Radio access point testing apparatus

Abstract

In a case where reception power in a radio access point is high by external noise, the normalcy of the radio access point is tested. In order to judge the normalcy of the radio characteristic of the radio access point, a test is performed through the calling connection between a testing access terminal in the radio access point and a predetermined device. An RSSI is measured before and after the transmission of a test signal. When the RSSI exceeds a threshold value, the path loss of a reverse link connected from the radio access point to the testing access terminal is increased by an attenuator. Then, reception power in the testing access terminal decreases. Thus, initial transmission power in accordance with the reception power from the testing access terminal is raised and the calling connection of the testing access terminal can be performed even under the external noise.

1 . A radio access point testing apparatus, comprising: 
 a terminal function portion which has a transmission function and a reception function of a communication terminal in a radio communication system, and an initial transmission power from the terminal function portion in case of performing a calling connection is determined in accordance with reception power;    a radio processing unit which includes a transmitter for transmitting signals to said terminal function portion and the communication terminal, a receiver for receiving signals from said terminal function portion and the communication terminal, and a measurement part for measuring reception power in said receiver as includes power of the radio signal from the communication terminal and/or interference waves;    an attenuator which adjusts a path loss between said transmitter and said terminal function portion; and    a control unit which performs the calling connection between said terminal function portion and a predetermined device, through said radio processing unit, so as to test normalcy and abnormalcy of a radio access point;    wherein    said attenuator increases the path loss in accordance with a value of the reception power measured in said measurement part, thereby to decrease the reception power in said terminal function portion and to consequently increase the initial transmission power;    said terminal function portion performs the calling connection with the predetermined device by the increased initial transmission power; and    said control unit performs the test of the radio access point.    
     
     
         2 . A radio access point testing apparatus, comprising: 
 a terminal function portion which has a transmission function and a reception function of a communication terminal in a radio communication system, and an initial transmission power in case of performing a calling connection is previously set;    a radio processing unit which includes a transmitter for transmitting signals to said terminal function portion and the communication terminal, a receiver for receiving signals from said terminal function portion and the communication terminal, and a measurement part for measuring reception power in said receiver as includes power of the radio signal from the communication terminal and/or interference waves; and    a control unit which performs the calling connection between said terminal function portion and a predetermined device, through said radio processing unit, so as to test normalcy and abnormalcy of a radio access point;    wherein    said terminal function portion increases the set initial transmission power in accordance with a value of the reception power measured by said measurement part;    said terminal function portion performs the calling connection with the predetermined device by the increased initial transmission power; and    said control unit performs the test of the radio access point.    
     
     
         3 . A radio access point testing apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said control unit 
 evaluates a difference between the value of the reception power measured by said measurement part and the transmission power of said terminal function portion adjusted so as to satisfy a desired packet error rate in said radio processing unit, and    compares the evaluated difference and a predetermined threshold value, thereby to judge the normalcy and abnormalcy of the radio access point.    
     
     
         4 . A radio access point testing apparatus as defined in  claim 3 , wherein 
 said control unit evaluates the difference by using a value obtained by converting the transmission power into power of an antenna end of the radio access point.    
     
     
         5 . A radio access point testing apparatus as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said control unit 
 judges that the radio access point is normal, in a case where the evaluated difference is smaller than the predetermined threshold value, and    judges that the radio access point is abnormal, in a case where the evaluated difference is not smaller than the predetermined threshold value.    
     
     
         6 . A radio access point testing apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a noise generation portion which generates noise; and    a combiner which generates a test signal by superposing the noise from said noise generation portion, on a signal outputted from said terminal function portion, and which outputs the test signal to said radio processing unit;    wherein    said terminal function portion adjusts the transmission power so as to satisfy a desired packet error rate or signal-to-noise ratio; and    the transmission power from said terminal function portion is set at power which is higher than the reception power measured by said measurement part or external noise, by superposing the noise.    
     
     
         7 . A radio access point testing apparatus as defined in  claim 6 , wherein: 
 a signal quality of the test signal is set at a value which is required for satisfying the desired packet error rate and which has a small margin; and    a packet error rate of the test signal is measured, and the normalcy and abnormalcy of the radio access point is judged depending upon whether or not the measured packet error rate satisfies the desired packet error rate.    
     
