JP2005233621A - Time setting method and base station device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To lower the cost of a clock circuit without causing lowering of use efficiency. <P>SOLUTION: In this base station device 200, when time in the station device is initialized by the turning on of a power supply, the resetting of a device, etc., a time setting part 218 selectively acquires time information from an external time information source according to a prescribed order of priority to generate time in the device. The setting of the order of priority is fixedly predetermined for use, or else, it is adaptively changed after its use is started. Further, the time generated is annunciated to a circumjacent base station device through a time annunciation control part 218 with a prescribed annunciation frequency according to a request from the circumjacent base station device or to the generation status of other annunciation information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a time setting technology. In particular, to obtain the time information from a plurality of time information sources, a base station apparatus using the method and the same time setting generates a time used in the device.

  The base station device incorporates a clock circuit in order to manage the history of terminal device connections and operational failures. The timepiece circuit has a dedicated battery in preparation for a power failure.

  To facilitate time setting for this clock circuit, the system and performing center device time settings to get the time information from the via wired network, if no information about time from the center device in some fault A system for inputting time information from surrounding base station apparatuses has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

On the other hand, the components mounted on the base station apparatus including the clock circuit are required to have a reliability that compensates for continuous operation over a long period of time in various installation environments. Especially for a battery, since the present invention utilizes the chemical reactions, are very stringent performance requirements, it has contributed to the cost of the apparatus increases.
JP 2000-78645 JP

  Under such circumstances, the present inventor has come to recognize the following problems.

  Order to reduce the apparatus cost, when you remove the backup battery of the clock circuit, the base station apparatus can not hold and time information in a power failure, must obtain the time information from the center device during recovery .

  Under such circumstances, if the power failure time occurs in a number of the base station apparatus, it requests time information from the base station apparatus frequently during recovery, to lead to increase in the startup time inviting congestion state of the line. Furthermore, if the surrounding base station apparatus does not have the time information, there is a possibility that it is impossible to obtain information reliable time.

  The present inventor has made the present invention by recognizing such a situation, and its purpose is to reduce the apparatus cost of the base station apparatus while maintaining the startup performance when recovering from a failure such as a power failure. and to provide a base station apparatus.

One embodiment of the present invention is a base station apparatus. Multiple The apparatus comprises a clock generator for generating a spontaneously clock, from the outside of a plurality of time information source, an input unit for inputting a plurality of times of information to be referred for generating a time entered A time selection unit that selects one time information from the time information, a time generation unit that generates time based on the selected time information and the generated clock, and a predetermined terminal device based on the generated time and a management unit that manages communication with.

  Among a plurality of time information to be input at the input unit, an input confirmation unit for confirming a time information source corresponding to the actually input time information, and a plurality of time information to be input at the input unit, respectively A priority order setting unit that sets priorities in a plurality of corresponding time information sources is further provided, and the selection unit is configured to select a time from one time information source based on the confirmed time information source and the set priority order. of information may be selected.

  With the above devices, when the time in the base station device is initialized by turning on the power or resetting the device, the time information from the external time information source is selected according to a predetermined priority order. to get, since it is configured to generate a time in the apparatus, it is possible to reduce the cost and ease of time setting of the device.

  The priority order setting unit may set the priority order of the time information source corresponding to the information of the time when the number of times of input in the predetermined period is large among the information of the plurality of times to be input by the input unit.

  Further, out of a plurality of time information to be input by the input unit, the time information corresponding to the time information source selected by the selection unit and the time corresponding to the spare time information source other than the selected time information source A time difference detection unit that detects and holds a time difference from the information in advance, and the selection unit obtains input of time information from the selected time information source when the time generation unit generates the time again. If it is no longer possible, the time information input from the spare time information source may be corrected by the detected time difference.

  According to the above apparatus, time information from an information source that is updated more frequently is preferentially acquired, and when a failure occurs in an information source with a higher priority, it is obtained from another information source. Since the time information having a high priority order is estimated from the time information, the time setting with higher accuracy can be realized earlier.

  You may further provide the time alerting | reporting part which alert | reports the time produced | generated by the time production | generation part.

  The time notification unit, according to the broadcast frequency information to be reported in addition to the generated time may change the notification frequency of the generated time.

