CN114788332A - Communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

A communication device constituting a1 st base station installed in a forward link includes: a control unit that determines a parameter used for determining a reception timing of data by an intermediate device provided in the preamble; and a transmitting unit that transmits the parameter to the intermediate device.

Description

Communication device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a communication device corresponding to a fronthaul interface (fronthaul interface).

Background

With the aim of promoting the development and intelligence of Radio Access Networks (RANs) in the 5G era, an O-RAN Alliance (O-RAN Alliance) is established, and currently, a large number of operators/providers are joined and discussed.

In the O-RAN, various architectures are discussed, and as one of them, "open fronthaul interface (FH) that realizes interconnection between a baseband processing unit and a wireless unit among different vendors is discussed.

Specifically, in the O-RAN, as a group of functions for performing a layer 2 function, a baseband signal processing, and a Radio signal processing, an O-RAN Distributed Unit (O-DU) and an O-RAN Radio Unit (O-RU) are defined and discussed as an interface between the O-DU and the O-RU.

The O-DU is a logical node that mainly hosts (host) a radio link control layer (RLC), a medium access control layer (MAC), and a PHY-High layer based function (lower layer function). An O-RU is a logical node that mainly hosts a PHY-Low layer based on functional partitioning of a lower layer and RF processing.

In the O-RAN, a function sharing point of O-DU/O-RU is provided within a Physical (PHY) layer, and thus strict timing accuracy is required. Therefore, the FH delay management is performed, and as this method, a transmission window and a reception window are used (non-patent document 1).

In addition, in the current O-RAN FH standard, a station deployment method of configuring one cell by 1O-RU is premised. On the other hand, there is also a station deployment method of configuring one cell by a plurality of O-RUs, and the extension of the standard for the content is studied. Specifically, a configuration (FHM configuration) using an O-RU-bound device (FHM: Fronthaul Multiplexing) and a configuration (cascade configuration) in which O-RUs are consecutively connected are studied. These are collectively referred to as Shared cells (Shared cells). In the following description, FHM and intervening O-RUs (cascaded O-RUs) are collectively referred to as an intermediate device (temporary name).

Documents of the prior art

Non-patent document

Non-patent document 1: ORAN-WG4.CUS.0-v02.00", O-RAN frontaul Working Group, Control, User and Synchronization Plane Specification, O-RAN Alliance, 8.2019

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, in the Shared Cell configuration described above, the FH delay of the O-DU to intermediate device, the intermediate device to O-RU, and the like changes depending on the installation position of the intermediate device.

However, there is no mechanism to determine whether the setting position of the intermediary device is appropriate, and it is difficult to optimize the FH including the intermediary device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication device capable of determining whether or not an installation position of an intermediate device is appropriate even when a Shared Cell configuration in a Forward (FH) interface is applied.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a communication device constituting a1 st base station provided in a fronthaul, the communication device including: a control unit that determines a parameter used for determining a reception timing of data by an intermediate device provided in the preamble; and a transmitting unit that transmits the parameter to the intermediate device.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a communication apparatus constituting an intermediate apparatus provided in a fronthaul, the communication apparatus including: a control unit that executes control for determining a timing of receiving data in the intermediate device; and a receiving unit configured to receive a parameter used for determining the reception timing from the 1 st base station provided in the preamble.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a radio communication system 10 according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the gNB100 that uses the Forward (FH) interface according to the embodiment.

Fig. 3A is a diagram showing a configuration example of the fronthaul (frontaul) according to the embodiment (without the intermediary device).

Fig. 3B is a diagram showing a configuration example (presence of an intermediate apparatus and FHM arrangement) of the forward link according to the embodiment.

Fig. 3C is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the forwarding according to the embodiment (presence of an intermediate device and cascade configuration).

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing various signals in the forward transfer (FH) between the O-DU110 to the O-RU120 according to the embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram of the O-DU110 according to the embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a functional block diagram of the intermediate device 130 according to the embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of delay management of forwarding in UL according to the embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of delay management of forwarding in DL according to the embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the counter according to the embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating a radio communication method according to the embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of delay management of UL forwarding according to modification 1.

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of delay management of forwarding in DL according to modification 1.

Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the O-DU110 and the intermediate device 130.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described based on the drawings. The same or similar reference numerals are given to the same functions and structures, and the description thereof is appropriately omitted.

[ embodiment ]

(1) General overall structure of wireless communication system

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the entire radio communication system 10 according to the present embodiment. In the embodiment, the Radio communication system 10 is a Radio communication system according to a New Radio (NR) 5G, and includes a Next Generation Radio Access Network 20 (hereinafter, referred to as NG-RAN 20) and a terminal 200(User Equipment 200, hereinafter, referred to as UE 200).

The NG-RAN 20 includes a radio base station 100 (hereinafter referred to as a gNB 100). The specific configuration of the wireless communication system 10 including the number of gnbs and UEs is not limited to the example shown in fig. 1.

The NG-RAN 20 actually includes a plurality of NG-RAN nodes (NG-RAN nodes), specifically, a plurality of gnbs (or NG-enbs), and is connected to a Core network under 4G (Evolved Packet Core, not shown) or a Core network under 5G (5GC, not shown). In addition, the NG-RANs 20 and 5GC may be simply expressed as "networks".

The gNB100 is a radio base station under 5G, and performs radio communication under 5G with the UE 200. The gNB100 and the UE 200 can support Massive MIMO in which beams having higher directivity are generated by controlling radio signals transmitted from a plurality of antenna elements, Carrier Aggregation (CA) in which a plurality of Component Carriers (CCs) are bundled, Dual Connectivity (DC) in which communication is simultaneously performed between the UE and two NG-RAN nodes, respectively, and the like.

Further, in an embodiment, the gNB100 employs a forward-bound (FH) interface defined by the O-RAN.

(2) Structure of forward pass (Fronthaul)

Fig. 2 shows an example of the internal structure of the gNB100 using a Forward (FH) interface. As shown in FIG. 2, the gNB100 includes O-DUs 110(O-RAN Distributed Unit: O-RAN Distributed Unit) and O-RUs 120(O-RAN Radio Unit: O-RAN Wireless Unit). The O-DUs 110 and O-RUs 120 are functionally separated (Function split) within the Physical (PHY) layer specified by 3 GPP.

The O-DU110 may also be referred to as an O-RAN decentralized unit. The O-DU110 is a logical node that mainly hosts (host) a radio link control layer (RLC), a medium access control layer (MAC), and a PHY-High layer based on a lower layer function (lower layer function). Here, the O-DU110 is disposed on the side close to the NG-RAN 20 with respect to the O-RU 120. Hereinafter, the side close to the NG-RAN 20 may be referred to as a RAN side.

