Test Loading in OFDMA Wireless Networks

Abstract

A radio frequency radio (RF) transceiver that defines scheduling logic for generating transmission schedules for orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) RF transmissions from the RF transceiver, wherein the scheduling logic specifies at least one of a modulation type, a code rate, a sub-channel, and a sub-carrier for a plurality of symbols to be transmitted in a communication signal sub-frame. A processor generates outgoing data bits and outgoing test data bits for transmission from the RF transceiver as OFDMA transmission signals and OFDMA test data transmission signals, respectively, according to the transmission schedules to create loading within at least a portion of a cellular service area that corresponds with a test-loading value. The amount of the additional required loading is the difference between the test-loading value and an actual loading value.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A base station transceiver system for testing communication devices in a wireless network, the base station transceiver system configured to:
 determine an actual loading value within a cellular service area;   determine an additional loading that is based on a difference between the actual loading value and a test-loading value; and   transmit an OFDMA test data transmission signal to a device under test within the cellular service area, the OFDMA test data transmission signal being an equivalent of transmitting actual user data using OFDMA radio technology and formats, to create loading within the cellular service area that corresponds with the test-loading value such that the device under test can be tested in conditions that accurately simulate a network loading having an increase in system noise level resulting from a plurality of active users in a wireless network.   
     
     
         22 . The base station transceiver system of  claim 21 , wherein the base station transceiver system is further configured to update transmission schedules to correspond with the test-loading value and transmits OFDMA test data transmission signals based upon the updated transmission schedules in a plurality of adjacent cell sectors of the cellular service area as the device under test moves from a first cell sector within the cellular service area to a second cell sector within the cellular service area. 
     
     
         23 . The base station transceiver system of  claim 21 , wherein the base station transceiver system is further configured to update transmission schedules to correspond to changes in actual loading within the cellular service area. 
     
     
         24 . The base station transceiver system of  claim 23 , wherein the base station transceiver system is configured to transmit both (a) OFDMA transmission signals comprising actual user data, and (b) OFDMA test data transmission signals comprising the additional loading in a common sub-frame as one OFDMA transmission. 
     
     
         25 . The base station transceiver system of  claim 21 , wherein the base station transceiver system employs a scheduling table having a geometric pattern that is not sequential or linear in construction. 
     
     
         26 . The base station transceiver system of  claim 21 , wherein the base station transceiver system receives a signal quality indication from a remote wireless transceiver, the signal quality indication corresponding to a forward link transmission of OFDMA transmission signals. 
     
     
         27 . The base station transceiver system of  claim 21 , wherein the base station transceiver system varies at least one of the code rate and the modulation type for transmission schedules for outgoing OFDMA test data transmission signals. 
     
     
         28 . The base station transceiver system of  claim 21 , wherein the base station transceiver system generates transmission schedules for outgoing OFDMA test data transmission signals and transmits corresponding OFDMA test data transmission signals in a plurality of adjacent cell sectors of the cellular service area to account for movement of the device under test between adjacent cell sectors. 
     
     
         29 . The base station transceiver system of  claim 21 , wherein the base station transceiver system specifies a communication signal sub-frame scheduling table starting burst location. 
     
     
         30 . The base station transceiver system of  claim 21 , wherein the base station transceiver system defines a specific geometric pattern in a sub-frame scheduling table for an outgoing OFDMA transmission. 
     
     
         31 . A method for testing communication devices in a wireless network, the method comprising:
 determining an actual loading value within a cellular service area or portion thereof;   determining an additional loading that is based on a difference between the actual loading value and a test-loading value; and   transmitting an OFDMA test data transmission signal to a device under test within the cellular service area or portion thereof, the OFDMA test data transmission signal being an equivalent of transmitting actual user data using OFDMA radio technology and formats, to create loading within the cellular service area or portion thereof that corresponds with the test-loading value such that the device under test can be tested in conditions that accurately simulate a network loading having an increase in system noise level resulting from a plurality of active users in a wireless network.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , the method further comprising:
 updating transmission schedules to correspond with the test-loading value; and   transmitting OFDMA test data transmission signals based upon the updated transmission schedules to a plurality of adjacent cell sectors of the cellular service area as the device under test moves from a first cell sector within the cellular service area to a second cell sector within the cellular service area.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , the method further comprising updating transmission schedules to correspond to changes in loading within the cellular service area. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , the method further comprising transmitting both (a) OFDMA transmission signals comprising actual user data, and (b) OFDMA test data transmission signals comprising the additional loading in a common sub-frame as one OFDMA transmission. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , the method further comprising varying at least one of the code rate and the modulation type for transmission schedules for outgoing OFDMA test data transmission signals. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , the method further comprising:
 generating transmission schedules for outgoing OFDMA test data transmission signals; and   transmitting corresponding OFDMA test data transmission signals in a plurality of adjacent cell sectors of the cellular service area to account for movement of the device under test between adjacent cell sectors.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , the method further comprising specifying a sub-frame scheduling table starting burst location. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , the method further comprising defining a specific geometric pattern in a sub-frame scheduling table for an outgoing OFDMA transmission. 
     
     
         39 . A method for testing communication devices in a wireless network, the method comprising:
 determining an actual loading value within a cellular service area or portion thereof;   determining an additional loading, the additional loading being a difference between the actual loading value and a test-loading value; and   transmitting an OFDMA transmission signal that includes test data in addition to actual user data to a device under test within the cellular service area to create loading within the cellular service area or portion thereof that corresponds with the test-loading value such that the device under test can be tested in conditions that accurately simulate a network loading having an increase in system noise level resulting from a plurality of active users in a wireless network.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , the method further comprising:
 updating transmission schedules to correspond with the test-loading value; and   transmitting OFDMA transmission signals based upon the updated transmission schedules to a plurality of adjacent cell sectors of the cellular service area as the device under test moves between cell sectors within the cellular service area.