  It comprises an activation signal input unit for inputting a signal showing the start of another base station device further time notification unit, when receiving a signal showing the start may be higher broadcast frequency of the generated time .

  The input confirmation unit may further include a time information transmission request unit that requests output of time information from a predetermined time information source when it is confirmed that the time information to be input is not input.

  With the above apparatus, in response to the notification request and the like from the peripheral base station apparatus, the generated time, since the notification at a predetermined frequency, in a case where such a large-scale blackout has occurred, earlier than the system start-up can be carried out.

  Another aspect of the present invention is a time setting method. This method has several input time information for generating the time from the generated clock to operate autonomously from outside of a plurality of time information sources, one selected from information of a plurality of time Time Time is generated from the information and the generated clock, and communication with a predetermined terminal device is managed based on the generated time.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and a conversion of the expression of the present invention between a method, an apparatus, a system, a recording medium, a computer program, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the base station apparatus can aim at reduction of apparatus cost, maintaining the starting performance at the time of recovering from failures, such as a power failure.

In the present embodiment, priorities are set for a plurality of external time information sources, and time information of time information sources with higher priorities is selectively acquired. Then, the base station which manages the information of the selected time, to generate a time to operate continuously from the generated clock to operate autonomously in the apparatus, the communication with the prescribed terminal device on the basis of the time apparatus on.

  In the following description, as an example of the personal handyphone system, also, the time of the information year, month, day, hour, minute, described as consisting of seconds, from the day of the week.

  FIG. 1 shows a communication system 10 according to the present embodiment. The communication system 10 includes a terminal device 100, a base station device 200, a base station device 300, and a network 400.

  The base station apparatus 200 includes a base station antenna 202, a radio unit 204, a radio signal processing unit 206, a line control unit 208, a time notification signal detection unit 210, a GPS antenna 212, and a GPS reception unit 214. If, it includes a center time information detecting unit 216, a time setting unit 218, the time notification control section 220, and the activation signal detector 222, the control unit 224. In addition, other station time information 22, GPS time information 24, management center time information 26, and notification time information 28 are included as signals.

  Base station antenna 202 transmits and receives radiofrequency signals. The base station antenna 202, omnidirectional antenna, a predetermined directional antenna, may be any of an adaptive array antenna, and may have a diversity function.

  Wireless unit 204 performs signal amplification or mutual signal conversion between radio frequency and base band signal, and an A / D or D / A conversion or the like.

  The radio signal processing unit 206 modulates and demodulates signals transmitted / received via the radio unit 204, outputs a signal received from another base station apparatus to a time notification signal detection unit 210, which will be described later, The time information is notified to other base station devices according to the instruction of the notification control unit 220.

  The line control unit 208 plays a role of connecting the base station apparatus 200 and the network 400, and performs mutual conversion between the format of information modulated / demodulated by the radio signal processing unit 206 and the format of information communicated by the network 400. An example of a network is a ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), the line control unit 208 is assumed to have a physical shape corresponding to the ISDN.

  The time notification signal detection unit 210 inputs a radio signal received from another base station apparatus 300 via the base station antenna 202 from the radio signal processing unit 206, and detects information indicating the time from the signal. and outputs as the other station time information 22 to the time setting unit 218 to be described later Te.

  The GPS antenna 212 is an antenna that receives time / position information radio waves transmitted from GPS satellites. Here, the GPS (Global Positioning System), from the time-position information radio wave time difference or arrival required time are transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites, is accurately determine global positioning system location and current time of the receiver .

  GPS receiver 214, from the signal received by the GPS antenna 212, extracts the time information is output as the GPS time information 24 to the time setting unit 218 to be described later.

  Center time information detecting unit 216, to obtain the time information from the center apparatus (not shown) via the network 400, and outputs a control center time information 26 to the time setting unit 218 to be described later. Note that the method for obtaining time information from the management center is not limited to this. For example, the time information may be obtained by actively accessing the management center. In other words, any method may be used as long as the time information used at the management center can be obtained.

  Time setting unit 218, the other station time information 22 from the time the notification signal detecting section 210, the GPS time information 24 from the GPS receiver 214 and the inputting and management center time information 26 from the center time information detecting unit 216 Then, the time used by the base station apparatus 200 is generated based on the information. The resulting time may be not used for recording or the like of the connection management and fault history of the terminal device, notifying the information of the time to the other base station apparatus.

