MXPA01002888A - Method and apparatus for checking the quality of service provided by a cellular telephone system - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for checking the quality of service provided by a base station (22) at a location remote from the base station (22), including transmitting signals between the base station (22) and a call transceiver (28) at the remote location, analyzing at least some of the signals at the remote location to formulate at least one parameter indicating the quality of the signals, and transmitting the at least one parameter from a control transceiver (26) at the remote location to the base station (22).

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS TO VERIFY THE QUALITY OF THE SERVICE PROVIDED BY A CELLULAR TELEPHONE SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates, in a general manner, to tests of operation of communications systems, and specifically to verify the quality of cellular telephone systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Cellular telephone systems operating in a given region comprise a number of base transceiver stations (BTS), which are capable of receiving signals from, and transmitting signals to, portable telephones in the region. The quality of service (QoS) provided is an important aspect of the system, and, consequently, system operators require measurements of the quality of service provided by each of the base stations. The United States Patent 5,490,204, by Gulledge, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes an automated quality evaluation system for cellular networks. The system uses a mobile station, comprising a portable computer coupled to a controller of the station system and a cellular telephone, to verify the quality of the service provided by a base station. Airlink Communications, Inc., of San Jose, California, produces a field diagnostic and measurement tool, called Airlink CDPD (Cellular Digital Data Pack) Cell Wizard. The tool comprises a laptop computer coupled to a CDPD modem and a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, which allows an operator to identify problems at a known position in a network. The A eritec Corporation, of Covina, California, produces a problem identification system called SWARM. The system comprises a master unit coupled to a base station, and a number of mobile relays, which are operated remotely by the master unit. Each relay comprises a cell phone and control circuits. The master unit originates and terminates calls to the retransmitters, and is able to measure the audio quality using a multi-tone test method. The retransmitters perform parametric tests of the network, and the results are uploaded to the master unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object of some aspects of the present invention to provide methods and apparatus for the improved verification of the quality of service provided by a base transceiver station in a cellular telephone system. Another object of some aspects of the present invention is to provide methods and apparatus for substantially simultaneous call transmission and call quality analysis. A further object of some aspects of the present invention is to provide improved methods and apparatus for verifying the quality of the service provided by a code division multiple access telephone system. In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, a quality of service (QoS) verification unit comprises two transceivers, more preferably cellular telephones, mounted in a weather-resistant enclosure. The unit is located in a region in contact but away from a base station, and operates as a unit of verification of the quality of service for the base station. The unit can be attached to a fixed object, such as a pole or a wall, or mounted on a mobile vehicle.

