8.4.5 NB-IoT Reference radio bearer configurations
36.5083GPPCommon test environments for User Equipment (UE) conformance testingEvolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) and Evolved Packet Core (EPC)Release 17TS
8.4.5.1 NB-IoT SRB and DRB parameters
As defined in clause 8.1.8.2.1 without exception.
Annex A (informative):
Connection Diagrams
Definition of Terms
System Simulator or SS – A device or system, that is capable of generating simulated Node B signalling and analysing UE signalling responses on one or more RF channels, in order to create the required test environment for the UE under test. It will also include the following capabilities:
1. Measurement and control of the UE Tx output power through TPC commands
2. Measurement of Throughput
3. Measurement of signalling timing and delays
4. Ability to simulate UTRAN and/or E-UTRAN and/or GERAN signalling
GNSS System Simulator or GSS: A device or system, that is capable of generating simulated GNSS satellite transmissions in order to create the required test environment for the UE under test. It will also include the following capabilities:
1. Control of the output power of individual satellites and the simulation of atmospheric delays.
2. Ability to synchronize with E-UTRAN timing in the SS.
Test System – A combination of devices brought together into a system for the purpose of making one or more measurements on a UE in accordance with the test case requirements. A test system may include one or more System Simulators if additional signalling is required for the test case. The following diagrams are all examples of Test Systems.
NOTE 1: The above terms are logical definitions to be used to describe the test methods used in the documents TS36.521-1, TS 36.523-1 and TS36.521-3 in practice, real devices called ‘System Simulators’ may also include additional measurement capabilities or may only support those features required for the test cases they are designed to perform.
NOTE 2: Components in the connection diagrams:
The components in the connection diagrams represent ideal components. They are intended to display the wanted signal flow. They don’t mandate real implementations. An alternative to Figure A3 is shown below as an example: It is nearer to real implementations. The signal levels are the same as in Figure A3. The signal flow cannot be displayed as detailed as in Figure A.3.
Alternative to Figure A.3
Connection: Each connection is displayed as a one or two sided arrow, showing the intended signal flow. In some cases, for some tests, some connections shown may not be necessary (for example UL RX connection for a second cell).
Circulator: The signal, entering one port, is conducted to the adjacent port, indicated by the arrow. The attenuation among the above mentioned ports is ideally 0 and the isolation among the other ports is ideally ∞.
Splitter: a splitter has one input and 2 or more outputs. The signal at the input is equally divided to the outputs. The attenuation from input to the outputs is ideally 0 and the isolation between the outputs is ideally ∞.
Combiner: a combiner has one output and 2 or more inputs. The signals at the inputs are conducted to the output, all with the same, ideally 0 attenuation. The isolation between the inputs is ideally ∞.
Switch: contacts a sink (or source) alternatively to two or more sources (or sinks).
Fader: The fader has one input and one output. The MIMO fading channel is represented by several single faders (e.g. 8 in case of a MIMO antenna configuration 4×2) The correlation among the faders is described in TS 36.521-1 clause B.2.2. In some cases, for some tests, diagrams with fader(s) are referenced when no fading is required; in this case the fader(s) is omitted.
Attenuator: TBD
General considerations on connections for CA testing
Figures A.32<x> to A.37<x> and A.41<x> to A.46<x> contain connection diagrams for CA testing with 2 CCs. Different options (<x> = a, b, c) have been defined for each connection, to consider different UE employments with respect to UE antenna connectors and signal mapping:
– a: Separate antenna connectors for each CC. An optional Combiner may be used in case the UE employs one common wide band antenna only for the receive diversity for both CC-s.
– b: Common antenna connectors for both CC-s with same UL transmit antenna connector.
– c: Common antenna connectors for both CC-s with different UL transmit antenna connectors.
The connections are referred in tests as Figure group which imply figures with the same Arabic numeral in the number, but different Latin letter extension (e.g. Figure A.32a, A.32b etc.). The selection of the connection option for testing is done according to the UE employment as appropriate.
Connection diagrams for CA testing with ≥3CCs have been defined in other figures.
– The connections represent the case of a DUT with separate antenna connectors per CC. For other DUT antenna connector configurations, the necessary signal combining is done accordingly.
– The number of secondary CC is n with n = 2, 3, … as applicable to the individual test case for n+1 CCs testing.
