Validate PAL interoperability with SAS

You can test Priority Access License (PAL) functionality within Spectrum Access System (SAS) by using the following interoperability test cases. The current version of the PAL interoperability test suite is v2. The equipment vendors are assigned specific zones for testing purposes. For more information, see PAL testing zones.

To pass the PAL interoperability test with SAS, your Citizens Broadband Radio Service Device (CBSD) needs the spectrum inquiry function. The CBSDs that can't make or process spectrum inquiry won't pass the test. Make sure that you validate the test results in the Test Result spreadsheet provided by Google.

Requirements for SAS interoperability testing

To test SAS interoperability with a SAS model and its software version, you need the following:

  • Test Federal Communications Commission (FCC) IDs

    The test ID must be valid as per Part 96 FCC ID. For devices awaiting FCC certification, contact SAS Support.

  • Test user IDs

    If you're a Google SAS customer, use your existing user ID. If you're not a customer and want to test your device, contact SAS Support to approve a custom user ID to use with the SAS test environment.

  • Device test certificates

    Any CBRS device certificate works with the test SAS environment. If you don't have a test certificate for your CBSD or Domain Proxy (DP) device, contact SAS Support. The test certificates work for only the SAS test environment.

PAL test case 1: New PAL-qualified CBSD that operates inside its protected area (normal PAL operation)

This test case verifies that a CBSD requests a grant on a PAL channel when a new CBSD is registered and begins operation in an area where its operator has a PAL.

Prerequisites

Make sure that the new CBSD is registered as follows:

  • Within the borders of the county of your assigned PAL.
  • With the user ID associated with the assigned PAL.

Steps

Verify the following steps:

  1. The CBSD sends a spectrum inquiry request.
  2. The spectrum inquiry response from SAS shows that channel five is a PAL channel.

  3. The CBSD requests a grant for any PAL channel.

  4. SAS sends a grant response that shows that it's a PAL grant. You can find the following in the test SAS Portal:

    • Results
    • PAL grant on the CBSD's Status tab.
    • Associated PPA on the CBSD's Coex tab.
  5. The CBSD sends heartbeat requests to SAS periodically based on heartbeatInterval and receives heartbeat responses from SAS. The first heartbeat request must have operationState set to Granted. Google SAS recommends a 60-second heartbeatInterval.

  6. SAS responds with approval of the heartbeat request.

  7. If the previous heartbeat request is approved, the CBSD sends subsequent heartbeat requests to the CBSD periodically based on heartbeatInterval with the field operationState set to Authorized.

  8. The SAS responds with approval of the heartbeat request.

Result

The expected results from the test are listed in the following table.

Table 1. Test case 1
Receives Sends
SAS
  • Spectrum inquiry request
  • Valid grant request for the PAL channel
  • Heartbeat requests
  • Spectrum inquiry response
  • Successful grant response after the CBSD requests a grant on the PAL channel
CBSD
  • Spectrum inquiry response
  • Successful grant response
  • Successful heartbeat responses
  • Spectrum inquiry request
  • Valid grant request with the operational parameters for the PAL channel
  • Heartbeat requests

PAL test case 2a: Pre-existing PAL-qualified CBSD that moves from a GAA grant to a PAL grant on a different channel

This test case verifies how a PAL-qualified CBSD with a General Authorized Access (GAA) behaves when a valid PAL channel becomes available for another channel.

Prerequisites

Make sure that the following is true:

  • The CBSD is registered with the intermittent PAL user ID test_pal_user_id within the borders of the county of your assigned PAL. For more information, see PAL testing zones.
  • The CBSD holds a GAA grant that spans any channel except channel three (3570 MHz to 3580 MHz).
  • The CBSD is heartbeating on the GAA grant.

Steps

Verify the following steps:

  1. The test began when the CBSD automatically deactivated the intermittent PAL user ID according to the time schedule.
  2. The CBSD requests a GAA grant that spans any channel except channel three (3570 MHz to 3580 MHz).
  3. The CBSD heartbeats on the GAA grant.
  4. SAS automatically activates the intermittent PAL user ID according to the time schedule.
  5. Optional: The CBSD relinquishes its GAA grant.
  6. The CBSD sends a spectrum inquiry request.
  7. The spectrum inquiry response from SAS shows that channel three is a PAL channel.

