Method for bit error rate measurements in a cell-based telecommunication system

Abstract

A method for bit error rate measurements in a cell-based telecommunication system is presented, comprising the following steps of generating a first bit pattern at a first location of said telecommunication system, transmitting said first bit pattern from said first location to a second location of said telecommunication system, thereby obtaining a transmitted bit pattern, generating a second bit pattern at said second location, said second bit pattern being identical with the first bit pattern and comparing said transmitted bit pattern with said second bit pattern. The first bit pattern is transmitted in at least one unused cell (U, I), said unused cell (U, I) being generated during normal operation of said telecommunication system in the case of a lack of used cells to be transmitted.

1. A method for bit error rate measurements in a cell-based telecommunication system, comprising:
 a) generating a first bit pattern at a first location of said telecommunication system,  
 b) transmitting the first bit pattern from said first location to a second location of said telecommunication system, thereby obtaining a transmitted bit pattern,  
 c) generating a second bit pattern at said second location, said second bit pattern being identical with the first bit pattern, and  
 d) comparing said transmitted bit pattern with said second bit pattern,  
 
       wherein said first bit pattern is transmitted in at least one unused cell, said unused cell being generated, without the need to enter a dedicated test mode, during normal operation of said telecommunication system in the case of lack of used cells to be transmitted. 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the steps of a)-d) are repeated at each generation of an unused cell. 
     
     
       3. The method for bit error rate measurements according to  claim 1 , wherein the comparison between said transmitted bit pattern and said second bit pattern is bit synchronized. 
     
     
       4. The method for bit error rate measurements according to  claim 1 , wherein the generation of the second bit pattern is synchronized with the arrival of the transmitted bit pattern at a comparator means for comparing said transmitted bit pattern with said second bit pattern. 
     
     
       5. The method for bit error rate measurements according to  claim 1 , wherein said first bit pattern is a predetermined bit pattern or an algorithm-based counter bit-sequence. 
     
     
       6. A device for bit error rate measurements in a cell-based telecommunication system, comprising:
 transmitting means,  
 receiving means,  
 a first bit pattern generator for generating a first bit pattern to be transmitted from said transmitting means to said receiving means, thereby obtaining a transmitted bit pattern,  
 a second bit pattern generator for generating a second bit pattern at said receiving means, said second bit pattern being identical to said first bit pattern,  
 a comparator means for comparing said transmitted bit pattern with said second bit pattern, and  
 means for inserting said first bit pattern into at least one unused cell generated, without the need to enter a dedicated test mode, during normal operation of said telecommunication system in the case of lack of used cells to be transmitted.  
 
     
     
       7. The device for bit error rate measurements according to  claim 6 , further comprising a synchronizer for activating said second bit pattern generator at an arrival of an unused cell at said comparator means. 
     
     
       8. A device for bit error rate measurements in a cell-based telecommunication system, comprising:
 transmitting means;  
 receiving means;  
 a first bit pattern generator for generating a first bit pattern to be transmitted from said transmitting means to said receiving means, thereby obtaining a transmitted bit pattern;  
 a second bit pattern generator for generating a second bit pattern at said receiving means, said second bit pattern being identical to said first bit pattern;  
 an unused cell generator for generating unused cells;  
 a comparator means for comparing said transmitted bit pattern with said second bit pattern; and  
 means for inserting said first bit pattern into at least one said unused cell, which is being generated, without the need to enter a dedicated test mode, during normal operation of said telecommunication system in the case of lack of used cells to be transmitted,  
 wherein said first bit pattern is integrated into said unused cell generator.  
 
     
     
       9. The device for bit error rate measurements in a cell-based telecommunication system as set forth in  claim 8 , further comprising a synchronizer for activating said second bit pattern generator. 
     
     
       10. The device for bit error rate measurements in a cell-based telecommunication system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said transmitted bit pattern is synchronized with said second bit pattern at said comparator means. 
     
     
       11. The device for bit error rate measurements in a cell-based telecommunication system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein cells generated by said unused cell generator are combined with used cells at an output of a multiplexer. 
     
     
       12. A method for bit error rate measurements in a telecommunication system, comprising:
   a )  transmitting a sequence of bits having a transmitted bit pattern, from a first location to a second location of said telecommunication system,        b )  receiving said sequence of bits at said second location as a received bit sequence having a received bit pattern, and        c )  at said second location, comparing said received bit pattern with a reference bit pattern identical to said transmitted bit pattern,      
       
         wherein said transmitted sequence of bits is inserted into at least one unused cell, said unused cell being generated during normal operation of said telecommunication system in the case of lack of used cells to be transmitted, without a need to enter a dedicated test mode. 
       
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the steps of a)- c )  are repeated at each generation of an unused cell.   
     
     
       14. The method for bit error rate measurements according to  claim 12 , wherein the comparison between said received bit pattern and said reference bit pattern is bit synchronized. 
     
     
       15. The method for bit error rate measurements according to  claim 12 , wherein said reference bit pattern is generated at said second location in synchronism with the arrival of the received bit pattern at a comparator means for comparing said received bit pattern with said reference bit pattern. 
     
     
       16. The method for bit error rate measurements according to  claim 12 , wherein said transmitted bit pattern is a predetermined bit pattern or an algorithm- based counter bit - sequence.   
     
     
       17. A transmitting unit for use in a telecommunication system, comprising:
   a transmitter for providing a first bit pattern and for transmitting said first bit pattern to a receiving unit, to be compared for bit error rate measurements with a second bit pattern provided at said receiving unit and identical to said first bit pattern,        wherein said transmitter further includes an insertion unit for inserting said first bit pattern into at least one unused cell generated during normal operation of said telecommunication system in the case of lack of used cells to be transmitted, without the need to enter a dedicated test mode.     
     
     
       18. The transmitting unit according to  claim 17 , wherein said first bit pattern is a predetermined bit pattern or an algorithm- based counter bit - sequence.   
     
     
       19. The transmitting unit according to  claim 17 , wherein unused cells generated by said transmitter are combined with used cells at an output of a multiplexer. 
     
     
       20. A receiving unit for use in a telecommunication system, comprising:
   a receiver for providing a first bit pattern and for receiving a transmitted bit pattern from a transmitting unit, and including a comparator for comparing said first bit pattern with said transmitted bit pattern for bit error rate measurements,        wherein said receiver further includes an extraction unit for extracting said transmitted bit pattern from at least one unused cell generated during normal operation of said telecommunication system in the case of lack of used cells to be transmitted, without a need to enter a dedicated test mode.     
     
     
       21. The receiving unit according to  claim 20 , wherein the comparison between said first bit pattern and said transmitted bit pattern is bit synchronized. 
     
     
       22. The receiving unit according to  claim 20 , wherein the receiver further comprises a synchronizer for activating the providing of said first bit pattern at the arrival of said transmitted bit pattern at said comparator. 
     
     
       23. The receiving unit according to  claim 20 , wherein said first bit pattern is a predetermined bit pattern or an algorithm- based counter bit - sequence.