  Time notification control section 220, a time generated by the time setting unit 218, at the direction of later control unit 224, a control unit for notifying the another base station device.

  The activation signal detection unit 222 is a detection unit that detects a signal indicating that another base station device has been activated. In addition to monitoring a radio control signal emitted by another base station device via the radio unit 204, the detection is managed via the line control unit 208 when a management center (not shown) manages the activation of the base station device. performed by receiving notification from the center.

  The control unit 224 executes various timing processes of the base station apparatus 200, wireless connection control with the terminal apparatus 100, wired connection control with the network 400, and the like, and also generates the generation time 30 set by the time setting unit. managing history of communication processing based.

  Figure 2 shows the structure of a time setting unit 218. Time setting unit 218, a time information input portion 230, an input number counting unit 232, a priority control unit 234, a time information selection section 236, a time difference detector 238, a clock generator 240, a time generator 242 including.

  Time information input unit 230, the other station time information 22 detected by the time notification signal detecting section 210, a GPS time information 24 received by the GPS receiving unit 214, the management center time information 26 detected by the center time information detecting unit 216 preparative type respectively, performs confirmation of whether or validity of information, and instructs the counting input frequency to the input number counting unit 232.

  Input number counting unit 232, for each information of a plurality of time entered in the time information input unit 230, repeatedly measures the number of inputs of each predetermined time period.

  The priority control unit 234 sets or manages a priority order when selecting information at a predetermined time from a plurality of pieces of time information, and provides the selection operation at the time information selection unit 236 described later. Regarding the setting of the priority order, in addition to a method of uniformly setting the priority order in advance, for example, for information on a plurality of times input by the time information input unit 230, each input frequency measured by the input number counting unit 232 is set. it may be a dynamic set, such as setting the priority depending.

  Time difference detection unit 238, information of a plurality of time entered in the time information input unit 230 detects the time difference between the information for each time holding. The detection is based on a method of detecting and holding a time difference related to a combination of information of all times, or information of other times based on information of times set with the highest priority in the priority control unit 234. detecting a time difference for each predetermined period, there is a method of holding.

  The time information selection unit 236 is a selection unit that selects one of the time information according to the priority set by the priority control unit 234 among the time information input by the time information input unit 230. Incidentally, when the information of the time in the selection (information highest priority time), which has detected that the time information input portion 230 that temporarily interrupted, the time information selection section 236, instead of the information of the time Next, information on the time with the next highest priority (information on the time with the second highest priority) is input, and the time difference between the information with the highest priority and the information with the next highest priority is inputted from the time difference detector 238, corrects the time information in the input at that time difference, priority is output as the substitute for the highest time information.

  The clock generator 240 is composed of, for example, a crystal resonator or a crystal oscillator that oscillates spontaneously and outputs a clock signal. The output clock signal is a clock signal that becomes the basis of time, and oscillates at a fixed frequency.

  Time generating unit 242, with frequency conversion into a good frequency convenient for measuring time a clock signal of a fixed frequency generated by the clock generator 240, and selects the clock signal after the conversion at time information selection section 236 the time information synchronized at a predetermined timing, and outputs a generation time 30 for use in another station time information 28, and the local station for informing other stations.

  This configuration can be realized in terms of hardware by a CPU, memory, or other LSI of an arbitrary computer, and in terms of software, it is realized in advance by a program stored in a memory (not shown) and read out at the time of execution. Here, functional blocks realized by the cooperation are depicted. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will understand that these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by hardware only, software only, or a combination thereof.

  FIG. 3 shows a frame configuration of a radio section according to the present embodiment. The frame structure is of a personal handyphone system, shows a 4-channel multiplexed multicarrier TDMA / TDD (Time Division Duplex) scheme. In the figure, a frame of each 5msec is divided into eight slots by time division, four slots to the downlink (terminal apparatus from the base station apparatus), allocates and uses a 4-slot in the uplink (base station apparatus from the terminal apparatus).

  These four slots are allocated to the call channel between the three slots, uplink and downlink, and the remaining one slot to the control channel, and are used for the call between the base station apparatus and the terminal apparatus and its control.