One of the two transceivers, here called the call transceiver, is used to receive call signals and return call signals via the base station. The call signals may be call signals directed to the transceiver, or other radio frequency signals that are received by the call transceiver. The QoS unit comprises a controller, which makes measurements on the received and / or returned call signals, and based on the measurements calculates significant parameters of the quality of service (QoS) of the transmissions of the base station. The other transceiver, here called the control transceiver, is used independently of the call transmitter to transmit data signals that comprise the parameters of the QoS for further analysis. The control transceiver may transmit data substantially at the same time that the call receiver is receiving, or at some time later. The control transceiver is also used to receive data signals, for example data comprising control information for the call transceiver and / or instructions with respect to the measurements to be made, transmitted via the base station. In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the call and / or data transfer signals are initiated by a test device, remote from the base station and the unit. Alternatively, the call and / or data transfer signals are initiated by the unit, for transmission to the test device. Preferably, the test device communicates with the unit via the base station using an industry standard protocol. More preferably, the test installation device comprises a dedicated server, which is capable of communicating with a user using a standard browser in the industry via a standard network in the industry such as the Internet. In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the programs and control programming systems are loaded into the controller to allow the unit to operate substantially independently and automatically. More preferably, the programs and control programming systems comprise instructions for the unit to initiate and receive call signals, to analyze call signals, and to store the results of the analyzes in the memory contained in the unit. The programs and programming systems of the control can be updated via an external connector in the unit, or by air (OTA) via the control transceiver. While programs and programming systems are being updated, the unit can continue to initiate, receive and analyze call signals, via the call transceiver, according to previously installed programs and programming systems. It will be appreciated that the use of two transceivers in a unit, one for call signals and another for data transfer, significantly improve the flexibility and real-time operation of the system, compared to current systems known in the art using only one transceiver. In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the calls made are automatically "recycled", that is, the calls and / or analyzed data of the calls are automatically returned to the source device of the call. In comparison of the original call with the call returned with the analyzed data allows to make a measurement of the quality of service for the call. In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the initial or received calls are in the form of digital signals, and the digital signals are analyzed to measure the QoS. Cellular telephony transmissions are typically in the form of extended frequency spectrum transmissions, such as code division multiple access (CDMA), where analysis of network behavior is difficult. The use of transmission and analysis of digital signals when the network is operating with one of those types of extended spectrum transmission significantly improves the overall analysis capability of the network of the present invention. In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, calls between the verification unit and the base station are initiated by the base station and terminate in the unit, or vice versa. In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, calls are made between the call transceiver and the control transceiver via the base station, and the calls are analyzed. In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of QoS verification units are located in contact but away from a plurality of base stations, and are operated and controlled by the test device or facility. Therefore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for verifying the quality of the service provided by a base station at a remote location from the base station, which includes: transmitting signals between the base station and the base station. call transceiver in the remote place; analyze at least one of the signals from the remote location to formulate at least one parameter indicating the quality of the signals; and transmitting at least one parameter of a control transceiver at the remote location to the base station. Preferably, the signal transmission includes transmitting call signals to the transceiver and returning the call signals of the transceiver. Preferably, the transmission of the signals includes transmitting digital signals. Preferably, the method includes transmitting control signals to the control transceiver, and where the transmission of signals between the base station and the call transceiver includes transmitting the signals in response to the control signals. Alternatively, the transmission of control signals includes downloading programs and control systems for the control transceiver. Preferably, the signal transmission includes initiating signals from a test device or facility that is far away from the base station and the remote location. Alternatively, the start of the signals includes receiving signals in the test device or facility. Further provided, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is a method for verifying the quality of service provided by a base station at a remote location from the base station, which includes: transmitting control signals to a control transceiver in the remote place; transmitting call signals between the base station and a call transceiver at a remote location in response to control signals; and analyzing at least some of the signals to formulate at least one parameter indicating the quality of the signals. Preferably, the analysis of at least some of the signals includes analyzing at least some of the signals in the base station. Alternatively, the analysis of at least some of the signals includes analyzing at least some of the signals at the remote location.

Alternatively, the analysis of at least some of the signals includes analyzing some of the signals in a remote test installation device of the remote location and the base station. Therefore, a method for verifying the quality of the service provided by a plurality of base stations in a plurality of remote locations of the base stations is provided, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which includes: transmitting signals between one of the plurality of base stations and a call transceiver to one of the plurality of remote locations; analyze at least some of the signals in the remote location to formulate at least one parameter indicating the quality of the signals; and transmitting at least one parameter of a control transceiver at one of the remote locations to one of the plurality of base stations. Preferably, the transmission of the signals includes transmitting the signals of a first base station, and the transmission of at least one parameter includes transmitting at least one parameter to a second base station.

Alternatively, the transmission of the signal includes transmitting signals from a first base station, and the transmission of at least one parameter includes transmitting at least one parameter to the first base station. Preferably, the transmission of the signals includes initiating signals from the remote location of the plurality of base stations. Alternatively, the start of the signals includes receiving signals at a remote location from the plurality of base stations. Further provided, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is a method for verifying the quality of service provided by a base station at a remote location from the base station, which includes: transmitting control signals to a control transceiver in the remote place; transmitting signals via the base station between a call transceiver at a remote location and the control transceiver in response to the control signals; and analyzing at least some of the signals to formulate at least one parameter indicating the quality of the signals.

