Patent Description:
According to some implementations, there is provided a base station testing apparatus in accordance with accompanying Claims <NUM> to <NUM>.

According to some other implementations, there is provided a method in accordance with Claims <NUM> to <NUM>.

A base station may transmit various beamformed wireless signals (e.g., beamformed radio frequency (RF) signals). A network technician may want to perform an analysis of the various beamformed wireless signals. For example, the network technician may want to perform the analysis of the various beamformed wireless signals to determine interference associated with the various beamformed wireless signals, to perform an analysis of metrics related to the various beamformed wireless signals, and/or the like. In some cases, a testing system may be connected to the base station, and the testing system simulates a beamformed signal of the base station in order to permit analysis of the simulated beamformed signal. For example, the testing system may use a beamforming network to produce, based on a signal provided by the base station, a signal associated with a beam direction, and the testing system may perform an analysis on the produced signal.

However, the signal produced by the beamforming network may be phase shifted from the signal provided by the base station, thereby causing inaccuracies in testing of the base station. For example, phase shifting may be caused by cables connecting the base station and the testing system (e.g., variations in lengths of the cables, impedances of the cables, and/or the like), miscalibration of the base station and/or the testing system, signal processing components (e.g., amplifiers) used at the base station and/or the testing system, and/or the like. In some cases, the base station may include a calibration component that receives feedback on signals produced by the base station, to thereby compensate for phase errors associated with the signals. However, the calibration component may not receive feedback from the testing system, and therefore cannot compensate for phase errors resulting from the testing system.

Some implementations described herein provide a testing system for testing of a base station with beamforming capability (e.g., a base station enabled for multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) communication). In some implementations, the testing system may provide a feedback signal to a calibration component of the base station. The feedback signal may be based on an output signal of a beamforming network of the testing system. In this way, the testing system enables the calibration component to compensate for phase errors associated with the testing system. Accordingly, the testing system provides improved accuracy of testing and analysis of the base station, and in particular, improved accuracy of testing and analysis of a beam of the base station.

<FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams of one or more example implementations <NUM> described herein. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the example implementation(s) <NUM> may include a testing system <NUM> and a base station <NUM>. The base station <NUM> may be a node of a radio access network of a mobile network (e.g., a cellular network). For example, the base station <NUM> may facilitate communication between a user equipment (UE) and the mobile network, another data network, another UE, and/or the like. In an operating scenario, the base station <NUM> may include an antenna array and one or more computing devices (e.g., server devices) to facilitate communication with a UE. In some implementations, the base station <NUM> may be enabled for MIMO communication. That is, the base station <NUM> may be capable of transmitting a beamformed wireless signal using the antenna array.

The testing system <NUM> may enable a network technician to perform testing, analysis, troubleshooting, and/or the like, of the base station <NUM>. For example, the testing system <NUM> may enable the network technician to perform analysis of one or more beamformed signals (e.g., to determine interference associated with beamformed signals), to perform an analysis of metrics related to one or more beamformed signals, to perform troubleshooting of one or more beamformed signals, and/or the like. Accordingly, the testing system <NUM> may generate data, metrics, and/or the like, based on one or more beamformed signals of the base station <NUM>. In a testing scenario, the testing system <NUM> may be connected to the base station <NUM> (e.g., by a wired connection, such as by one or more cables) to enable the testing system <NUM> to process a signal (e.g., a beamformed signal, a calibration signal, and/or the like) of the base station <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the base station <NUM> may include a transceiver array <NUM>, a test panel <NUM>, and a calibration component <NUM>. The transceiver array <NUM> may include one or more transceivers configured to transmit and/or receive radio signals in connection with an antenna array. In a testing scenario, the transceiver array <NUM> may be connected to the test panel <NUM> rather than an antenna array. The test panel <NUM> may include one or more connectors, corresponding to antenna elements of an antenna array, that permit connection of the testing system <NUM> to the base station <NUM>. Accordingly, the testing system <NUM> may receive a signal originating from one or more transceivers of the transceiver array <NUM> via the test panel <NUM>.