Following symbolic is used in the connection diagrams to distinguish CC-s and paths:
– p: primary CC
– s: secondary CC (in case of CA with 2CCs)
– s1: first secondary CC (in case of CA with >2CCs)
– sn: n-th secondary CC with n = 2, 3, … (in case of CA with >2CCs)
– <j>: (integer) defines the receive antenna and the path to it <j> for a given CC
– <i><j>: (integer) defines the path between transmit antenna <i> and receive antenna <j> for a given CC
The connections are general and support CA both in DL and UL. According to the test conditions, if the UL CA is not used, the "secondary CCs of UL" in the connections may be ignored.
For contiguous CA, single AWGN_k sources with k = {p, s, s1, s2, …} affecting the same UE antenna connector can be unified to AWGN sources with higher bandwidth.
Connections for UE category 0 and category M1 testing
For UE category 0 and category M1, if the connection is referred with the additional clarification “using only main UE Tx/Rx antenna”, then all the links and blocks in the connection serving to supply other UE Rx antennas with signal, are not used.
The example below in Figure A.0 shows the resulting connection to be used, after removing the unnecessary parts (red coloured) to connection of Figure A.10, assuming it is referred in a UE category 0 or a category M1 test as mentioned above.
Connections for ProSe testing
TBD
Connections for 4 Rx antenna ports in transmitter tests
For UE supporting 4 Rx antenna ports on at least one of the bands under test, in transmitter tests the connection is referred to connection diagrams showing only 2 UE Rx antenna ports. For such cases, the SS fed only two of the four antennas from the UE, which are connected depending on UE capability. The remaining two antenna ports of the UE are not connected to the SS.
Considerations for CA testing on 4Rx capable UEs
Figures A.80, A.82, A.85 to A.87, A.90, A.91, A.94 and A.95 contain connection diagrams that shall be used to enable CA testing on 4Rx capable UEs. Such connection diagrams are only applicable to UEs that support 4Rx on at least one of the bands under test. In such cases, the following rules apply to the connection diagram:
1 For nDL CA with x CCs on a 4Rx supported band and (n-x) CCs on a 2Rx supported band, the 4Rx Module shall be replicated x times and 2Rx Module shall be replicated (n-x) times. These modules are specified on the connection diagrams.
2 UE is assumed to support 2Rx in {Rx1, Rx3} and 4Rx in {Rx1, Rx2, Rx3, Rx4}. Depending on UE capability these ports can be interchanged.
3 For all 2Rx supported band the 2-Rx CCs are fed only on two ports and the remaining two ports have zero-input in this band.
4 SS shall configure Rx1, Rx2, Rx3, Rx4 based on UE capability.
5 UE Tx will be placed in one of the 4 UE antenna ports and shall feed either SS_4Rx or SS_2Rx depending on UE capability. SS_4Rx and SS_2Rx are specified on the connection diagrams.
The connections represent the case of a DUT with common antenna connectors for both CC-s with same UL transmit antenna connector. For other DUT antenna connector configurations, the necessary signal combining is done accordingly.
Figure A.0: Reduced implementation of connections for UE category 0 and category M1 testing
(example of Figure A.10)
Figure A.1: Void
Figure A.2: Connection for Transmitter Intermodulation tests
Figure A.3: Connection for basic single cell, RX and TX tests
Figure A.4: Connection for Receiver tests with E-UTRA-Interference
Figure A.5: Connection for Receiver tests with CW interferer
Figure A.6: Connection for Receiver tests with both E-UTRA Interference and additional CW signal
Figure A.7: Connection for TX-tests with additional Spectrum Analyzer
Figure A.8: Connection for RX-tests with additional Spectrum Analyzer
Figure A.8a: Connection for RX tests for CA (≥ 2CCs) with additional Spectrum Analyzer
Figure A.9: Connection for RX performance tests with antenna configuration 1×2 (single antenna port)
Figure A.9a: Connection for RX performance tests with antenna configuration 1×2 (single antenna port) for 4Rx capable UEs without any 2Rx RF bands
Figure A.10: Connection for RX performance tests with antenna configuration 2×2
Figure A.10a: Connection for RX performance tests with antenna configuration 2×2 for 4Rx capable UEs without any 2Rx RF bands
Figure A.11: Connection for RX performance tests with antenna configuration 4×2
Figure A.11a: Connection for RX performance tests with antenna configuration 4×2 for 4Rx capable UEs without any 2Rx RF bands
Figure A.12: Void
Figure A.13: Void
Figure A.14: Connection for 2 cells with static propagation and receive diversity
