JP2010199797A - Compact base station and information processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To correct the time of a mobile unit with higher accuracy. <P>SOLUTION: In a femtocell base station 11, an internal time is repeatedly synchronized with a reference time managed by an NTP server 16. When it is detected that a mobile unit 21 is present in a femtocell F, internal time information indicating an internal time of the femtocell base station 11 is transmitted from the femtocell base station 11 to the mobile unit 21. The presence of the mobile unit 21 in the femtocell F is detected by the transmission of a position registration request to the femtocell base station 11 from the mobile unit 21. In the mobile unit 21 having received the internal time information, the internal time of the mobile unit 21 is corrected for coincidence with the internal time of the femtocell base station 11. The present technology can be applied to the femtocell base station. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a small base station and an information processing method, and more particularly, to a small base station and an information processing method that can correct the time of a mobile device with higher accuracy.

  In recent years, various techniques have been proposed or implemented as techniques for correcting the time in a mobile device such as a mobile phone.

  For example, using a GPS (Global Positioning System) function mounted on a mobile device, the time is corrected based on time information distributed from a satellite.

  In addition, time correction is also performed based on time information distributed from a base station at the time of Cell Selection performed when power is turned ON / OFF (when a cell in the area is selected).

  Furthermore, an NTP server that is a server compatible with NTP (Network Time Protocol) is accessed, and the time is corrected based on time information acquired from the NTP server. NTP is a protocol for adjusting the time managed internally by a device connected to a network to the correct time.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional time correction system using NTP.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the time correction system includes a macro cell base station 2, a core network 3, an IP network 4, and an NTP server 5. A macro cell is formed when the macro cell base station 2 outputs radio waves, and the mobile device 1 is located in the macro cell.

  The macrocell base station 2 forms a macrocell within a radius of several hundred meters to several kilometers by outputting radio waves, and manages communication by mobile devices located in the macrocell including the mobile device 1.

  The core network 3 manages sessions between mobile devices and controls devices such as CSCF (Call Session Control Function) that controls transmission / reception of voice data and MGW (Media Gate Way) that routes packets that store data. Composed. Data transmitted from the NTP server 5 connected to the IP network 4 is transmitted to the macro cell base station 2 via the core network 3.

  The IP network 4 is a network including the Internet. Various devices for transmitting and receiving data according to IP (Internet Protocol) are connected to the IP network 4.

  The NTP server 5 is a server compatible with NTP and manages a reference time.

  When correcting the time in the apparatus in the time correction system having such a configuration, the mobile device 1 accesses the NTP server 5 via the macrocell base station 2, the core network 3, and the IP network 4 to transmit time information. Request. The time information transmitted from the NTP server 5 in response to the request is transmitted to the mobile device 1 via the IP network 4, the core network 3, and the macro cell base station 2.

  The mobile device 1 receives the time information transmitted from the NTP server 5 and corrects the internal time of the mobile device 1 based on the received time information. This makes it possible to synchronize the internal time of the mobile device 1 with the reference time managed in the NTP server 5.

JP 2003-315478 A

  When correcting the time using the NTP server, as described above, the time information from the NTP server is transmitted to the mobile device via the IP network, core network, and macrocell base station.

  When the time information actually arrives at the mobile station, the time of the time information and the reference time managed by the NTP server at that time, because the delay that occurs in the time information route, particularly in the core network, is relatively large The deviation may be larger.

  When the time difference between the time information and the reference time managed by the NTP server is large, the time inside the mobile device cannot be corrected correctly.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and makes it possible to correct the time of a mobile device with higher accuracy.

  The small base station of the present invention communicates via a network with a server that manages a reference time, and a time synchronization unit that synchronizes the time inside the apparatus with the time managed in the server, A location detecting means for detecting that a mobile device is located in a cell managed by the mobile station, and transmitting time information inside the device to the mobile device detected by the location detection means. And transmission control means for correcting the time in the mobile device.

  The first wireless communication is performed with the mobile device, and the voice data of the user of the mobile device, which is transmitted from the mobile device and destined for the other mobile device, is received, and the other mobile device The first communication means for transmitting voice data of the user of the other mobile device transmitted from the mobile device to the mobile device can be further provided. In this case, the transmission control means can transmit the time information inside the device to the mobile device by the first wireless communication.

