JP2006197534A - Radio base station system, and operation switching method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radio base station system, an operation switching method, and an operation switching program in which an operation style of a radio base station can be appropriately switched in accordance with the situation of installing radio base stations. <P>SOLUTION: At least one of a master base station and a slave base station comprises a communication status measuring unit 14 for measuring a communication status on the basis of a received radio signal, and the master base station further comprises: a collection unit 15 for collecting communication statuses; a cover area matching detection unit 16 for detecting whether or not a cover area of the master base station and a cover area of the slave base station match each other, based on the collected communication statuses; and an operation determination unit 17 for determining that cooperative operation is to be performed for a slave base station having the cover area matching that of the master base station to communicate with a radio terminal station, based on control of the master base station, and determining that cooperative operation is not to be performed for slave stations with mismatching cover areas. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a radio base station system, an operation switching method, and an operation switching program, and in particular, a master base station and a slave base station are connected and a slave base station communicates with a radio terminal station based on control of the master base station. The present invention relates to a radio base station system, an operation switching method, and an operation switching program.

  In a mobile communication system (for example, Personal Handy-Phone System: PHS), communication is performed by a TDMA / TDD (Time Division Multiple Access / Time Division Duplex) method. In PHS, one frame is composed of 8 slots, and is composed of 4 slots (communication direction from the radio terminal station to the radio base station) and 4 slots (communication direction from the radio base station to the radio terminal station). Usually, a common control channel (hereinafter, referred to as a common control channel) is assigned to each pair of radio terminal stations among the four pairs of uplink and downlink slots, and each radio is assigned to three pairs of slots. Separate control channels (hereinafter referred to as individual control channels) and speech channels are allocated at the terminal station. When the common control channel is represented by C and the speech channel and the dedicated control channel are represented by T, the normal frame configuration of the radio base station is a 1C3T frame configuration.

  In addition, the radio base station and the radio terminal station transmit and receive radio signals of one or a plurality of bands, and there are frames and slots for each of these bands (hereinafter referred to as radio channels).

  In addition, the wireless terminal station can communicate with the radio base station individually by receiving allocation of slots for communication channels and dedicated control channels (hereinafter referred to as communication slots) from the radio base station. Each wireless terminal station receives the downlink common control channel transmitted from the wireless base station in order to receive communication slot assignment, and acquires information on the wireless base station. Each radio terminal station requests the radio base station to allocate a communication slot by transmitting an uplink common control channel to the radio base station based on the information of the radio base station.

  Here, a wireless base station that is conventionally configured of a master base station and a slave base station, and in which the slave base station communicates with a wireless terminal station based on the control of the master base station without using a common control channel. A system has been proposed. The frame configuration of the master base station is a normal frame configuration and is 1C3T. The common control channel of the master base station is commonly used by the master base station and the slave base station. Therefore, in the slave base station, a speech channel and a dedicated control channel are assigned to all four pairs of slots. That is, the normal frame configuration of the slave base station is a 4T frame configuration. Therefore, the frame configuration of the entire radio base station system is 1C7T. The frame configuration of the radio base station is an index representing the operation mode of the radio base station.

  In a radio base station system in which slave base stations jointly operate, it is not necessary to assign a common control channel to the frame of the slave base station, so the number of call channels and dedicated control channels that can be assigned can be increased. .

For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses the following radio base station system. That is, a wireless base station system in which two wireless base stations that perform wireless communication with a mobile terminal are connected by a connection cable and each base station is connected to a public line, and each wireless base station is connected to a mobile terminal ( A master station mode in which at least one of the plurality of communication channels with the wireless terminal station) is a control channel, and a slave station mode in which the plurality of communication channels are all communication channels, Switch to either master station mode or slave station mode according to the state of the cable connector. With such a configuration, even if there is a trouble such as a failure in one radio base station, the other radio base station can be used effectively so that functions that normally operate in each radio base station can be utilized as effectively as possible. it can.
Japanese Patent No. 3234574

  By the way, when it is desired to increase the communication capability of the radio base station system, that is, the number of radio terminal stations that can communicate simultaneously, a new radio base station is added to the radio base station system. At this time, if the distance between the antenna used by the existing master base station for transmission / reception of the common control channel and the antenna used for transmission / reception of the communication channel and dedicated control channel by the added radio base station is large, The communicable area of the control channel (hereinafter referred to as the “cover area”) and the cover area of the call channel and the individual control channel are inconsistent. If the coverage area of the common control channel and the coverage area of the call channel and the dedicated control channel do not match, communication slot allocation is not performed normally, causing problems such as the coverage area of the radio base station becoming substantially narrow. End up.

  Therefore, in the radio base station system described in Patent Document 1, since the operation mode of the radio base station is not changed unless there is an abnormality in the connector portion of the connection cable, the radio base station is set according to the installation status of the radio base station. There was a problem that the operation mode of the system could not be changed appropriately.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a radio base station system, an operation switching method, and an operation switching program that can appropriately change the operation mode of the radio base station according to the installation status of the radio base station. is there.

  In order to solve the above problems, a radio base station system according to an aspect of the present invention is a radio base station capable of independent operation communicating with one or a plurality of radio terminal stations using a control channel and a communication channel. A single master base station, which is a radio base station that operates independently, and a communication channel based on the control of the master base station without using the control channel by connecting to the master base station Wireless base station system configured with one or a plurality of slave base stations capable of joint operation communicating with a wireless terminal station, wherein at least one of the master base station and the slave base station is a wireless base station A reception unit that receives the signal; and a communication state measurement unit that measures the communication state based on the received radio signal. A collecting unit that collects states, a cover area coincidence detecting unit that detects whether or not the cover areas of the master base station and the slave base station match based on the communication state collected by the collecting unit, and a cover area of the master base station A slave base station having a coverage area that matches the coverage area of the master base station, and a slave base station that has a coverage area that does not match the coverage area of the master base station, The slave base station further includes a central control unit that performs control to switch between joint operation and single operation based on the determination of the operation determination unit.

  Preferably, the reception unit in the master base station and the slave base station receives a radio signal transmitted from the radio terminal station, and the communication state measurement unit communicates with the radio terminal station based on the radio signal received from the radio terminal station. The communication state is measured, the collection unit in the master base station collects the communication state with the same wireless terminal station from the master base station and the slave base station, and the cover area match detection unit is the same radio collected by the collection unit. Based on the communication state with the terminal station, it is detected whether the cover areas of the master base station and the slave base station match.

  More preferably, the communication state measurement unit measures the reception level of the radio signal received from the radio terminal station, and the collection unit determines the reception level of the radio signal received from the same radio terminal station as the master base station and the slave base station. The coverage area coincidence detection unit detects coincidence or mismatch of the coverage areas based on the difference between the collected reception levels of the master base station and the collected reception levels of the slave base stations.

  More preferably, the collection unit collects the communication state with the same wireless terminal station in communication with either the master base station or the slave base station from the master base station and the slave base station.

  Preferably, the reception unit in the master base station receives a radio signal transmitted from the slave base station, and the communication state measurement unit in the master base station communicates with the slave base station based on the radio signal received from the slave base station. The communication state is measured, the collecting unit collects the communication state with the slave base station from the master base station, and the cover area coincidence detecting unit is based on the communication state with the slave base station collected by the collecting unit. And whether or not the coverage areas of the slave base stations match.

  More preferably, the reception unit in the master base station further attenuates the radio signal received from the slave base station, and the communication state measurement unit in the master base station communicates with the slave base station based on the attenuated radio signal. Measure state.

  More preferably, the receiving unit in the master base station receives a radio signal transmitted from the slave base station to the radio terminal station.

  Preferably, the reception unit in the slave base station receives a radio signal transmitted from the master base station, and the communication state measurement unit in the slave base station communicates with the master base station based on the radio signal received from the master base station. The communication state is measured, the collecting unit collects the communication state with the master base station from the slave base station, and the cover area coincidence detecting unit is based on the communication state with the master base station collected by the collecting unit. And whether or not the coverage areas of the slave base stations match.

  More preferably, the reception unit in the slave base station further attenuates the radio signal received from the master base station, and the communication state measurement unit in the slave base station communicates with the master base station based on the attenuated radio signal. Measure state.

  More preferably, the receiving unit in the slave base station receives a radio signal transmitted from the master base station to the radio terminal station.

