SubscribeEffective and controlled bench testing of satellite terminals
The BGAN Network Emulator (BNE) is a commercial available software test tool bringing the BGAN satellite network into a test bench, allowing the user to simulate a satellite connection for a BGAN terminal. The BNE provides terminal manufacturers and application developers with an elegant and flexible test solution with the following advantages:
- Controlled system setup. Only the satellite terminal under test is interacting with the system, which means that test scenarios are easy to reproduce.
- Setup complex scenarios. Use the BNE instead of the real satellite network to setup complex scenarios which are difficult to perform in real life, e.g. hand-over between spot beams or congestions scenarios.
- No satellite link needed. The satellite link is simulated enabling testing without satellite visibility, e.g. in a hangar or in countries without BGAN satellite coverage (for instance in Japan).
- No satellite airtime charge. Fast BNE payback time as there is no satellite airtime charge when testing.
Satellite Communication in the BGAN Network
The figure shows the system overview of the BGAN System. A PC is connected to the BGAN terminal and the BGAN terminal is connected to the BGAN Satellite Access Station (SAS) through the air via satellite. The SAS is connected to the internet and telephone system. The total setup allows the PC to connect to the internet, through the satellite link.
Simulated Satellite Communication with the BGAN Network Emulator
The figure shows a system overview of a BGAN Network Emulator. The main difference from the real system is that the satellite and SAS are replaced by test equipment i.e. a BGAN Physical Layer Tester (BPLT) and a BNE. A PC is connected to the BGAN terminal, and the BGAN Terminal is connected to a BPLT through the terminal antenna connector. The BLPT and BNE are connected through an ethernet cable. The BNE is directly connected to the internet and a telephone. The total setup allows the PC to connect to the internet, through a simulated satellite link.
Terminal Testing
Communication is experienced exactly like using a satellite connection.
Technical features
The BNE supports all defined terminal classes:
- Land portable terminal
- Aeronautical terminal
- Maritime terminal
- Land mobile terminal
All standard BGAN data services are supported:
- Background PS data service
- Streaming PS data service
- Circuit Switched data and voice service
- SMS
BGAN functionality is also supported:
- Ciphering
- Header compression (RFC 2507)
- Primary and secondary PDP contexts
- Multiple terminal connected
- Multicast
Future
The BNE is successful within the BGAN terminal manufacturer market where it is used as a valuable test tool. GateHouse is preparing to deploy the BNE success to the GAN Network market and is currently working on a GAN Emulator.
References
For further references to the BGAN services please have at look at www.inmarsat.com.
For further information about GateHouse and BNE please have a look at www.gatehouse.dk
Please click here for more information on the BNE satellite terminal network emulator