  8. The CBSD requests a grant for PAL channel three (3570 MHz to 3580 MHz).

  9. The CBSD receives a grant response from SAS.

  10. The CBSD sends heartbeat requests to SAS periodically based on heartbeatInterval and receives heartbeat responses from SAS. The first heartbeat request must have operationState set to Granted.

  11. SAS responds with approval of the heartbeat request.

  12. If the previous heartbeat request was approved, the CBSD sends subsequent heartbeat requests to SAS periodically based on heartbeatInterval with the field operationState set to Authorized.

  13. SAS responds with approval of the heartbeat request.

Result

The expected results from the test are listed in the following table.

Table 2. Test case 2
Receives Sends Acceptable
SAS
  • Spectrum inquiry request
  • Valid grant request with the new operational parameters
  • Heartbeat requests
  • Optional: Relinquishment and registration requests
  • Spectrum inquiry response
  • Successful grant response after the CBSD requests a grant on the PAL channel
  • Optional: Relinquishment and registration responses
CBSD
  • Spectrum inquiry response
  • Successful grant response
  • Successful heartbeat responses
  • Spectrum inquiry request
  • Valid grant request with the operational parameters for the PAL channel
  • Relinquishment and registration requests, acceptable but not recommended
  • Continues to heartbeat on the previous GAA grant
  • If the CBSD has both a GAA grant and a PAL grant, it's partially PAL-protected

PAL test case 2b: Pre-existing PAL-qualified CBSD that moves from a GAA grant to a PAL grant on the same channel

A new PPA is created in an area where the CBSD is already registered and operating. This test case verifies how a PAL-qualified CBSD with a GAA grant on its PAL channel behaves when a valid PAL channel becomes available.

SAS automatically converts GAA grants into PAL grants on that same channel for PAL-qualified CBSDs. In this case, the CBSD isn't expected to take actions when it converts from GAA-only to PAL-protected.

Prerequisites

Make sure that the following is true:

  • The CBSD is registered within the borders of the county of your assigned PAL.
  • The CBSD is configured with the intermittent PAL user ID test_pal_user_id.

Steps

Verify the following steps:

  1. The test begins when SAS automatically deactivates the intermittent PAL user ID according to the time schedule.
  2. The CBSD requests a GAA grant that spans channel three (3570 MHz to 3580 MHz).
  3. The CBSD begins heartbeating on the GAA grant.

  4. SAS automatically activates the intermittent PAL user ID according to the time schedule.

  5. Optional: The CBSD makes a spectrum inquiry request after the intermittent PAL user ID becomes active.

  6. The SAS response to the spectrum inquiry request includes PAL channel three.

Result

The expected results from the test are listed in the following table.

Table 2b. Test case 2b
Receives Sends Acceptable
SAS
  • Spectrum inquiry request
  • Valid grant request with the new operational parameters
  • Heartbeat requests
  • Optional: Relinquishment and registration requests
  • Spectrum inquiry response
  • Successful grant response after the CBSD requests a grant on the PAL channel
  • Optional: Relinquishment and registration responses
CBSD
  • Spectrum inquiry response
  • Successful grant response
  • Successful heartbeat responses
  • Spectrum inquiry request
  • Valid grant request with the operational parameters for the PAL channel
Continues to heartbeat on a previous grant

PAL test case 3a: Pre-existing GAA-only CBSD that has an authorized grant on a channel that becomes a PAL channel

This test case verifies that the CBSD can successfully migrate to another channel when a PPA is created in an area and on a channel where the GAA-only CBSD operates.

Prerequisites

Make sure that you have two CBSDs as follows:

  • CBSD 1 is registered with the intermittent PAL user ID test_pal_user_id and is within the borders of the county of your assigned PAL.
  • CBSD 2 is configured with a user ID associated with your assigned PAL but hasn't been registered yet.

Steps

Verify the following steps:

  1. CBSD 1 successfully requests a GAA grant on channel five from 3590 MHz to 3600 MHz.
  2. CBSD 2 registers within 10 meters of CBSD 1 and also successfully receives a grant on channel five, which is a PAL channel.
  3. CBSD 1 sends a heartbeat request after CPAS is completed.
  4. SAS sends a heartbeat response to CBSD 1 with responseCode 500 (Terminated_Grant). The grant is terminated because the CBSD uses a GAA grant that overlaps with the PAL channel associated with the PPA where CBSD 2 is located.
  5. CBSD 1 sends a spectrum inquiry request after the grant is terminated.
  6. SAS sends a spectrum inquiry response that no longer shows the PAL channel.
  7. The CBSD requests a new grant on an available channel.

