1. A method of measuring the output power of a communications device, comprising the steps of:
receiving a signal output by a communications device;
identifying a measurement interval in the signal;
determining data encoded in the modulation over the measurement interval;
deriving, from the data encoded in the modulation, a ratio of carrier power to average power of the signal over the measurement interval;
measuring average power of the signal over the measurement interval; and
multiplying the average power measured over the measurement interval by the ratio of carrier power to average power to derive an estimate of carrier power.
2. The method of claim 1, including the step of multiplying the estimate of carrier power by the ratio of average power to carrier power to derive an estimate of long-term average power.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement interval contains at least one portion of random modulation and the ratio of carrier power to average power is determined by synthesising an ideal modulated signal from the data encoded in the modulation, assuming a predetermined carrier power.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal contains at least one portion of non-random modulation, and wherein:
the portion of non-random modulation is identified as the measurement interval; and
the ratio of carrier power to average power for the portion of non-random modulation is a pre-calculated value for that non-random modulation.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein a pre-calculated table contains values of power ratio for different portions of non-random modulation in the signal, the specific portion of non-random modulation contained in the measurement interval is identified, and the corresponding pre-calculated value of power ratio is selected from the table in accordance therewith.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is a GSMEDGE signal and the measurement interval is identified by reference to a midamble in the GSMEDGE signal.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the measurement interval is identified by reference to sixteen middle symbols of the midamble.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein a first signal path is used for determining the data encoded in the modulation over the measurement interval, and a second signal path is used for measuring the average power of the signal over the measurement interval.
9. Apparatus for measuring the output power of a communications device, comprising:
a receiver for receiving a signal output by a communications device;
a measurement interval identifier for identifying a measurement interval in the signal;
a demodulator for determining data encoded in the modulation over the measurement interval;
a power measurement device for measuring average power of the signal over the measurement interval; and
a device for deriving, from the data encoded in the modulation, a ratio of carrier power to average power of the signal over the measurement interval, and for multiplying the average power measured over the measurement interval by the ratio of carrier power to average power to derive an estimate of carrier power.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the device is also arranged to multiply the estimate of carrier power by the ratio of average power to carrier power to derive an estimate of long-term average power.
11. The apparatus of claim 9, including a store for storing at least one pre-calculated ratio of carrier power to average power for a portion of non-random modulation in the signal.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the store contains values of power ratio for different portions of non-random modulation in the signal.
13. The apparatus of claim 9, including a first signal path for determining the data encoded in the modulation over the measurement interval, and a second signal path for measuring the average power of the signal over the measurement interval.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A tablet storage device for holding a plurality of tablets, comprising:
a generally L-shaped cart frame including:
a wheeled base including a horizontal portion and having four sides;
only one vertical portion, the only one vertical portion extending from one of the four sides of the wheeled base, the vertical portion defining a recess; and
a translatable tray movably coupled to the horizontal portion of the wheeled base and configured to translate horizontally from a first position adjacent the vertical portion to a second position spaced away from the vertical portion;
a first module having an end, the first module defining a selectively accessible first interior space, the first module having a plurality of storage slots within the first interior space adapted to hold a first portion of the plurality of tablets; and
a second module having an end, the second module defining a selectively accessible second interior space, the second module having a plurality of storage slots within the second interior space adapted to hold a second portion of the plurality of tablets;
a power supply system for charging each of the plurality of tablets;
wherein the cart frame is adapted to removably hold the first and second modules in a stacked arrangement on the translatable tray coupled to the horizontal portion of the wheeled base,
wherein the recess defined by the vertical portion is configured to receive the end of the first module and the end of the second module when the translatable tray is in the first position, and
wherein the storage slots of the first and second modules have connectors for connecting the plurality of tablets to the power supply system.
2. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein:
the cart frame has a network connection system, the network connection system adapted to provide a network connection for each tablet that is connected to one of the connectors.
3. The tablet storage device of claim 2, wherein the network connection system includes a wireless transmitter.
4. The tablet storage device of claim 2, wherein the cart frame has an internal compartment, the internal compartment housing equipment for the network connection system, the internal compartment including a fan and a vent.