The O-RU120 may also be referred to as an O-RAN radio unit. The O-RU120 is a logical node that mainly hosts a PHY-Low layer based on functional partitioning of a lower layer and RF processing. Here, the O-RU is disposed on the side far from the NG-RAN 20 with respect to the O-DU 110. Hereinafter, the side away from the NG-RAN 20 is sometimes referred to as the radio (air) side.

The PHY-High layer is part of the PHY processing of the Forward interface in the O-DU110 side, Forward Error Correction (FEC) encoding/decoding, scrambling, modulation/demodulation, etc.

The PHY-Low layer is part of PHY processing of the fronthaul interface in the O-RU120 side, such as Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)/iFFT, digital beamforming, Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) extraction and filtering.

The O-CU is a short for O-RAN Control Unit, and is a logical node hosting (host) a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP), a Radio Resource Control (RRC), a Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP), and other Control functions.

The forward link (FH) can be interpreted as a link between a baseband processing unit of a radio base station (base station apparatus) and the radio apparatus, and an optical fiber or the like can be used.

(3) Shared Cell configuration

As described above, in the O-RAN, there is also a stationing method of configuring one cell by a plurality of O-RUs, and a configuration of using a device (FHM) that bundles O-RUs, and a configuration of continuously connecting O-RUs (cascade configuration) are being studied. These are collectively referred to as Shared cells.

Fig. 3A to 3C show a configuration example of the forwarding. Fig. 3A is an example of configuring one cell by 1O-RU. In contrast, fig. 3B and 3C show examples of Shared Cell configurations.

Specifically, fig. 3B shows an example of a configuration using the FHM 130. Further, FIG. 3C shows an example of cascade connection with the O-RU 130A interposed between the O-DU110 and the O-RU 120.

In the case of FIG. 3B, FHM 130 synthesizes (combine) the 2 FH signals from each O-RU120 before sending them to O-DU 110. In this case, the O-DU110 is an example of a1 st base station installed on the RAN side of the FHM 130, and the O-RU120 is an example of a2 nd base station installed on the air side of the FHM 130.

In addition, in the case of fig. 3C, the O-RU 130A synthesizes a signal received by the O-RU 130A (O-RU (1)) itself in the radio zone with the FH signal received from the O-RU120 (O-RU (2)), and then transmits the synthesized signal to the O-DU 110. In this case, the O-DU110 is an example of the 1 st base station installed on the RAN side of the FHM 130, and the O-RU120 (O-RU (2)) is an example of the 2 nd base station installed on the air side of the FHM 130.

In the following description, the FHM 130 and the O-RU 130A will be collectively referred to as the intermediate apparatus 130. However, the name of the intermediate device may be referred to by other names. The intermediate device 130 is provided on the air side of the O-DU110 constituting the 1 st base station and on the RAN side of the O-RU120 constituting the 2 nd base station.

As a feature of this Shared Cell configuration, the intermediary 130 forwards DL signals received from the O-DU110 (1 st base station) to the O-RU120 (2 nd base station) for the Downlink (DL). In addition, in case of the cascade connection of the O-RU, the intermediate device 130 may transmit a DL signal of the O-RU itself.

Also, for the Uplink (UL), the intermediate device 130 synthesizes UL signals received from the O-RU120 (base station No. 2) and forwards the synthesized signals to the O-DU110 (base station No. 1). In the case of cascade connection of O-RUs, radio signals received by the O-RUs themselves are also synthesized together.

With this feature, the O-DU110 can perform signal processing as in the case where one O-RU is connected.

(4) Various signals between O-DU-O-RU

FIG. 4 illustrates various signals in a forward pass (FH) between O-DUs 110 to O-RUs 120. As shown in fig. 4, signals in a plurality of planes are transceived between the O-DUs 110 to 120.

Specifically, the U/C/M/S-plane signal is transmitted and received. The C-Plane is a protocol for forwarding control signals and the U-Plane is a protocol for forwarding user data. Further, S-Plane is a protocol for implementing Synchronization (Synchronization) between devices. The M-Plane is a management Plane that handles maintenance monitoring signals.

More specifically, the U-Plane signal includes a (DL) signal transmitted to the radio section from the O-RU120 and a (UL) signal received via the radio section, and is alternated with a digital IQ signal (digital IQ signal). Note that in addition to so-called U-Plane signals (data such as User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)), all of C-planes (RRC, Non-Access Stratum (NAS)) defined in 3GPP are U-planes from the FH viewpoint.

The C-Plane signal includes various signals necessary for control related to transmission and reception of the U-Plane signal (signals for notifying information related to radio resource mapping and beamforming of the corresponding U-Plane). In addition, it should be noted that the reference is a signal completely different from C-Plane (RRC, NAS, etc.) defined in 3 GPP.

The M-Plane signal contains signals required for management of the O-DU 110/O-RU 120. For example, the signals are used to notify the O-RU120 of various Hardware (HW) capabilities of the O-RU120 or to notify the O-RU120 of various set values from the O-DU 110.

The S-Plane signal is a signal required for synchronization control between the O-DU 110/O-RU 120.

(5) Functional block structure of wireless communication system

Next, a functional block configuration of the radio communication system 10 will be described. Specifically, the functional block structures of O-DU110 and intermediate apparatus 130 will be described.

(5.1)O-DU 110

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the function blocks of the O-DU 110. As shown in fig. 5, O-DU110 includes communication unit 111, acquisition unit 113, notification unit 115, and control unit 117.

The communication section 111 performs communication with the O-RU120 and the intermediate device 130. Specifically, the communication unit 111 is connected to an FH line and can transmit and receive signals of various planes as shown in fig. 4.

The acquisition unit 113 acquires various parameters. For example, the acquisition unit 113 may acquire the following parameters for the UL signal.

The parameters may include parameters (Ta4_ min, Ta4_ max) that define the Reception window (UL) of the O-DU 110. The parameters (Ta4_ min, Ta4_ max) may be interpreted as measurements from the reception in the O-RU antenna until the reception in the O-DU port (R4). The parameters (Ta4_ min, Ta4_ max) may be Measured by a delayed measurement message (Measured Transport Method).

The parameters may include parameters (Ta3_ min, Ta3_ max) that define a Transmission window (UL) for the O-RU 120. The parameters (Ta3_ min, Ta3_ max) may be interpreted as measurements from the O-RU antenna received into the output in the O-RU port (R3). The parameters (Ta3_ min, Ta3_ max) are an example of the capability information of the O-RU 120. Parameters (Ta3_ min, Ta3_ max) may be received from the O-RU 120.

The parameter may include a parameter (T34_ min) indicating a difference between Ta4_ min and Ta3_ min. The parameter may include a parameter (T34_ max) indicating a difference between Ta4_ max and Ta3_ max.

As the parameter, a parameter (e.g., T _ Comb) indicating the processing time of the intermediate device 130 may be acquired. Parameters (e.g., T _ Comb) may be received from intermediary device 130. The processing time within the intermediary device 130 may be interpreted as the time within the intermediary device 130 required to synthesize (combine) the FH signals received from the plurality of O-RUs 120 in the intermediary device 130. The processing time may be obtained by adding a certain margin to the time required for the processing itself. The processing time may be referred to by other names, such as action time, internal delay, processing delay, composition time, and the like.