Result

The expected results from the test are listed in the following table.

Table 3a. Test case 3a
Receives Sends Acceptable
SAS
  • Heartbeat requests
  • Spectrum inquiry response
  • Grant request for a new GAA channel from CBSD 1 and grant request for a PAL channel from CBSD 2
  • Heartbeat responses
  • Spectrum inquiry response that excludes channel five after CPAS is completed
CBSD CBSD 1
  • Heartbeat responses with responseCode 0 (Success) before CPAS
  • Heartbeat responses with responseCode 500 (Terminated_Grant) after CPAS
  • Grant request for a GAA grant on channel five
  • Heartbeat requests
  • Spectrum inquiry requests to determine which channels are available
  • Grant requests for any available GAA channel
Stops transmission on the PAL channel before transmitExpireTime +60 seconds
CBSD 2
  • Registration response with responseCode 0 (Success)
  • Grant response for the requested PAL channel
  • Registration request
  • Grant request for any available PAL channel

PAL test case 3b: New GAA-only CBSD within an existing PPA that requests a GAA grant on a GAA channel

This test case verifies that the CBSD correctly responds to PAL channel guidance from SAS.

Prerequisites

Make sure that you have two CBSDs as follows:

  • CBSD 1 is configured with the intermittent PAL user ID test_pal_user_id.
  • CBSD 2 is configured with your PAL-assigned user ID and is registered within the borders of the county of your assigned PAL. It has a valid PAL grant on channel five.

Steps

Verify the following steps:

  1. CBSD 1 registers at a location within 10 meters of CBSD 2.
  2. CBSD 1 sends a spectrum inquiry to SAS.
  3. SAS responds with a spectrum inquiry that excludes PAL channel five from 3590 MHz to 3600 MHz.
  4. The CBSD sends a grant request that isn't on channel five, in accordance with the spectrum inquiry response.
  5. The CBSD receives the grant response and begins heartbeating on the grant.
  6. After the first successful heartbeat, the CBSD starts transmission on the corresponding channel and power.

Result

The expected results from the test are listed in the following table.

Table 3b. Test case 3b
Receives Sends
SAS
  • Spectrum inquiry request
  • Valid GAA grant request
  • Valid periodic heartbeat requests at least every heartbeatInterval seconds
  • Spectrum inquiry response with PAL channels omitted
  • Successful responses for all requests, with transmitExpireTime in the heartbeat responses set to a value for the duration of four minutes
CBSD 1 Successful responses for all requests
  • Spectrum inquiry request
  • Grant request on channels other than channel five
  • Periodic heartbeat requests at least every heartbeatInterval seconds

PAL test case 3c: (Optional) New GAA-only CBSD within an existing PPA that requests a GAA grant on a PAL-protected channel

This optional test case verifies that a GAA-only CBSD correctly responds when a request is granted on a PAL channel.

Prerequisites

Make sure that you have two CBSDs as follows:

  • CBSD 1 is configured with the intermittent PAL user ID test_pal_user_id.
  • CBSD 2 is configured with your PAL-assigned user ID and is registered within the borders of the county of your assigned PAL. It has a valid PAL grant on channel five.

Steps

Verify the following steps:

  1. CBSD 1 sends a GAA grant request to SAS for channel five, which is a PAL channel for CBSD 2.
  2. SAS responds and rejects the grant request with responseCode 400 (Inside exclusion zone).
  3. The CBSD performs a spectrum inquiry.
  4. SAS responds with a spectrum inquiry that excludes PAL channel five from 3590 MHz to 3600 MHz.
  5. The CBSD sends a grant request that isn't on a PAL channel, in accordance with the spectrum inquiry response.
  6. The CBSD receives the grant response and begins heartbeating on the grant.
  7. After the first successful heartbeat, the CBSD starts transmission on the corresponding channel and power.

Result

The expected results from the test are listed in the following table.

Table 3c. Test case 3c
Receives Sends Acceptable
SAS
  • Spectrum inquiry request
  • Grant requests
  • Spectrum inquiry response
  • Grant response with responseCode 400 (Interface). In this case, the CBSD is inside the PPA and requests a grant on a protected frequency.
CBSD 1 Grant response with responseCode 400 (Interface) Grant request
  • CBSD 1 shouldn't start heartbeating or transmitting.
  • Optional: CBSD 1 performs a spectrum inquiry or requests a grant on a different frequency.

What's next