TM500 LTE Multi-UE

• Functional load tester reproduces up to 32 handset UEs in one unit
• Number of UEs can be increased further as part of a Capacity test solution
• Repeatable and deterministic control of each UE from a single user interface
• Ability to co-ordinate UEs precisely to test functionality such as network access contention
• Scheduler performance testing and optimization
• Comprehensive Layer 1 / 2 measurements and statistics

After infrastructure testing has completed with a single UE the next step is to try a second UE, and then a third and so on. More often than not, multiple UEs don’t function as expected against the infrastructure. Even when the stage has been reached when two UEs do operate successfully, there are often further sticking points as more UE are added. When separate UE are used for testing the fault diagnosis process becomes increasingly complex as the number of UE increases, as each UE interacts independently with the network. The TM500 Multi-UE provides a number of programmable and fully configurable UE with a single point of control. The Multi-UE provides the tool to rapidly progress infrastructure operation successfully from one to multiple UE.

The Aeroflex TM500 LTE Multi-UE is used for functional test and performance measurement of LTE base stations (eNode-B) and network infrastructure. The LTE Multi-UE replicates a number of programmable and fully configurable UEs yet retains a single point of control. Each UE still provides 3GPP LTE functionality with its own independent software stack to ensure that it is representative of an LTE handset. Handset control and measurement capabilities are included to provide Infrastructure Engineers with the low level UE access and internal UE visibility they require to properly test, debug and optimise the eNode-B and network.

The ability to operate and control multiple UEs on the same test platform enables tests that require precise inter-UE coordination to be performed. This includes tests such as network access contention between UEs and validation of correct network response if multiple UEs behave unexpectedly or abnormally. This type of test is not practicable using real handset UEs. Handset control and measurement capabilities are included to provide Infrastructure Engineers with the low level UE access and internal UE visibility they require to properly test and debug the eNode-B and network. The performance measurement capabilities of the Multi-UE can be used to measure, optimize and demonstrate functionality such as the resource scheduler performance of the eNode-B.

An LTE cell can be loaded with multiple UE using a repeatable time profile in a controlled test environment. The LTE Multi-UE will support all 3GPP UE categories with maximum aggregate data rates of up to 75 Mbps on the uplink and 300 Mbps on the downlink.

Once Multi-UE functional and scheduler performance testing has been completed the final test phase is capacity stress testing, where the signalling and data capacity of the eNode-B are loaded and stressed using hundreds of UEs. The LTE Multi-UE platform can be upgraded to support capacity testing in conjunction with established third party protocol capacity test products.