RU181252U1 - RF Scanning Device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of wireless communications, and more particularly to a device for scanning radio frequencies and collecting parameters of base stations. The device comprises a scanning receiver, a signal receiver of a positioning system, an information receiving and processing unit, an information storage unit, a comparison unit, and a decision making unit. The scanning receiver is configured to obtain base station identifiers, and a decision block with the ability to set the status of base stations. EFFECT: detailed analysis of coverage with various signal quality parameters to establish the status of base stations by obtaining identifiers and other parameters characterizing the base station. 3 s.p. f-ly, 3 ill.

Description

The invention relates to the field of wireless communications, and more particularly to a device for scanning radio frequencies and collecting parameters of base stations.

A given scanning area may contain a large number of base stations, in addition, base stations with a small coverage area (for example, installed at an enterprise or at home) or non-operating can also be located in this area. In such cases, there is a need for effective monitoring of base stations in order to be able to communicate with them.

The prior art device is a frequency scanning device for capturing CDMA (RU 2331156, IPC Н04В 1/707, publ. 10.08.2008), containing means for measuring power at one or more frequencies in the frequency subspace; means for searching for a system for detecting a system at one or more frequencies when the measured power value exceeds a first threshold value; means for tuning to one or more frequencies at which the means for estimating the power measures the received power, or the means for searching detects a system; a processor for tuning means for tuning to one or more frequencies; receiving power measurements from the power estimation unit at one or more frequencies; comparing the received results of power measurements with a threshold value; managing search tools for performing a system search at one or more frequencies; receiving search results from him.

The disadvantage of this device is the lack of information about the signal quality, type of modulation and identifiers of the base station.

The closest technical solution selected as a prototype (patent RU 2478257, IPC Н04Н 60/78, published March 27, 2013) is a device for detecting and capturing a small base station, comprising: means for accessing stored access information for a small a base station, wherein the stored access information comprises supplied information for a small base station and location information corresponding to a small base station, wherein the small base station is associated with a user area of the small base station ii, and user zone small base station associated with macrosystem; means for determining proximity to a small base station based on at least location information as a trigger condition for scanning and capturing; and means for scanning and capturing a small base station using stored access information.

The disadvantages of the prototype can also be attributed to the lack of information on the type of modulation and identifiers of the base station.

Thus, the above devices allow a superficial assessment of the load of the radio air and are not suitable for a detailed analysis of coverage with various signal quality parameters.

The objective of this utility model is to monitor wireless coverage in predetermined ranges and standards, regardless of the number of cellular operators.

The technical result is a detailed analysis of coverage with various parameters of signal quality to establish the status of base stations by obtaining identifiers of base stations.

The technical result is achieved due to the fact that the device for scanning radio frequencies contains a scanning receiver configured to receive identifiers of base stations, a receiver of signals of a positioning system, a block for receiving and processing information, a block for storing information, a comparison block and a block for making decisions, which is configured to base station status settings

The utility model is illustrated by drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a general view of a device for scanning radio frequencies connected to a computer;

FIG. 2 - structure of a device for scanning radio frequencies;

FIG. 3 is an example of scanning results in several ranges of communication standards.

According to a utility model, a device for scanning radio frequencies (Fig. 2) comprises a scanning receiver (1), a receiver (2) of signals from the positioning system, an information receiving and processing unit (3), information storage unit (4), a comparison unit (5), a unit (6) decision making. To display information on the screen, the device may contain a display (not shown in the figure) or may be connected to a computer by wireless or wired connection (Fig. 1). The device for scanning radio frequencies can work autonomously, since it is equipped with a built-in battery. This device can also be located on a variety of vehicles, in particular on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for scanning remote and inaccessible places. In addition, a device for scanning radio frequencies can have several operating modes, for example: quick scan, detailed scan or search mode of false base stations. In the quick scan mode, basic data is obtained for the surrounding base stations; in the detailed scan mode, advanced special parameters are obtained, including identifiers for the surrounding base stations. The search mode for false base stations is intended for continuous monitoring of the radio air and the assessment of the legitimacy of the surrounding base stations.