  Second communication means for performing second wireless communication with a different communication method from the first wireless communication with the mobile device can be further provided. In this case, when the mobile device is requested by the second wireless communication to transmit the time information inside the device, the transmission control means further receives the time information inside the device. 2 can be transmitted to the mobile device by wireless communication.

  The first information processing method of the present invention communicates with a server managing a reference time via a network, synchronizes the time inside the apparatus with the time managed in the server, Detecting the presence of a mobile station in a cell managed by the mobile station, transmitting time information inside the apparatus to the mobile station that has detected the presence, and correcting the time inside the mobile station. .

  The mobile device of the present invention communicates via a network with a server that manages a reference time, and a small base station that synchronizes the time inside the device with the time managed in the server. A transmission means for transmitting a request for location registration to the small base station when located in a cell to be managed, and the device inside the device transmitted from the small base station in response to transmitting the request for location registration Time information acquisition means for receiving the time information of the mobile station, and time correction means for correcting the time in the mobile unit so as to coincide with the time represented by the information received by the time information acquisition means.

  The first wireless communication is performed with the small base station, and the voice data of the user of the mobile device with respect to another mobile device is transmitted to the small base station and transmitted from the other mobile device, and the small mobile station A first communication means for receiving voice data of the user of the other mobile device transmitted via the base station can be further provided. In this case, the time information acquisition means can receive time information inside the device transmitted from the small base station by the first wireless communication.

  Second communication means for performing second wireless communication with a communication method different from that of the first wireless communication with the small base station can be further provided. In this case, the time information acquisition means causes the small base station to request transmission of time information inside the device by the second wireless communication, and the small information is transmitted by the second wireless communication in response to the request. Information on the time inside the device transmitted from the base station can be received.

  The second information processing method of the present invention communicates with a server that manages a reference time through a network, and synchronizes the time inside the apparatus with the time managed in the server. When the small base station is in a cell managed by the small base station, the device transmits a location registration request to the small base station and is transmitted from the small base station in response to transmitting the location registration request. Receiving internal time information and correcting the mobile device internal time to match the time represented by the received information.

  In the small base station or the first information processing method of the present invention, communication is performed via a network with a server that manages a reference time, and the time inside the apparatus is synchronized with the time managed in the server. Is done. It is detected that a mobile device is located in a cell managed by the mobile device, and information on the time inside the device is transmitted to the mobile device detected to be located so that the time inside the mobile device is corrected. Is done.

  In the mobile device or the second information processing method of the present invention, when the small base station is in a cell managed by the small base station, a location registration request is transmitted to the small base station, and the location registration request is transmitted. In response to this, the time information inside the device transmitted from the small base station is received. In addition, the time inside the mobile device is corrected so as to coincide with the time represented by the received information.

  According to the present invention, the time of a mobile device can be corrected with higher accuracy.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the conventional time correction system. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the time correction system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of a femtocell base station. It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example of a femtocell base station. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of a moving apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example of a mobile apparatus. It is a flowchart explaining the time information transmission process of a femtocell base station. It is a flowchart explaining the time correction process of a mobile device. It is a flowchart explaining the other time information transmission process of a femtocell base station. It is a flowchart explaining the other time correction process of a mobile apparatus.

[Example of time correction system configuration]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a time correction system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the example of FIG. 2, a femtocell base station 11 is installed in a premises such as a house or an office building, and a femtocell F is formed by the femtocell base station 11. The femtocell F is a cell that covers as a communicable range a premises where the femtocell base station 11 having a radius of several meters or several tens of meters, which is narrower than a macro cell constituting a public network, is installed.

  A modem 13 is connected to the femtocell base station 11 via a LAN (Local Area Network) cable 12. The modem 13 is a home device of a broadband line 14 made up of an ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) line or an optical fiber line. When the modem function is mounted on the femtocell base station 11, the femtocell base station 11 may be directly connected to the broadband line 14.

  The femtocell base station 11 is connected to an IP network 15 such as the Internet via a LAN cable 12, a modem 13, and a broadband line 14, and relays communication performed by a mobile station located in the femtocell F.

  Although not shown, a core network is also connected to the broadband line 14. For example, the voice data transmitted from the mobile station 21 and received by the femtocell base station 11 is transferred to the modem 13 via the LAN cable 12, and the CSCF controls the voice call via the broadband line 14 and the core network. Sent to the server.