5. The tablet storage device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of storage slots of the first module have docking stations for connecting to the first portion of the plurality of tablets.
6. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein the first module has an equipment bay, the equipment bay housing equipment for the network connection system.
7. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein:
the first module has a port; and
the cart frame has a connector, the connector for connecting to the port such that the cart frame and the first module are in electronic communication.
8. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein:
the first module has a port and a connector;
the second module has a port; and
the cart frame has a connector, wherein the cart frame connector can be connected to the first module port to form a first connection, and the first module connector can be connected to the second module port to form a second connection, such that the cart and the first module are in electronic communication through the first connection, and
the cart and the second module are in electronic communication through the first and second connections.
9. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein:
the cart frame has a connector and a network connection system;
the first module has a port; and
at least one of the storage slots has a connector for connecting to one of the plurality of tablets, wherein the cart frame connector can be connected to the first module port to form a first connection, and the slot connector can be connected to the tablet to form a second connection, such that the network connection system is in electronic communication with the first module through the first connection, and
the network connection system is in electronic communication with the tablet through the first and second connections.
10. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein:
the cart frame has a connector;
the first module has a port; and
wherein the cart frame connector can be connected to the first module port to form a first connection, and the slot connector can be connected to the tablet to form a second connection, such that
the power supply system is in electronic communication with the first module through the first connection, and
the power supply system is in electronic communication with the tablet through the first and second connections.
11. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein:
wherein the horizontal portion of the wheeled base includes a translatable tray on which the first and second modules rest, the translatable tray translatable from a first position to a second position, the first position in which a vertical surface of at least one of the first and second modules is disposed immediately adjacent to the vertical portion of the cart frame, and the second position in which the vertical surface is spaced from the vertical portion of the cart frame.
12. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein the vertical portion includes a handle.
13. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein the first module andor the second module includes an alignment feature to facilitate alignment with the other of the first module and the second module.
14. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein the cart frame includes an alignment feature to facilitate alignment of the first andor second module with the cart frame.
15. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein:
the first and second modules include a locking mechanism adapted to enable the first module to be locked to the second module in the stacked arrangement,
the locking mechanism further adapted to enable at least one of the first and second modules immediately adjacent to the wheeled base in the stacked arrangement to be locked to the cart frame.
16. A tablet storage device for holding a plurality of tablets, comprising:
a generally L-shaped cart frame including:
a power supply system for charging each of the plurality of tablets;
a wheeled base including a horizontal portion and having four sides;
only one vertical portion, the only one vertical portion extending from one of the four sides of the wheeled base, the vertical portion defining a recess; and
a translatable tray movably coupled to the horizontal portion of the wheeled base and configured to translate horizontally from a first position adjacent the vertical portion to a second position spaced away from the vertical portion;
a plurality of tablet storage modules configured to hold the plurality of tablets, each of the plurality of tablet storage modules having a respective end, and each of the plurality of tablet storage modules defining a selectively accessible interior space and having a plurality of storage slots within the interior space adapted to hold a portion of the plurality of tablets;
wherein the cart frame is adapted to removably hold the plurality of tablet storage modules in a stacked arrangement on the translatable tray coupled to the horizontal portion of the wheeled base,
wherein the recess defined by the vertical portion is configured to receive the ends of the storage modules when the translatable tray is in the first position, and
wherein the storage slots of the plurality of tablet storage modules have connectors for connecting the plurality of tablets to the power supply system.
17. The tablet storage device of claim 16, wherein:
the plurality of tablet storage modules comprises at least a first tablet storage module and at least a second tablet storage module in the stacked arrangement on the horizontal portion of the wheeled base.
18. The tablet storage device of claim 16, wherein:
the plurality of tablet storage modules comprises three or more tablet storage modules in the stacked arrangement on the horizontal portion of the wheeled base.
19. The tablet storage device of claim 17, further comprising one or more non-tablet modules in the stacked arrangement on the horizontal portion of the wheeled base.
20. The tablet storage device of claim 19, wherein the one or more non-tablet modules comprises an auxiliary storage module in the stacked arrangement on the horizontal portion of the wheeled base.