The scanning receiver (1) serves to obtain information about base stations in a specific area and is configured to obtain base station identifiers. Scanning can be carried out for one or several communication standards, in particular 2G (GSM), 3G (UMTS), 4G (LTE). A device for scanning radio frequencies can also contain several scanning receivers (1), each of which can be configured to scan a specific frequency range. During the scanning process, the base stations of the selected standards are searched for and their parameters are recorded, in particular:

for GSM networks: MSS - country’s identifier of the cellular operator, MNC — identifier of the network of the cellular operator, LAC — code of the base station area, CID — identifier of the base station, ARFCN — radio frequency number, C1 — power headroom criterion, C2 — cell reselection criterion;

for UMTS networks: MCC is the identifier of the country of the cellular operator, MNC is the identifier of the network of the cellular operator, UARFCN is the radio frequency number, LAC is the area code of the base station, CU is the identifier of the base station;

for LTE networks: MCC - mobile operator country identifier, MNC - mobile operator network identifier, EARFCN - radio frequency number, PCI - physical number of the base station, TAC - base station area code, CID - base station identifier.

As indicated in the scanning process, base station identifiers are received at a certain frequency, while the scanning receiver (1) is also configured to obtain information about neighboring base stations, which is necessary to detect free frequencies, as well as to minimize the scanning time of alternative frequencies.

The received data on the identifiers of the base station are transmitted to the block (3) for receiving and processing information. This data can be displayed on the display of the device or on the computer, in addition, for a more vivid illustration, each identifier can be assigned its own color. Also, based on the received data, various graphs can be constructed, for example, a graph of the signal power level of a base station or a signal coverage map of an operator’s network, which can be compared with previously received data from base stations. In the indicated block, the received information is formatted and analyzed, in addition, encoding or decoding of information may occur.

The receiver (2) of the positioning system signals requests the geographical coordinates of the base stations to clarify the coordinates. If the analysis determined the appearance of a new base station, then information is requested from the receiver (2) of the positioning system signal to determine the geographical coordinates of the base station. As a receiver (2) of the positioning system signal, GPS or GLONASS antennas can be used.

Based on the data on the received base station identifiers, information can be obtained regarding signal quality, bandwidth, base station power, range of the base station signal, the frequency at which the base station broadcasts, as well as additional information about the surrounding base stations. Useful information that characterizes the base station is transmitted to the storage unit (4). In this case, one or more identifiers characterizing the base station are transmitted to the comparison unit (5). In this block, base station identifiers are compared with previously stored or predefined values. The comparison results are sent to the decision block (6), where the status of the base station is set, for example: working, idle or false. In this application, a non-working base station is understood to mean a station that has limitations, for example: there is no communication, the base station only works on outgoing calls, or some type of traffic of mobile devices cannot be transmitted (for example, packet data transmission). A false base station is an artificial station, it is that station that deliberately overestimates the parameters, during the analysis of which the mobile device will decide to connect to it.

The data of the scan results in the block (3) for receiving and processing information can be exported to various formats, for example: csv, txt, els to continue working in other software products. Also, this data can be sent to the storage unit (4) or to the comparison unit (5) for subsequent use or comparison of data.

The following describes an example of the operation of the device for scanning radio frequencies. When you turn on the device for scanning radio frequencies, the selection of the scanning ranges. The scanning receiver (1) is configured to search for base stations only in the ranges of cellular standards of interest, for example: 2G (GSM), 3G (UMTS), 4G (LTE), or in several ranges simultaneously. After setting up the scanning receiver (1), the scanning mode is selected. Depending on the choice of scanning mode, a different amount of data is received about the surrounding base stations. In quick scan mode, the device works faster, but a small number of base station identifiers are received. In the detailed scan mode, the device operates more slowly, but a large amount of data is received about the base stations. The search mode for false base stations is designed for continuous monitoring of the air and the detection of false base stations.