  Preferably, the reception unit in the slave base station receives a radio signal transmitted from the master base station, and the communication state measurement unit in the slave base station communicates with the master base station based on the radio signal received from the master base station. The communication state is measured, and the receiving unit in the master base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the slave base station, and the communication state measuring unit in the master base station is based on the radio signal received from the slave base station. The communication state with the station is measured, the collecting unit collects the communication state with the master base station from the slave base station, and the communication state with the slave base station is collected from the master base station, and the cover area coincidence detecting unit Is based on the communication state with the master base station and the communication state with the slave base station collected by the collection unit. Detecting whether the coverage area of the probe base station coincide.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an operation switching method according to an aspect of the present invention provides a wireless base station capable of independent operation that communicates with one or a plurality of wireless terminal stations using a control channel and a communication channel. A single master base station, which is a radio base station that operates independently, is connected to the master base station, and the communication channel is used based on the control of the master base station without using the control channel. An operation switching method in a radio base station system composed of one or a plurality of slave base stations capable of joint operation communicating with a radio terminal station, and at least one of a master base station and a slave base station A reception step of receiving a radio signal, and a communication status measurement in which a radio base station receiving the radio signal measures a communication status based on the received radio signal. A step in which the master base station collects the measured communication state, and whether the master base station matches the coverage areas of the master base station and the slave base station based on the communication state collected in the collection step. A cover area coincidence detection step for detecting whether or not, and a master base station determines that a slave base station having a cover area that coincides with the cover area of the master base station performs joint operation; An operation determination step for determining that a slave base station having a non-coincidence covered area performs single operation, and a central control step for controlling the slave base station to switch between joint operation and single operation based on the determination of the operation determination step; including.

  Preferably, in the reception step, the master base station and the slave base station receive a radio signal transmitted from the radio terminal station, and in the communication state measurement step, the master base station and the slave base station are received from the radio terminal station. Based on the received radio signal, the communication state with the wireless terminal station is measured, and in the collecting step, the master base station collects the communication state with the same wireless terminal station from the master base station and the slave base station, and covers it. In the area coincidence detection step, the master base station detects whether or not the cover areas of the master base station and the slave base station coincide based on the communication state with the same wireless terminal station collected in the collection step.

  More preferably, in the communication state measuring step, the master base station and the slave base station measure the reception level of the radio signal received from the radio terminal station, and in the collecting step, the master base station is the same radio terminal station. The reception level of the radio signal received from the master base station and the slave base station is collected from the master base station and the slave base station. Matching or mismatching of the coverage area is detected based on the reception level difference.

  More preferably, in the collecting step, the master base station collects the communication state with the same wireless terminal station in communication with either the master base station or the slave base station from the master base station and the slave base station.

  Preferably, in the reception step, the master base station receives a radio signal transmitted from the slave base station, and in the communication state measurement step, the master base station performs slave based on the radio signal received from the slave base station. The communication state with the base station is measured, and in the collecting step, the master base station collects the communication state with the slave base station, and in the coverage area matching detection step, the master base station is collected in the collecting step. Based on the communication state with the slave base station, it is detected whether or not the cover areas of the master base station and the slave base station match.

  More preferably, the operation switching method further includes an attenuation step in which the master base station attenuates the radio signal received from the slave base station, and in the communication state measurement step, the master base station converts the radio signal to the attenuated radio signal. Based on this, the communication state with the slave base station is measured.

  More preferably, in the receiving step, the master base station receives a radio signal transmitted from the slave base station to the radio terminal station.

  Preferably, in the reception step, the slave base station receives a radio signal transmitted from the master base station, and in the communication state measurement step, the slave base station performs a master based on the radio signal received from the master base station. The communication state with the base station is measured, and in the collecting step, the master base station collects the communication state with the master base station. In the coverage area matching detection step, the master base station is collected in the collecting step. Based on the communication state with the master base station, it is detected whether the cover areas of the master base station and the slave base station match.

  More preferably, the operation switching method further includes an attenuation step in which the slave base station attenuates the radio signal received from the master base station. In the communication state measurement step, the slave base station converts the radio signal to the attenuated radio signal. Based on this, the communication state with the master base station is measured.

  More preferably, in the receiving step, the slave base station receives a radio signal transmitted from the master base station to the radio terminal station.

  Preferably, in the reception step, the slave base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the master base station, and the master base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the slave base station, and the communication state measurement step The slave base station measures the communication state with the master base station based on the radio signal received from the master base station, and the master base station determines the slave base station based on the radio signal received from the slave base station. In the collecting step, the master base station collects the communication state with the master base station and the communication state with the slave base station. In the cover area match detection step, the master base station , Based on the communication state with the master base station and the communication state with the slave base station collected in the collection step. The master base station and Te detects whether the coverage area of the slave base station coincide.

  In order to solve the above problems, an operation switching program according to an aspect of the present invention provides a radio base station capable of independent operation that communicates with one or a plurality of radio terminal stations using a control channel and a communication channel. A single master base station, which is a radio base station that operates independently, is connected to the master base station, and the communication channel is used based on the control of the master base station without using the control channel. An operation switching program in a radio base station system composed of one or a plurality of slave base stations capable of joint operation communicating with a radio terminal station, the computer including at least a master base station and a slave base station Either one of the reception step of receiving the radio signal, and the radio base station receiving the radio signal based on the received radio signal A communication state measuring step for measuring a communication state; a collection step in which the master base station collects the measured communication state; and a master base station and a slave base based on the communication state collected in the collection step. A coverage area matching detection step for detecting whether or not the coverage areas of the stations match, and a master base station determines that a slave base station having a coverage area that matches the coverage area of the master base station performs joint operation. A slave base station having a coverage area that does not match the coverage area of the master base station is determined to operate independently, and the slave base station performs joint operation and independent operation based on the determination of the operation determination step. And a central control step for performing switching control.

  Preferably, in the reception step, the master base station and the slave base station receive a radio signal transmitted from the radio terminal station, and in the communication state measurement step, the master base station and the slave base station are received from the radio terminal station. Based on the received radio signal, the communication state with the wireless terminal station is measured, and in the collecting step, the master base station collects the communication state with the same wireless terminal station from the master base station and the slave base station, and covers it. In the area coincidence detection step, the master base station detects whether or not the cover areas of the master base station and the slave base station coincide based on the communication state with the same wireless terminal station collected in the collection step.

  More preferably, in the communication state measuring step, the master base station and the slave base station measure the reception level of the radio signal received from the radio terminal station, and in the collecting step, the master base station is the same radio terminal station. The reception level of the radio signal received from the master base station and the slave base station is collected from the master base station and the slave base station. Matching or mismatching of the coverage area is detected based on the reception level difference.

  More preferably, in the collecting step, the master base station collects the communication state with the same wireless terminal station in communication with either the master base station or the slave base station from the master base station and the slave base station.

  Preferably, in the reception step, the master base station receives a radio signal transmitted from the slave base station, and in the communication state measurement step, the master base station performs slave based on the radio signal received from the slave base station. The communication state with the base station is measured, and in the collecting step, the master base station collects the communication state with the slave base station, and in the coverage area matching detection step, the master base station is collected in the collecting step. Based on the communication state with the slave base station, it is detected whether or not the cover areas of the master base station and the slave base station match.

  More preferably, the operation switching program further causes the computer to execute an attenuation step in which the master base station attenuates a radio signal received from the slave base station, and in the communication state measurement step, the master base station attenuates. The communication state with the slave base station is measured based on the received radio signal.

  More preferably, in the receiving step, the master base station receives a radio signal transmitted from the slave base station to the radio terminal station.

  Preferably, in the reception step, the slave base station receives a radio signal transmitted from the master base station, and in the communication state measurement step, the slave base station performs a master based on the radio signal received from the master base station. The communication state with the base station is measured, and in the collecting step, the master base station collects the communication state with the master base station. In the coverage area matching detection step, the master base station is collected in the collecting step. Based on the communication state with the master base station, it is detected whether the cover areas of the master base station and the slave base station match.

  More preferably, the operation switching program further causes the computer to execute an attenuation step in which the slave base station attenuates the radio signal received from the master base station, and in the communication state measurement step, the slave base station attenuates. The communication state with the master base station is measured based on the received radio signal.

  More preferably, in the receiving step, the slave base station receives a radio signal transmitted from the master base station to the radio terminal station.

  Preferably, in the reception step, the slave base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the master base station, and the master base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the slave base station, and the communication state measurement step The slave base station measures the communication state with the master base station based on the radio signal received from the master base station, and the master base station determines the slave base station based on the radio signal received from the slave base station. In the collecting step, the master base station collects the communication state with the master base station and the communication state with the slave base station. In the cover area match detection step, the master base station , Based on the communication state with the master base station and the communication state with the slave base station collected in the collection step. The master base station and Te detects whether the coverage area of the slave base station coincide.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately change the operation mode of the radio base station according to the installation status of the radio base station.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
[Constitution]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a radio base station system according to the first embodiment.

  With reference to the figure, this radio base station system includes radio base stations 301 to 303 and a control station 401.

  The radio base station 301 to the radio base station 303 are connected in cascade, and the radio base station 301 to the radio base station 303 are each connected to an I ′ (ISDN: Integrated Services Digital Network) line.

  Further, the control station 401 is connected to the I ′ line, and the radio base station 301 to the radio base station 303 are connected to the control station 401 via the I ′ line, respectively.