Figure A.15: Connection for 2 cells with multipath fading propagation and receive diversity
Figure A.16: Connection for single cell Signalling tests
(Note: only one Rx/Tx antenna port in case of NB-IoT UE)
Figure A.16a: Connection for single cell Signalling tests for 4Rx Capable UE
Figure A.17: Connection for multiple cells Signalling tests
(Note: only one Rx/Tx antenna port in case of NB-IoT UE)
Figure A.17a: Connection for multiple cells Signalling tests for 4Rx capable UE
Figure A.18: Connection for 1 cell with antenna configuration 1×2 in static propagation conditions
Figure A.18a: Connection for 1 cell with antenna configuration 1×4 in static propagation conditions
Figure A.19: Connection for 3 cells with antenna configuration 1×2 in static (cell 1) and multipath fading (cell 2 and 3) propagation conditions and receive diversity
Figure A.20: Connection for 2 cells with static propagation and receive diversity with phase rotator (The frequency offset used in phase rotator is 5 Hz)
Figure A.21: Connection for frequency-selective interference with multipath fading propagation and receive diversity
Figure A.21a: Connection for frequency-selective interference with multipath fading propagation and receive diversity for 4Rx capable UEs without any 2Rx RF bands
Figure A.22: Connection for 2 cells with static propagation condition. Origin (E-UTRAN) and target cell (≠ E-UTRAN) received with RX diversity
Figure A.23: Connection for 2 cells with multipath fading propagation condition. Origin (E-UTRAN) and target cell (≠ E-UTRAN) received with RX diversity
Figure A.24: Connection for 3 cells with antenna configuration 1×2 in static (cell 1) and multipath fading conditions (cell 2 and 3) and multiple RAT and receive diversity
Figure A.25: Connection for 3 cells with antenna configuration 1×2 in multipath fading (cell 1 and 2) and multiple RAT (cell 3 static) and receive diversity
Figure A.26: Connection for 2 cells. Origin (E-UTRAN, multipath fading) and target cell (≠ E-UTRAN, static) received with RX diversity
Figure A.27: Connection for 3 cells with static propagation and receive diversity
Figure A.27a: Connection for 3 cells with static propagation and 1×4 receive diversity
Figure A.28: Connection for basic UL MIMO with receive diversity
Figure A.29: Connection for UL MIMO Receiver tests with E-UTRA-Interference
Figure A.30: Connection for UL MIMO Receiver tests with CW Interference
Figure A.31: Connection for UL MIMO Receiver tests with both E-UTRA-Interference and additional CW signal
Figure group A.32: Connections for basic Tx and Rx tests for CA
Figure A.32a: Connection for basic Tx and Rx tests for CA (separate connectors)
Figure A.32b: Connection for basic Tx and Rx tests for CA (common connectors, same UL antenna)
Figure A.32c: Connection for basic Tx and Rx tests for CA (common connectors, different UL antennas)
Figure group A.33: Connection for Tx tests for CA with additional Spectrum Analyzer
Figure A.33a: Connection for Tx tests for CA with additional Spectrum Analyzer (separate connectors)
Figure A.33b: Connection for Tx tests for CA with additional Spectrum Analyzer (common connectors, same UL antenna)
Figure A.33c: Connection for Tx tests for CA with additional Spectrum Analyzer (common connectors, different UL antennas)
Figure group A.34: Connection for Rx tests for CA with additional Interferer / CW
Figure A.34a: Connection for Rx tests for CA with additional Interferer / CW (separate connectors)
Figure A.34b: Connection for Rx tests for CA with additional Interferer / CW (common connectors, same UL antenna)
Figure A.34c: Connection for Rx tests for CA with additional Interferer / CW (common connectors, different UL antennas)
Figure group A.35: Connection for Rx performance tests for CA with antenna configuration 1×2
Figure A.35a: Connection for Rx performance tests for CA with antenna configuration 1×2 (separate connectors)
Figure A.35b: Connection for Rx performance tests for CA with antenna configuration 1×2 (common connectors, same UL antenna)
Figure A.35c: Connection for Rx performance tests for CA with antenna configuration 1×2 (common connectors, different UL antennas)
Figure group A.36: Connection for Rx performance tests for CA with antenna configuration 2×2
Figure A.36a: Connection for Rx performance tests for CA with antenna configuration 2×2 (separate connectors)
Figure A.36b: Connection for Rx performance tests for CA with antenna configuration 2×2 (common connectors, same UL antenna)
Figure A.36c: Connection for Rx performance tests for CA with antenna configuration 2×2 (common connectors, different UL antennas)
Figure group A.37: Connection for Tx tests for CA with additional CW and Spectrum Analyzer