  On the other hand, the voice data transmitted from the mobile device that has established a voice call session with the mobile device 21 and transmitted to the mobile device 21 via the CSCF is transmitted via the core network and the broadband line 14. Is received by the modem 13. The voice data of the communication partner received by the modem 13 is transferred to the femtocell base station 11 via the LAN cable 12 and transmitted from the femtocell base station 11 to the mobile device 21.

  Data such as mail data and HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) files, which are different from voice data transmitted and received after a voice call session is established, are stored in the IP network 15, broadband line 14, modem 13 and LAN cable 12. Is transmitted to the femtocell base station 11 and transmitted from the femtocell base station 11 to the mobile device 21.

  In the example of FIG. 1, the mobile device 21 that is a mobile phone is located in the femtocell F. The mobile device 21 performs transmission / reception of various types of data such as voice data with a base station that manages a cell that is currently located in accordance with, for example, a CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) system.

  In the time correction system having such a configuration, the femtocell base station 11 accesses the NTP server 16 at a predetermined timing, and requests transmission of reference time information indicating a reference time managed in the NTP server 16. .

  The reference time information transmitted from the NTP server 16 in response to a request from the femtocell base station 11 is received by the modem 13 via the IP network 15 and the broadband line 14, and is transmitted via the LAN cable 12 to the femtocell base station 11. Forwarded to

  The femtocell base station 11 corrects the internal time based on the reference time information transmitted from the NTP server 16 and synchronizes the internal time managed by itself with the reference time managed by the NTP server 16. Let Since the synchronization with the reference time is repeatedly performed at a predetermined timing, the internal time managed by the femtocell base station 11 always coincides with the reference time with high accuracy.

  Further, when the femtocell base station 11 detects that the mobile device 21 is located in the femtocell F managed by the femtocell base station 11, the femtocell base station 11 transmits internal time information indicating the internal time of the femtocell base station 11 to the mobile device 21. To do.

  The mobile device 21 that has received the internal time information transmitted from the femtocell base station 11 corrects the internal time managed by itself by matching the time of the internal time information.

  When the time inside the femtocell base station 11 matches the reference time managed by the NTP server 16 with high accuracy, the time inside the mobile device 21 also matches with the reference time with high accuracy. It will be.

  Compared to the case where the mobile device itself acquires time information directly from the NTP server and corrects it as shown in FIG. 1, the time information can reach the mobile device without going through the core network. This makes it possible to bring the time inside the mobile station located in the femtocell F closer to the reference time managed by the NTP server 16 by the amount of delay that occurs in the core network.

  In addition, since the time is corrected using the NTP server 16, it is not necessary to install the GPS function in the femtocell base station 11 or the mobile device 21. For example, it is possible to correct the time in the femtocell base station 11 based on the time information distributed from the satellite with a GPS function, but the femtocell base station 11 is usually installed on the premises. Therefore, it seems difficult to get it done. In addition, the cost of the femtocell base station 11 or the mobile device 21 can be reduced as compared with the case where the GPS function is installed for time correction.

  It becomes possible to make the time of all the mobile devices located in the femtocell F coincide. It is assumed that services and applications that require highly accurate time between mobile stations located in the femtocell F will be developed in the future, and it is possible to respond to such requests. become.

  Since the time can be corrected if the user is in the area, the user of the mobile device does not need to make a setting for time correction.

  It should be noted that not only the timing when the user is in the femtocell F but also the time when the user operates the mobile device 21 that is present in the femtocell F to instruct the time correction, the time inside the mobile device 21 is corrected. Done.

  For example, when the user instructs time correction, wireless communication of a predetermined standard such as Bluetooth (trademark) is started between the femtocell base station 11 and the mobile device 21, and the mobile device 21 transmits to the femtocell base station 11. Transmission of internal time information is requested. The internal time information is transmitted from the femtocell base station 11 that has received the request to the mobile device 21, and the mobile device 21 corrects the time.

  Processing of the femtocell base station 11 and the mobile device 21 that corrects the internal time as described above will be described later.

[Configuration Example of Femtocell Base Station 11 and Mobile Device 21]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the femtocell base station 11.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the femtocell base station 11 includes a network communication unit 31, a control unit 32, a wireless communication unit 33, an antenna 34, a Bluetooth communication unit 35, and an antenna 36.