Preferably, the analysis of at least some of the signals includes analyzing at least some of the signals in the remote test installation device of the remote location and the base station. There is further provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for verifying the quality of the service provided by a base station at a remote location of the base station, which includes: a call transceiver and a control transceiver, which communicates about the air with the base station; and a central processing unit, which analyzes the signals received by at least one of the transceivers of the base station to formulate at least one parameter indicating the quality of the signals, and transmit the parameter in the base station via another of the transceivers Preferably, the transceivers include cellular telephones. Preferably, the central processing unit analyzes the signals in response to the control signals received by the control transceiver.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a test installation device which receives the parameter of the base station and evaluates the operation of the base station. The present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, taken together with the drawings, in which: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic perspective representation of a wireless communication system, illustrating the general distribution of the system, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of a quality of service verification unit for use in the system of Figure 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is an exploded isometric diagram showing the distribution and physical layout of some of the main elements of the unit of Figure 2, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a block diagram, schematic, of a radio frequency interconnect board of the unit of Figure 2, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a block diagram, schematic, of a central processing board in the unit of Figure 2, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a flow diagram schematically illustrating an operational mode of the unit of Figure 2, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7A and Figure 7B are flow diagrams schematically illustrating the modes of operation of a "unit recycling" of Figure 2, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figures 8A and 8B are flow diagrams schematically illustrating the modes of data transfer operation of the embodiment of Figure 2, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 is a flow diagram schematically showing an alternative mode of operation of the embodiment of Figure 2, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 is a schematic representation, in perspective, of a wireless communications network, illustrating a general distribution of the network comprising a plurality of levels of verification, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 11 is a flow chart schematically illustrating a "circular" recycling mode of operation of one of the units of Figure 10, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES Reference is now made to Figure 1, which schematically illustrates a general distribution of a cellular wireless coverage system 20 using a quality of service (QoS) verification unit 32, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The system 20 comprises a base station transceiver 22, which transmits signals to and receives signals from cellular telephones 34 in a region operating the base station 24.

