4.7 Test configurations

38.176-23GPPIntegrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) conformance testingNRPart 2: radiated conformance testingRelease 17TS

Tools: ARFCN - Frequency Conversion for 5G NR/LTE/UMTS/GSM

4.7.1 General

The test configurations shall be constructed using the methods defined below subject to the parameters declared by the manufacturer as listed in clause 4.6.

The applicable test models for generation of the carrier transmit test signal are defined in clause 4.9.2.

NOTE: If required, carriers are shifted to align with the channel raster.

4.7.2 Test signal configurations

4.7.2.1 Test signal used to build Test Configurations

The signal’s IAB-DU and IAB-MT channel bandwidth and subcarrier spacing used to build IAB-DU and IAB-MT Test Configurations shall be selected according to tables 4.7.2.1-1 and 4.7.2.1-2.

Table 4.7.2.1-1: Signal to be used to build IAB TCs for IAB type 1-H and IAB type 1-O

Operating band characteristics		F_{DL_high} – F_{DL_low} < 100 MHz	F_{DL_high} – F_{DL_low} ≥ 100 MHz
TC signal	BW_channel	10 MHz (Note)	20 MHz (Note)
characteristics	Subcarrier spacing	Smallest supported subcarrier spacing declared per operating band (D.7)
NOTE: If this IAB channel bandwidth is not supported, the narrowest supported IAB channel bandwidth declared per operating band (D.7) shall be used.

Table 4.7.2.1-2: Signal to be used to build IAB TCs for IAB type 2-O

Operating band characteristics		F_{DL_high} – F_{DL_low} ≤ 3250 MHz
TC signal	BW_channel	100 MHz (Note 1, Note 2)
characteristics	Subcarrier spacing	Smallest supported subcarrier spacing declared per operating band (D.7)
NOTE 1: IAB vendor can decide to test with 50 MHz IAB channel bandwidth and smallest supported SCS declared per operating band (D.7) instead of 100 MHz IAB channel bandwidth in certain regions, where spectrum allocation and regulation require testing with 50 MHz. NOTE 2: If this IAB channel bandwidth is not supported, the narrowest supported IAB channel bandwidth declared per operating band (D.7) shall be used.

4.7.2.2 IABTC1: Contiguous spectrum operation

The purpose of test configuration IABTC1 is to test all IAB-DU and IAB-MT requirements excluding CA occupied bandwidth.

For IABTC1 used in receiver tests only the two outermost UL carriers and two outermost DL carriers within each supported operating band need to be generated by the test equipment.

4.7.2.2.1 IABTC1 generation

IABTC1 shall be constructed on a per band basis using the following method:

– The IAB RF Bandwidth of each supported operating band shall be the declared maximum radiated IAB RF Bandwidth for contiguous operation (D.17).

– For IAB not supporting simultaneous transmission between IAB-DU and IAB-MT, select the IAB-DU and IAB-MT carrier to be tested according to 4.7.2.1 and place them adjacent to the lower IAB-DU and IAB-MT RF Bandwidth edge. Place same signals adjacent to the upper IAB-DU and IAB-MT RF Bandwidth edge.

– For IAB supporting simultaneous transmission between IAB-DU and IAB-MT, select the IAB UL carrier to be tested according to 4.7.2 and place it adjacent to the lower IAB RF Bandwidth edge. Place the same IAB UL carrier adjacent to the upper IAB RF Bandwidth edge. Select the IAB DL carrier to be tested according to 4.7.2.1 and place it adjacent to the already placed IAB UL carrier at the lower IAB RF Bandwidth edge. Place the same IAB DL carrier adjacent to the already placed IAB UL carrier at the upper.

– For transmitter tests, select as many IAB-DU and IAB-MT carriers (according to 4.7.2.1) that the beam supports within a band and that fit in the rest of the declared maximum IAB RF Bandwidth. Place the carriers adjacent to each other starting from the upper IAB RF Bandwidth edge. The nominal carrier spacing defined in TS 38.174 [2] clause 5.4.1 shall apply;

The test configuration should be constructed on a per band basis for all component carriers of the inter-band CA bands declared to be supported by the beam (D.60). All configured component carriers are transmitted simultaneously in the tests where the transmitter should be on.

4.7.2.2.2 IABTC1 power allocation

Set the number of carriers to the number of carriers at maximum TRP (D.15).

For EIRP accuracy requirements set each beam to rated beam EIRP (D.11) for the tested beam direction pair.

For all other requirements set the power of each carrier to the same level so that the sum of the carrier powers equals the rated transmitter TRP P_rated,t,TRP (D.38).