The calibration component <NUM> may be a calibration receiver (e.g., that receives a feedback signal) and/or a calibration transmitter (e.g., that transmits a calibration signal). The calibration component <NUM> may be a computing device (e.g., a server device) of the base station <NUM>. The calibration component <NUM> determines a particular calibration, such as a signal phase calibration, for the base station <NUM> (e.g., for one or more transceivers of the transceiver array <NUM>). In an operating scenario, the calibration component <NUM> may be configured for connection to an antenna array of the base station <NUM> and to receive a feedback signal from the antenna array. However, in a testing scenario, the calibration component <NUM> may be connected with the testing system <NUM>, as described below. Accordingly, in a testing scenario, the calibration component <NUM> may not be connected to an antenna array, to the test panel <NUM>, and/or the like.

As shown in <FIG>, the testing system <NUM> includes a beamforming network <NUM>, a feedback component <NUM>, and a test component <NUM>. The beamforming network <NUM> (e.g., a phase-shifting network) is configured to simulate a beam direction, such as a beam direction that is produced by the antenna array of the base station <NUM> in an operating scenario. For example, the beamforming network <NUM> may include a Butler matrix or a similar beamforming network. In a testing scenario, the beamforming network <NUM> is connected to the test panel <NUM> of the base station <NUM> (e.g., by a wired connection, such as by one or more cables (e.g., antenna port cables)).

The beamforming network <NUM> includes multiple input ports (e.g., antenna port) configured to receive an input signal originating from one or more transceivers of the transceiver array <NUM> of the base station <NUM> (e.g., via the test panel <NUM>). The input signal is a signal of the base station <NUM> that would cause an antenna array of the base station <NUM> to beamform a wireless signal in an operating scenario. In a testing scenario, the input signal causes the beamforming network <NUM> to generate an output signal associated with a beam direction.

For example, the beamforming network <NUM> may include multiple output ports (e.g., beam port) configured to receive, from the multiple input ports of the beamforming network <NUM>, a signal that is based on the input signal originating at the base station <NUM>. In addition, the multiple output ports may be configured to output an output signal that is based on the signal received from the multiple input ports. In other words, the beamforming network <NUM> may cause excitation of a particular output port based on the input signal received at at least one input port. In some implementations, at least one of the output ports may be a broadside port. The output signal (e.g., caused by excitation of the particular output port) may be associated with a particular beam direction. In some implementations, the beamforming network <NUM> may be bidirectional, such that an output port, as described above, may be used as an input port, and an input port, as described above, may be used as an output port.

The beamforming network <NUM> may be configured to provide the output signal to the test component <NUM>. For example, the beamforming network <NUM> may be connected to the test component <NUM> (e.g., by a wired connection, such as by one or more cables (e.g., beam port cables)). The test component <NUM> may perform testing, analysis, troubleshooting, and/or the like, of the base station <NUM> based on the output signal and/or generate data, metrics, and/or the like based on the output signal. For example, the test component <NUM> may include a signal analyzer, a signal generator, a UE emulator, a UE, and/or the like. In some implementations, the test component <NUM> may include a user interface to enable a network technician to view data, metrics, results of testing, analysis, or troubleshooting, and/or the like. In some implementations, the test component <NUM> may include a communication interface for transmitting data, metrics, results of testing, analysis, or troubleshooting, and/or the like, to a user device of the network technician.

The beamforming network <NUM> also may be configured to provide the output signal to the feedback component <NUM>. In some implementations, the feedback component <NUM> may be a device located between the beamforming network <NUM> and the test component <NUM>. For example, an input of the feedback component <NUM> may be connected to an output of the beamforming network <NUM> and an output of the feedback component <NUM> may be connected to an input of the test component <NUM> (e.g., by a wired connection, such as by one or more cables (e.g., beam port cables)). In some implementations, the feedback component <NUM> may be a component included in the beamforming network <NUM>. For example, the feedback component <NUM> may be connected to, or otherwise associated with, at least one output port of the beamforming network so as to receive the output signal prior to the output signal exiting the beamforming network <NUM>.