  In the drawings, solid black slot shows the downlink control channel transmitted from a certain one base station apparatus to the terminal apparatus, is transmitted to the 20 frame every (every 100 msec). This transmission cycle (20 frames) is referred to as a downlink intermittent transmission cycle. When the terminal device enters a standby state in a predetermined base station device area, the terminal device only performs a reception operation every 20 frames. It is possible to receive without receiving control information (for example, incoming signal) from the apparatus. The control information includes three control channels called a broadcast channel (BCCH), a paging channel (PCH), and a channel for dedicated cells (SCCH: Signaling Control Channel). The transmission is repeatedly transmitted at a cycle (1.2 sec) called a super frame.

  The broadcast channel (BCCH) and the general call channel (PCH) are control channels set in one direction of downlink from the base station apparatus to the terminal apparatus, and the broadcast channel is used for transferring the channel structure or system structure. The general call channel transfers control information necessary for call connection. On the other hand, for an individual cell channel (SCCH) is a control channel that is set to upstream and downstream bi-directional base station apparatus and the terminal device, and transfers the information necessary for call connection.

  Figure 4 shows a slot structure of a broadcast channel (BCCH). Broadcast channel, once 20 frame is a control channel for transferring information concerning the base station apparatus to the structure of the channels and the system to the terminal device, in the present invention, the data area of the broadcast channel: be notified to (I 62 bits) to store the information of the time should be.

  Note that this broadcast channel is a channel for reporting control information from the base station apparatus to the terminal apparatus, and for the base station apparatus, is a channel assigned to a transmission section. Since it is configured to send a signal only at every intermittent downlink transmission period assigned to itself, a control channel transmitted by another base station apparatus can be set by setting a slot other than the assigned period as a reception operation. it is possible to receive.

  FIG. 5 shows a configuration of time information transmitted in the data area of the broadcast channel (BCCH). Information of the time, to display the identifier indicating that the information of the time in the message type, the following, year, month, day, hour, minute, one each octet information indicating the seconds, also, information of the time of information Information indicating the source and information indicating the day of the week are stored in three bits.

  When receiving the time information, the base station apparatus confirms the message type in the time notification signal detection unit 210 after receiving the broadcast channel and confirms that it is time information. extracts the following information as the information of the time. On the other hand, when notifying the time information, the time information control unit 220 stores the time information input from the time setting unit 218 in the frame of the notification channel and transmits it through the radio signal processing unit 206. .

  Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the input operation time information.

  In this flowchart, to sources of information of a plurality of times, to set the pre-fixed priorities, it will be described for inputting time information according to its priority.

  Incidentally, the priority used in the following description, the uppermost time information from the management center, then GPS time information and which sets the time information from another base station apparatus, the present invention is not limited thereto . For example, it may be set to any order due the nature of the time information.

  The power-on or hardware reset or the like, the initial starting operation to start the base station apparatus 200, the control unit 224 instructs the time setting of the time setting unit 218.

  The time setting unit 218 receives an instruction to (S600) of time setting, time information input unit 230 checks the priority in the priority control unit 234 recognizes that the management center is set to the highest priority Then, it tries to input the management center time information 26 (S602). This management center time information 26 is time information detected by the center time information detection unit 216 from various messages received from the management center via the line control unit 208, and is a simple portable device using the management center as an information source. it is available in common throughout the telephone system 10 information.

  Time information input unit 230 for a predetermined period, monitors the presence of the input of the management center time information 26 (S604), when a valid input is confirmed (S604-Y), the through time information selection section 236 to time conveys management center time information 26 acquired the generator 242, causes the generation of time at time generation unit 242 (S614). On the other hand, if a valid input cannot be confirmed (S604-N), the priority control unit 234 knows that the next information to be input is time information from the GPS, and the GPS receiving unit. An attempt is made to input GPS time information 24 from 214 (S608).