     
         8 . A radio access point testing apparatus as defined in  claim 6 , further comprising 
 a second attenuator which adjusts a magnitude of the noise component from said noise generation portion.    
     
     
         9 . A radio access point testing apparatus as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said control unit 
 evaluates a difference between the value of the reception power measured by said measurement part and the transmission power of said terminal function portion adjusted so as to satisfy a desired packet error rate in said radio processing unit, and    compares the evaluated difference and a predetermined threshold value, thereby to judge the normalcy and abnormalcy of the radio access point.    
     
     
         10 . A radio access point testing apparatus as defined in  claim 9 , wherein 
 said control unit evaluates the difference by using a value obtained by converting the transmission power into power of an antenna end of the radio access point.    
     
     
         11 . A radio access point testing apparatus as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said control unit 
 judges that the radio access point is normal, in a case where the evaluated difference is smaller than the predetermined threshold value, and    judges that the radio access point is abnormal, in a case where the evaluated difference is not smaller than the predetermined threshold value.    
     
     
         12 . A radio access point testing apparatus as defined in  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a noise generation portion which generates noise; and    a combiner which generates a test signal by superposing the noise from said noise generation portion, on a signal outputted from said terminal function portion, and which outputs the test signal to said radio processing unit;    wherein    said terminal function portion adjusts the transmission power so as to satisfy a desired packet error rate or signal-to-noise ratio; and    the transmission power from said terminal function portion is set at power which is higher than the reception power measured by said measurement part or external noise, by superposing the noise.    
     
     
         13 . A radio access point testing apparatus as defined in  claim 12 , wherein: 
 a signal quality of the test signal is set at a value which is required for satisfying the desired packet error rate and which has a small margin; and    a packet error rate of the test signal is measured, and the normalcy and abnormalcy of the radio access point is judged depending upon whether or not the measured packet error rate satisfies the desired packet error rate.    
     
     
         14 . A radio access point testing apparatus as defined in  claim 12 , further comprising 
 a second attenuator which adjusts a magnitude of the noise component from said noise generation portion.    
     
     
         15 . A radio access point testing apparatus, comprising: 
 a terminal function portion which has a transmission function and a reception function of a communication terminal in a radio communication system;    a radio processing unit which includes a transmitter for transmitting signals to said terminal function portion and the communication terminal, a receiver for receiving signals from said terminal function portion and the communication terminal, and a measurement part for measuring reception power in said receiver as includes power of the radio signal from the communication terminal and/or interference waves; and    a control unit which performs a calling connection between said terminal function portion and a predetermined device, through said radio processing unit, so as to test normalcy and abnormalcy of a radio access point;    wherein said control unit    obtains a difference between a value of the reception power measured by said measurement part and transmission power of said terminal function portion adjusted so as to satisfy a desired packet error rate in said radio processing unit, and    compares the obtained difference and a predetermined threshold value, thereby to judge the normalcy of the radio access point.    
     
     
         16 . A radio access point testing apparatus, comprising: 
 a terminal function portion which has a transmission function and a reception function of a communication terminal in a radio communication system;    a radio processing unit which includes a transmitter for transmitting signals to said terminal function portion and the communication terminal, a receiver for receiving signals from said terminal function portion and the communication terminal, and a measurement part for measuring reception power in said receiver as includes power of the radio signal from the communication terminal and/or interference waves;    a control unit which performs a calling connection between said terminal function portion and a predetermined device, through said radio processing unit, so as to test normalcy and abnormalcy of a radio access point;    a noise generation portion which generates noise; and    a combiner which generates a test signal by superposing the noise from said noise generation portion, on a signal outputted from said terminal function portion, and which outputs the test signal to said radio processing unit;    wherein    said terminal function portion adjusts the transmission power so as to satisfy a desired packet error rate or signal-to-noise ratio; and    the transmission power from said terminal function portion is set at power which is higher than the reception power measured by said measurement part or external noise, by superposing the noise.