COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE INTERFERENCE DETECTION
Systems, methods and procedures are described for detecting passive intermodulation (PIM) associated with wireless communication devices and infrastructure. In one implementation, equipment and functionalities associated with a wireless communication system are used to detect PIM. In a particular implementation, PIM is detected using one or more components integral to a base station transceiver. The PIM may be communicated to other wireless communication elements for evaluation.
1 . An apparatus, comprising:
a frequency generator integrated with an element of a communication system, the signal generator configured to provide a frequency signal to an antenna of the communication system; and
an intermodulation detection device integrated with the communication system, the intermodulation detection device configured to detect an intermodulation product from a first signal component and a second signal component of the frequency signal.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the signal generator is associated with a transceiver of the element of the communication system.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the signal generator includes a first signal source configured to generate the first signal component, a second signal source configured to generate the second signal component, and a combiner configured to generate the frequency signal by combining the first signal component and the second signal component.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the element of the communication system is a base station or co-located base stations.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the frequency generator is a transceiver integrated with the element, the element being a base station.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising another element of the communication system, the another element to receive the intermodulation product.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the another element is a mobile switching center.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein intermodulation detection device is a signal detector, the signal detector being integrated with the element of a communication system, the element being a base station or at least one of co-located base stations.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the intermodulation product is at least one of 2 F 1 ±F 2 or 2 F 2 ±F 1 , F 1 being the first signal component and F 2 being the second signal component of the frequency signal.
10 . A method, comprising:
providing a frequency signal, the frequency signal provided by a frequency generator integrated with a base station or at least one of co-located base stations;
detecting an intermodulation product from a first signal component and a second signal component of the frequency signal.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the detecting is performed by an intermodulation detection device integrated with the base station or the at least one of the co-located base stations.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the providing is performed by at least one transceiver integrated with the base station or integrated with the at least one of the co-located base stations.
13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining a proximity of the intermodulation product based on a time of travel associated with the frequency signal, the time of travel calculated based on a first time observed when the frequency signal is provided and a second time observed when the intermodulation product is detected.
14 . The method or claim 10 , further comprising providing the intermodulation product to an element of a communication system being external the base station or the at least one of the co-located base stations.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the element of the communication system is mobile switching center.
16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the intermodulation product is at least one of 2 F 1 ±F 2 or 2 F 2 ±F 1 , F 1 being the first signal component and F 2 being the second signal component of the frequency signal.
17 . An apparatus, comprising:
at least one transceiver integrated with a base station, the at least one transceiver having at least two modes of operation, including,
a first mode to transmit and receive signals associated with mobile devices coupled to the transceiver, and
a second mode to provide an intermodulation test frequency signal having a first signal component and a second signal component;
an intermodulation detection device integrated with the base station, the intermodulation detection device configured to detect an intermodulation product from a first signal component and a second signal component of the intermodulation test frequency signal.
18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the at least one transceiver is to disable the first mode upon entering the second mode.
19 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the at least one transceiver includes a first signal source configured to generate the first signal component, a second signal source configured to generate the second signal component, and a combiner configured to generate the intermodulation test frequency signal by combining the first signal component and the second signal component.
20 . The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a mobile switching center to receive the intermodulation product.
21 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the intermodulation product is at least one of 2 F 1 ±F 2 or 2 F 2 ±F 1 , F 1 being the first signal component and F 2 being the second signal component of intermodulation test frequency signal.