For a beam declared to support CA-only operation (D.20), set the power spectral density of each carrier to the same level so that the sum of the carrier power equals the same value as above.

4.7.2.3 IABTC2: Contiguous CA occupied bandwidth

IABTC2 in this clause is used to test CA occupied bandwidth.

4.7.2.3.1 IABTC2 generation

IABTC2 shall be constructed on a per band basis using the following method:

– All component carrier combinations supported by the beam, which have different sum of channel bandwidths of component carrier, shall be tested. For all component carrier combinations which have the same sum of channel bandwidths of component carriers, only one of the component carrier combinations shall be tested.

– Of all component carrier combinations which have same sum of channel bandwidths of component carrier, select those with the narrowest carrier with the smallest supported subcarrier spacing declared per operating band (D.7) at the lower IAB RF Bandwidth edge.

– Of the combinations selected in the previous step, select one with the narrowest carrier with the smallest supported subcarrier spacing declared per operating band (D.7) at the upper IAB RF Bandwidth edge.

– If there are multiple combinations fulfilling previous steps, select the one with the smallest number of component carrier.

– If there are multiple combinations fulfilling previous steps, select the one with the widest carrier with the smallest supported subcarrier spacing declared per operating band (D.7) being adjacent to the lowest carrier.

– If there are multiple combinations fulfilling previous steps, repeat the previous step until there is only one combination left.

– The nominal channel spacing defined in TS 38.174 [2] clause 5.4.1 shall apply.

4.7.2.3.2 IABTC2 power allocation

Set the number of carriers to the number of carriers at maximum TRP (D.15).

For EIRP accuracy requirements set each beam to rated beam EIRP (D.11) for the tested beam direction pair.

Set the power spectral density of each carrier to the same level so that the sum of the carrier powers equals the rated transmitter TRP P_rated,t,TRP (D.38).

4.7.2.4 IABTC3: Non-contiguous spectrum operation

The purpose of IABTC3 is to test NR multicarrier non-contiguous aspects.

For IABTC3 used in receiver tests, outermost DL and UL carriers for each sub-block need to be generated by the test equipment; other supported carriers are optional to be generated.

4.7.2.4.1 IABTC3 generation

IABTC3 is constructed on a per band basis using the following method:

– The IAB RF Bandwidth of each supported operating band shall be the declared maximum radiated IAB RF Bandwidth for non-contiguous operation (D.17). The IAB RF Bandwidth consists of one sub-block gap and two sub-blocks located at the edges of the declared maximum radiated IAB RF Bandwidth for non-contiguous operation (D.17).

– For IAB not supporting simultaneous transmission between IAB-DU and IAB-MT, select the IAB-DU carrier and IAB-MT carrier to be tested according to 4.7.2.1. Place them adjacent to the upper IAB RF Bandwidth edge and place the same signals adjacent to the lower IAB RF Bandwidth edge.

– For single-band operation receiver tests, if the remaining gap is at least 15 MHz (or 60 MHz if channel bandwidth of the carrier to be tested is 20 MHz) for FR1 or 150 MHz for FR2 plus two times the channel bandwidth used in the previous step and the beam supports at least 4 carriers, place a IAB-DU carrier and IAB-MT carrier of this channel bandwidth adjacent to each already placed carrier for each sub-block. The nominal channel spacing defined in TS 38.174 [2] clause 5.4.1 shall apply.

– The sub-block edges adjacent to the sub-block gap shall be determined using the specified F_{offset_high} and F_{offset_low} for the carriers adjacent to the sub-block gap.

4.7.2.4.2 IABTC3 power allocation

Set the number of carriers to the number of carriers at maximum TRP (D.15).

For EIRP accuracy requirements set each beam to rated beam EIRP (D.11) for the tested beam direction pair.

For all other requirements set the power of each carrier to the same level so that the sum of the carrier powers equals the rated transmitter TRP P_{rated, t,TRP} (D.38).

4.7.2.5 IABTC4: Multi-band test configuration for full carrier allocation

The purpose of IABTC4 is to test beams which have been generated using transceiver units supporting operation in multiple operating bands through common active RF components, considering maximum supported number of carriers.

4.7.2.5.1 IABTC4 generation

IABTC4 is based on re-using the existing test configuration applicable per band on beams generated using Multi-band transceiver units and hence have declared multi-band dependencies (D.16). It is constructed using the following method:

– The IAB RF Bandwidth of each supported operating band shall be the declared maximum radiated IAB RF Bandwidth (D.17).

– The number of carriers of each supported operating band shall be the declared maximum number of supported carriers per operating band in multi-band operation (D.21). Carriers shall be selected according to 4.7.2.1 and shall first be placed at the outermost edges of the declared maximum radiated Radio Bandwidth (D.18). Additional carriers shall next be placed at the edges of IAB RF Bandwidth, if possible.