  If a valid input is confirmed (S608-Y), the acquired GPS time information 24 is transmitted to the time generator 242 as described above, and the time generator 218 generates the time (S614). . On the other hand, if a valid input cannot be confirmed (S608-N), the priority control unit 234 knows that time information from another base station apparatus should be input as next time information. Then, an attempt is made to input the other station time information 22 from the time notification signal detection unit 210 (S612). When the valid input is confirmed (S612-Y) causes the same manner as described above to convey other station time information 22 acquired the time generating unit 242, perform the generation of the time at the time generation unit 218 (S614 ). On the other hand, if the valid input can not be verified (S612-N), performs a notification to the effect that the information of the time to the control unit 224 can not be acquired, again, returns to the instruction waiting state (S600).

  Incidentally, in the above behavior, but the time information from the information sources of information of a plurality of time sequentially inputted according to the priorities, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, such as when you want to prioritize processing speed, regardless of priority, pre-enter the time information from the information source for all time, obtained from the time information from the information source with high priority time in order it may be configured to check whether or not. That is, time information may be acquired according to the set priority order.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of setting priorities regarding the information source of time information.

  In this flowchart, the setting of priority for sources of information of a plurality of times, as an example of changing adaptively, for example, as one week for a predetermined period, depending on the number of inputs of each source within the period preference description will be given of a case where to set the order.

  When a priority setting instruction is given from the control unit 224 to the time setting unit 218, the time setting unit 218 first configures the input number counting unit 232 for each information source of time information as preparation for measurement of the number of inputs. The input count counters K (management center time information counter), G (GPS time information counter), and T (other station time information counter) are instructed to be initialized (S700).

  When the initialization of all the counters is completed, the time setting unit 218 instructs the time information input unit 230 to input time information (management center time 26, GPS time information 24, other station time information 22). When the input is confirmed (S702-Y, S712-Y, S722-Y), the respective input number counting counters are incremented (S704, S714, S724), and the end of the measurement period is confirmed (S708). , S718, S728). When the end of the period is confirmed, for example, when a predetermined period of one week has elapsed (S706-Y, S716-Y, S726-Y), the counter values are compared (S730), and the priority is given in descending order. The order is set (S732), the result is stored in the priority control unit 234, and the process ends. Incidentally, in this sequence, the input confirmation time information for each information source and counting, since the timing information is input is mixed respectively to each source, performed in parallel independently and start of the predetermined time period It carried out in common only the end.

  Then, at the input of the information of the time in accordance with the priority, an operation when the information uppermost time that is the object of selection is missing.

  Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating a time difference detection time information. In the following description, the priority order of the information sources is set in the order of the management center, GPS, and other base station devices in the same manner as described above, and the time information using the management center as the information source is the main selection target. assume that.

  To the time setting unit 218 from the control unit 224, when an instruction to the time difference detection, the time setting unit 218, the time difference detection unit 238 First, an instruction to initialize the two time correction value register (KG, KT) to (S800). The time correction value registers KG and KT respectively hold a time difference (KG) between the GPS time information 24 and a time difference (KT) between the other station time information 22 and the time information from the management center. a register for.

  Time setting unit 218, the time correction value register KG, the KT is initialized to confirm the presence or absence of the GPS time information 24 from the GPS receiver 214 (S802).

  In this confirmation, when the GPS time information 24 is confirmed (S802-Y), the time difference detector 238 detects the time difference between the generation time and the GPS time generated by the time generation unit 242, the time correction value and stored in the register KG.

  The time setting unit 218 then checks for the time information from another base station device detects the time difference between the acquisition if possible (S806-Y), generation time and another station time, time correction and stored in the value register KT.

  In the above description, the time difference detection criterion is the generation time 30 instead of the management center time information 26. This is because the time difference is detected based on the comparison of the time detected at the same timing. However, since each information source operates at an independent timing, information cannot always be acquired at the same timing. caused by. In this embodiment, generation time 30, because it is autonomously timed relative to management center time information 26, as the reference time difference detection. Note that the generation time 30 is normally measured based on the management center time information 26. However, when a failure occurs at the initial startup of the apparatus, the time setting as a reference is once set. It is also assumed that the current time is not being measured. In that case, a flag indicating whether or not the generation time 30 is set is prepared separately. When the flag indicates that the time is set, the time correction value is calculated based on the generation time 30 described above, while the flag There to indicate no setting may be configured to start the resetting process to obtain and priorities of the management center time information 26 prior to calculation of the time correction value.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation when the time information from the information source to be selected is interrupted.

