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Mobile Device Assisted GPS (A-GPS) Testing

Ensure your UMTS/cdma2000® mobile device meets CTIA standards for A-GPS operation and integrates seamlessly into cellular networks with functional, pre-conformance and total isotropic sensitivity test solutions

A-GPS is an enhanced position location method based on the satellite-based global positioning system (GPS). It ensures fast position location information for mobile devices by obtaining precise positioning data from base stations that are constantly monitoring GPS satellites. This positioning data, called Assistance Data, allows the mobile to determine its exact location information to the network within seconds, rather than taking up to several minutes using unassisted GPS techniques.

AGPS

Service providers are requiring mobile device testing to ensure A-GPS operation does not interfere with cellular phone calls. Agilent has multiple solutions to meet these testing needs.

GS-9000 A-GPS Design Verification Test Systems

Agilent Technologies’ GS-9000 family of test systems includes design verification solutions for pre-conformance test including a compact bench top functional test solution. The GS-9000 A-GPS Design Verification Test systems include both hardware and software enabling mobile device A-GPS testing in a conducted environment. The hardware includes an 8960 Wireless Communications Test Set for base station emulation and an E4438C Vector Signal Generator to emulate GPS satellites; the software supports test cases defined in 3GPP technical specifications 51.010 and 34.171. The GS-9000 family of test systems will support UMTS and cdma2000 A-GPS testing.

Total Isotropic Sensitivity (TIS) Testing

TIS testing ensures that A-GPS operation does not interfere with cellular calls from the wireless device by making repeated sensitivity measurements within an anechoic chamber. Agilent Technologies’ test equipment can be used in performing the A-GPS test cases specified by Version 3.0 of the CTIA’s Test Plan for Mobile Station Over the Air Performance.

The capabilities provided by Agilent Technologies’ 8960 Wireless Communications Test Set and E4438C ESG Vector Signal Generator support A-GPS TIS testing needs by enabling A-GPS assistance data messaging and by emulating the GPS satellites. When these instruments are integrated with an anechoic chamber, this complete system can support CTIA-specified A-GPS tests. Industry leaders and Agilent channel partners ETS-Lindgren and Satimo have implemented A-GPS Total Isotropic Sensitivity test solutions that meet CTIA specifications by using Agilent test equipment:

Testing A-GPS over the Control Plane

Location services implementations based on control plane architecture have been driven by regulator-led initiatives such as the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) E911 requirement to report the location of callers to the 911 emergency responders. This requirement mandates the use of control plane messaging to send and receive Location Services data. This data, which includes assistance data, can be sent to and from an A-GPS enabled device through the 8960 Wireless Communication Test Set using control plane messaging including RRLP, RRC, or TIA-801 for UMTS and cdma2000 technologies.

Testing A-GPS over the Secure User Plane

Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) is a technology which utilizes existing infrastructure and standards to transfer Location Services data over a user plane bearer, such as Internet Protocol (IP). The Agilent E6965A Location Server Emulator is the first commercial bench-top solution supporting SUPL functional test using over-the-air connection to a SUPL enabled terminal (SET). It provides the elements of the SLP that are needed to test such devices, and may be combined with an Agilent 8960 Wireless Communications Test Set and an E4438C ESG Vector Signal generator in order to form a system that provides satellite simulation, cellular base-station emulation and the messaging required for SUPL testing.

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cdma2000 is a registered certification mark of the Telecommunications Industry Association. Used under license.