The parameters may be parameters (e.g., T _ FH1_ min and T _ FH1_ max) indicating the delay time between the intermediate device 130 and the O-DU 110. The parameters (e.g., T _ FH1_ min, T _ FH1_ max) may be measured or calculated from the UL signal by O-DU 110. Hereinafter, FH between the intermediate device 130 and the O-DU110 is referred to as FH 1.

For the parameters, parameters (e.g., T _ FH2_ min, T _ FH2_ max) indicating the delay time between the O-RU120 and the intermediary apparatus 130 may be obtained. The parameters (e.g., T _ FH2_ min, T _ FH2_ max) may be measured or calculated by the intermediary 130 according to the UL signal. The parameters (e.g., T _ FH2_ min, T _ FH2_ max) may be received from the intermediary 130. Hereinafter, FH between the O-RU120 and the intermediate device 130 is referred to as FH 2.

The acquisition unit 113 may acquire parameters as described below for the DL signal.

The parameters may include parameters (Ta1_ min, Ta1_ max) that define a Transmission window (DL) of the O-DU 110. The parameters (Ta1_ min, Ta1_ max) can be interpreted as measurements from the output in the O-DU port (R1) until wireless transmission. The parameters (Ta1_ min, Ta1_ max) can be Measured by means of a delayed measurement message (Measured Transport Method).

The parameters may include parameters (Ta2_ min, Ta2_ max) for defining a Reception window (DL) of the O-RU 120. The parameters (Ta2_ min, Ta2_ max) may be interpreted as measurements from the O-RU port (R2) until the reception of a wireless transmission. The parameters (Ta2_ min, Ta2_ max) are an example of the capability information of the O-RU 120. Parameters (Ta2_ min, Ta2_ max) may be received from the O-RU 120.

The parameter may include a parameter (T12_ min) representing a difference between Ta1_ min and Ta2_ min. The parameter may include a parameter (T12_ max) representing a difference between Ta1_ max and Ta2_ max.

As for the parameter, a parameter (for example, T _ Copy) indicating the processing time of the intermediate apparatus 130 may be retrieved. A parameter (e.g., T _ Copy) may be received from the intermediary device 130. The processing time within the intermediary device 130 may be interpreted as the time within the intermediary device 130 required to replicate (copy) the FH signals transmitted to the plurality of O-RUs 120 in the intermediary device 130. The processing time may be obtained by adding a certain margin to the time required for copying itself. The processing time may be referred to by other names, such as action time, internal delay, processing delay, replication time, and the like.

The parameters may be parameters (e.g., T _ FH1_ min and T _ FH1_ max) indicating the delay time between the intermediate device 130 and the O-DU 110. The parameters (e.g., T _ FH1_ min, T _ FH1_ max) may be measured or calculated by the intermediary 130 from the DL signal. Parameters (e.g., T _ FH1_ min, T _ FH1_ max) may be received from the intermediary 130.

For the parameters, parameters (e.g., T _ FH2_ min, T _ FH2_ max) indicating the delay time between the O-RU120 and the intermediary device 130 may be obtained. The parameters (e.g., T _ FH2_ min, T _ FH2_ max) may be measured or calculated by the O-RU120 from the DL signal. Parameters (e.g., T _ FH2_ min, T _ FH2_ max) may be received from the O-RU 120.

In addition, min, max may represent the minimum and maximum values of the propagation delay. Further, the propagation delay may also be referred to by other names, such as transfer delay, transfer time, delay time, forwarding delay, and the like.

The notification unit 115 notifies each piece of information. For example, the notification unit 115 notifies the intermediate device 130 of parameters (e.g., TH _ min and TH _ max) for determining the reception timing of the data in the intermediate device 130. As described below, the parameters (e.g., TH _ min, TH _ max) are determined according to the processing time (e.g., T _ Comb, T _ Copy) within the intermediary device 130. In the embodiment, the notification unit 115 constitutes a transmission unit that transmits parameters (e.g., TH _ min, TH _ max) to the intermediate device 130.

The control unit 117 controls the values of various parameters used for FH. In particular, in the embodiment, the control unit 117 controls the value of the propagation delay between the O-DU110 to the O-RU120 (including the case where the intermediate device 130 intervenes).

For example, the control unit 117 may determine the reception window (Ta4_ min, Ta4_ max) to be applied to the O-DU110 itself for the UL signal based on the propagation delays (T34_ min, T34_ max) between the O-DUs 110 to 120. Similarly, the control unit 117 may determine the transmission windows (Ta1_ min and Ta1_ max) to be applied to the O-DU110 itself for the DL signal, based on the DL propagation delays (T12_ min and T12_ max) between the O-DU110 and the O-RU 120.

In the embodiment, the control unit 117 constitutes a control unit that determines parameters (e.g., TH _ min and TH _ max) for determining the reception timing of data in the intermediate device 130. The control unit 117 may determine parameters (e.g., TH _ min and TH _ max) according to the processing time (e.g., T _ Comb and T _ Copy) in the intermediate device 130. The control unit 117 may determine the parameters based on the capability information of the O-RU 120. The control unit 117 may determine the parameter according to the delay time between the intermediate device 130 and the O-DU 110. The control unit 117 may determine a parameter according to a delay time between the O-RU120 and the intermediate device 130.

For example, as shown in fig. 7, the control unit 117 may determine parameters (e.g., TH _ min and TH _ max) according to the following expressions for the UL signal.

TH_min＝Ta3_min+T_FH2_min

TH_max＝Ta4_max-T_FH1_max-T_Comb

Ta3_ min is an example of capability information for the O-RU 120. T _ FH2_ min is the minimum value of the delay time between the O-RU120 and the intermediary device 130. Ta4_ max is the sum of Ta3_ max and T34_ max. Ta3_ max is an example of capability information for O-RU 120. T34_ max is the maximum value of the propagation delay associated with the UL signal between the O-DU110 and the O-RU 120. T _ FH1_ max is the maximum value of the delay time between the intermediary device 130 and the O-DU 110. T _ Comb is the processing time of the intermediate device 130.

As shown in fig. 7, the parameters (TH _ min, TH _ max) may be considered as parameters defining a reception window of the intermediate device 130 related to the UL signal. The parameters (TH _ min, TH _ max) may be threshold values for determining the reception timing of the UL signal.

In addition, with respect to TH _ min, Ta3_ min may be used without considering T _ FH2_ min (that is, TH _ min may be Ta3_ min).

The expressions for calculating TH _ min and TH _ max are not limited to the above expressions. The expressions for calculating TH _ min and TH _ max may be replaced within a range that satisfies the relationship shown in fig. 7. In this case, the minimum value of the propagation delay (e.g., T _ FH1_ min, T _ FH2_ min) may not be considered in calculating the expressions of TH _ min and TH _ max. In other words, the minimum value of the delay time (e.g., T _ FH1_ min, T _ FH2_ min) may be set to zero.

