I have done mostly the first level design and simulation of analog blocks. What does characterization mean? I have a rough idea. Could someone please explain or give me some basic paper to go thru?
If you had obtain the Intermodulation Intercept Point, Noise Figure and Gain/Loss of the various analog block within your design then from which you can then calculate the overall system noise figure and IIP3.
You could find the detail calculation example in Razzavi's RF IC Design.