The 5G test and conformance era is far more challenging than 4G wireless amid a broad range of new services and technology paradigms. There’s a large matrix of test cases that vary widely, and these changes reinforce the importance of adequately validating the device performance on 5G networks as specified in the New Radio (NR) standard(Fig. 1)。
5 g一致性测试跨越射频特性,radio resource management (RRM), and communication protocol suites, and that calls for flexible test solutions that can eventually be customized for specific use cases and certification requirements. At the same time, it’s also critical that both chipsets and devices are rigorously tested under linear and nonlinear conditions across the entire workflow, from design validation to product manufacturing(Fig. 2)。
在加速促进5G商业化的一致性方面，还有其他压力。例如，网络运营商以及芯片组和设备制造商都在努力确保对第一次尝试的设备测试和接受。但这说起来容易做起来难。
For starters, 5G conformance testing encompasses two technology realms: sub-6-GHz bands with new multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna systems and higher-frequency millimeter-wave (mmWave) bands with highly focused beamsteering. The conformance testing matrix further expands with different spectrums operating across the globe and the need for 5G devices to work in both non-standalone and standalone modes.
这要求工程师使用5G载波使用的相同的模拟网络和通信渠道彻底测试设备芯片组的参数性能，物理层（PHY）特性和协议功能。以下部分提供了5G测试用例的扩展矩阵的重点，其中包括功能测试，阴性测试，回归测试，KPI测试，数据通量测试和整体设备性能测试。
5G Conformance Matrix
The conformance test requirements, as specified in the 3GPP 5G NR standard, include a wide range of RF demodulation and RRM test cases. And they can be validated by the Global Certification Forum (GCF) and PCS Type Certification Review Board (PTCRB), a certification platform comprised of the leading U.S. mobile operators.
Start with the测试和测试控制符号版本3（TTCN-3）conformance testbed, a core language that 3GPP uses to specify different types of reactive system tests over a variety of communication ports. The TTCN-3 conformance use cases employ real user equipment (UE) and real hardware in the form of network simulators to verify 5G designs.
接下来,RAN5，3GPP中的工作组着重于UE设备无线电接口的一致性测试规范。它分别在RF子组和信号子组中组织，并且涵盖了RF和RRM符合度测试。RAN5工作组批准了3GPP TS38.523要求中定义的协议符合测试。
5G一致性测试范围从设备研发和设计验证到一致性验证到载体的接受和制造。因此，5G移动生态系统从早期原型设计到设计验证到设备制造。以中国电话制造商为例Oppo, which unveiled the 5G handset “Reno” in April 2019. It demonstrated the world’s first 5G signaling and data connection for a video call in November 2018(Fig. 3)。
根据无线研究主管James Kimery的说法National Instruments (NI),评估见的性能o and data delivery is crucial for 5G devices. It’s worth mentioning here that 5G device manufacturers like Oppo are employing the same tools that chipmakers use to validate 5G NR designs.
此外，芯片组和设备的协议一致性测试是验证5G设计性能的关键推动力。他们要求在具有完全开发的基于运营商的测试用例的软件平台上提供完整的协议堆栈。
以下是对各种一致性测试用例的偷看，该案例表明了芯片组和设备制造商如何验证整个工作流程中的5G NR设计。
5G一致性测试案例
三星的Exynos调制解调器5100与3GPP发行版15兼容，用单芯片溶液支持Sub-6-GHz和MMWave光谱。该公司使用5G基站和5G最终用户设备原型进行了无线环境，在无线环境下进行了空中（OTA）5G NR数据调用测试。
“5G wireless is evolving much faster than previous cellular technologies,” said Woonhaing Hur, vice president of System LSI Protocol Development at Samsung Electronics. “Especially after 3GPP officially approved the first round of 5G specifications in the summer of 2018.”
Marvin Test Solutionshas developed a manufacturing test platform for beamforming ICs under linear and nonlinear conditions. Beamforming IC testing is crucial in 5G mmWave systems, utilizing component- and system-level simulation tools to facilitate high-precision measurements at mmWave bands.
“The test systems need to be ready for a new class of 5G beamforming devices,” said Alastair Upton, chief strategy officer atAnokiwave。该公司提供MMWave ICS用于主动天线阵列，并已展示OTA验证与国家仪器（NI）合作的包装天线（AIP）设备。
The OTA-based RF validation significantly shortens development schedules and helps test professionals achieve faster speeds compared to traditional point-by-point software-controlled test systems(Fig. 4)。
“The 5G NR systems demand modular hardware and software platforms that address the testing needs of today and well into the decade,” said Mike Thorpe, product manager atRohde＆Schwarz。The test-and-measurement company is working with quality-assurance specialist天祥集团和一致性测试实验室，以在双连接模式下测试同时LTE/5G链接的信号传导，RF参数和数据发射率。
正如上述测试案例所示，在2019年提前推出5G NR网络后，5G一致性计划开始加速。这些活动很可能在2020年及以后的5G到达商业部署的风口浪尖。
The Case for Unified Test Platforms
The race to 5G commercialization is on, currently led by customer-premises-equipment (CPE) units for the fixed wireless access service, which is promising to offer multi-gigabit wireless throughput in select U.S. cities. Furthermore, mobile hotspots and 5G smartphones are being launched around the world.
这一切都始于在清洁和理想的渠道条件下证明稳定性和高数据速率。这些工具集允许测试工程师模仿与3D褪色和渠道干扰条件有关的现实世界复杂性。
Once test professionals have done that, they must validate the mobile-device or base-station performance under real-world conditions, where the channel is non-ideal, complex, faded, and filled with interference. So, 5G test professionals require reliable tools to characterize the system performance of mobile devices and base stations across all 5G NR signal bandwidths.
有关5G符合性以及本文概述的最新测试案例的最新举措和发展也呼吁采用整体方法。这是因为统一系统可以有效地处理RF，如果是在现实世界环境中最现实的复制中，并且MMWave频率。