Similarly, as shown in fig. 8, the control unit 117 may determine parameters (e.g., TH _ min and TH _ max) for the DL signal according to the following expressions.

TH_min＝Ta1_max-T_FH1_min(＝T2a_max+T_FH2_min+T_copy)

TH_max＝Ta1_min-T_FH1_max(＝T2a_min+T_FH2_max+T_copy)

Ta1_ max is the sum of Ta2_ max and T12_ min. Ta2_ max is an example of capability information for the O-RU 120. T12_ min is the minimum value of the propagation delay associated with the DL signal between the O-DU110 and the O-RU120 (i.e., T _ FH1_ min + T _ Copy + T _ FH2_ min). T _ FH1_ min is the minimum value of the delay time between the intermediary device 130 and the O-DU 110. Ta1_ min is the sum of Ta2_ min and T12_ max. Ta2_ min is an example of capability information for the O-RU 120. T12_ max is the maximum value of the propagation delay associated with the DL signal between the O-DU110 and the O-RU120 (i.e., T _ FH1_ max + T _ Copy + T _ FH2_ max). FH2_ max is the maximum value of the delay time between the O-RU120 and the intermediary device 130. T _ Copy is the processing time of the intermediate device 130.

As shown in fig. 8, the parameters (TH _ min, TH _ max) may be considered as parameters defining a reception window of the intermediate device 130 related to the UL signal. The parameters (TH _ min, TH _ max) may be threshold values for determining the reception timing of the DL signal.

In addition, as for TH _ max, Ta1_ max may be used without considering T _ FH1_ min (that is, TH _ min may be Ta3_ min).

The numerical expressions for calculating TH _ min and TH _ max are not limited to the above numerical expressions. The expressions for calculating TH _ min and TH _ max may be replaced within a range that satisfies the relationship shown in fig. 8. In this case, the minimum value of the propagation delay (e.g., T _ FH1_ min, T _ FH2_ min) may not be considered in calculating the expressions of TH _ min and TH _ max. In other words, the minimum value of the propagation delay (e.g., T _ FH1_ min, T _ FH2_ min) may be set to zero.

(5.2) intermediate device 130

Fig. 6 is a functional block diagram of the intermediate device 130. As shown in fig. 6, the intermediate device 130 is provided in the FH and includes a communication unit 131, a notification unit 133, an acquisition unit 135, and a control unit 137.

The communication section 131 performs communication with the O-DU110 and the O-RU 120. Specifically, the communication unit 131 is connected to the FH line and can transmit and receive signals of various planes shown in fig. 4.

The notification unit 133 notifies each piece of information. For example, the notification unit 133 notifies the O-DU110 of parameters (e.g., T _ Comb and T _ Copy) indicating the processing time of the intermediate device 130.

The acquisition unit 135 acquires various parameters. For example, the acquisition unit 135 acquires parameters (e.g., TH _ min and TH _ max) for determining the reception timing of data in the intermediate device 130. In the embodiment, the acquisition unit 135 constitutes a reception unit that receives parameters (e.g., TH _ min, TH _ max) from the O-DU 110.

The control unit 137 constitutes a control unit that executes control for determining the timing of receiving data in the intermediate device 130. Specifically, the control unit 137 executes control for determining the timing of receiving data based on the parameters (TH _ min, TH _ max) received from the O-DU 110. For example, the control unit 137 may determine whether or not data is received at a timing earlier than the timing defined by the parameter (TH _ min) based on the parameter (TH _ min) received from the O-DU 110. The control unit 137 may determine whether or not data is received at a timing later than the timing defined by the parameter (TH _ max) based on the parameter (TH _ max) received from the O-DU 110.

Here, the control unit 137 may have a counter (Performance counter (s)) shown in fig. 9. For example, the control section 137 may have a counter (e.g., Rx _ on _ time _ for _ shared _ cell) that counts the number of times data is received at an appropriate timing. The appropriate timing is later than the timing defined by the parameter (TH _ min) and earlier than the timing defined by the parameter (TH _ max). The control section 137 may have a counter (Rx _ early _ for _ shared _ cell) that counts the number of times data is received at a timing earlier than the timing defined by the parameter (TH _ min). The control unit 137 may have a counter (Rx _ late _ for _ shared _ cell) that counts the number of times data is received at a timing later than the timing defined by the parameter (TH _ max).

However, the name and meaning of the counter shown in fig. 9 may be arbitrary. For example, the names (Rx _ on _ time, Rx _ early, Rx _ late) of counters (Performance counters (s)) defined in ORAN-WG4.CUS.0-v02.00, and the like may be used. The count value thus counted is used to determine whether the setting position of the intermediate device 130 is appropriate. For example, the carrier may change the installation position of the intermediate device 130 based on the count value.

When the intermediate device 130 also functions as an O-RAN, the intermediate device 130 may have both a counter used as the intermediate device 130 and a counter used as the O-RAN. The counter used as the O-RAN may be a counter (Performance counter (s)) defined in ora-wg4. cus.0-v 02.00.

(6) Operation of a wireless communication system

Next, an operation of the radio communication system 10 will be described. Specifically, the operation between O-DU110 to O-RU120 (including intermediate device 130) constituting gNB100 will be described.

As shown in fig. 10, in step S10, the O-DU110 receives parameters (e.g., T _ Comb, T _ Copy) indicating a processing time of the intermediate device 130 from the intermediate device 130. The O-DU110 may also receive parameters (e.g., T _ FH1_ min, T _ FH1_ max) indicative of the delay time between the intermediary device 130 and the O-DU 110.

In step S11, the O-DU110 receives parameters (e.g., T3a _ min, T3a _ max, T2a _ min, T2a _ max) indicating capability information of the O-RU 120. The O-DU110 may receive parameters (e.g., T _ FH2_ min, T _ FH2_ max) indicating delay times for the O-RU120 and the intermediary device 130.

In step S12, the O-DU110 determines parameters (e.g., TH _ min and TH _ max) for determining the reception timing of the data in the intermediate device 130. The O-DU110 may determine parameters according to the processing time of the intermediate device 130. The O-DU110 may also decide parameters according to the capability information of the O-RU 120. The O-DU110 may determine the parameters according to the delay time between the intermediate device 130 and the O-DU 110. The O-DU110 may also determine parameters based on the delay time between the O-RU120 and the intermediary device 130.

In step S13, the O-DU110 transmits the parameters (e.g., TH _ min, TH _ max) determined in step S12 to the intermediate device 130.

In step S14, the intermediary device 130 determines the reception timing of the data from the parameters (e.g., TH _ min, TH _ max) received in step S13. For example, as illustrated in fig. 9, the intermediary 130 may count the number of times data is received at the appropriate timing. The intermediary 130 may count the number of times data is received at a timing earlier than the timing defined by the parameter (TH _ min). The intermediate device 130 may also count the number of times data is received at a timing later than the timing defined by the parameter (TH _ max).