The feedback component <NUM> may be a passive device, such as a coupler (e.g., an RF coupler). For example, the feedback component <NUM> may receive the output signal of the beamforming network <NUM> as an input, and may provide two or more outputs (e.g., two or more signals) based on the input. In some implementations, a first output (e.g., that is to be provided to the test component <NUM>) may be an unaltered output (e.g., unaltered, or substantially unaltered, from the input), and a second output (e.g., that is to be provided to the base station <NUM>) may be a coupled output (e.g., a sample of the input that is altered from the input, such as an alteration of a power level from the input). In some implementations, the feedback component <NUM> may be configured according to a coupling coefficient that dictates a particular power level of the coupled output that satisfies a threshold power level (e.g., a threshold power level used by the calibration component <NUM>).

The feedback component <NUM> may be configured to provide a feedback signal to the base station <NUM>. For example, the feedback component <NUM> may be configured to provide the feedback signal to the calibration component <NUM> of the base station <NUM>. The feedback signal may be based on one or more output signals of the beamforming network <NUM>. For example, the feedback signal may be the coupled output of the feedback component <NUM>. That is, the feedback signal may correspond to the one or more output signals at a reduced power level. In some implementations, the feedback signal may be a linear combination of the one or more output signals (e.g., in a form that is understandable to the calibration component <NUM>).

The feedback signal enables the calibration component <NUM> to compensate for end-to-end errors (e.g., phase errors, beam port isolation errors, and/or the like) of the base station <NUM> and the testing system <NUM>. For example, the feedback signal enables the calibration component <NUM> to compensate for phase errors resulting from a signal transmitted by the transceiver array <NUM> (e.g., the input signal) traversing the connection between the transceiver array <NUM> and the test panel <NUM>, the test panel <NUM>, the connection between the test panel <NUM> and the beamforming network <NUM>, and/or the beamforming network <NUM>. In other words, the feedback signal enables the calibration component <NUM> to compensate for a phase error associated with the output signal of the beamforming network <NUM>, such as a phase shift between the input signal transmitted by the one or more transceivers of the transceiver array <NUM> and the output signal transmitted by the beamforming network <NUM>.

In some implementations, the calibration component <NUM> may be configured with one or more signal modification parameters (e.g., offset values, coefficient values, and/or the like) that are to be applied to the feedback signal received from the feedback component <NUM>. The calibration component <NUM> may apply the one or more signal modification parameters to the feedback signal in a testing scenario (and may not apply the one or more signal modification parameters in an operating scenario). The signal modification parameters may modify the feedback signal to compensate for phase adjustment calibrations used by the base station <NUM> in an operating scenario.

In addition, the calibration component <NUM> determines an adjustment for the transceiver array <NUM> based on the feedback signal. For example, the calibration component <NUM> determines, based on the feedback signal, that the transceiver array <NUM> is to adjust a phase of a signal transmitted by the transceiver array <NUM>. Accordingly, during a testing scenario, the calibration component <NUM> causes the transceiver array <NUM> to transmit a phase-adjusted signal that is based on the feedback signal. In this way, the testing system <NUM> (e.g., test component <NUM>) may perform and/or enable testing, analysis, troubleshooting, and/or the like, of the base station <NUM> with improved accuracy.