  The radio base station 301 to the radio base station 303 communicate with each radio terminal station (not shown) by the TDMA / TDD method.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of the radio base station in the radio base station system according to the first embodiment.

  Referring to the figure, this radio base station includes an antenna 1, a switch 2, a receiving unit 3, a demodulating unit 4, a central control unit 5, a line control unit 6, an interface unit 7, and a modulation unit. 8, transmission unit 9, resource request detection unit 12, resource allocation unit 13, communication state measurement unit 14, collection unit 15, cover area match detection unit 16, operation determination unit 17, radio signal processing Unit 101.

  The radio signal processing unit 101 includes a communication slot processing unit 10 and a control slot processing unit 11.

[Basic operation of radio base station uplink]
The antenna 1 outputs a radio signal received from the radio terminal station to the switch 2.

  The switch 2 switches whether to output a radio signal received from the antenna 1 to the reception unit 3 or to output a transmission signal received from the transmission unit 9 to the antenna 1 according to a control signal (not shown).

  The receiving unit 3 extracts a signal of a radio channel specified by a control signal (not shown) from each radio channel signal included in a radio signal in an RF (Radio Frequency) band received from the switch 2 and converts it into a baseband signal. Convert frequency. Then, the reception unit 3 converts the baseband signal that is an analog signal into reception data that is a digital signal, and outputs the received data to the demodulation unit 4.

  The demodulator 4 demodulates the received data received from the receiver 3 and outputs the demodulated data to the communication slot processor 10 and the control slot processor 11 as demodulated data.

  The communication slot processing unit 10 extracts the demodulated data in the communication slot in use from the demodulated data received from the demodulating unit 4, and outputs various signals to the demodulated data corresponding to the uplink communication channel from the extracted demodulated data. Processing is performed and output to the central control unit 5. Here, the signal processing refers to, for example, error correction decoding processing or processing such as conversion of a speech coding scheme when the demodulated data is speech data.

  The central control unit 5 receives the reception data signal-processed in the communication slot processing unit 10, performs processing for inserting the reception data in each communication slot into the data frame for the I 'line, and performs line control on the data frame. Output to unit 6.

  The line control unit 6 performs communication protocol processing with the I ′ line and outputs the data frame received from the central control unit 5 to the I ′ line.

[Basic downlink downlink operation]
The line control unit 6 performs communication protocol processing with the I ′ line and outputs a data frame received from the I ′ line to the central control unit 5.

  The central control unit 5 performs processing for converting the data frame received from the line control unit 6 into data to be transmitted in the communication slot, and outputs the converted transmission data to the communication slot processing unit 10.

  The communication slot processing unit 10 performs various signal processing on the transmission data received from the central control unit 5 and outputs it to the modulation unit 8 as a downlink communication channel. Here, the signal processing refers to, for example, error correction encoding processing or processing such as conversion of an audio encoding scheme when transmission data is audio data. Further, the communication slot processing unit 10 generates a downlink dedicated control channel and outputs it to the modulation unit 8.

  The control slot processing unit 11 generates a downlink common control channel and outputs it to the modulation unit 8.

  The modulation unit 8 modulates the downlink call channel and the downlink dedicated control channel received from the communication slot processing unit 10 and the downlink common control channel received from the control slot processing unit 11, and outputs the modulated data to the transmission unit 9.

  The transmission unit 9 converts the modulation data, which is a digital signal received from the modulation unit 8, into an analog signal, amplifies the transmission signal obtained by frequency-converting the analog signal into the RF band, and outputs the amplified signal to the switch 2.

  The switch 2 switches whether to output a radio signal received from the antenna 1 to the reception unit 3 or to output a transmission signal received from the transmission unit 9 to the antenna 1 according to a control signal (not shown).

  The antenna 1 transmits the transmission signal received from the switch 2 to the wireless terminal station as a wireless signal.

  Next, a basic operation related to allocation of communication slots of a radio base station in the radio base station system according to the present embodiment will be described. Here, description will be made assuming that the slave base station performs joint operation.

[Basic operations related to allocation of communication slots for wireless base stations]
The communication slot processing unit 10 extracts the demodulated data in the communication slot in use from the demodulated data received from the demodulator 4 based on the resource allocation command received from the resource allocation unit 13 described later, and detects the resource request To the unit 12.

  Here, the resource means a finite resource used by the radio base station for communication with the radio terminal station, and the communication slot is a kind of resource.

  In addition, the communication slot processing unit 10 performs various signal processing on the demodulated data corresponding to the uplink communication channel in the extracted demodulated data, and outputs it to the central control unit 7. Here, the signal processing refers to, for example, error correction decoding processing or processing such as conversion of a speech coding scheme when the demodulated data is speech data.

  The control slot processing unit 11 extracts an uplink common control channel that is demodulated data in a slot for a common control channel (hereinafter referred to as a control slot) from the demodulated data received from the demodulator 4, and a resource request detector 12 is output.

  The resource request detection unit 12 detects a release request by the wireless terminal station of the communication slot in use from the demodulated data corresponding to the uplink dedicated control channel among the demodulated data received from the communication slot processing unit 10. Further, the resource request detection unit 12 detects a communication slot allocation request by the wireless terminal station from the uplink common control channel received from the control slot processing unit 11. Then, the resource request detection unit 12 outputs resource request information representing the contents of the communication slot allocation request and release request to the resource allocation unit 13.

  The resource allocation unit 13 in the master base station uses the communication slot of each radio base station in the radio base station system from the resource request information received from the resource request detection unit 12 and the other station resource information received from another radio base station. The situation is grasped, and it is determined which of the communication slots of each radio base station is assigned to the radio terminal station based on the use situation of the communication slot.

  Then, the resource allocating unit 13 in the master base station, when allocating its own communication slot to the wireless terminal station, issues a resource allocation command indicating which communication slot is allocated to the communication slot processing unit 10 and the central control. Output to unit 5. In addition, when allocating the communication slot of the slave base station to the wireless terminal station, the resource allocation unit 13 generates other station resource information indicating which communication slot of which slave base station is allocated to the wireless terminal station. Then, the data is transmitted to the slave base station via the central control unit 5 and the interface unit 7.

  The resource allocation unit 13 in the slave base station sends a resource allocation command indicating which communication slot is allocated based on the other station resource information received from the master base station via the central control unit 5 and the interface unit 7 to the communication slot. Output to the processing unit 10.

  Further, the resource allocation unit 13 in the slave base station outputs the resource request information received from the resource request detection unit 12 to the master base station via the central control unit 5 and the interface unit 7 as other station resource information. Here, the slave base station that performs joint operation has a 4T frame configuration and does not transmit / receive the common control channel. Therefore, the resource request information represents only the request for releasing the communication slot of the slave base station.

[Configuration of control station]
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a control station in the radio base station system according to the first embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 3, control station 401 includes line control unit 21 and central control unit 22.

  Next, operations when the radio base station and the control station perform operation determination in the radio base station system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In the radio base station system according to the present embodiment, one radio base station of each radio base station is operated as a master base station by the system supplier or system administrator setting the radio base stations. Other radio base stations are operated as slave base stations.

  In the radio base station system according to the present embodiment, the master base station determines the operation mode of each slave base station. In other words, the master base station makes an operation determination for selecting whether the slave base station performs joint operation or the slave base station performs single operation using the common control channel to communicate with the wireless terminal station.

[Operation]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart defining the operation procedure of the radio base station system according to the first embodiment.

  A line control unit 21 in the control station 401, a central control unit 22, a central control unit 5 in the radio base station 301 to the radio base station 303, a line control unit 6, an interface unit 7, a resource request detection unit 12, The resource allocation unit 13, the communication state measurement unit 14, the collection unit 15, the cover area coincidence detection unit 16, the operation determination unit 17, and the wireless signal processing unit 101 do not illustrate a program including each step of the flowchart. Read from memory and execute. This program can be installed externally.

  The central control unit 22 in the control station 401 outputs an operation determination start command to the line control unit 21 (S1).

  The operation determination start command may be output every time a new radio base station is added to the radio base station system, or may be output every predetermined period such as once a day.

  The line control unit 21 performs communication protocol processing with the I ′ line and outputs the operation determination start command received from the central control unit 22 to the master base station via the I ′ line (S1).

  The line control unit 6 in the master base station performs communication protocol processing with the I ′ line and outputs the operation determination start command received from the control station 401 to the central control unit 5.

  The central control unit 5 receives the operation determination start command from the line control unit 6, and from the resource allocation command received from the resource allocation unit 13 and the other station resource information received from each slave base station via the interface unit 7, Detects a wireless terminal station that is communicating with a station and that has a communication slot that is temporally corresponding to the communication slot that the wireless terminal station is using at least one slave base station (S11). In addition, the central control unit 5 is a wireless terminal station with which at least one slave base station is communicating, and a communication slot temporally corresponding to a communication slot used by the wireless terminal station is a master base station. In step S11, a wireless terminal station that is not used is detected.