(7) Action and Effect

In an embodiment, the O-DU110 may determine parameters (e.g., TH _ min, TH _ max) for determining the reception timing of data in the intermediate device 130, and transmit the determined parameters to the intermediate device 130. With this configuration, the intermediate device 130 can appropriately determine the timing of receiving data. Further, it is possible to determine whether the installation position of the intermediate device 130 is appropriate.

In an embodiment, the parameters (e.g., TH _ min, TH _ max) may be determined according to a processing time of the intermediate device 130. With this configuration, it is possible to set an appropriate parameter as a parameter for determining the reception timing of data in the intermediate device 130.

In an embodiment, the parameters (e.g., TH _ min, TH _ max) may be determined according to the capability information of the O-RU120, may be determined according to the delay time between the intermediary apparatus 130 and the O-DU110, or may be determined according to the delay time between the O-RU120 and the intermediary apparatus 130 by the O-DU 110. With this configuration, appropriate parameters can be further set.

In the embodiment, by introducing a new mechanism (for example, a counter shown in fig. 9) for determining the reception timing of data in the intermediate device 130, it is possible to determine whether or not the installation position of the intermediate device 130 is appropriate.

[ modification 1]

Modification 1 of the embodiment will be described below. Differences from the embodiment will be mainly described below.

In the embodiment, the case where one O-RU120 is provided on the air side of the intermediate apparatus 130 is exemplified. In contrast, in modification 1, a case where two or more O-RUs 120 are provided on the air side of the intermediate device 130 will be described. Since DL signals can be considered as similar to UL signals, UL signals are described as an example herein.

As shown in FIG. 11, O- RUs 120X and 120Y are provided on the air side of the intermediate device 130. Here, FH between the O-DU110 and the middleware 130 is referred to as FH1, FH between the middleware 130 and the O-RU120X is referred to as FH2-1, and FH between the middleware 130 and the O-RU 120Y is referred to as FH 2-2. In FIG. 11, a case is illustrated where the propagation delay of FH2-1 is greater than the propagation delay of FH 2-2.

In such a case, as in the embodiment, the O-DU110 determines parameters (e.g., TH _ min and TH _ max) for determining the reception timing of data in the intermediate device 130.

Here, the O-DU110 may determine TH _ min based on the O-RU 120Y having a small propagation delay. The O-DU110 may determine TH _ max based on the O-RU120X having a large propagation delay. Therefore, TH _ min and TH _ max can be expressed by the following expressions.

TH_min＝Ta3_min(O-RU 120Y)+T_FH2-2_min

TH_max＝Ta4_max-T_FH1_max-T_Comb

Here, Ta4_ max is the sum of Ta3_ max (O-RU 120X) and T34_ max (O-RU 120X). T34_ max (O-RU 120X) is the sum of T _ FH2-1max, T _ Comb (O-RU 120X), and T _ FH1_ max.

The idea of modification 1 can also be applied to a case where three or more O-RUs 120 are provided on the air side of the intermediate device 130. That is, TH _ min is determined based on the O-RU120 with the smallest propagation delay, and TH _ max is determined based on the O-RU120 with the largest propagation delay.

[ modification 2]

Modification example 2 of the embodiment will be described below. The following description mainly deals with differences in the embodiments.

In the embodiment, a case where one intermediate device 130 is provided between the O-DU110 and the O-RU120 is exemplified. In contrast, in modification 2, the case where two or more intermediate devices 130 are provided in series between the O-DU110 and the O-RU120 is exemplified. Since DL signals can be considered as similar to UL signals, UL signals are described as an example herein.

As shown in fig. 12, an intermediate device 130P and an intermediate device 130Q are provided in series between the O-DU110 and the O-RU 120. Here, FH between the O-DU110 and the intermediate device 130P is referred to as FH1, FH between the intermediate device 130P and the intermediate device 130Q is referred to as FH2, and FH between the intermediate device 130Q and the O-RU120X is referred to as FH 3.

In this case, the O-DU110 determines parameters (TH _ min and TH _ max) for the intermediate device 130P and the intermediate device 130Q, respectively. Referred to as th (P) _ min and th (P) _ max for the parameters used in the intermediate device 130P, and referred to as th (Q) _ min and th (Q) _ max for the parameters used in the intermediate device 130Q. For example, these parameters can be expressed by the following numerical expressions shown in fig. 12.

Th (p) _ min ═ Ta3_ min + T _ FH3_ min + T _ Comb (intermediate device 130Q) + T _ FH2_ min

Th (P) _ max ═ Ta4_ max-T _ FH1_ max-T _ Comb (intermediate device 130P)

TH(q)_min＝Ta3_min+T_FH3_min

Th (P) _ max ═ Ta4_ max-T _ FH1_ max-T _ Comb (intermediate device 130P) -T _ FH2_ max-T _ Comb (intermediate device 130Q)

The idea of modification 2 can also be applied to a case where three or more intermediate devices 130 are provided between the O-DU110 and the O-RU 120.

[ other embodiments ]

While the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to these descriptions, and various modifications and improvements can be made.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, TH _ min and TH _ max are used as names of parameters for determining the reception timing of data in the intermediate device 130. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, TH _ min may be referred to as a start timing of a reception window of the intermediate device 130, and may also be referred to as a parameter defining the start timing. Likewise, TH _ max may be referred to as an end timing of a reception window of the intermediate device 130, and may also be referred to as a parameter defining the end timing. The term "reception window of the intermediate device 130" may be referred to as a waiting time of the intermediate device 130 when two or more O-RAs 130 are provided on the air side of the intermediate device 130.

In the above-described embodiment, TH _ min and TH _ max are notified from the O-DU110 to the intermediate device 130 as parameters for determining the reception timing. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, information known to the intermediary device 130 (e.g., max-T _ Comb) may not be notified. For example, when taking TH _ max as an example, if "Ta 4_ max-T _ FH1_ max" has already been notified to the intermediate device 130, the amount of signaling from the O-DU110 to the intermediate device 130 can be reduced by omitting the notification of "max-T _ Comb".

In the above-described embodiment, as shown in fig. 3B and 3C, as the intermediate apparatus 130, an example of applying an FHM or an O-RU (tandem connection) is separately illustrated, but on the same FH, an FHM and an O-RU based on tandem connection may be compositely configured.

In the above-described embodiment, the configuration of the FH according to the O-RAN standard was described, but the FH does not necessarily have to be according to the O-RAN standard. For example, at least a portion of the O-DUs 110, O-RUs 120, and intermediary 130 may be in accordance with standards for FH as specified in the 3 GPP.