The QoS verification unit 32 is located in region 24, away from the base station, and operates independently of the base station. The call signals are transmitted between the base station and the unit, and the call signals are analyzed in the unit and / or the base station. More preferably, the results of the analysis, which give one or more measures of the quality of the transmissions between the unit and the base station, are transmitted forward, for example, to a telephone 34 in region 24, to a telephone The results may be applied to the base station, preferably the remote test device or device 35 comprises a central processing unit 37, which can be used in a remote test device or installation 35. operates an administrator 39 for the unit 32. More preferably, the administrator 39 communicates with the unit 32 via an industry standard protocol such as TCP / IP using the IS-707 services. administrator 39 via a user interface or interconnect 41, most preferably, using a standard browser that uses a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) and / or an administrative protocol. small network ration (SNMP). Preferably, the communication between the user 43 and the administrator 39 uses an industry-standard network such as the Internet and / or a public service telephone network. In this way, any standard computer station can be used at substantially any point to observe the test results of unit 32. The detailed construction and operation of the verification unit 32, and the working modes they use and / or read the results provided by the unit, are described here below. Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the main elements of the unit 32, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. More preferably, the unit 32 is encapsulated in weatherproof outer case 36, and therefore is fixedly mounted to an immobile surface in region 24 (Figure 1) and receives power from an AC line (Alternating Current). in her. Alternatively, the unit 32 is mounted to be able to move, for example, in or on a vehicle, in which the power of the case is preferably provided via a line of DC (Direct Current) and a DC-AC converter 56. The unit 32 comprises a "call" transceiver 28 used to receive and transmit calls, and a "control" transceiver 26 used to receive and transmit control and information signals. More preferably, transceivers are commercially available cellular phones, with minor modifications required, operating on 800 MHz or 1900 MHz bands or other industry standard wavebands, such as two QCM-1900 phones or two QCM-phones. 1900 produced by Qualcomm Inc., San Diego, CA. The transceivers 26 and 28 are coupled to an antenna 38, a radio frequency interconnect board (RIB) 40 and an antenna connector 58. More preferably, the electromagnetic interference between the transceivers and the rest of the unit 32 is minimized by protecting the transceivers using a metal plate connected to ground 60. The operation of the transceivers 26 and 28 is controlled via a central processing board 30, which also receives signals from the transceivers. The board 30 communicates and receives data and control signals from the base station 22 (Figure 1) over the air via the control transceiver 26. The board 30 can also receive data and control signals directly via a connector 46, mounted on the case 36, which method is most preferably used for the initial installation of the unit 32. Optionally, the board 30 is also communicated via a connector 42 with a global positioning system (GPS) as is known in the art, the which is more preferably used when the unit 32 is mobile in the region being verified. The regulated DC power for the transceivers 26 and 28, and for the board 30, is supplied from a power supply board 52 and a CD-CD converter 50. The power supply board 52 also provides, via a control thermostatic, a heater 44, which is used to maintain the ambient temperature of the unit 32 above its minimum operating temperature, typically 0 ° C. The power supply board 52 is driven by a line source external to the unit 32, via an AC 54 connector. Alternatively, the board 52 is powered by an external CD source, via the CD-AC converter external 56. The power supply board 52 preferably comprises protection devices at its entrance, such as surge surge protectors and low voltage and high voltage limiters, as is known in the art. Figure 3 is an isometric diagram of the exploded view of the unit 32, showing the distribution and physical location of some of the main elements referenced in Figure 2, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The elements that are substantially identical in Figure 2 and in Figure 3 have identical numbers. The transceivers 26 and 28 are mounted on one side of the shield 60, which has a central processing board 30 mounted on its other side. The heater 44 is fixedly placed on the board 30, so that it is electrically insulated from, but in good thermal contact with the board. An energy supply 51 is mounted on the power supply board 52, which is then mounted on the heater 44. During assembly of the unit 32, the conductors 42, 46, 54 and 58 are fixedly located in a connector panel 44 and are coupled as described above to their respective boards, after which the connector panel 64 is fixed to the case 36. Figure 4 is a schematic block diagram of a radiofrequency interconnect board 40, showing a single block in Figure 2, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. . The board 40 comprises adaptation networks 72 and 74, which are coupled to the respective RF inputs of the transceivers 26 and 28. An energy combiner 70, more preferably an illkinson energy combiner, as is known in the art. technique, it couples the adaptation networks to the antenna. An illumination protection device 68, more preferably an? / 4 50O adapter, as is known in the art is connected to the antenna side of the combiner. Figure 5 is a schematic block diagram of the central processing board 30, shown in Figure 2, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A central processing unit (CPU) 85, for example a MPC860 PowerPC core microprocessor produced by Motorola SPS Inc., of Phoenix, Arizona, communicates with and controls the other components of unit 32, and terminates the working mode used by the unit. The CPU communicates with the other components via a programmable logic device 76, for example, a 7128A-10 CPLD produced by Altera Corporation, of San Jose, California. The CPU also reads data from and can write data to a non-volatile flash memory 80 and a volatile synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) memory 82. (Examples of the working modes of the unit 32 are given here below).

