test signal may be injected into non-radio unit  230  (through TP 5  and connector  305 ). Thus, the second switch S 3  position provides a minimum of two different arrangements for injecting and testing 10 MHz reference signals, depending upon the point of signal origination. 
     For this embodiment, each of switches S 1 -S 7  operates in the same manner, with the transferred signal and point of signal origination being varied. Subsequently, the discussion for switch S 3  is understood to apply also to S 1  and S 2 , and S 4  through S 7 . It should be noted, that depending upon the signal type, a pair of switches may be operated together. For instance, S 4  and S 5  may be operated at the same time and in the same manner for injection and analysis of the +RX and −RX signals. 
     Although the present invention has been described in detail, those skilled in the art should understand that they can make various changes, substitutions and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.