The block diagrams (fig. 5 and 6) used in the description of the above embodiment show blocks in units of functions. These functional blocks (components) are realized by any combination of at least one of hardware and software. The method of implementing each functional block is not particularly limited. That is, each functional block may be implemented by one apparatus that is physically or logically combined, or may be implemented by two or more apparatuses that are physically or logically separated and directly or indirectly (for example, by using a wired line, a wireless line, or the like) connected to each other, and by using these plural apparatuses. The functional blocks may also be implemented by a combination of software and one or more of the above-described devices.

The functions include judgment, decision, judgment, calculation, processing, derivation, investigation, search, confirmation, reception, transmission, output, access, resolution, selection, establishment, comparison, assumption, expectation, viewing, broadcasting (broadcasting), notification (notification), communication (communicating), forwarding (forwarding), configuration (configuring), reconfiguration (reconfiguring), allocation (allocating, mapping), assignment (assigning), and the like, but are not limited thereto. For example, a function block (a configuration unit) that functions transmission is referred to as a transmission unit (transmitter) or a transmitter (transmitter). In short, as described above, the method of implementation is not particularly limited.

The O-DU110 and the intermediate device 130 (the devices) described above may also function as a computer that performs the processing of the wireless communication method of the present disclosure. Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the apparatus. As shown in fig. 13, the apparatus may be a computer apparatus including a processor 1001, a memory 1002(memory), a storage 1003(storage), a communication apparatus 1004, an input apparatus 1005, an output apparatus 1006, a bus 1007, and the like.

In the following description, the term "device" may be replaced with "circuit", "device", "unit", and the like. The hardware configuration of the apparatus may include one or more of the illustrated apparatuses, or may be configured as an apparatus including no part.

Each functional block (see fig. 5 and 6) of the apparatus is realized by an arbitrary hardware element of the computer apparatus or a combination of the hardware elements.

In addition, each function in the device is realized by the following method: when predetermined software (program) is read into hardware such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002, the processor 1001 performs an operation to control communication of the communication device 1004 or at least one of reading and writing of data in the memory 1002 and the storage 1003.

The processor 1001 operates, for example, an operating system to control the entire computer. The processor 1001 may be configured by a Central Processing Unit (CPU) including an interface with a peripheral device, a control device, an arithmetic device, a register, and the like.

Further, the processor 1001 reads out a program (program code), a software module, data, or the like from at least one of the memory 1003 and the communication device 1004 to the memory 1002, and executes various processes in accordance therewith. As the program, a program that causes a computer to execute at least a part of the operations described in the above-described embodiments is used. In addition, although the various processes described above are described as being executed by one processor 1001, the various processes described above may be executed simultaneously or sequentially by two or more processors 1001. The processor 1001 may also be mounted by more than one chip. In addition, the program may also be transmitted from the network via a telecommunication line.

The Memory 1002 is a computer-readable recording medium, and may be configured by at least one of a Read Only Memory (ROM), an Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), and the like. Memory 1002 may also be referred to as registers, cache, main memory (primary storage), etc. The memory 1002 can store a program (program code), a software module, and the like that can execute the method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

The storage 1003 is a computer-readable recording medium, and may be constituted by at least one of an optical disk such as a CD-rom (compact Disc rom), a hard disk drive, a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk (for example, a compact Disc, a digital versatile Disc, a Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc, a smart card, a flash memory (for example, a card, a stick, a Key drive), a Floppy (registered trademark) Disc, a magnetic stripe, and the like.

The communication device 1004 is hardware (a transmitting/receiving device) for performing communication between computers via at least one of a wired network and a wireless network, and may be referred to as a network device, a network controller, a network card, a communication module, or the like.

Communication apparatus 1004 may be configured to include a high-Frequency switch, a duplexer, a filter, a Frequency synthesizer, and the like, for example, in order to realize at least one of Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD).

The input device 1005 is an input device (for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a switch, a key, a sensor, and the like) for receiving an input from the outside. The output device 1006 is an output device (for example, a display, a speaker, an LED lamp, or the like) that outputs to the outside. The input device 1005 and the output device 1006 may be integrally configured (for example, a touch panel).

The processor 1001 and the memory 1002 are connected to each other via a bus 1007 for communicating information. The bus 1007 may be configured by using a single bus, or may be configured by using different buses for each device.

The apparatus may include hardware such as a microprocessor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), and a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), and a part or all of the functional blocks may be realized by the hardware. For example, the processor 1001 may also be installed using at least one of these hardware.

Further, the notification of information is not limited to the form/embodiment described in the present disclosure, and may be performed using other methods. For example, the notification of the Information may be performed by physical layer signaling (e.g., Downlink Control Information (DCI), Uplink Control Information (UCI)), higher layer signaling (e.g., RRC signaling, Medium Access Control (MAC) signaling, broadcast Information (Master Information Block (MIB), System Information Block (SIB)), other signals, or a combination thereof).

The forms/embodiments described in the present disclosure may also be applied to Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-A (LTE-Advanced), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, fourth generation mobile communication system (4th generation mobile communication system: 4G), fifth generation mobile communication system (5th generation mobile communication system: 5G), Future Radio Access (FRA), New Radio: NR), W-CDMA (registered trademark), GSM (registered trademark), CDMA 2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11(Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.16(WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.20, UWB (Ultra-WideBand), Bluetooth (registered trademark), a system using other appropriate systems, and a next generation system expanded accordingly. Furthermore, a plurality of systems (for example, a combination of 5G and at least one of LTE and LTE-a) may be combined and applied.

For the processing procedures, timings, flows, and the like of the respective forms/embodiments described in the present disclosure, the order may be changed without contradiction. For example, elements of the various steps are suggested using an exemplary sequence for the methods described in this disclosure, but are not limited to the particular sequence suggested.

In the present disclosure, a specific operation performed by the base station may be performed by an upper node (upper node) of the base station depending on the situation. In a network including one or more network nodes (network nodes) having a base station, it is obvious that various operations performed for communication with a terminal may be performed by at least one of the base station and a network node other than the base station (for example, an MME, an S-GW, or the like is considered, but not limited thereto). In the above, the case where there is one network node other than the base station is exemplified, but the other network node may be a combination of a plurality of other network nodes (e.g., MME and S-GW).

Information and signals (information and the like) can be output from an upper layer (or a lower layer) to a lower layer (or an upper layer). Or may be input or output via multiple network nodes.

The input or output information may be stored in a specific location (for example, a memory) or may be managed using a management table. The information that is input or output may be overwritten, updated or appended. The output information may also be deleted. The entered information may also be transmitted to other devices.

The determination may be made by a value (0 or 1) represented by 1 bit, may be made by a Boolean value (true or false), or may be made by comparison of values (for example, comparison with a predetermined value).

The respective forms/embodiments described in the present disclosure may be used alone, may be used in combination, and may be switched depending on execution. Note that the notification of the predetermined information is not limited to be performed explicitly (for example, notification of "X") but may be performed implicitly (for example, notification of the predetermined information is not performed).