Preferably, the code for operating the CPU 86 is stored in the memory 80, and during system startup the code is transferred by the CPU 86 to the SDRAM 82, from which the processor reads its code during the operation . The code stored in the memory 80 can be updated, for example if a new or different work mode is required, via the installation / update connector 46 (Figure 2), or over the air. More preferably, the SDRAM 82 is also used to store the data collected by the unit 32, and this data can also be transferred to the flash memory 80. The code for storing within the call transceiver 28 or the control transceiver 26 it can also be transferred when required, under the control of CPU 86 via, connector 46 or over the air. The board 30 further comprises a reset control 78, and a digital temperature sensor 84. The reset control 78, for example a MAX706TCUA, produced by Maxim Integrated Products of Sunnyvale, California, operates upon power-up, deactivating a signal from readjust to the components controlled by the controller 76 when the supply voltage is within a predetermined range. The temperature sensor 84, for example an LM75 produced by National Semiconductor Corporation of Santa Clara, California, is used by the CPU 86 as a thermostatic control to determine when power should be supplied to the heater, to maintain the temperature of the unit 32 by above its minimum operating temperature and within a predefined interval. Reference is now made to Figure 6, which is a flow chart schematically illustrating an operation mode of the unit 32, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A call signal is received by the call transceiver 28 of the unit 32. The call signal may be a call directed to the transceiver 28 via a base station 22, or other radio frequency signals, such as a pilot signal from the base station , received by the transceiver 28. Preferably, the call signal is analyzed by the unit 32 according to the programs and programming systems preprogrammed in the unit, and the analyzed data is stored inside the unit. More preferably, the operator 43 or the administrator 39 (Figure 1) in the remote test device or facility 35 has access to the data analyzed via the control transceiver 26 to determine one or more parameters of the QoS for the base station 22. The analyzed data can also be accumulated over a period of time and stored as a historical data record within the memory 80 or the DRAM 82 (Figure 5) of the unit 32, for access when required by the operator 43 or the administrator 39. Examples of parameters that can be determined are the strength of the signal, the percentage of frame error, and statistics on dropped calls. It will be understood that the reception of the call signals using the call transceiver and the access to the data using the control transceiver depend substantially on each other. In this way, the operator 43 or the administrator 39 can have access, substantially in real time, to analysis data and / or a historical data record of the unit 32 while the call transceiver continues to receive call signals. Figure 7A and Figure 7B are flow diagrams schematically illustrating "recycling" modes of operation of the unit 32, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In a recycling mode, the unit 32 receives a call and automatically returns the call, and / or data that measures the call, to the originating device of the call. Figure 7a shows the steps involved when a call originates in a remote source from the base station 22, for example from the operator 43 or the administrator 39. The call is transferred via the BTS 22 to the call transceiver 28 of the unit 32, and the call is then sent (via the BTS) to the originating device of the call. The unit 32 and / or remote source can analyze the call substantially in real time to determine one or more QoS parameters of the base station, according to the programs and programming systems preprogrammed in the unit and the remote source. In the case that the remote unit 32 analyzes the call, the originating device of the call can access the analysis via the transceiver 26 of the unit 32. Figure 7B shows the steps involved when the BTS originates a call, for example, according to the programs and programming systems preprogrammed in the base station. The call received by the call transceiver 28 of the unit 32, and the unit then recycles the call to the BTS 22. The unit 32 and / or the base station 22 analyze the call, as described above with reference to Figure 7A , according to the programs and programming systems preprogrammed in the unit and the base station. The mode of operation illustrated by Figure 7B is typically used by the BTS to perform self-test functions. The modes of operation illustrated by Figure 7A and 7B are typically used when digital call signals such as Markov calls, described in greater detail hereinafter, are recycled. A Markov call is a so-called recycled CDMA, where the originator sends a predefined sequence of bits according to a predetermined algorithm to a receiver, and the receiver returns the sequence of bits to the originator. As is known in the art, the comparison of bits received with the original sequence allows the originator or receiver to make an objective determination of the quality of the transmission. More preferably, the programs and programming systems loaded in the originators of calls and the unit 32 allow the reception and analysis of the Markov calls, so that objective analyzes of the quality of the transmission can be made. Figures 8A and 8B are flow diagrams schematically illustrating the data transfer operation modes of the unit 32, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8A shows the steps involved in a data transfer in one direction of unit 32. The steps illustrate a method for downloading the code of programs and programming systems (S /) over the air from an external system to the unit 32 to a target within the unit. The target may be the buffer 80 (Figure 5), for example when the programs and programming systems that control the unit 32 are going to be updated, or the memory within the call transceiver 28 or the control transceiver 26 of the unit 32. As shown in Figure 8A, the start call has a notification of data transmission included in the call, which is retrieved via the logic device 76 for the CPU 86. When the call is received by the unit 32, the CPU 86 instructs the elements of the unit 32 to switch to a data reception mode, in which the data is received, most preferably, using the control transceiver 26. The code of the programs and systems of The programming to be transferred is first downloaded via the transceiver 26, the logical device 76, and the CPU 86, to the synchronous DRAM 82. Depending on the final objective of the programs and programming systems, the programs and downloaded programming systems are transferred to an appropriate memory in the call transceiver or control to the flash memory 80.