  This is a master base station in which a communication slot corresponding in time to a communication slot used by a radio terminal station communicating with either one of a master base station or a slave base station is not communicating with the radio terminal station Alternatively, when the slave base station is in use, a master base station or slave base station that is not communicating with the wireless terminal station cannot receive a wireless signal from the wireless terminal station.

  In addition, the wireless terminal station that is in communication with either the master base station or the slave base station is set as a detection target of the central control unit 5 described above, that is, a reception level measurement target described later is not in communication. It is possible to prevent complication of control of the radio base station and the radio terminal station due to new communication with the radio terminal station, decrease in use efficiency of the communication slot, and increase in power consumption.

  When the central control unit 5 cannot detect such a wireless terminal station, the central control unit 5 ends the process (NO in S11). On the other hand, if such a wireless terminal station can be detected (YES in S11), the central control unit 5 receives an instruction to receive a wireless signal from the detected wireless terminal station and measure the reception level. It outputs to the interface part 7 as a command (S12).

  The interface unit 7 transmits the reception level measurement command received from the central control unit 5 to each slave base station (S12).

  The central control unit 5 in the slave base station receives the reception level measurement command from the master base station via the interface unit 7 and outputs it to the communication state measurement unit 14 (S31).

  The central control unit 5 in the master base station outputs a reception level measurement command to the communication state measurement unit 14 in the master base station (S13).

  The communication state measurement unit 14 in the master base station and the slave base station receives the radio signal from the radio terminal station indicated by the reception level measurement command and measures the reception level (S13 and S31).

  The communication state measurement unit 14 in the slave base station outputs the measured reception level to the collection unit 15 (S32).

  The collection unit 15 outputs the reception level received from the communication state measurement unit 14 to the central control unit 5 (S32).

  The central control unit 5 outputs the reception level received from the collection unit 15 to the interface unit 7 (S32).

  The interface unit 7 transmits the reception level received from the central control unit 5 to the master base station (S32).

  The interface unit 7 in the master base station outputs the reception level received from each slave base station to the central control unit 5 (S14).

  The central control unit 5 outputs the reception level received from the interface unit 7 to the collection unit 15 (S14).

  The collection unit 15 collects the reception level of the local station received from the communication state measurement unit 14 and the reception level of each slave base station received from the central control unit 5, and the received reception level of each radio base station matches the coverage area. It outputs to the detection part 16 (S14).

  The cover area coincidence detection unit 16 receives the reception level of each radio base station from the collection unit 15 and receives the reception level measured at the master base station and the reception levels measured at each slave base station for the same radio terminal station. Is calculated for each slave base station (S15). Further, the cover area coincidence detection unit 16 stores the latest reception level difference for a certain period, and calculates the average value of the stored reception level difference and the newly calculated reception level difference (S16). In addition, when there are a plurality of measurement target radio terminal stations for one slave base station, the cover area coincidence detection unit 16 calculates a reception level difference between the plurality of radio terminal stations, and the calculated plurality of radio terminal stations An average value of the reception level difference and the stored reception level difference for the latest fixed period is calculated (S16).

  In this way, the average value of multiple reception level differences and reception level differences of multiple wireless terminal stations is calculated in time, so the reception level of the radio signal fluctuates due to the influence of moving obstacles such as automobiles, and the coverage area matches It is possible to prevent the detection unit 16 from making an erroneous determination.

  The cover area coincidence detection unit 16 determines that the cover area of the slave base station whose average value of the calculated reception level difference is less than the predetermined threshold (YES in S17) coincides with the cover area of the master base station. (S18). On the other hand, the cover area coincidence detection unit 16 determines that the cover area of the slave base station in which the calculated average value of the reception level differences is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (NO in S17) does not match the cover area of the master base station (S19). Then, the cover area match detection unit 16 outputs cover area information indicating whether or not the cover area of each slave base station matches the cover area of the master base station to the operation determination unit 17 (S18 and S19).

  The operation determining unit 17 receives the cover area information from the cover area coincidence detecting unit 16 and selects the joint operation for the slave base station that matches the cover area of the master base station (S20). On the other hand, the operation determination unit 17 selects the single operation for the slave base station that does not match the coverage area of the master base station (S21). Then, the operation determining unit 17 outputs operation information indicating whether each slave base station performs single operation or joint operation to the central control unit 5 (S22).

  The central control unit 5 outputs the operation information received from the operation determination unit 17 to the line control unit 6 (S22).

  The line control unit 6 performs communication protocol processing with the I ′ line and outputs the operation information received from the central control unit 5 to the control station 401 via the I ′ line (S22).

  The line control unit 21 in the control station 401 performs communication protocol processing with the I ′ line and outputs the operation information received from the master base station to the central control unit 22.

  The central control unit 22 receives the operation information from the line control unit 21, and ends the process when the operation mode of each radio base station represented by the operation information is the same as the current operation mode (NO in S2). .

  On the other hand, the central control unit 22 receives the operation information from the line control unit 21, and when the operation mode of each radio base station represented by the operation information is different from the current operation mode (YES in S2), each slave base station An operation command indicating whether to perform single operation or joint operation is output to the line control unit 21 (S3).

  The line control unit 21 performs communication protocol processing with the I ′ line, and transmits the operation command received from the central control unit 22 to each radio base station (S3).

  The line control unit 6 in each radio base station performs communication protocol processing with the I ′ line and outputs the operation command received from the control station 401 to the central control unit 5 (S23 and S33).

  The central control unit 5 in the slave base station receives an operation command from the line control unit 6 and sends a command to communicate with the wireless terminal station in a 1C3T frame configuration or a 4T frame configuration by a control signal (not shown). The data is output to the processing unit 10 and the control slot processing unit 11 (S33).

  The communication slot processing unit 10 and the control slot processing unit 11 in the slave base station communicate with the wireless terminal station in a frame configuration represented by a control signal (not shown) received from the central control unit 5 (S33).

  The central control unit 5 in the master base station receives the operation command from the line control unit 6 and recognizes the slave base station that performs joint operation. Then, the central control unit 5 outputs a command for allocating communication slots of slave base stations that perform joint operation based on a common control channel used by the master base station to the resource allocation unit 13 using a control signal (not shown). (S23).

  The resource allocation unit 13 receives a control signal (not shown) received from the central control unit 5, recognizes a slave base station that performs joint operation, and allocates a communication slot to the slave base station that performs joint operation ( S23).

  Note that, in the same manner as the master base station communicates with the wireless terminal station with the 1C3T frame configuration, the slave base station that operates independently performs communication with the wireless terminal station with the 1C3T frame configuration.

  By the way, in the radio base station system described in Patent Document 1, since the operation mode of the radio base station is not changed unless there is an abnormality in the connector portion of the connection cable, the radio base station according to the installation status of the radio base station. There was a problem that the operation mode of the system could not be changed appropriately.

  However, in the radio base station system according to the present embodiment, the cover area match detection unit 16 matches the cover area of the master base station that uses the common control channel and the cover area of the slave base station that does not use the common control channel. Whether or not is detected. Then, the operation determination unit 17 determines that a slave base station having a cover area that matches the cover area of the master base station performs independent operation, and a slave base station that has a cover area that does not match the cover area of the master base station. Decides to do joint operation. Therefore, in the radio base station system according to the present embodiment, the operation mode of the radio base station can be appropriately changed according to the installation status of the radio base station.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Second Embodiment>
[Constitution]
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a radio base station system according to the second embodiment.

  With reference to the figure, this radio base station system has a configuration that does not include a control station 401 as compared with the radio base station system according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  The configuration of each radio base station in the radio base station system according to the present embodiment is the same as the configuration of the radio base station in the radio base station system according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  Next, an operation when the radio base station performs operation determination in the radio base station system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Operation]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart defining the operation procedure of the radio base station system according to the second embodiment. Step S102 to step S111, step S121 and step S122 are the same as step S12 to step S21, step S31 and step S32 in the flowchart shown in FIG. In the following, only steps different from the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 will be described.

  Central control unit 5, line control unit 6, interface unit 7, resource request detection unit 12, resource allocation unit 13, communication state measurement unit 14, and collection unit 15 in radio base station 301 to radio base station 303. Then, the cover area coincidence detection unit 16, the operation determination unit 17, and the wireless signal processing unit 101 read and execute a program including each step of the flowchart from a memory (not shown). This program can be installed externally.

  First, the central control unit 5 in the master base station, every time a new radio base station is added to the radio base station system, like the control station 401 in the radio base station system according to the first embodiment, or Operation determination is started every predetermined period (S101).

  That is, the central control unit 5 determines one of the radio base stations in the radio base station system from the resource allocation command received from the resource allocation unit 13 and the other station resource information received from each slave base station via the interface unit 7. A wireless terminal station that is communicating with another wireless base station that is not in use by another wireless base station that is temporally corresponding to the communication slot used by the wireless terminal station Is detected (S101).