  The time correction value used in the following description will be described using the time difference described in FIG. Further, it is assumed that the priority order of information sources is set in the order of the management center, GPS, and other base station devices in the same manner as described above, and the time information with the management center as the information source is the main selection target.

  The time setting unit 218 continuously acquires the management center time information 26 from the center time information detection unit 216 to be selected by setting the priority order (S900-Y), and the time setting unit 242 sets the time ( S910), but if the management center time information 26 cannot be acquired due to some reason such as communication line congestion (S900-N), the GPS time from the GPS receiving unit 214 set to the next priority order. to verify the acquisition of information 24 (S902). If the GPS time information can be acquired (S902-Y), the GPS time information 24 obtained is corrected with the time correction value KG calculated in FIG. 8 (S904), and generated at the corrected time. to set the time 30 (S910). On the other hand, if not also be acquired GPS time information (S902-N), to confirm the acquisition of the other station time information next priority, if the information is acquired (S906-Y), obtained correcting the other station time information 26 in the time correction value KT (S908), it sets the generation time 30 at the corrected time (S910).

  In the case where even the time information from the lowest sources priority could not obtain the (S906-N), and report to the effect that could not be acquired information to the control unit 224 (S912), processes the finish.

  Through the above operation, the base station apparatus 200 sets the in-apparatus time based on time information from a plurality of external time information sources at the time of starting the power supply, resetting after the start-up, or during operation, or , it is possible to correct the current time.

  Up to this point, when the time in the base station device is initialized by turning on the power or resetting the device, the time information is selectively acquired from the external time information source and the time used in the device is generated. It has been described an operation for. In the following, when the generated time is notified as time information to the base station apparatus 300 that has not yet generated the time, that is, the base station apparatus 200 provides the base station apparatus 300 with information on other station time information. description will be given of a case where the source.

  In the following description, the case the base station apparatus 200, as an example for reporting time information, which depending on the frequency of occurrence of other broadcast information other than time information, notifying information of the continuous time , activation of the base station device 300, or respectively be described the case of detecting the detected and time information of the notification request time information from the base station apparatus 300.

  Figure 10 is a flow chart of a notification of the time information in accordance with the frequency of occurrence of other broadcast information other than time information.

  When the notification time information 28 is input from the time setting unit 218, the time notification control unit 220 checks whether there is a notification instruction of time information from the control unit 224 (S1000).

  Then, if there is a notification instruction of the time information (S1000-Y), in the broadcast channel (BCCH), the broadcast information other than time information to confirm whether it is transmitted (S1004). Broadcast information other than time information is information that is originally set as information to be broadcast on the broadcast channel (BCCH) according to the arrangement of the system. For example, in addition to information on radio channels and control carriers, congestion information information concerning the regulation is applicable.

  In the confirmation occurrence, if other broadcast information is less than the predetermined value (S1004-N), the time notification control section 220, once the notification frequency of the time information to 5 units of superframes (5 superframes notification It is set to) (S1006). Further, in the case it was more than a predetermined value (S1004-Y), set in the broadcast frequency of 10 super frames (broadcast once every 10 superframes) (S1008).

  When the notification frequency is set, the time notification control unit 220 starts notification of time information from the wireless signal processing unit 206 according to the set notification frequency (S1010).

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart when performing notification of time information by detecting activation or a request of another base station apparatus.

  When the notification time information 28 is input from the time setting unit 218, the time notification control unit 220 checks whether or not the activation signal detection unit 222 has detected that another base station device has been activated (S1100). .

  The detection is performed by monitoring the radio control signal emitted by another base station device via the radio unit 204, or when the management center (not shown) is monitoring the activation of the base station device, via the line control unit 208. carried out by notification from the management center.

  In the time notification control unit 220, when the activation signal detection unit 22 detects the other station activation signal (S1100-Y), notification information other than the time information is transmitted on the notification channel (BCCH). to confirm the dolphin (S1102).

  When the broadcast information is not transmitted (S1102-N), the broadcast frequency is set to 2 superframe units (1 broadcast every 2 superframes) (S1106). The currently set notification frequency is changed to increase the notification frequency of time information.

  At time notification control section 220, set the notification frequency when finished, to start the broadcast time information in the set broadcast frequency (S1108).