In some implementations, the calibration component <NUM> may be configured to transmit calibration signals that are received at the feedback component <NUM> and provided to the transceiver array <NUM> of the base station <NUM> in a manner that is reversed to the description herein. For example, the calibration component <NUM> may provide a calibration signal to the feedback component <NUM>, and the feedback component <NUM> may be configured to output one or more feedback signals that are based on the calibration signal, as described above. The feedback component <NUM> may output the one or more feedback signals to the test component <NUM> to enable the test component <NUM> to perform testing, analysis, troubleshooting, and/or the like, of the one or more feedback signals, as described above. In addition, the feedback component <NUM> may output the one or more feedback signals to the beamforming network <NUM>. In such a case, the beamforming network <NUM> may be configured to provide one or more output signals, associated with a beam direction, that are based on the one or more feedback signals, as described above. The beamforming network <NUM> may provide the one or more output signals to one or more transceivers of the transceiver array <NUM> (e.g., via the test panel <NUM>). Such output signals, which simulate a beamformed transmission of a UE, may enable the calibration component <NUM> to determine an adjustment for the transceiver array <NUM>, as described above. For example, the calibration component <NUM> determines, based on an output signal, that the transceiver array <NUM> is to adjust a phase of a signal received by the transceiver array <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, multiple testing systems 110a-110c may be connected to the base station <NUM> for testing of multiple antenna polarizations (e.g., as shown by test panels 124a-124c) of the base station <NUM>. For example, multiple beamforming network <NUM> and feedback component <NUM> combinations may be connected to the base station <NUM>, and the multiple combinations may be associated with a single test component <NUM> or respective test components <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, if the base station <NUM> does not include respective calibration components <NUM> for the multiple antenna polarizations of the base station <NUM>, output signals from multiple beamforming networks <NUM> may be combined into a single feedback signal (e.g., using a single feedback component <NUM> or respective secondary feedback components <NUM> that provide feedback signals to a primary feedback component <NUM> that performs feedback signal combination) that is provided to the calibration component <NUM> of the base station <NUM>.

As indicated above, <FIG> and <FIG> are provided merely as one or more examples.

<FIG> is a diagram of an example environment <NUM> in which systems and/or methods described herein may be implemented. As shown in <FIG>, environment <NUM> may include a testing system <NUM>, a base station <NUM>, and a network <NUM>. Devices of environment <NUM> may interconnect via wired connections, wireless connections, or a combination of wired and wireless connections.

Testing system <NUM> includes one or more devices capable of communicating with base station <NUM> and/or a network (e.g., network <NUM>), such as to perform processing of a signal produced by base station <NUM>. Testing system <NUM> may communicate with base station <NUM> by a wired connection, as described elsewhere herein. In some implementations, testing system <NUM> may wirelessly communicate with base station <NUM>.

Testing system <NUM> may include a beamforming network, a feedback component, and/or a test component as described elsewhere herein. The beamforming network may include an analog beamforming network that outputs a signal associated with a beam direction, as described elsewhere herein. The feedback component may include a passive RF component, such as an RF coupler, that outputs a feedback signal based on an output signal of the beamforming network or a calibration signal of a calibration component of the base station <NUM>, as described elsewhere herein. The test component may include one or more devices capable of receiving, generating, storing, processing, and/or providing information associated with a signal, such as an RF signal (e.g., an output signal of the beamforming network). For example, the test component may include a communication and/or computing device, such as a mobile phone (e.g., a smart phone, a radiotelephone, etc.), a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a handheld computer, a desktop computer, a gaming device, a wearable communication device (e.g., a smart wristwatch, a pair of smart eyeglasses, etc.), or a similar type of device.

Base station <NUM> includes one or more devices capable of communicating with a UE using a cellular radio access technology (RAT). For example, base station <NUM> may include a base transceiver station, a radio base station, a node B, an evolved node B (eNB), a gNB, a base station subsystem, a cellular site, a cellular tower (e.g., a cell phone tower, a mobile phone tower, and/or the like), an access point, a transmit receive point (TRP), a radio access node, a macrocell base station, a microcell base station, a picocell base station, a femtocell base station, or a similar type of device. Base station <NUM> may transfer traffic between a UE (e.g., using a cellular RAT), other base stations <NUM> (e.g., using a wireless interface or a backhaul interface, such as a wired backhaul interface), and/or network <NUM>. Base station <NUM> may provide one or more cells that cover geographic areas. Some base stations <NUM> may be mobile base stations. Some base stations <NUM> may be capable of communicating using multiple RATs.