  The network communication unit 31 is a network interface, and performs communication via the LAN cable 12 and the modem 13 according to a predetermined protocol such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) or UDP (User Datagram Protocol).

  The network communication unit 31 outputs the voice data transmitted from the CSCF and received by the modem 13 to the wireless communication unit 33, while the mobile device located in the femtocell F supplied from the wireless communication unit 33. The voice data from 21 is output to the modem 13 and transmitted to the CSCF.

  Further, the network communication unit 31 accesses the NTP server 16 under the control of the control unit 32 and receives the reference time information. The network communication unit 31 outputs the received reference time information to the control unit 32.

  The control unit 32 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, and controls the overall operation of the femtocell base station 11 by executing a predetermined program.

  For example, the control unit 32 manages the time inside the femtocell base station 11 and corrects the managed time based on the reference time information supplied from the network communication unit 31.

  When the control unit 32 detects that the mobile device 21 is located in the femtocell F, the control unit 32 controls the wireless communication unit 33 to transmit the internal time information to the mobile device 21.

  When the time acquisition signal, which is a signal for requesting the transmission of the internal time information, is transmitted from the mobile device 21 and received by the Bluetooth communication unit 35, the control unit 32 controls the Bluetooth communication unit 35 to convert the internal time information to Bluetooth. It is transmitted to the mobile device 21 by communication.

  The radio communication unit 33 outputs a radio wave having a predetermined intensity such as an antenna power of 20 mW or less from the antenna 34, and performs radio communication with the mobile device 21 located in the femtocell F according to a standard such as W-CDMA or CDMA2000. I do.

  The wireless communication unit 33 transmits the audio data supplied from the network communication unit 31 to the mobile device 21 designated as the transmission destination, and receives the audio data from the mobile device 21 received based on the signal supplied from the antenna 34. Is output to the network communication unit 31.

  In addition, when a location registration request is transmitted from the mobile device 21 located in the femtocell F, the wireless communication unit 33 outputs information indicating that to the control unit 32 and is supplied from the control unit 32. The internal time information is transmitted to the mobile device 21.

  The Bluetooth communication unit 35 performs radio communication with the mobile device 21 according to the Bluetooth standard by transmitting radio waves from the antenna 36 or receiving radio waves from the mobile device 21 through the antenna 36.

  When performing a voice call or the like using the femtocell F, the user needs to register information such as identification information assigned to the mobile device 21 in the femtocell base station 11 in advance. For example, at the time of registration, information on the mobile device side necessary for Bluetooth communication such as a Bluetooth address and a PIN (Personal Identification Number) code is also input, and information such as identification information of the mobile device 21 and a Bluetooth address is stored. It is managed in association with the Bluetooth communication unit 35.

  When the location of the mobile device 21 is detected, the identification information of the mobile device 21 is supplied from the control unit 32 to the Bluetooth communication unit 35. The Bluetooth communication unit 35 performs Bluetooth communication with the mobile device 21 that is a device specified by the Bluetooth address managed in association with the supplied identification information, and appropriately transmits internal time information to the mobile device 21.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the femtocell base station 11.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the control unit 32 of the femtocell base station 11, a location detection unit 41, a time synchronization unit 42, and a time information transmission control unit 43 are realized. 4 is realized by a predetermined program being executed by the CPU in the control unit 32 of FIG.

  Based on the information supplied from the wireless communication unit 33, the located area detecting unit 41 detects a mobile device that has moved from the external macro cell or the like to the femtocell F and is located.

  For example, when the mobile device 21 is in the femtocell F, the mobile device 21 transmits a location registration request. The located area detecting unit 41 detects that the mobile device 21 is located in the femtocell F in response to the request received by the wireless communication unit 33.

  The located area detection unit 41 outputs information indicating that the mobile device 21 is located in the femtocell F to the time synchronization unit 42 and the Bluetooth communication unit 35. The Bluetooth communication unit 35 is also supplied with identification information of the mobile device 21 that has been detected to be in the service area.