  It is also effective to return the changed notification frequency to the notification frequency before the change after a predetermined time has elapsed.

  Further, the broadcast frequency of the information of the time described above is merely an example, not limited to this, the frequency may be set according to various conditions.

  The operation of base station apparatus 200 having the above configuration will be described. The control unit 224 of the base station device 200 instructs the time setting unit 218 to set the current time when the time counted in the device is initialized by turning on the power or resetting the device. The time setting unit 218 detects the other station time information 22 from another base station apparatus detected by the time notification signal detection unit 210, the GPS time information 24 received by the GPS reception unit 214, and the center time information detection unit 216. The management center time information 26 from the management center is input, and one of the time information is selected according to a predetermined priority order, and the time used by the base station apparatus 200 is generated based on the information. to.

  Specifically, the time setting unit 218 acquires the time information received from each of the management center, GPS, or other base station device by the time information input unit 230 and confirms the validity of the information. If there is, it connects to the time information selection unit 236 and notifies the input number counting unit 232 to that effect. The input number counting unit 232 counts the number of acquisitions of valid information for each information source in a predetermined period for the time information, and transmits the result to the priority control unit 234. In the priority control unit 234, the information source of the information at the time when the number of times of input is the largest is set as information that should be given the highest priority, and is transmitted to the time information selection unit 236. The time information selection unit 236 selects predetermined time information from the time information input by the time information input unit 230 according to the priority set by the priority control unit 234 and outputs the selected time information to the time generation unit 242. The time generation unit 242 sets a time at a predetermined timing based on a clock signal having a predetermined frequency that is oscillated spontaneously by the clock generation unit 240, and generates a generation time 30 for the purpose of managing and operating the terminal device, and others. Is output as notification time information 28 intended to be notified to the base station apparatus.

  If the time in the apparatus is generated, the time notification control section 220, from the time setting unit 218 receives the time notification information 28 to notify the information of the time as a radio signal at a predetermined frequency. The frequency of this notification depends on the generation status of notification information other than the information on the time at which the notification is originally performed on the notification channel. On the other hand, when there is a lot of other information already being notified, the notification frequency is set low. The activation signal detection unit 222 also activates other base station devices installed in the vicinity by receiving a radio signal via the radio unit 204 or by a notification from the management center via the line control unit 208. When monitoring is performed and activation is detected, the time notification control unit 220 is notified of this. Upon receiving the notification, the time notification control unit 220 starts the notification if the time information is not notified, and temporarily sets the notification frequency to be high if the time information is being notified.

  According to the present embodiment, when the time in the base station device is initialized by turning on the power or resetting the device, the base station device assigns the time information from the external time information source to a predetermined priority. Since it is configured to selectively acquire and generate the time in the device according to the rank, it is possible to set the time without mounting a backup battery of the clock circuit even when the line or management center device fails. It can be carried out. Moreover, since the priority order is determined and used in a fixed manner and is adaptively changed after the operation is started, the optimum priority order can be set according to the installation environment.

  In addition, the generated time is configured to be notified at a predetermined frequency in accordance with the generation status of notification information other than the time information of the own base station device, notification requests from neighboring base station devices, etc. When a power outage or the like occurs, the system can be started earlier.

  In the above, it demonstrated based on embodiment of this invention. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to combinations of the respective constituent elements and processing processes, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. is there.

  In the present embodiment, information of the time when the base station apparatus notifies the year, month, day, hour, minute, have been described in seconds, the day of the week as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and partial information such as hours and minutes may be used. Moreover, as shown outside the table in FIG. 4, the information of the time to be notified may be notified by attaching an information source display. According to this modification, the base station apparatus that has received the information at the time indicated by the information source treats the information as if it was obtained directly from the information source by the local station, and performs selection according to a predetermined priority order. Thus, the time in the system can be unified more easily and reliably.

