Radio telephone base station with a monitoring apparatus

Details Radio telephone base station with a monitoring apparatus Radio telephone base station with a monitoring apparatus

1996-08-29

1999-01-05

Kuntz, Curtis A.

Telephonic communications

Diagnostic testing, malfunction indication, or electrical...

Testing of subscriber loop or terminal

379 5, 455 674, 455561, 455 671, 455424, H04M 124, H04M 308, H04M 322

Patent

active

058570128

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a radio telephone base station which includes, or is associated with, monitoring means for monitoring test calls.
A radio telephone base station for a cellular system communicates by radio with portable handsets carried by subscribers to the system. The base station has a main antenna (providing receive and transmit functions) and a second or so-called diverse antenna providing a receive function only. At or adjacent the base station is located a monitoring means which is like a dummy portable handset in that the monitoring means has an antenna and test calls can be set up between the base station antennas and the monitoring means antenna, in this case to test the correct functioning of the base station.
The need for the monitoring means to have an antenna has disadvantages: apart from the cost of antenna construction and erection there can be difficulties in obtaining planning consent for a further antenna, particularly if it is proposed to add monitoring means to an existing base station. The invention aims to provide a base station with monitoring means which do not require an antenna additional to the antennas of the base station.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a base station for a radio telephone system, the base station being associated with monitoring means for monitoring the operation of the base station, the base station having two antennas, and the monitoring means being capable of being coupled to a first of the antennas by first coupling means and the monitoring means being capable of being coupled to a second of the antennas by second coupling means, whereby test calls can be made between the base station and the monitoring means without the need for the monitoring means to have an antenna.
The monitoring means is preferably connected to the first coupling means through a first switch which is openable to isolate the monitoring means from the first coupling means. Similarly, the monitoring means is preferably connected to the second coupling means through a second switch which is openable to isolate the monitoring means from the second coupling means.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A base station and monitoring means according to the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows the base station and monitoring means In diagrammatic form


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawing, the base station operates in a radio telephone system, eg a cellular system, and communicates with portable handsets carried by subscribers to the system. To do this, the base station has a first (main) antenna 1, which both transmits and receives, and a second (diverse) antenna 2 which receives only and provides antenna diversity, in a known manner. The first antenna 1 is connected to a duplexer 3 which separates receive and transmit signals, indicated respectively as Rx1 and Tx1 in the drawing. The second antenna 2 feeds receive signals Rx2 to the diverse channel of the base station.
The base station is associated with a radio frequency monitor 4 for monitoring test calls initiated by the base station or by the monitor. The monitor 4 can be viewed as a dummy handset which is permanently positioned at or near the base station to check correct operation. Conventionally, such a monitor carries an antenna which communicates through the air with the antennas of the base station when test calls are made. The invention avoids the need for the monitor to be equipped with an antenna.
According to the invention the monitor 4 is coupled to the first antenna 1 by first coupling means 5 and is coupled to the second antenna 2 by second coupling means 6. Both the first and the second coupling means 5, 6 are constituted by high directivity couplers. A first switch S1 is interposed in the electrical connection between the monitor 4 and the first coupling means 5. When the switch S1 is closed, the monitor 4 is connected to the first coupling means 5

REFERENCES:
patent: 5448766 (1995-09-01), Sanning et al.
patent: 5557603 (1996-09-01), Barlett et al.
patent: 5574981 (1996-11-01), Ahonen
patent: 5754560 (1998-05-01), Nousiainen et al.

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