  The central control unit 5 in the master base station receives the operation information from the operation determination unit 17 and ends the process when the operation mode of each radio base station represented by the operation information is the same as the current operation mode ( NO in S112).

  On the other hand, when the central control unit 5 receives the operation information from the operation determination unit 17 and the operation mode of each radio base station represented by the operation information is different from the current operation mode (YES in S112), each of the slave base stations An operation command indicating whether to perform single operation or joint operation is output to the interface unit 7 (S113).

  The interface unit 7 transmits the operation command received from the central control unit 5 to each slave base station (S113).

  The interface unit 7 in each slave base station outputs the operation command received from the master base station to the central control unit 5 (S123).

  The central control unit 5 in the slave base station receives an operation command from the interface unit 7 and performs an instruction to communicate with the wireless terminal station in a 1C3T frame configuration or a 4T frame configuration by using a control signal (not shown). Output to the unit 10 and the control slot processing unit 11 (S123).

  The slot processor for communication 10 and the slot processor for control 11 in the slave base station communicate with the wireless terminal station in a frame configuration represented by a control signal (not shown) received from the central controller 5 (S123).

  In addition, the central control unit 5 in the master base station receives an operation command from the operation determination unit 17 and recognizes a slave base station that performs joint operation. Then, the central control unit 5 outputs a command for allocating communication slots of slave base stations that perform joint operation based on a common control channel used by the master base station to the resource allocation unit 13 using a control signal (not shown). (S114).

  The resource allocation unit 13 receives a control signal (not shown) received from the central control unit 5, recognizes a slave base station that performs joint operation, and allocates a communication slot to the slave base station that performs joint operation ( S114).

  Other operations are the same as those of the radio base station system according to the first embodiment.

  As described above, in the radio base station system according to the present embodiment, since the master base station autonomously starts operation determination, no control station is required, and the configuration of the radio base station system can be simplified.

  In addition, in the radio base station system according to the present embodiment, the operation mode of the radio base station is appropriately changed according to the installation status of the radio base station, as in the radio base station system according to the first embodiment. be able to.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Third Embodiment>
[Configuration and basic operation]
The radio base station system according to the third embodiment has the same configuration as that of the radio base station system according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a radio base station in the radio base station system according to the third embodiment.

  With reference to the figure, the radio base station includes a receiving unit 50 instead of the receiving unit 3 with respect to the radio base station according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  Switch 2 switches whether to output a radio signal received from antenna 1 to receiving unit 50 or to output a transmission signal received from transmitting unit 9 to antenna 1 in accordance with a control signal (not shown).

  The receiving unit 50 extracts a radio channel signal designated by a control signal (not shown) from the radio channel signals included in an RF (Radio Frequency) band radio signal received from the switch 2 to obtain a baseband signal. Convert frequency. Then, the reception unit 50 converts the baseband signal that is an analog signal into reception data that is a digital signal, and outputs the received data to the demodulation unit 4.

  The attenuating unit 30 included in the receiving unit 50 attenuates the radio signal received from the other radio base station received from the switch 2 and outputs the attenuated signal to the communication state measuring unit 14, and the radio signal received from the radio terminal station Is output to the communication state measuring unit 14 as it is.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the attenuation unit 30.

  Referring to FIG. 3, attenuating unit 30 includes an attenuator 31, a switch 32, and a switch 33. The switch 32 includes a terminal t1 to a terminal t3. The switch 33 includes terminals t4 to t6.

  The central control unit 5 conducts between the terminal t1 and the terminal t2 of the switch 32 in the slot in which the radio base station receives a radio signal from the radio terminal station, and connects the terminal t4 and the terminal t5 of the switch 33. Control to make the connection between them. In this case, the radio signal received from the switch 2 is output to the communication state measurement unit 14 via the switch 32 and the switch 33.

On the other hand, the central control unit 5 conducts between the terminal t1 and the terminal t3 of the switch 32 in the slot in which the radio base station receives a radio signal from another radio base station, and the terminal t5 of the switch 33 Control to conduct between the terminal t6 is performed. In this case, the radio signal received from the switch 2 is output to the attenuator 31 via the switch 32 and attenuated in the attenuator 31, and the attenuated radio signal is output to the communication state measurement unit 14 via the switch 33. .
.

  Since other configurations and basic operations are the same as those of the radio base station according to the first embodiment, description thereof will not be repeated here.

  Next, an operation when the radio base station performs operation determination in the radio base station system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Operation 1]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart defining the operation procedure of the radio base station system according to the third embodiment. Step S202 to step S203, step S220 to step S223, and step S233 are the same as step S2 to step S3, step S20 to step S23, and step S33 in the flowchart shown in FIG. In the following, only steps different from the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 will be described.

  Central control unit 5, line control unit 6, interface unit 7, resource request detection unit 12, resource allocation unit 13, communication state measurement unit 14, and collection unit 15 in radio base station 301 to radio base station 303. Then, the cover area coincidence detection unit 16, the operation determination unit 17, and the wireless signal processing unit 101 read and execute a program including each step of the flowchart from a memory (not shown). This program can be installed externally.

  The central control unit 22 in the control station 401 specifies a slave base station (hereinafter referred to as a determination target slave base station) that is an operation determination target, and operates an instruction to start operation determination of the specified determination target slave base station. A determination start command is output to the line control unit 21 (S201).

  The operation determination start command may be output every time a new radio base station is added to the radio base station system, or may be output every predetermined period such as once a day.

  The line control unit 21 performs communication protocol processing with the I ′ line, and outputs the operation determination start command received from the central control unit 22 to the master base station via the I ′ line (S201).

  The line control unit 6 in the master base station performs communication protocol processing with the I ′ line and outputs the operation determination start command received from the control station 401 to the central control unit 5.

  The central control unit 5 in the master base station receives the operation determination start command from the line control unit 6, receives the resource allocation command received from the resource allocation unit 13, and the other station resource information received from each slave base station via the interface unit 7. From this, it is detected whether or not a communication slot corresponding to at least one of the communication slots used for communication with the wireless terminal station in the determination target slave base station is unused in the master base station ( S211).

  When the master base station uses all the communication slots corresponding to the communication slots used for communication with the wireless terminal station in the determination target slave base station, the central control unit 5 ends the processing. (NO in S211). On the other hand, when the central control unit 5 does not use a communication slot corresponding to at least one of the communication slots used for communication with the wireless terminal station in the determination target slave base station in the master base station. (YES in S211), the reception target is measured by receiving a radio signal transmitted from the slave base station to be determined to the wireless terminal station in one of the unused communication slots (hereinafter referred to as a determination slot). To the communication state measurement unit 14 in the master base station as a reception level measurement command (S213).

  If there are a plurality of unused communication slots, the master base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the determination target slave base station to the radio terminal station in the plurality of communication slots and measures the reception level. It may be a configuration. With such a configuration, it is possible to obtain many measurement values of the reception level in a predetermined period, so that the operation determination can be performed more accurately and the time required for the operation determination can be shortened.

  The central control unit 5 controls the attenuation unit 30 to attenuate the radio signal from the determination target slave base station in the determination slot. That is, the central control unit 5 performs control so as to conduct between the terminal t1 and the terminal t3 of the switch 32 and to conduct between the terminal t5 and the terminal t6 of the switch 33 in the determination slot (S212).

  The communication state measurement unit 14 in the master base station measures the reception level of the radio signal transmitted from the slave base station indicated by the reception level measurement command to the radio terminal station (S213).

  The collection unit 15 outputs the reception level received from the communication state measurement unit 14 to the cover area match detection unit 16 (S214).

  The cover area coincidence detection unit 16 stores the latest reception level for a certain period, and calculates an average value of the stored reception level and the newly calculated reception level (S216).

  Since the average value of a plurality of reception levels in this way is calculated in this way, the reception level of the radio signal fluctuates due to the influence of a moving obstacle such as an automobile, and the cover area coincidence detection unit 16 makes an erroneous determination. Can be prevented.

  The cover area coincidence detection unit 16 determines that the cover area of the determination target slave base station whose average value of the calculated reception levels is less than the predetermined threshold (YES in S217) matches the cover area of the master base station. (S218). On the other hand, the cover area match detection unit 16 determines that the cover area of the determination target slave base station whose average value of the calculated reception levels is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (NO in S217) does not match the cover area of the master base station. Judgment is made (S219). Then, the cover area match detection unit 16 outputs cover area information indicating whether or not the cover area of the determination target slave base station matches the cover area of the master base station to the operation determination unit 17 (S218 and S219). .

  In this way, the communication state measuring unit 14 in the master base station measures the reception level of the radio signal transmitted from the determination target slave base station to the radio terminal station, and the master base station and the determination target slave base are based on the measured reception level. With the configuration in which the cover area coincidence detection unit 16 detects whether or not the coverage areas of the stations match, only the master base station needs to perform the operation determination process, and the determination target slave base station has a special operation determination There is no need to perform any action. Further, it is not necessary to transmit / receive a special control signal for operation determination between the master base station and the determination target slave base station. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the operation determination process in the radio base station system.