  In addition, the location detection unit 41 outputs a location registration request transmitted from the mobile device 21 located in the femtocell F to the network communication unit 31 together with the identification information assigned to the femtocell base station 11, Send to HSS (Home Subscriber Server). The HSS is a device that is connected to a core network or the like, and is a server that manages in which cell each mobile device is located and provides the managed information to the CSCF as appropriate. Such a location registration request is transmitted from the mobile station that has switched the cell in the area to the base station that manages the cell that has newly located in the area.

  The time synchronization unit 42 manages the time inside the femtocell base station 11. The time synchronization unit 42 controls the network communication unit 31 to access the NTP server 16 and receive the reference time information transmitted from the NTP server 16. The time synchronization unit 42 corrects the managed internal time so as to coincide with the time of the reference time information.

  When the presence detecting unit 41 detects that the mobile device 21 is in the femtocell F, the time synchronization unit 42 converts the internal time information, which is information on the internal time being managed, into the time information transmission control unit. Output to 43.

  The time information transmission control unit 43 controls the wireless communication unit 33 to cause the mobile device 21 to transmit the internal time information supplied from the time synchronization unit 42.

  In addition, when the time acquisition signal transmitted from the mobile device 21 is received by the Bluetooth communication unit 35, the time information transmission control unit 43 acquires the internal time information from the time synchronization unit 42 and controls the Bluetooth communication unit 35. Then, the internal time information is transmitted to the mobile device 21 by Bluetooth communication.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the mobile device 21.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the mobile device 21 includes an antenna 51, a wireless communication unit 52, a control unit 53, a voice processing unit 54, a Bluetooth communication unit 55, an antenna 56, an operation unit 57, and a display unit 58.

  The wireless communication unit 52 transmits a radio wave from the antenna 51 or receives a radio wave from a base station including the femtocell base station 11 at the antenna 51, thereby managing a cell that is currently located Communication is performed according to standards such as W-CDMA and CDMA2000.

  For example, the wireless communication unit 52 transmits the voice data of the user of the mobile device 21 supplied from the control unit 53 to the femtocell base station 11, and transmits the voice of the other party that has been transmitted from the femtocell base station 11. Data is output to the control unit 53.

  In addition, the wireless communication unit 52 transmits a location registration request to the femtocell base station 11 at the timing when it is in the femtocell F, and receives internal time information transmitted from the femtocell base station 11. The wireless communication unit 52 outputs the received internal time information to the control unit 53.

  The control unit 53 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and controls the overall operation of the mobile device 21 by executing a predetermined program.

  For example, the control unit 53 manages the internal time of the mobile device 21 and manages based on the internal time information supplied from the wireless communication unit 52 or the internal time information supplied from the Bluetooth communication unit 55. Correct the time. Further, when the control unit 53 detects that the user has instructed to perform time correction based on the signal supplied from the operation unit 57, the control unit 53 controls the Bluetooth communication unit 55 to transmit the time acquisition signal to the femtocell. Transmit to the base station 11.

  The control unit 53 outputs the audio data supplied from the wireless communication unit 52 to the audio processing unit 54, outputs the audio data supplied from the audio processing unit 54 to the wireless communication unit 52, and displays various data on the display unit 58. It also displays the information.

  The voice processing unit 54 decodes the voice data supplied from the control unit 53 and outputs the voice of the other party from the speaker. In addition, the voice processing unit 54 encodes the voice collected by the microphone and outputs the voice data of the user of the mobile device 21 to the control unit 53.

  The Bluetooth communication unit 55 performs radio communication with the femtocell base station 11 in accordance with the Bluetooth standard by transmitting radio waves from the antenna 56 or receiving radio waves from the femtocell base station 11 through the antenna 56.

  The Bluetooth communication unit 55 transmits a time acquisition signal to the femtocell base station 11 and receives internal time information transmitted from the femtocell base station 11 under the control of the control unit 53. The Bluetooth communication unit 55 outputs the received internal time information to the control unit 53.

  The operation unit 57 detects a user operation on a numeric keypad, a touch panel, or the like provided on the casing of the mobile device 21, and outputs a signal representing the content of the detected operation to the control unit 53.

  The display unit 58 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays various information according to control by the control unit 53.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the mobile device 21.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the control unit 53 of the mobile device 21, a time information acquisition unit 61 and a time management unit 62 are realized. 6 is realized by a predetermined program being executed by the CPU in the control unit 53 of FIG.