In some implementations, base station <NUM> may perform scheduling and/or resource management for UEs covered by base station <NUM> (e.g., UEs covered by a cell provided by base station <NUM>). In some implementations, base stations <NUM> may be controlled or coordinated by a network controller, which may perform load balancing, network-level configuration, and/or the like. The network controller may communicate with base stations <NUM> via a wireless or wireline backhaul. In some implementations, base station <NUM> may include a network controller, a self-organizing network (SON) module or component, or a similar module or component. In other words, a base station <NUM> may perform network control, scheduling, and/or network management functions (e.g., for other base stations <NUM> and/or for uplink, downlink, and/or sidelink communications of UEs covered by the base station <NUM>). In some implementations, base station <NUM> may include a central unit and multiple distributed units. The central unit may coordinate access control and communication with regard to the multiple distributed units. The multiple distributed units may provide UEs and/or other base stations <NUM> with access to network <NUM>.

In some implementations, base station <NUM> may be capable of MIMO communication (e.g., beamformed communication). In some implementations, base station <NUM> includes a calibration component for phase calibration of signals produced or received by base station <NUM>, as described elsewhere herein. In a testing scenario, one or more antenna elements (e.g., an antenna array) of base station <NUM> may be disconnected, and base station <NUM> may be connected to a test panel, as described elsewhere herein.

Network <NUM> includes one or more wired and/or wireless networks. For example, network <NUM> may include a cellular network (e.g., a long-term evolution (LTE) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, a <NUM> network, a <NUM> network, a <NUM> network, another type of next generation network, and/or the like), a public land mobile network (PLMN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a telephone network (e.g., the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)), a private network, an ad hoc network, an intranet, the Internet, a fiber optic-based network, a cloud computing network, and/or the like, and/or a combination of these or other types of networks.

The quantity and arrangement of devices and networks shown in <FIG> are provided as one or more examples.

<FIG> is a diagram of example components of a device <NUM>. Device <NUM> may correspond to testing system <NUM> (e.g., the beamforming network, the feedback component, and/or the test component) and/or base station <NUM> (e.g., the calibration component). In some implementations, testing system <NUM> (e.g., the beamforming network, the feedback component, and/or the test component) and/or base station <NUM> (e.g., the calibration component) may include one or more devices <NUM> and/or one or more components of device <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, device <NUM> may include a bus <NUM>, a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a storage component <NUM>, an input component <NUM>, an output component <NUM>, and a communication interface <NUM>.

Bus <NUM> includes a component (e.g., an interconnecting signal fabric) that permits communication among multiple components of device <NUM>. Processor <NUM> is implemented in hardware, firmware, and/or a combination of hardware and software. Processor <NUM> is a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an accelerated processing unit (APU), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or another type of processing component. In some implementations, processor <NUM> includes one or more processors capable of being programmed to perform a function. Memory <NUM> includes a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and/or another type of dynamic or static storage device (e.g., a flash memory, a magnetic memory, and/or an optical memory) that stores information and/or instructions for use by processor <NUM>.

For example, storage component <NUM> may include a hard disk (e.g., a magnetic disk, an optical disk, and/or a magneto-optic disk), a solid state drive (SSD), a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a floppy disk, a cartridge, a magnetic tape, and/or another type of non-transitory computer-readable medium, along with a corresponding drive.

Additionally, or alternatively, input component <NUM> may include a component for determining location (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS) component) and/or a sensor (e.g., an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an actuator, another type of positional or environmental sensor, and/or the like). Output component <NUM> includes a component that provides output information from device <NUM> (via, e.g., a display, a speaker, a haptic feedback component, an audio or visual indicator, and/or the like).

Communication interface <NUM> includes a transceiver-like component (e.g., a transceiver, a separate receiver, a separate transmitter, and/or the like) that enables device <NUM> to communicate with other devices, such as via a wired connection, a wireless connection, or a combination of wired and wireless connections. Communication interface <NUM> may permit device <NUM> to receive information from another device and/or provide information to another device. For example, communication interface <NUM> may include an Ethernet interface, an optical interface, a coaxial interface, an infrared interface, a radio frequency (RF) interface, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a Wi-Fi interface, a cellular network interface, and/or the like.

Device <NUM> may perform one or more processes described herein. Device <NUM> may perform these processes based on processor <NUM> executing software instructions stored by a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as memory <NUM> and/or storage component <NUM>. As used herein, the term "computer-readable medium" refers to a non-transitory memory device. A memory device includes memory space within a single physical storage device or memory space spread across multiple physical storage devices.