  Further, in this embodiment, the base station device is located in the vicinity via the management center immediately after starting the base station device or when time information cannot be obtained for all time sources. Although it requested | required notifying this to other installed base station apparatuses, it is not restricted to this, For example, time information is comprised by comprising the message which requests | requires the notification of time information between base station apparatuses. it may be configured so as to acquire. According to this modification, the time in the system can be unified more quickly.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the base station device is configured to insert the broadcast time information 28 generated by the time setting unit 218 into the broadcast channel and perform radio transmission when reporting the time to other base station devices. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, the time required from the time when the time generating unit 242 generates the time to the time when it is actually transmitted by the base station antenna 202, or until the time is further transmitted to another base station apparatus. In consideration of the required time, etc., it is possible to correct the information on the time to be broadcast and insert it into the broadcast channel. That is, it is only necessary that the notified time information is not affected by the processing time required for transmitting and receiving information. According to this modification, it is possible to realize the unification of time with higher accuracy.

It is a figure which shows the communication system which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the time setting part of FIG. It is a figure which shows the flame | frame structure of the radio area of FIG. It is a figure which shows the slot structure of the control channel transmitted in the radio area of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the information of the time transmitted in the data area | region of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the input operation | movement of the information of the time of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the priority order setting operation | movement regarding the information source of the information of the time of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the time difference detection of the information of the time of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement when the information of the time from the information source of the selection object of FIG. 1 stops. It is a flowchart at the time of alerting | reporting the information of time according to the generation frequency of alerting | reporting information other than the information of the time of FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart when the activation and request of another base station apparatus in FIG. 1 is detected and time information is notified.

Explanation of symbols

10 communication system, 100 terminal, 200 base station, 300 base station, 202 Base station antenna, 204 a radio section, 206 a radio signal processing unit, 208 line control unit, 210 time notification signal detection unit, 212 GPS antenna, 214 GPS receiver, 216 center time information detecting unit, 218 a time setting unit, 220 time notification control unit, 222 the activation signal detector, 224 control unit, 230 a time information input unit, 232 input number counting unit, 234 destination controller, 236 Time information selection unit, 238 Time difference detection unit, 240 Clock generation unit, 242 Time generation unit, 22 Other station time information, 24 GPS time information, 26 Management center time information, 28 Notification time information

Claims (9)

And a clock generator for generating an voluntarily clock,
From the outside of a plurality of time information source, an input unit of information of a plurality of times to be referred for generating a time from clock the generated inputs, respectively,
A selection unit for selecting one time information from the plurality of inputted time information;
A time generation unit for generating a time based on the selected time information and the generated clock;
A management unit that manages communication with a predetermined terminal device based on the generated time;
A base station apparatus comprising: Among the information on a plurality of times to be input by the input unit, an input confirmation unit for confirming a time information source corresponding to the information on the actually input time;
A plurality of time information sources respectively corresponding to a plurality of time information to be input by the input unit, further comprising a priority order setting unit for setting priorities;
The selection unit includes a time information source the confirmed, based on the priority order the setting, the base station apparatus according to claim 1, wherein selecting the time information from one time sources.   The priority setting unit sets a high priority of a time information source corresponding to time information having a large number of times of input in a predetermined period among a plurality of time information to be input by the input unit. The base station apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that: Among the information of the plurality of times to be input by the input unit, and time information corresponding to time information source selected by the selection unit, the time corresponding to the time information source spare than the time information source in which the selected A time difference detecting unit that detects and holds a time difference with the information in advance;
The selection unit, when the time generating unit generates again time, when the input of the time information from said selected time source is no longer obtained, the time input from the time information source of the preliminary the base station apparatus according to any one of claims 3 information from claim 1, characterized in that the corrected time difference to the detected.   The base station apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a time notification unit that notifies the time generated by the time generation unit.   The base station apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the time notification unit changes the notification frequency of the generated time according to a notification frequency of information to be notified other than the generated time. An activation signal input unit that inputs a signal indicating activation of another base station device;
The time notification unit, wherein when receiving a signal showing the start, the base station apparatus according to increase the broadcast frequency of the generated time to claim 5 or claim 6, characterized in.   The input confirmation unit further includes a time information transmission request unit that requests output of time information to a predetermined time information source when it is confirmed that the time information to be input is not input. the base station apparatus according to claim 2. And a plurality enter time information for generating the time from the generated clock to operate autonomously from outside of a plurality of time information sources, the product with the selected one of the time information from the information of a plurality of times and the time to generate the clock, the time setting method of a base station apparatus that manages communication with a prescribed terminal apparatus based on the time thus generated.

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