  The time information acquisition unit 61 acquires the internal time information transmitted from the femtocell base station 11 and received by the wireless communication unit 52. The time information acquisition unit 61 outputs the acquired internal time information to the time management unit 62.

  In addition, when the time information acquisition unit 61 detects that the user has instructed to perform time correction based on the signal supplied from the operation unit 57, the time information acquisition unit 61 controls the Bluetooth communication unit 55 to output the time acquisition signal. Send it. When the internal time information transmitted from the femtocell base station 11 is received by the Bluetooth communication unit 55, the time information acquisition unit 61 acquires the received internal time information and outputs it to the time management unit 62.

  The time management unit 62 manages the internal time of the mobile device 21. In addition, the time management unit 62 corrects the managed internal time so that it matches the time of the internal time information supplied from the time information acquisition unit 61.

[Processing of femtocell base station 11 and mobile station 21]
Here, processing of the femtocell base station 11 and the mobile device 21 having the above-described configuration will be described.

  First, the process of the femtocell base station 11 that transmits internal time information will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S <b> 1, the time synchronization unit 42 accesses the NTP server 16 and synchronizes the time of the reference time information transmitted from the NTP server 16 with the time in the femtocell base station 11.

  In step S <b> 2, the located area detection unit 41 determines whether there is a mobile device located in the femtocell F based on the information supplied from the wireless communication unit 33. If it is determined in step S2 that there is no mobile station located in the femtocell F, the process returns to step S1, and the reference time managed in the NTP server 16 and the internal time are repeated.

  On the other hand, when a request for location registration has been transmitted from the mobile device 21, if it is determined in step S2 that there is a mobile device located in the femtocell F, in step S3, the time information transmission control unit 43 The wireless communication unit 33 is controlled to transmit the internal time information supplied from the time synchronization unit 42 to the mobile device 21.

  Then, it returns to step S1 and the above process is repeated.

  Next, processing of the mobile device 21 for correcting time will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This process is a process performed corresponding to the process of the femtocell base station 11 of FIG.

  In step S <b> 11, the wireless communication unit 52 determines whether or not the user is in the femtocell F and waits until it is determined that the user is in the femtocell F.

  Since the user carrying the mobile device 21 has approached the femtocell base station 11, the strength of the radio wave output from the femtocell base station 11 has become higher than the strength of the radio wave of the currently existing macro cell. Transition to the femtocell F occurs at a timing such as when.

  When it is determined in step S <b> 11 that the user is in the femtocell F, in step S <b> 12, the wireless communication unit 52 transmits a location registration request to the femtocell base station 11.

  In step S <b> 13, the time information acquisition unit 61 receives the internal time information transmitted from the femtocell base station 11 and supplied via the wireless communication unit 52, and outputs it to the time management unit 62.

  In step S <b> 14, the time management unit 62 corrects the internal time of the mobile device 21 so as to coincide with the time of the internal time information, and ends the process.

  With the above processing, it is possible to correct the time inside the mobile device 21 with higher accuracy simply by being in the femtocell F.

  Next, another process of the femtocell base station 11 that transmits internal time information will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The process of FIG. 9 is a process in the case where the user of the mobile device 21 is instructed to perform time correction.

  In step S21, the time information transmission control unit 43 determines whether or not a time acquisition signal has been transmitted from the mobile device 21 based on the signal supplied from the Bluetooth communication unit 35, and until it is determined that the time acquisition signal has been transmitted. stand by.

  When it is determined in step S21 that the time acquisition signal has been transmitted, in step S22, the time information transmission control unit 43 acquires the internal time information from the time synchronization unit 42 and outputs it to the Bluetooth communication unit 35. To send to. Then, it returns to step S21 and the above process is repeated.

  Next, another process of the mobile device 21 for correcting the time will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This process is a process performed corresponding to the process of the femtocell base station 11 of FIG.

  In step S31, the time information acquisition unit 61 determines whether or not the user has instructed to perform time correction based on the signal supplied from the operation unit 57, and waits until it is determined that the instruction has been issued.

  When it is determined in step S31 that the time correction is instructed, in step S32, the time information acquisition unit 61 controls the Bluetooth communication unit 55 and transmits a time acquisition signal to the femtocell base station 11.

  In step S <b> 33, the time information acquisition unit 61 receives the internal time information transmitted from the femtocell base station 11 and supplied via the Bluetooth communication unit 55, and outputs it to the time management unit 62.