– The allocated IAB RF Bandwidth of the outermost bands shall be located at the outermost edges of the declared maximum radiated Radio Bandwidth (D.18).

– Each concerned band shall be considered as an independent band and the corresponding test configuration shall be generated in each band. The mirror image of the single band test configuration shall be used in the highest band being tested for the beam.

— If an operating band with multi-band dependencies supports three carriers only, two carriers shall be placed in one band according to the relevant test configuration while the remaining carrier shall be placed at the edge of the maximum Radio Bandwidth in the other band.

– If the sum of the maximum IAB RF bandwidths of each of the supported operating bands is greater than the declared total RF bandwidth BW_tot (D.19) of transmitter and receiver for the declared band combinations of the IAB, then repeat the steps above for test configurations where the IAB RF Bandwidth of one of the operating band shall be reduced so that the declared total RF bandwidth is not exceeded and vice versa.

– If the sum of the maximum number of supported carriers per operating band in multi-band operation (D.21) is larger than the declared total maximum number of supported carriers in multi-band operation (D.63), repeat the steps above for test configurations where in each test configuration the number of carriers of one of the operating band shall be reduced so that the total number of supported carriers is not be exceeded and vice versa.

4.7.2.5.2 IABTC4 power allocation

Set the number of carriers to the total maximum number of supported carriers in multi-band operation (D.63).

For EIRP accuracy requirements set each beam to rated beam EIRP (D.11) for the tested beam direction pair.

For all other requirements set the power of each carrier to the same level so that the sum of the carrier powers equals the rated transmitter TRP P_{rated, t,TRP} (D.38).

If the allocated number of carriers in an operating band exceeds the declared number of carriers at maximum TRP in an operating band (D.15) the carriers should if possible be allocated to a different operating band.

4.7.2.6 IABTC5: Multi-band test configuration with high PSD per carrier

The purpose of IABTC5 is to test multi-band operation aspects considering higher PSD cases with reduced number of carriers and non-contiguous operation (if supported) in multi-band mode.

4.7.2.6.1 IABTC5 generation

IABTC5 is based on re-using the existing test configuration applicable for operating bands using multi-band transceiver units and hence have declared multi-band dependencies (D.16). It is constructed using the following method:

– The IAB RF Bandwidth of each supported operating band shall be the declared maximum radiated IAB RF Bandwidth (D.17).

– The allocated Radio Bandwidth of the outermost bands shall be located at the outermost edges of the declared maximum Radio Bandwidth of the operating band with multi-band dependencies (D.18).

– The maximum number of carriers is limited to two per band. Carriers shall be selected according to 4.7.2.1 and shall be placed at the outermost edges of the declared maximum Radio Bandwidth of the operating band with multi-band dependencies (D.18).

– Each concerned band shall be considered as an independent band and the carrier placement in each band shall be according to IABTC3, where the declared parameters for multi-band operation shall apply. Narrowest supported IAB channel bandwidth with the smallest subcarrier spacing declared per operating band (D.7) shall be used in the test configuration.

– If an operating band with multi-band dependencies supports three carriers only, two carriers shall be placed in one band according to the relevant test configuration while the remaining carrier shall be placed at the edge of the maximum Radio Bandwidth in the other band.

– If the sum of the maximum IAB RF bandwidths of each of the supported operating bands is greater than the declared total RF bandwidth BW_tot (D.19) of transmitter and receiver for the declared band combinations of the IAB, then repeat the steps above for test configurations where the IAB RF Bandwidth of one of the operating band shall be reduced so that the declared total RF bandwidth BW_totof the operating band with multi-band dependencies (D.18) is not exceeded and vice versa.

4.7.2.6.2 IABTC5 power allocation

Set the number of carriers to the total maximum number of supported carriers in multi-band operation (D.63).

For EIRP accuracy requirements set each beam to rated beam EIRP (D.11) for the tested beam direction pair.

For all other requirements set the power of each carrier to the same level so that the sum of the carrier powers equals the rated transmitter TRP P_{rated, t,TRP} (D.38).

If the sum of the TRP for all carriers in an operating band(s) exceeds the sum of the rated carrier TRP output power P_rated,c,TRP (D.37) for the number of carriers at maximum TRP (D.15) in multi-band operation, the exceeded part shall, if possible, be reallocated into the other band(s). If the TRP allocated for a carrier exceeds the declared rated carrier OTA IAB power, P_rated,c,TRP, the exceeded power shall, if possible, be reallocated into the other carriers.