Additionally, or alternatively, hardware circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to perform one or more processes described herein.

The quantity and arrangement of components shown in <FIG> are provided as an example.

<FIG> is a flow chart of an example process <NUM> for testing of a base station with beamforming capability. In some implementations, one or more process blocks of <FIG> may be performed by a testing system (e.g., testing system <NUM>). In some implementations, one or more process blocks of <FIG> may be performed by another device or a group of devices separate from or including the testing system, such as base station <NUM>, and/or the like.

As shown in <FIG>, process <NUM> may include receiving one or more input signals originating from one or more transceivers of a base station (block <NUM>). For example, the testing system (e.g., using processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, input component <NUM>, communication interface <NUM>, and/or the like) may receive one or more input signals originating from one or more transceivers of a base station, as described above.

As further shown in <FIG>, process <NUM> may include forming, based on the one or more input signals, one or more output signals associated with a beam direction (block <NUM>). For example, the base station testing system (e.g., using processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, output component <NUM>, communication interface <NUM>, and/or the like) may form, based on the one or more input signals, one or more output signals associated with a beam direction, as described above.

As further shown in <FIG>, process <NUM> may include providing a feedback signal, that is based on the one or more output signals, to a calibration component of the base station (block <NUM>). For example, the base station testing system (e.g., using processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, output component <NUM>, communication interface <NUM>, and/or the like) may provide a feedback signal, that is based on the one or more output signals, to a calibration component of the base station, as described above.

In a first implementation, the base station testing system may include a beamforming network configured to receive the one or more input signals and form the one or more output signals, and a feedback component configured to transmit the feedback signal. In a second implementation, alone or in combination with the first implementation, the feedback component is included in the beamforming network. In a third implementation, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second implementations, the feedback component is connected to an output of the beamforming network.

In a fourth implementation, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third implementations, process <NUM> further includes forming the feedback signal at a proportional power level of the one or more output signals. In a fifth implementation, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth implementations, the feedback signal is to be used by the calibration component to compensate for a phase error associated with the one or more output signals.

As used herein, satisfying a threshold may, depending on the context, refer to a value being greater than the threshold, more than the threshold, higher than the threshold, greater than or equal to the threshold, less than the threshold, fewer than the threshold, lower than the threshold, less than or equal to the threshold, equal to the threshold, or the like.

Certain user interfaces have been described herein and/or shown in the figures. A user interface may include a graphical user interface, a non-graphical user interface, a text-based user interface, and/or the like. A user interface may provide information for display. In some implementations, a user may interact with the information, such as by providing input via an input component of a device that provides the user interface for display. In some implementations, a user interface may be configurable by a device and/or a user (e.g., a user may change the size of the user interface, information provided via the user interface, a position of information provided via the user interface, etc.). Additionally, or alternatively, a user interface may be pre-configured to a standard configuration, a specific configuration based on a type of device on which the user interface is displayed, and/or a set of configurations based on capabilities and/or specifications associated with a device on which the user interface is displayed.

Claim 1:
A base station testing apparatus (<NUM>),
comprising: a beamforming network (<NUM>),
comprising:
multiple input ports configured to receive one or more input signals originating from one or more transceivers of a base station (<NUM>); and
multiple output ports configured to receive signals from the input ports that is based on the one or more input signals, and to output, based on the signals, multiple output signals associated with a simulated beam direction, the simulated beam direction being a beam direction that would be produced by an antenna array of the base station in an operating scenario when fed with the one or more input signals;
characterised by
a feedback component (<NUM>) configured to provide a feedback signal, that is based on one or more of the multiple output signals, to a calibration component (<NUM>) of the base station; and
a test component (<NUM>), wherein the multiple output ports of the beamforming network are configured to provide one or more of the multiple output signals to the test component (<NUM>),
wherein the multiple input ports of the beamforming network are further configured to receive one or more phase-adjusted input signals based on the feedback signal.