GB2384324A

GB2384324A - Remotely controlling antenna or other signal processing device in mobile tele communications network

Info

Publication number: GB2384324A
Application number: GB0201038A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Beck; Tim Frost; Patrick Mcaleavey; Brendan Mcwilliams
Original assignee: Vodafone Ltd
Current assignee: Vodafone Ltd
Priority date: 2002-01-17
Filing date: 2002-01-17
Publication date: 2003-07-23
Also published as: GB0201038D0

Abstract

An antenna 10, amplifier or other signal processing entity in a mobile telecommunications network such as a 3G network is remotely controlled. An antenna controller 8 exerts the control function on the antenna 10. Control signals for the antenna controller 8 which is located at a terminal point in the network are passed transparently through the radio network controller (RNC) 14 and the Node B 5 from a remote antenna controller element manager 16. Signals may also be passed in the reverse direction for operation and maintenance purposes.

Description

REMOTE CONTROL IN MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS The invention relates to remote control in mobile telecommunications networks. In one embodiment of the invention, to be described in more detail below by way of example only, remote control of antennas used in or in connection with base stations in mobile telecommunications networks, particularly 3G networks, can be achieved.

What is provided by the invention is defined by the appended claims.

Methods and systems according to the invention for carrying out remote control in mobile telecommunications networks, such as remote control of antennas used therein, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram of interfaces in one of the networks; Figure 2 is a block diagram of the architecture corresponding to the interface arrangement of Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows signal paths which can be used for implementing the methods and systems.

The following description is given in relation to a mobile telecommunications network such as a UMTS network. Items are referred to such as base stations and base station controllers (common terms in GSM networks, 2G systems) in terms used in UMTS network/3G systems (Node B and radio network controller or RNC). However, the use of these terms is not intended to restrict the description and claims to 3G networks or systems.

In a 3G mobile telecommunications network, base stations (Nodes B) are provided for receiving and transmitting radio signals within respective geographical areas or cells via antennas. From time to time it is necessary to carry out control functions on the antennas so as, for example, to control or modify their radio transmitting and reception characteristics. Such control functions may be exerted mechanically (by physically adjusting the attitude or other characteristic of the antenna) or electrically. The invention is concerned with enabling such control functions to be exerted remotely from some central point, and for enabling signals relating to various characteristics of the antenna to be fed back to the central point for operation and maintenance purposes. In this way, the need for service personnel to visit the physical site where the antenna is located, in order to carry out these control functions and for operation and maintenance purposes, can be avoided.

Figures 1 and 2 show a Node B 5 which is connected by an interface 6 to an antenna controller 8 which in turn controls the antenna 10. The Node B 5 is connected through an

interface 12 to a radio network controller (RNC) 14 by an interface 12.

A management platform comprises a remote antenna controller element manager 16, a Node B element manager 18 and an RNC element manager 20. Overall control is carried out by a network manager 22. The antenna 10 is remotely controlled by signals from the remote antenna controller element manager 16 which passes control signals to the antenna controller 8 for carrying out the actual control or adjustment of the antenna.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, the control signals from the remote antenna controller element manager 16 to the antenna controller are passed transparently through the RNC 14 and the Node B 5. In this way, the remote antenna control function can be incorporated with minimum alteration to the basic system. Similarly, operation and maintenance signalling, monitoring the functions of the antenna 10, can be fed back to the remote antenna controller element manager 16 transparently through the Node B 5 and the RNC 14, for operation and maintenance purposes. It is thus necessary to provide a suitable interface between the remote antenna controller element manager 16 and the RNC 14 and a further interface between the Node B 5 and the antenna controller 8. The signal path for the signals to and from the antenna controller can be fed directly into the low level layer in the protocol stacks of the Node B and the RNC or at a higher level. In the latter case, the signals can be incorporated in suitable signal packaging (a suitable signal "container") so as to pass unaffected through the protocol stacks. Figure 3 shows how the signals can be passed in this way through the Node B 5 and the RNC 14. The

dashed lines in Figures 1 and 2 indicate the transparent transmission of the signals.

Although the architecture and methods described have related to the remote control of an antenna, they could instead by applied to the remote control of other entities in a mobile telecommunications network. For example, a suitable amplifier may be provided for the antenna and physically located on the antenna so as physically to amplify received signals at or near an initiating point in the signal path, so as to maximise signal to noise ratio.

The architecture and methods described can be used for remotely controlling parameters of such an amplifier.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A method of remotely controlling a signal processing entity associated with a terminal point in a mobile telecommunications network, in which control signals are transmitted transparently along existing signal paths in the network from a management point.
2. A method according to claim 1, in which the signal paths are paths at least partly through a protocol stack.
3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, in which the control signals are transmitted transparently through a base station in the network.
4. A method according to claim 3, in which the control signals are also transmitted transparently through a base station controller for the network.
5. A method according to claim 1 or 2, in which the network is a 3G network and the terminal point is a Node B therein and the control signals are transmitted transparently through the Node B.
6. A method according to claim 5, in which the control signals are also transmitted transparently through a radio network controller (RNC) for the Node B.

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7. A method according to any preceding claim, in which signals relating to operational and maintenance characteristics of the controlled entity are transmitted transparently along the signal paths back to the management point.
8. A method according to any preceding claim, in which the controlled entity is an antenna.
9. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the controlled entity is an amplifier.
10. Apparatus for remotely controlling a signal processing entity associated with a terminal point in a mobile telecommunications network, comprising control means for exerting a control function on the signal processing entity, and transmitting means for transmitting control signals transparently along existing signal paths in the network from a management point to the control means.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10, in which the signal paths are paths at least partly through a protocol stack.
12. Apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, in which the transmitting means transmits the control signals transparently through a base station in the network.

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13. Apparatus according to claim 12, in which the transmitting means also transmits the control signals transparently through a base station controller for the network.
14. Apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, in which the network is a 3G network and the terminal point is a Node B therein and the transmitting means transmits the control signals transparently through the Node B.
15. Apparatus according to claim 14, in which the transmitting means also transmits the control signals transparently through a radio network controller (RNC) for the Node B.
16. Apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 15, in which the transmitting means transmits signals relating to operational and maintenance characteristics of the controlled entity transparently along the signal paths back to the management point from the control means.
17. Apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 16, in which the controlled entity is an antenna.
18. Apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 16, in which the controlled entity is an amplifier.

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19. A method of remotely controlling a signal processing entity associated with a terminal point in a mobile telecommunications network, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
20. Apparatus for remotely controlling a signal processing entity associated with a terminal point in a mobile telecommunications network, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.