Software, whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or by other names, should be construed broadly as referring to commands, command sets, code segments, program code, programs (programs), subroutines, software modules, applications, software packages, routines, subroutines (subroutines), objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, and so forth.

Further, software, commands, information, and the like may be transmitted and received via a transmission medium. For example, where software is transmitted from a web page, server, or other remote source using at least one of wired technology (coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), etc.) and wireless technology (infrared, microwave, etc.), at least one of these is included within the definition of transmission medium.

Information, signals, etc. described in this disclosure may also be represented using any of a variety of different technologies. For example, data, commands (commands), information, signals, bits, symbols (symbols), chips (chips), etc., that may be referenced throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof.

Further, terms described in the present disclosure and terms necessary for understanding the present disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meanings. For example, at least one of the channel and the symbol may be a signal (signaling). Further, the signal may also be a message. In addition, a Component Carrier (CC) may be referred to as a Carrier frequency, a cell, a frequency Carrier, and the like.

The terms "system" and "network" as used in this disclosure may be used interchangeably.

In addition, information, parameters, and the like described in the present disclosure may be expressed using absolute values, may be expressed using relative values to predetermined values, and may be expressed using other corresponding information. For example, the radio resource may also be indicated by an index.

The names used for the above parameters are in no way limiting. Further, the numerical expressions and the like using these parameters may be different from those explicitly disclosed in the present disclosure. Various channels (e.g., PUCCH, PDCCH, etc.) and information elements may be identified by appropriate names, and thus the various names assigned to these various channels and information elements are not limiting in any respect.

In the present disclosure, terms such as "Base Station (BS)", "wireless Base Station", "fixed Station", "NodeB", "enodeb (enb)", "gnnodeb (gnb)", "access point", "transmission point", "reception point", "cell", "sector", "cell group", "carrier", "component carrier" and the like may be used interchangeably. A base station may also be referred to as a macrocell, a smallcell, a femtocell, a picocell, or the like.

A base station can accommodate one or more (e.g., 3) cells (also referred to as sectors). When a base station accommodates a plurality of cells, the entire coverage area of the base station can be divided into a plurality of smaller areas, and each smaller area can also be provided with communication services by a base station subsystem (e.g., a Remote Radio Head (RRH) for indoor use).

The term "cell" or "sector" refers to a part or the whole of the coverage area of at least one of the base station and the base station subsystem that performs communication service in the coverage area.

In the present disclosure, terms such as "Mobile Station (MS)", "User terminal (User terminal)", "User Equipment (UE)", "terminal" and the like may be used interchangeably.

For a mobile station, those skilled in the art will sometimes also refer to the following terms: a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless communication device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, an access terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a user agent (user agent), a mobile client, a client, or some other suitable terminology.

At least one of the base station and the mobile station may also be referred to as a transmitting apparatus, a receiving apparatus, a communication apparatus, and the like. At least one of the base station and the mobile station may be a device mounted on a mobile body, the mobile body itself, or the like. The moving body may be a vehicle (e.g., an automobile, an airplane, etc.), may be a moving body that moves in an unmanned manner (e.g., an unmanned aerial vehicle, an autonomous driving automobile, etc.), and may be a robot (manned or unmanned). At least one of the base station and the mobile station includes a device that does not necessarily move during a communication operation. For example, at least one of the base station and the mobile station may be an Internet of Things (IoT) device such as a sensor.

In addition, the base station in the present disclosure may be replaced with a mobile station (user terminal, the same applies hereinafter). For example, the various aspects/embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to a configuration in which communication between a base station and a mobile station is replaced with communication between a plurality of mobile stations (for example, may be referred to as D2D (Device-to-Device) or V2X (Vehicle-to-all system), and in this case, the mobile station may have a function of the base station.

Likewise, the mobile station in the present disclosure may be replaced with a base station. In this case, the base station may have a function of the mobile station.

A radio frame may consist of one or more frames in the time domain. In the time domain, one or more individual frames may be referred to as subframes.

A subframe may consist of one or more slots in the time domain. A subframe may be a fixed time length (e.g., 1ms) independent of a parameter set (numerology).

The parameter set may be a communication parameter applied to at least one of transmission and reception of a certain signal or channel. The parameter set may represent, for example, at least one of a SubCarrier Spacing (SCS), a bandwidth, a symbol length, a cyclic prefix length, a Transmission Time Interval (TTI), the number of symbols per TTI, a radio frame structure, a specific filtering process performed by the transceiver in a frequency domain, a specific windowing process performed by the transceiver in a Time domain, and the like.

A slot may be composed of one or more symbols (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) symbols, etc.) in the time domain. The time slot may be a time unit based on a parameter set.

A timeslot may contain multiple mini-slots. Each mini-slot may be composed of one or more symbols in the time domain. In addition, a mini-slot may also be referred to as a sub-slot. A mini-slot may be composed of a smaller number of symbols than a slot. The PDSCH (or PUSCH) transmitted in a unit of time greater than the mini slot may be referred to as PDSCH (or PUSCH) mapping type (type) a. The PDSCH (or PUSCH) transmitted using the mini-slot may be referred to as PDSCH (or PUSCH) mapping type (type) B.

The radio frame, subframe, slot, mini-slot, and symbol all represent a unit of time when a signal is transmitted. The radio frame, subframe, slot, mini-slot, and symbol may each be referred to by corresponding other terms.

For example, 1 subframe may be referred to as a Transmission Time Interval (TTI), a plurality of consecutive subframes may be referred to as TTIs, and 1 slot or 1 mini-slot may be referred to as a TTI. That is, at least one of the subframe and TTI may be a subframe (1ms) in the conventional LTE, may be a period shorter than 1ms (for example, 1-13 symbols), or may be a period longer than 1 ms. Note that the unit indicating TTI may be a slot, a mini-slot, or the like, instead of a subframe.

Here, the TTI refers to, for example, the minimum time unit of scheduling in wireless communication. For example, in the LTE system, the base station performs scheduling for allocating radio resources (frequency bandwidths, transmission powers, and the like that can be used by each user terminal) to each user terminal in units of TTIs. In addition, the definition of TTI is not limited thereto.

The TTI may be a transmission time unit of a channel-coded data packet (transport block), code block, code word, or the like, or may be a processing unit of scheduling, link adaptation, or the like. When a TTI is given, the time interval (for example, the number of symbols) to which the transport block, code word, and the like are actually mapped may be shorter than the TTI.

In addition, in a case where a 1-slot or a 1-mini-slot is referred to as a TTI, one or more TTIs (i.e., one or more slots or one or more mini-slots) may constitute a minimum time unit for scheduling. Further, the number of slots (mini-slots) constituting the minimum time unit of the schedule can be controlled.

TTIs having a time length of 1ms are also referred to as normal TTIs (TTIs in LTE rel.8-12), normal TTIs (normal TTIs), long TTIs (long TTIs), normal subframes (normal subframes), long (long) subframes, slots, etc. A TTI shorter than a normal TTI may be referred to as a shortened TTI, a short TTI (short TTI), a partial TTI, a shortened subframe, a short (short) subframe, a mini-slot, a sub-slot, a slot, etc.