Figure 8B shows the steps involved in a two-way data communication with the unit 32, for example if one of the analysis parameters stored in the flash memory of the unit 32 is to be verified. After receiving an initial call, the unit 32 switches to a reception / transmission mode, more preferably using a control transceiver 26. The requests for data values are then transmitted to the unit 32, and the values are returned by unit 32 to the originator of the call, according to the predefined programming programs and systems present in the originator of the call present in the unit. Figure 9 is a flow diagram schematically illustrating the communication between the call transceiver 28 and the control transceiver 26 of the unit 32, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The call transceiver 28 makes a call to the control transceiver 26, via the BTS 22. Preferably, the call is made according to the programs and programming systems preprogrammed in unit 32. Alternatively, the call is made in response to signals from operator 43 or administrator 39. The call is analyzed by unit 32, and the analysis data is stored in unit 32, for access as described hereinabove with reference to Figure 6. The The mode of operation illustrated by Figure 9 is typically used when recycling tests are to be performed without the involvement of a remote call terminator, or when a network load is to be created during the load test. Figure 10 illustrates schematically the general distribution of a cellular wireless coverage network 1Q0, which uses a plurality of QoS units 132, a plurality of QoS units 232, and a plurality of QoS units 332, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The operation and internal construction of the units 132, 232, and 332, are substantially the same as those of the unit 32 (Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5), and different numbers were used in the following description to differentiate the positions of the pluralities of the units within the network 100. Although the following description of the network 100 refers to two wireless coverage systems within the network, the network 100 may be composed of any integer number of wireless coverage systems. The network 100 comprises a first cellular wireless coverage system 120 having a base transceiver station 122 communicating with a region 124, and a second cellular wireless coverage system 220, having a base transceiver station 222 communicating with a region 224. A region 224 is a region where region 124 and region 224 overlap. The units 132, which are located in the region 124 but not the region 324, communicate with the base station 122. The units 232, which are located in the region 224 but not in the region 324, communicate with the station base 222. The units 332, which are located in the region 324, can communicate with the base station 122 and / or the base station 222. Each of the pluralities of units 132, 232 and 332 are fixedly placed, or move in the network 100, at a location away from the base stations 122 and 222, as described here above for the system 20 (Figure 1) • The network 100 further comprises a test device or facility 35, comprising a central processing unit 37, an administrator 39, an interface or spherical interconnection 41, and a user 43, which may communicate with each of the units 132, 232 or 332 as described above for system 20 (Figure 1). In this way the administrator 39 and / or the user 43 can communicate directly with each unit in the network 100. For example, the administrator 39 and / or the user 43 can communicate with a preselected number of units in a specific region of the network 100 in the form of a time interval. This mode of operation is useful when the administrator 39 and / or user 43 wants to evaluate the operation of the BTS and the QoS in a specific region. Now reference is made to Figure 11, which is a flow chart schematically illustrating a "circular" recycling mode of operation with one of the plurality of units 332, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In a circular recycling mode, one of the plurality of units 332 receives a call via a first base station and automatically returns the call and / or data measuring the call to the originator of the call via a second base station. The administrator 39 and / or the user 43 initiates a call via one of the base stations to one of the plurality of units 332, and the call is received by the unit's call transceiver, where the call is analyzed. The analysis data is recycled by the control transceiver of the administrator unit 39 and / or the user 43, via the other base stations. In this way, the round-trip trajectories of the circuit cycle are via different base stations. The circular recycling operation modes as described above significantly improve the quality of an administrator or user to determine the QoS of a system, for example, when communication via a base station is difficult due to a weak signal. It will be appreciated that the circular recycling operation modes are only feasible when there are two transceivers in the verification unit. In this way it will be appreciated that the use of the transceivers in the verification unit substantially increases the flexibility and efficiency of the unit in terms of the measurement of the quality of the I transmission at the base station to a cell phone, in I comparison with units that have only one I transceiver. It will also be appreciated that other methods of verification may be used in addition to I those specifically described here above, which use two transceivers in one unit. All those methods are considered within the scope of the present invention. It will further be appreciated that the embodiments described above are cited by way of example, and that the full scope of the invention is limited only by the claims.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (22)

CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property:

1. A method for verifying the quality of service provided by a base station at a remote location from the base station, characterized in that it comprises: transmitting signals between the base station and a call transceiver at the remote location; analyze at least some of the signals in the remote location to formulate at least one parameter indicating the quality of the signals; and transmitting at least one parameter of a control transceiver at the remote location to the base station.

The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmission of the signals comprises transmitting call signals to the transceiver and returning the call signals of the transceiver.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmission of signals comprises transmitting digital signals.

4. The method according to claim 1, and characterized in that it comprises the transmission of control signals to the control transceiver, and where the transmission of signals between the base station and the call transceiver comprises transmitting the signals in response to the control signals. .

The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the transmission of control signals comprises downloading programs and control programming systems to the control transceiver, 6.

The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmission of signals it comprises initiating signals from a test device or facility, which is located away from the base station and the remote location.

The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the start of the signals comprises receiving signals in the test device or facility.

8. A method for verifying the quality of the service provided by a base station at a remote location from the base station, characterized in that it comprises: transmitting control signals to a remote control transceiver; transmitting call signals between the base station and a call transceiver at the remote location in response to control signals; and analyzing at least some of the signals to formulate at least one parameter indicating the quality of the signals.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the analysis of at least some of the signals comprises analyzing at least some of the signals in the base station.

The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the analysis of at least some of the signals comprises analyzing at least some of the signals at the remote location.

The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the analysis of at least some of the signals comprises analyzing at least some of the signals in a remote testing device or facility of the remote location and the base station.

12. A method for verifying the quality of the service provided by a plurality of base stations in a plurality of remote locations of the base station, characterized in that it comprises: transmitting signals between one of the plurality of base stations and a call transceiver in one of the plurality of remote places; analyze at least some of the signals in the remote location to formulate at least one parameter indicating the quality of the signals; and transmitting at least one parameter of a control transceiver at one of the remote locations to one of the plurality of base stations.

The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the transmission of the signals comprises transmitting the signals from a first base station, and the transmission of at least one parameter comprises transmitting at least one parameter to a second base station.

The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the transmission of the signals comprises transmitting the signals from a first base station, and the transmission of at least one parameter comprises transmitting at least one parameter to the first base station.

The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the transmission of the signals comprises initiating signals from a remote location of the plurality of base stations.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the start of the signals comprises receiving signals at the remote location of the plurality of base stations.

17. A method for "checking the quality of the service provided by a base station at a remote location from the base station, characterized in that it comprises: transmitting control signals to a remote control transceiver; transmitting signals via the base station between a call transceiver in the remote location and the control transceiver in response to the control signals, and analyze at least some of the signals to formulate at least one parameter indicating the quality of the signals. claim 8, characterized in that the analysis of at least some of the signals comprises analyzing at least some of the signals in a remote test device or facility of the remote location and the base station 19. An apparatus for verifying the quality of the service provided by a base station at a remote location from the base station, characterized in that it comprises: a call transceiver and a transcept or control, which communicates over the air with the base station; and a central processing unit, which analyzes the signals received by at least one of the transceivers of the base station to formulate at least one parameter indicating the quality of the signals, and transmits the parameter to the base station via the other one. the transceivers. The apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that the transceivers comprise cellular telephones. The apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that the central processing unit analyzes the signals in response to the control signals received by the control transceiver. 22. The apparatus according to claim 19, and characterized in that it comprises a test installation device that receives the parameters of the base station and evaluates the operation of the base station.