[Operation 2]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart defining a modification of the operation procedure of the radio base station system according to the third embodiment. Step S302 to step S303, step S320 to step S323, and step S334 are the same as step S2 to step S3, step S20 to step S23, and step S33 in the flowchart shown in FIG. Step 301 and steps S316 to S319 are the same as step S201 and steps S216 to S219 in the flowchart shown in FIG. Hereinafter, only steps different from the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 and 9 will be described.

  Central control unit 5, line control unit 6, interface unit 7, resource request detection unit 12, resource allocation unit 13, communication state measurement unit 14, and collection unit 15 in radio base station 301 to radio base station 303. Then, the cover area coincidence detection unit 16, the operation determination unit 17, and the wireless signal processing unit 101 read and execute a program including each step of the flowchart from a memory (not shown). This program can be installed externally.

  The line control unit 6 in the master base station performs communication protocol processing with the I ′ line and outputs the operation determination start command received from the control station 401 to the central control unit 5.

  The central control unit 5 in the master base station receives the operation determination start command from the line control unit 6, receives the resource allocation command received from the resource allocation unit 13, and the other station resource information received from each slave base station via the interface unit 7. From this, it is detected whether the communication slot corresponding to at least one of the communication slots used for communication with the wireless terminal station in the master base station is unused in the determination target slave base station ( S311).

  The central control unit 5 ends the processing when the determination target slave base station uses all the communication slots corresponding to the communication slots used for communication with the wireless terminal station in the master base station. (NO in S311). On the other hand, when the central control unit 5 does not use a communication slot corresponding to at least one of the communication slots used for communication with the wireless terminal station in the master base station in the determination target slave base station. (YES in S311), an instruction to receive a radio signal transmitted from the master base station to the radio terminal station and measure the reception level in one of the unused communication slots (hereinafter referred to as a determination slot). Is output to the interface unit 7 as a reception level measurement command (S312).

  When there are a plurality of unused communication slots, the determination target slave base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the master base station to the radio terminal station in the plurality of communication slots and measures the reception level. It may be a configuration. With such a configuration, it is possible to obtain many measurement values of the reception level in a predetermined period, so that the operation determination can be performed more accurately and the time required for the operation determination can be shortened.

  The interface unit 7 transmits the reception level measurement command received from the central control unit 5 to the determination target slave base station (S312).

  The central control unit 5 in the determination target slave base station receives the reception level measurement command from the master base station via the interface unit 7 and outputs it to the communication state measurement unit 14.

  The central control unit 5 controls the attenuation unit 30 to attenuate the radio signal from the master base station in the determination slot. That is, the central control unit 5 performs control so that the terminal t1 and the terminal t3 of the switch 32 are conducted in the determination slot and the terminal t5 and the terminal t6 of the switch 33 are conducted (S331).

  The communication state measurement unit 14 in the determination target slave base station measures the reception level of the radio signal transmitted from the master base station to the radio terminal station (S332).

  The communication state measurement unit 14 in the determination target slave base station outputs the measured reception level to the collection unit 15 (S333).

  The collection unit 15 outputs the reception level received from the communication state measurement unit 14 to the central control unit 5 (S333).

  The central control unit 5 outputs the reception level received from the collection unit 15 to the interface unit 7 (S333).

  The interface unit 7 transmits the reception level received from the central control unit 5 to the master base station (S333).

  The interface unit 7 in the master base station outputs the reception level received from the determination target slave base station to the central control unit 5 (S334).

  The collection unit 15 outputs the reception level of the determination target slave base station received from the central control unit 5 to the cover area coincidence detection unit 16 (S314).

  In this way, the communication state measuring unit 14 in the determination target slave base station measures the reception level of the radio signal transmitted from the master base station to the radio terminal station, and the master base station and the determination target slave base are measured based on the measured reception level. With the configuration in which the cover area coincidence detection unit 16 detects whether or not the cover areas of the stations match, the communication slot used by the determination target slave base station is unused compared to the communication slot used by the master base station. When there are many cases, the operation determination can be reliably performed. In addition, since the determination target slave base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the master base station to the radio terminal station in a plurality of communication slots and measures the reception level, the operation determination is performed more accurately. The time required for operation determination can be shortened.

  As described above, in the radio base station system according to the present embodiment, similarly to the radio base station system according to the first embodiment, the operation mode of the radio base station is appropriately changed according to the installation status of the radio base station. can do.

  In the radio base station system according to the present embodiment, the communication state measurement unit 14 in the slave base station or the master base station measures the reception level of the radio signal transmitted from the master base station or the slave base station to the radio terminal station. To do. With such a configuration, the control of the radio base station is complicated by transmitting a radio signal for operation determination that is not intended for communication with the radio terminal station by the master base station or slave base station, and the efficiency of using the slot for communication Can be prevented and power consumption can be prevented from increasing.

  In the radio base station system according to the present embodiment, the central control unit 5 controls the attenuation unit 30 to attenuate the radio signal from the master base station or the slave base station in the determination slot. Here, in general, the radio signal transmitted from the radio base station has a higher power than the radio signal transmitted from the radio terminal station, and the master base station and the slave base station are often arranged at a short distance, The reception level of the radio signal that the radio base station receives from other radio base stations becomes very high. Then, the reception level of the radio signal received by the radio base station from another radio base station may exceed the measurable range of the radio base station. Therefore, the central control unit 5 performs such control on the attenuation unit 30, so that the communication state measurement unit 14 uses the reception level of the attenuated radio signal and the attenuation amount in the attenuator 31 to determine the slave to be determined. It is possible to accurately measure the reception level of the radio signal received from the base station.

[Modification]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and includes, for example, the following modifications.

(1) Communication state that is a criterion for determination of coincidence or disagreement of cover area In the radio base station system according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment of the present invention, the cover area coincidence detection unit 13 is a master base Based on the difference between the reception level of the radio signal from the radio terminal station measured at the station and the reception level of the radio signal from the radio terminal station measured at each slave base station, the coverage area of the master base station and the slave base station However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, instead of the reception level of the radio signal from the radio terminal station, the propagation delay of the radio signal can be used as a judgment criterion for matching or mismatching of the cover areas.

  That is, the communication state measurement unit 14 in the master base station and the slave base station measures the propagation delay of the radio signal from the radio terminal station. Here, the communication state measuring unit 14 recognizes a common timing in each radio base station, and obtains a propagation delay by measuring a time difference between this timing and a timing at which a specific signal is received from the radio terminal station. be able to.

  The cover area coincidence detection unit 16 receives the propagation delay of each radio base station from the collection unit 15 and, for the same radio terminal station, the propagation delay measured at the master base station and the propagation delay measured at each slave base station. Is calculated for each slave base station. Further, the cover area coincidence detection unit 16 stores the latest propagation delay difference for a certain period, and calculates the average value of the stored propagation delay difference and the newly calculated propagation delay difference. In addition, when there are a plurality of wireless terminal stations to be measured for one slave base station, the cover area coincidence detecting unit 16 calculates a reception level difference between the plurality of wireless terminal stations and receives the calculated reception of the plurality of wireless terminals. The average value of the difference in level and the reception level difference for the latest stored period is calculated.

  The cover area coincidence detection unit 16 determines that the cover area of the slave base station in which the calculated average value of the propagation delay differences is less than a predetermined threshold matches the cover area of the master base station. On the other hand, the cover area coincidence detection unit 16 determines that the cover area of the slave base station whose calculated average value of the propagation delay difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold does not coincide with the cover area of the master base station.

  Similarly, in the radio base station system according to the third embodiment of the present invention, instead of the reception level of the radio signal from the radio base station, the propagation delay of the radio signal is determined as a criterion for matching or mismatching of the cover area. It can be.

(2) Cover area match range In the radio base station system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the operation determination unit 17 determines whether the cover area of the master base station and the cover area of the slave base station match. Although the slave base station is configured to select whether to perform joint operation or single operation, matching of the cover areas is not necessarily limited to exact matching.

  If the communication slot is not allocated normally and there is no problem such as the radio base station cover area becoming substantially narrow, the cover area will match even if the cover area does not match exactly. It can be set as the structure considered.

  That is, the coverage area matching detection unit 16 in the radio base station system according to the embodiment of the present invention calculates the coverage area of the slave base station whose average reception level difference is less than a predetermined threshold as the master base station. As in the configuration in which it is determined that the coverage area matches the coverage area, the coverage area can be regarded as matching if the reception level difference is within a predetermined threshold range. In addition, the maximum reception level difference that does not cause a malfunction such as the communication slot allocation not being normally performed and the coverage area of the radio base station being substantially narrowed is actually measured, and the reception level is determined based on the measurement result. A predetermined threshold of difference can be determined.