In addition, for a long TTI (long TTI) (e.g., normal TTI, subframe, etc.), a TTI having a time length exceeding 1ms may be substituted, and for a short TTI (short TTI) (e.g., shortened TTI, etc.), a TTI having a TTI length smaller than the long TTI (long TTI) and having a TTI length of 1ms or more may be substituted.

A Resource Block (RB) is a resource allocation unit of time and frequency domains, and may include one or more consecutive subcarriers (subcarriers) in the frequency domain. The number of subcarriers included in the RB may be the same regardless of the parameter set, and may be 12, for example. The number of subcarriers included in the RB may also be decided according to the parameter set.

Further, the time domain of the RB may contain one or more symbols, and may be 1 slot, 1 mini-slot, 1 subframe, or 1TTI in length. The 1TTI, 1 subframe, etc. may be respectively composed of one or more resource blocks.

In addition, one or more RBs may be referred to as Physical Resource blocks (Physical RBs: PRBs), Sub-Carrier groups (SCGs), Resource Element Groups (REGs), PRB pairs, RB peers, and so on.

In addition, a Resource block may be composed of one or more Resource Elements (REs). For example, 1RE may be a1 subcarrier and 1 symbol radio resource region.

The Bandwidth Part (BWP) (also called partial Bandwidth, etc.) represents a subset of consecutive common rbs (common resource blocks) for a certain set of parameters in a certain carrier. Here, the common RB may be determined by an index of an RB with reference to a common reference point of the carrier. PRBs are defined in a certain BWP and are numbered within that BWP.

BWP may include UL BWP (UL BWP) and DL BWP (DL BWP). One or more BWPs may be set for a UE within 1 carrier.

At least one of the set BWPs may be active (active), and a case where the UE transmits and receives a predetermined signal/channel outside the active BWP may not be assumed. In addition, "cell", "carrier", and the like in the present disclosure may be replaced with "BWP".

The above-described structures of the radio frame, the subframe, the slot, the mini-slot, the symbol, and the like are merely examples. For example, the number of subframes included in the radio frame, the number of slots per subframe or radio frame, the number of mini-slots included in a slot, the number of symbols and RBs included in a slot or mini-slot, the number of subcarriers included in an RB, the number of symbols in a TTI, the symbol length, the Cyclic Prefix (CP) length, and other configurations may be variously changed.

The terms "connected" and "coupled" or any variation thereof are intended to mean that two or more elements are directly or indirectly connected or coupled to each other, and may include one or more intermediate elements between two elements that are "connected" or "coupled" to each other. The combination or connection between the elements may be physical, logical, or a combination of these. For example, "connect" may be replaced with "Access". As used in this disclosure, for two elements, it may be considered that they are "connected" or "coupled" to each other by using at least one of one or more electrical wires, cables, and printed electrical connections, and by using electromagnetic energy or the like having wavelengths in the radio frequency domain, the microwave domain, and the optical (including both visible and invisible) domain, as some non-limiting and non-inclusive examples.

The Reference Signal may be referred to as Reference Signal (RS) for short, or as Pilot (Pilot) depending on the applied standard.

As used in this disclosure, a recitation of "according to" is not intended to mean "according only" unless explicitly recited otherwise. In other words, the expression "based on" means both "based on only" and "based on at least" based on.

The "unit" in the configuration of each device described above may be replaced with a "section", "circuit", "device", or the like.

Any reference to an element using the designations "first," "second," etc. used in this disclosure is not intended to limit the number or order of such elements. These designations are used in this disclosure as a convenient way to distinguish between two or more elements. Thus, references to first and second elements do not imply that only two elements are possible here or that the first element must precede the second element in any manner.

Where the disclosure uses the terms "including", "comprising" and variations thereof, such terms are intended to be inclusive in the same manner as the term "comprising". Also, the term "or" used in the present disclosure means not exclusive or.

In the present disclosure, where articles are added by translation, for example, as in the english language a, an, and the, the present disclosure also includes the case where nouns following the articles are plural.

The terms "determining" and "determining" used in the present disclosure may include various operations. The terms "determination" and "decision" may include, for example, determining that an item has been determined (judging), calculated (calculating), processed (processing), derived (deriving), investigated (investigating), searched (looking up) (for example, searching in a table, a database, or another data structure), or confirmed (ascertaining) as an item having been determined or decided. The terms "determining" and "deciding" may include terms such as "determining" and "deciding" which are terms of receiving (e.g., receiving information), transmitting (e.g., transmitting information), inputting (input), outputting (output), accessing (accessing) (e.g., accessing data in a memory). The "judgment" and "decision" may include matters regarding the solution (resolving), selection (selecting), selection (breathing), establishment (evaluating), comparison (comparing), and the like as the "judgment" and "decision". That is, "judgment" and "determination" may include "judgment" and "determination" of any item of action. The "determination (decision)" may be replaced by "assumption", "expectation", "consideration", and the like.

In the present disclosure, the phrase "a and B are different" may also mean "a and B are different from each other". The term "A and B are different from C" may be used. The terms "separate" and "join" are also interpreted in the same manner as "different".

The present disclosure has been described in detail above, but it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described in the present disclosure. The present disclosure can be implemented as modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, which is defined by the claims. Accordingly, the disclosure is intended to be illustrative, and not limiting.

Description of reference numerals:

10 radio communication system

20 NG-RAN

100 gNB

110 O-DU

111 communication unit

113 acquisition unit

115 parameter control part

117 parameter notification unit

120 O-RU

130 intermediate device (FHM)

130A O-RU

131 communication unit

133 processing time notification unit

135 parameter acquisition unit

137 parameter setting unit

200 UE

1001 processor

1002 internal memory

1003 memory

1004 communication device

1005 input device

1006 output device

1007 bus

Claims (5)

1. A communication apparatus constituting a1 st base station provided on a preamble, comprising:

a control unit that determines a parameter used for determining a reception timing of data by an intermediate device provided in the preamble; and

a transmitting unit that transmits the parameter to the intermediate device.

2. The communication device of claim 1,

the control unit determines a parameter to be set for the intermediate device based on a processing time in the intermediate device.

3. The communication device of claim 1,

the control unit determines the parameter based on capability information of the 2 nd base station provided in the preamble.

4. The communication device of claim 1 or 2,

the control unit determines the parameter based on at least one of a delay time between the intermediate device and the communication device and a delay time between the 2 nd base station and the intermediate device.

5. A communication apparatus constituting an intermediate apparatus provided on a fronthaul, wherein the communication apparatus has:

a control unit that executes control for determining a reception timing of data in the intermediate device; and

and a receiving unit configured to receive a parameter used for determining the reception timing from the 1 st base station provided in the preamble.

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