Consider an example when the scanning receiver (1) is configured to operate in only one band, for example, in 2G (GSM). As a result of scanning in the GSM range, identifiers characteristic for this range are obtained, namely: MCC - identifier of the country of the mobile operator, MNC - identifier of the network of the cellular operator, LAC - area code of the base station, CID - identifier of the base station, ARFCN - radio frequency number , C1 - power headroom criterion, C2 - cell reselection criterion, as well as obtaining more detailed information about the surrounding base stations: CRH - signal reception level hysteresis required for cell reselection, CRO - offset parameter to cell re-selection criterion, RLAM - a parameter characterizing the minimum signal level for connecting to a base station, T3212 - a parameter for monitoring the periodicity of an MPO (mobile user equipment) subscriber for a location update procedure (Location Update), information about base stations operating in specific radio frequency ranges and etc. If the scanning receiver (1) is configured to operate in a different range, then identifiers specific to it are obtained. In addition, during the scanning process, the scanning receiver (1) is simultaneously configured to obtain information about neighboring base stations, for example: CRH, CRO, RLAM, T3212, information about base stations operating in specific radio frequency bands. Thus, it is possible to determine at what frequencies base stations operate, and determine free frequencies. The received data on the identifiers of the base station are transmitted to the information reception and processing unit (3), also these data can be displayed on the device’s display or, if the scanning device is connected to a computer, then on its screen. For example, if the device operates in the search mode of false base stations, then the data is continuously scanned. This data can be displayed on the screen in the form of graphs of different colors. Each identifier can be assigned its own color. The data of the scan results in the block (3) for receiving and processing information can be exported to various formats, for example: csv, txt, els. In this block, encoding and decoding of scan results can occur, which increases the convenience of processing information when comparing data that will subsequently be transmitted to decision block (6) for setting the status of base stations. If the identifiers of a new base station are found as a result of the analysis, information is requested from the receiver (2) of the positioning system signal to determine the geographical coordinates of the base station. In the process, information is also requested to clarify the coordinates of other base stations. Part of the information that characterizes the base station, for example: MCC, MNC, ARFCN of the base station can be sent to the information storage unit (4). Another piece of information, for example: CID, LAC, C1, C2, can be sent to the comparison unit (5) for comparing the identifiers of the base station with previously stored or with predetermined values. The comparison results can be sent to decision block (6), on the basis of which the status of base stations is set. To determine the health of the base station, packet traffic can be sent. If packet traffic is not accepted by the station, then it works with restrictions. As indicated by the scanning receiver (1) is configured to obtain identifiers of neighboring base stations. At the same time, if the base station does not report information about its neighboring stations, although this should occur under tight coverage, this may indicate that the base station is false. Also, that the base station is false, it can indicate a change in the channel number with a constant pair of CID and LAC, or that the frequency remained unchanged when changing CID or LAC, or the announcement of a deliberately high CRO. All of this may indicate that the base station is false, since the false base station is masked by the unused frequency of an existing base station or the false station occupies the existing frequency, while providing a stronger signal than the original station. When working in other network standards, an analysis and comparison of the parameters characteristic of this network is carried out, it should be noted that the task of any false station in any network standard is to obtain a Location Update from the telephone to receive the necessary information from it. It is also common that a spurious station does not report information about neighboring stations.

The data of the scan results can be saved in a separate file or exported to various formats for future use. Also, scan results can be displayed on a display or on a computer screen. Thus, the network of base stations can be reflected in a certain range or in several ranges (Fig. 3), depending on how the scanning receiver is configured, and each status of the base station can also be assigned its own color. Thus, a complete network of base stations can be displayed on a display or on a computer screen. So working base stations can be marked in green, non-working - in red, and false - in orange. Old scan results can also be downloaded to make it easier to compare the results and track changes. It’s so convenient to track which new base stations have been discovered, or to learn about the location changes of previously operating base stations.

Thus, a detailed analysis of the coverage takes place to obtain complete data characterizing the base stations, namely: signal quality, throughput, base station power, range of the base station signal, the frequency at which the base station broadcasts.

Claims (4)

1. A device for scanning radio frequencies, comprising a scanning receiver configured to obtain base station identifiers, a positioning system signal receiver, a unit for receiving and processing information about base station identifiers obtained by the scanning receiver, an information storage unit, a base station identifier comparison unit with previously stored or with set values and a decision block, which is configured to set the status of base stations based on the results of data transferred from the base station identifier comparison unit with previously stored or set values in the information storage unit, while information from the base station identifier information reception and processing unit is transmitted to the information storage unit and the base station identifier comparison unit with previously stored or setpoints. 2. The device according to p. 1, characterized in that the unit for receiving and processing information about the identifiers of the base station is configured to encode and decode information. 3. The device according to p. 1, characterized in that the status of the base station is selected from the list - working, idle, false. 4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the scanning receiver is configured to obtain information about neighboring base stations.

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