(3) Arrangement Form of Radio Base Station The radio base station system according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to a configuration in which each radio base station is a separate casing, and a plurality of radio base stations are provided in one casing. May be arranged, that is, a plurality of communication devices including an antenna may be arranged in one housing.

  In this case, any one of the communication devices in one casing operates as a master base station in the radio base station system according to the embodiment of the present invention, and the other communication devices operate as slave base stations. It becomes.

(4) Configuration of each radio base station In the radio base station system according to the embodiment of the present invention, all radio base stations include the collection unit 15, the cover area match detection unit 16, and the operation determination unit 17, Alternatively, when a system administrator or the like sets each radio base station, one of the radio base stations is operated as a master base station, and an operation determination is performed to determine the operation mode of each slave base station. Although configured, the present invention is not limited to this. Only one radio base station in the radio base station system includes the collection unit 15, the cover area coincidence detection unit 16, and the operation determination unit 17, and this radio base station collects the reception level of each slave base station as a master base station, It can be set as the structure which performs the operation determination which determines the operation form of each slave base station.

(5) Communication System of Radio Base Station System The radio base station system according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured to perform communication using the TDMA / TDD system, but is not limited thereto. In addition to the TDMA / TDD system, a master base station and a slave base station are connected, and the slave base station can control the master base station without using a control channel necessary for communication with the wireless terminal station. As long as it is possible to communicate with a wireless terminal station based on this, a wireless base station system employing any communication method may be used.

(6) Configuration of Radio Base Station System In the radio base station system according to the embodiment of the present invention, each radio base station is connected in cascade, but the present invention is not limited to this. As long as the master base station and slave base station are connected and the slave base station can connect to the wireless terminal station based on the control of the master base station without using a common control channel, any connection mode can be used. Something like that.

  For example, one radio base station can be connected to a plurality of other radio base stations. Each wireless base station system may be connected by either wire or wireless.

(7) Radio terminal station whose reception level is to be measured In the radio base station system according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment of the present invention, one radio among the radio base stations in the radio base station system. Although each radio base station receives a radio signal from a radio terminal station with which the base station is communicating and measures the reception level, the present invention is not limited to this. Even if it is not a wireless terminal station in communication, if each wireless base station can measure the reception level of a wireless signal, it can be set as a reception level measurement target.

(8) Frame configuration In the radio base station system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the frame configuration includes a slot for a common control channel and a slot for a speech channel and a dedicated control channel. However, the present invention is not limited to this. . For example, there is no distinction between a common control channel and an individual control channel, and it consists of a slot for a control channel including all control information necessary for communication with a radio terminal station and a slot for a call channel including communication contents with the radio terminal station. Even in the frame configuration, it is sufficient that the slave base station can operate based on the control of the master base station without using the control channel.

(9) Radio signal transmitted from radio base station to radio terminal station In the radio base station system according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the cover area coincidence detection unit 16 is determined by the determination-target slave base station or master base station. Although it is configured to detect whether or not the cover areas of the master base station and the determination target slave base station match based on the reception level of the radio signal transmitted to the radio terminal station, the present invention is not limited to this. The communication state measurement unit 14 in the master base station and the determination target slave base station measures the reception level of the radio signal received from the determination target slave base station or the master base station. Then, the collection unit 15 collects the reception level measured at the determination target slave base station and the reception level measured at the master base station, and outputs the collected reception level to the cover area coincidence detection unit 16. Then, the coverage area coincidence detection unit 16 matches the coverage areas of the master base station and the judgment subject slave base station based on the reception level of the radio signal transmitted from the judgment subject slave base station and the master base station to the radio terminal station. It can be set as the structure which detects whether it exists.

  With such a configuration, only one of the reception level of the radio signal transmitted from the determination target slave base station to the radio terminal station and the reception level of the radio signal transmitted from the master base station to the radio terminal station is covered. Since more reception level measurements can be obtained in a predetermined period than in the configuration for determining the coincidence of areas, operation determination can be performed more accurately and the time required for operation determination can be shortened.

(10) Reception Level Measurement Object In the radio base station system according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the radio level transmitted from one radio base station to the radio terminal station is received by the other radio base station, and the reception level is measured. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Even if it is not a radio signal to be transmitted to a radio terminal station, one radio base station transmits an operation determination radio signal to the other radio base station, and the other radio base station measures the reception level of the radio signal. It can be configured.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a block diagram of the radio base station system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the wireless base station in the wireless base station system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the control station in the radio base station system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is the flowchart which defined the operation | movement procedure of the radio base station system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the radio base station system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is the flowchart which defined the operation | movement procedure of the radio base station system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the wireless base station in the wireless base station system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an attenuation unit 30. It is the flowchart which defined the operation | movement procedure of the radio base station system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is the flowchart which defined the modification of the operation | movement procedure of the radio base station system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  1 antenna, 2, 32, 33 switch, 3 receiving unit, 4 demodulating unit, 5, 22 central control unit, 6, 21 line control unit, 7 interface unit, 8 modulating unit, 9 transmitting unit, 10 communication slot processing unit 11 Control slot processing unit 12 Resource request detection unit 13 Resource allocation unit 14 Communication state measurement unit 15 Collection unit 16 Cover area coincidence detection unit 17 Operation determination unit 30 Attenuation unit 31 Attenuator t1 ˜t6 terminal, 101 wireless signal processing unit, 301 to 303 wireless base station, 401 control station.

Claims (33)