  In step S34, the time management unit 62 corrects the internal time of the mobile device 21 so as to coincide with the time of the internal time information, and ends the process.

  With the above processing, the time in the mobile device 21 can be corrected with higher accuracy at the timing when the user gives an instruction.

  In the above description, when it is detected that the mobile device 21 is located in the femtocell F, the internal time information is transmitted by wireless communication performed by the wireless communication unit 33. The internal time information may be transmitted by communication.

  In addition, transmission of internal time information from the femtocell base station 11 to the mobile device 21 or transmission of a time acquisition signal from the mobile device 21 to the femtocell base station is performed by Bluetooth communication. It may be performed by short-range wireless communication.

  In place of the femtocell base station 11, a base station forming a small cell called “picocell” or “microcell” is provided, and the base station corrects the time of a mobile station located in the cell. You may be made to be. The small base station is a base station that forms a small cell such as a femto cell, a pico cell, or a micro cell.

  The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  11 femtocell base station, 16 NTP server, 21 mobile station, 31 network communication unit, 32 control unit, 33 wireless communication unit, 34 antenna, 35 Bluetooth communication unit, 36 antenna, 41 location detection unit, 42 time synchronization unit, 43 Time information transmission control unit, 51 antenna, 52 wireless communication unit, 53 control unit, 54 voice processing unit, 55 Bluetooth communication unit, 56 antenna, 57 operation unit, 58 display unit, 61 time information acquisition unit, 62 time management unit

Claims (8)

A time synchronization unit that communicates with a server that manages a reference time through a network, and synchronizes the time in the apparatus with the time managed in the server;
In-zone detection means for detecting that the mobile device is in a cell managed by itself,
A small-sized base station comprising: transmission control means for transmitting time information inside the device to the mobile device detected to be located by the location detection means, and correcting the time inside the mobile device. The first wireless communication is performed with the mobile device, and the voice data of the user of the mobile device, which is transmitted from the mobile device and destined for the other mobile device, is received, and the other mobile device Further comprising first communication means for transmitting voice data of the user of the other mobile device transmitted from the mobile device to the mobile device;
The small base station according to claim 1, wherein the transmission control means transmits time information inside the device to the mobile device by the first wireless communication. A second communication unit configured to perform second wireless communication with the mobile device in a communication method different from the first wireless communication;
The transmission control means further transmits the time information in the device to the second wireless communication when the mobile device is requested by the second wireless communication to transmit the time information in the device. The small base station according to claim 2, wherein the small base station transmits the information to the mobile device. Communicates with the server that manages the reference time via the network, synchronizes the time inside the device with the time managed in the server,
Detects that a mobile station is in a cell that it manages,
An information processing method comprising: transmitting time information inside the device to the mobile device that has detected that the mobile device has been located, and correcting the time inside the mobile device. Communicating with a server that manages a reference time via a network, and being located in a cell managed by a small base station that synchronizes the time inside the device with the time managed in the server A transmission means for transmitting a location registration request to the small base station;
Time information acquisition means for receiving time information inside the device, transmitted from the small base station in response to transmitting the location registration request;
A mobile device comprising: time correction means for correcting the time inside the mobile device so as to coincide with the time represented by the information received by the time information acquisition means. The first wireless communication is performed with the small base station, and the voice data of the user of the mobile device with respect to another mobile device is transmitted to the small base station and transmitted from the other mobile device, and the small mobile station A first communication means for receiving the voice data of the user of the other mobile device transmitted through the base station;
The mobile device according to claim 5, wherein the time information acquisition unit receives time information inside the device transmitted from the small base station by the first wireless communication. Further comprising second communication means for performing second wireless communication of a communication method different from the first wireless communication with the small base station,
The time information acquisition means requests the small base station to transmit time information inside the device by the second wireless communication, and transmits from the small base station by the second wireless communication in response to the request. The mobile device according to claim 6, wherein the mobile device receives time information inside the device. Communicating with a server that manages a reference time via a network, and being located in a cell managed by a small base station that synchronizes the time inside the device with the time managed in the server A location registration request is sent to the small base station,
In response to transmitting the location registration request, the time information in the device is received from the small base station,
An information processing method including a step of correcting a time in a mobile device so as to coincide with a time represented by received information.

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