One master base which is a plurality of wireless base stations capable of independent operation communicating with one or a plurality of wireless terminal stations using a control channel and a communication channel, and is the wireless base station performing the independent operation By connecting to the master base station, the station can communicate with the wireless terminal station using the communication channel based on the control of the master base station without using the control channel 1 Wireless base station system composed of one or more slave base stations,
At least one of the master base station and the slave base station is
A receiver for receiving a radio signal;
A communication state measuring unit that measures a communication state based on the received radio signal,
The master base station further includes:
A collection unit for collecting the measured communication state;
A cover area match detection unit that detects whether or not the cover areas of the master base station and the slave base station match based on the communication state collected by the collection unit;
The slave base station having a cover area that matches the cover area of the master base station determines to perform the joint operation, and the slave base station that has a cover area that does not match the cover area of the master base station is the single An operation determination unit that decides to perform operation,
The slave base station further includes:
A radio base station system comprising: a central control unit that performs control to switch between the joint operation and the single operation based on the determination of the operation determination unit. The receiving unit in the master base station and the slave base station receives a radio signal transmitted from the radio terminal station,
The communication state measurement unit measures a communication state with the wireless terminal station based on the wireless signal received from the wireless terminal station,
The collection unit in the master base station collects the communication state with the same wireless terminal station from the master base station and the slave base station,
The cover area match detection unit detects whether or not the cover areas of the master base station and the slave base station match based on a communication state with the same wireless terminal station collected by the collection unit. The radio base station system according to 1. The communication state measurement unit measures the reception level of the radio signal received from the radio terminal station,
The collection unit collects the reception level of the radio signal received from the same radio terminal station from the master base station and the slave base station,
The coverage area matching detection unit detects matching or mismatching of the coverage areas based on a difference between the collected reception level of the master base station and the collected reception level of the slave base station. Wireless base station system.   The said collection part collects the said communication state with the said same radio | wireless terminal station in communication with either the said master base station or the said slave base station from the said master base station and the said slave base station. Wireless base station system. The receiving unit in the master base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the slave base station,
The communication state measurement unit in the master base station measures the communication state with the slave base station based on the radio signal received from the slave base station,
The collection unit collects the communication state with the slave base station from the master base station,
The cover area coincidence detection unit detects whether or not the cover areas of the master base station and the slave base station coincide based on a communication state with the slave base station collected by the collection unit. Wireless base station system. The receiver in the master base station further attenuates the radio signal received from the slave base station,
The radio base station system according to claim 5, wherein the communication state measurement unit in the master base station measures a communication state with the slave base station based on the attenuated radio signal.   The radio base station system according to claim 5, wherein the reception unit in the master base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the slave base station to the radio terminal station. The receiving unit in the slave base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the master base station,
The communication state measurement unit in the slave base station measures the communication state with the master base station based on the radio signal received from the master base station,
The collection unit collects the communication state with the master base station from the slave base station,
The cover area coincidence detection unit detects whether or not the cover areas of the master base station and the slave base station coincide based on a communication state with the master base station collected by the collection unit. Wireless base station system. The receiver in the slave base station further attenuates the radio signal received from the master base station,
The radio base station system according to claim 8, wherein the communication state measurement unit in the slave base station measures a communication state with the master base station based on the attenuated radio signal.   The radio base station system according to claim 8, wherein the reception unit in the slave base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the master base station to the radio terminal station. The receiving unit in the slave base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the master base station,
The communication state measurement unit in the slave base station measures the communication state with the master base station based on the radio signal received from the master base station,
The receiving unit in the master base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the slave base station,
The communication state measurement unit in the master base station measures the communication state with the slave base station based on the radio signal received from the slave base station,
The collection unit collects the communication state with the master base station from the slave base station, and collects the communication state with the slave base station from the master base station,
Whether the coverage areas of the master base station and the slave base station match based on the communication state with the master base station and the communication state with the slave base station collected by the collection unit. The radio base station system according to claim 1 which detects whether or not. One master base which is a plurality of wireless base stations capable of independent operation communicating with one or a plurality of wireless terminal stations using a control channel and a communication channel, and is the wireless base station performing the independent operation By connecting to the master base station, the station can communicate with the wireless terminal station using the communication channel based on the control of the master base station without using the control channel 1 An operation switching method in a radio base station system configured with one or a plurality of slave base stations,
A receiving step in which at least one of the master base station and the slave base station receives a radio signal; and
The wireless base station that has received the wireless signal measures a communication state based on the received wireless signal, and a communication state measuring step,
A collecting step in which the master base station collects the measured communication state;
The master base station detects whether or not the cover areas of the master base station and the slave base station match based on the communication state collected in the collecting step; and
The master base station determines that the slave base station having a cover area that matches the cover area of the master base station performs the joint operation, and has a cover area that does not match the cover area of the master base station An operation determination step for determining that the slave base station performs the single operation; and
An operation switching method including a central control step in which the slave base station performs control to switch between the joint operation and the single operation based on the determination of the operation determination step. In the reception step, the master base station and the slave base station receive a radio signal transmitted from the radio terminal station,
In the communication state measurement step, the master base station and the slave base station measure the communication state with the wireless terminal station based on the wireless signal received from the wireless terminal station,
In the collecting step, the master base station collects the communication state with the same wireless terminal station from the master base station and the slave base station,
In the coverage area matching detection step, the master base station matches the coverage areas of the master base station and the slave base station based on the communication state with the same wireless terminal station collected in the collection step. The operation switching method according to claim 12 for detecting whether or not. In the communication state measuring step, the master base station and the slave base station measure the reception level of the radio signal received from the radio terminal station,
In the collecting step, the master base station collects the reception level of the radio signal received from the same radio terminal station from the master base station and the slave base station,
In the coverage area matching detection step, the master base station matches the coverage area based on a difference between the collected reception level of the master base station and the collected reception level of the slave base station. The operation switching method according to claim 13, wherein a mismatch is detected.   In the collecting step, the master base station changes the communication state with the same wireless terminal station in communication with either the master base station or the slave base station from the master base station and the slave base station. The operation switching method according to claim 13 to be collected. In the reception step, the master base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the slave base station,
In the communication state measurement step, the master base station measures the communication state with the slave base station based on the radio signal received from the slave base station,
In the collecting step, the master base station collects a communication state with the slave base station,
In the cover area coincidence detection step, whether or not the master base station matches the cover areas of the master base station and the slave base station based on the communication state with the slave base station collected in the collection step. The operation switching method according to claim 12 for detecting whether or not. The operation switching method further includes an attenuation step in which the master base station attenuates the radio signal received from the slave base station,
The operation switching method according to claim 16, wherein in the communication state measuring step, the master base station measures a communication state with the slave base station based on the attenuated radio signal.   The operation switching method according to claim 16, wherein, in the receiving step, the master base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the slave base station to the radio terminal station. In the reception step, the slave base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the master base station,
In the communication state measurement step, the slave base station measures the communication state with the master base station based on the radio signal received from the master base station,
In the collecting step, the master base station collects a communication state with the master base station,
In the cover area match detection step, whether or not the master base station matches the cover areas of the master base station and the slave base station based on the communication state with the master base station collected in the collection step. The operation switching method according to claim 12 for detecting whether or not. The operation switching method further includes an attenuation step in which the slave base station attenuates the radio signal received from the master base station,
The operation switching method according to claim 19, wherein, in the communication state measurement step, the slave base station measures a communication state with the master base station based on the attenuated radio signal.   The operation switching method according to claim 19, wherein, in the receiving step, the slave base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the master base station to the radio terminal station. In the reception step, the slave base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the master base station, and the master base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the slave base station,
In the communication state measuring step, the slave base station measures a communication state with the master base station based on the radio signal received from the master base station, and the master base station Measure the communication state with the slave base station based on the radio signal received from the station,
In the collecting step, the master base station collects a communication state with the master base station and a communication state with the slave base station,
In the coverage area coincidence detection step, the master base station and the slave base station based on the communication state with the master base station and the communication state with the slave base station collected in the collection step. The operation switching method according to claim 12, wherein it is detected whether or not the coverage areas of the stations match. One master base which is a plurality of wireless base stations capable of independent operation communicating with one or a plurality of wireless terminal stations using a control channel and a communication channel, and is the wireless base station performing the independent operation By connecting to the master base station, the station can communicate with the wireless terminal station using the communication channel based on the control of the master base station without using the control channel 1 Operation switching program in a radio base station system composed of one or more slave base stations,
A receiving step in which at least one of the master base station and the slave base station receives a radio signal; and
The wireless base station that has received the wireless signal measures a communication state based on the received wireless signal, and a communication state measuring step,
A collecting step in which the master base station collects the measured communication state;
The master base station detects whether or not the cover areas of the master base station and the slave base station match based on the communication state collected in the collecting step; and
The master base station determines that the slave base station having a cover area that matches the cover area of the master base station performs the joint operation, and has a cover area that does not match the cover area of the master base station An operation determination step for determining that the slave base station performs the single operation; and
An operation switching program for causing the slave base station to execute a central control step for performing control to switch between the joint operation and the single operation based on the determination of the operation determination step. In the reception step, the master base station and the slave base station receive a radio signal transmitted from the radio terminal station,
In the communication state measurement step, the master base station and the slave base station measure the communication state with the wireless terminal station based on the wireless signal received from the wireless terminal station,
In the collecting step, the master base station collects the communication state with the same wireless terminal station from the master base station and the slave base station,
In the coverage area matching detection step, the master base station matches the coverage areas of the master base station and the slave base station based on the communication state with the same wireless terminal station collected in the collection step. 24. The operation switching program according to claim 23, wherein the operation switching program is detected. In the communication state measuring step, the master base station and the slave base station measure the reception level of the radio signal received from the radio terminal station,
In the collecting step, the master base station collects the reception level of the radio signal received from the same radio terminal station from the master base station and the slave base station,
In the coverage area matching detection step, the master base station matches the coverage area based on a difference between the collected reception level of the master base station and the collected reception level of the slave base station. 25. The operation switching program according to claim 24, wherein a mismatch is detected.   In the collecting step, the master base station changes the communication state with the same wireless terminal station in communication with either the master base station or the slave base station from the master base station and the slave base station. The operation switching program according to claim 24 to be collected. In the reception step, the master base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the slave base station,
In the communication state measurement step, the master base station measures the communication state with the slave base station based on the radio signal received from the slave base station,
In the collecting step, the master base station collects a communication state with the slave base station,
In the cover area coincidence detection step, whether or not the master base station matches the cover areas of the master base station and the slave base station based on the communication state with the slave base station collected in the collection step. 24. The operation switching program according to claim 23, wherein the operation switching program is detected. The operation switching program further causes the computer to execute an attenuation step in which the master base station attenuates the radio signal received from the slave base station,
28. The operation switching program according to claim 27, wherein, in the communication state measuring step, the master base station measures a communication state with the slave base station based on the attenuated radio signal.   28. The operation switching program according to claim 27, wherein, in the receiving step, the master base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the slave base station to the radio terminal station. In the reception step, the slave base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the master base station,
In the communication state measurement step, the slave base station measures the communication state with the master base station based on the radio signal received from the master base station,
In the collecting step, the master base station collects a communication state with the master base station,
In the cover area match detection step, whether or not the master base station matches the cover areas of the master base station and the slave base station based on the communication state with the master base station collected in the collection step. 24. The operation switching program according to claim 23, wherein the operation switching program is detected. The operation switching program further causes the computer to execute an attenuation step in which the slave base station attenuates the radio signal received from the master base station,
The operation switching program according to claim 30, wherein in the communication state measurement step, the slave base station measures a communication state with the master base station based on the attenuated radio signal.   31. The operation switching program according to claim 30, wherein, in the receiving step, the slave base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the master base station to the radio terminal station. In the reception step, the slave base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the master base station, and the master base station receives the radio signal transmitted from the slave base station,
In the communication state measuring step, the slave base station measures a communication state with the master base station based on the radio signal received from the master base station, and the master base station Measure the communication state with the slave base station based on the radio signal received from the station,
In the collecting step, the master base station collects a communication state with the master base station and a communication state with the slave base station,
In the coverage area coincidence detection step, the master base station and the slave base station based on the communication state with the master base station and the communication state with the slave base station collected in the collection step. The operation switching program according to claim 23, wherein it is detected whether or not the coverage areas of the stations match.

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