JP2018088038A - Processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a processing device or the like capable of reducing the time required for starting a software radio.SOLUTION: The processing device performs signal processing relating to communication of at least one of a signal to be sent to a processing unit and a signal sent from the processing unit by a second program. The second program is a program that is read without using a processing unit (not illustrated) that performs information processing related to communication by a first program that causes the processing device to execute a process on an OS (Operating System).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a processing apparatus for processing a signal.

  Software radios, which are radios capable of changing functional performance by software, are known (see Non-Patent Document 1, and Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In a general software defined radio, after the CPU starts up the OS, the CPU sends an application program to the DSP (signal processing unit) on the OS (see Patent Document 1). Here, CPU, OS, and DSP are abbreviations of Central Processing Unit, Operating System, and Digital Signal Processor in this order. Then, the software defined radio performs wireless communication when the DSP performs signal processing using the acquired application program.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a communication device that controls a predetermined function unit based on an OS program, and controls predetermined communication with an external device without being controlled by the OS program.

JP 2004-152122 A JP 2014-085905 A

"Disaster Countermeasure Technology Lecture 2014" document, "Trends and Applications of Software Defined Radio Technology in Commercial Wireless Systems", NEC Corporation, [November 7, 2016 search], Internet (http: // icfss. nict.go.jp/ictfss-2014/dl/lecture2_yanagiuchi.pdf)

  The startup process described in the background art section, which is performed by a general software defined radio, in addition to OS startup, the CPU reads software used by the DSP on the OS from a predetermined recording unit, Send to DSP. Therefore, the general software defined radio has a problem that it takes a long time to start up.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a processing apparatus or the like that can shorten the time required for starting up a software defined radio.

  The processing apparatus according to the present invention performs signal processing related to communication of at least one of a signal sent to the processing unit and a signal sent from the processing unit, according to the second program. The second program is a program read by the processing device without passing through a processing unit that performs information processing related to communication by a first program that executes processing on an OS (Operating System). .

  The processing apparatus according to the present invention can reduce the time required for starting up the software defined radio.

It is a conceptual diagram showing the structural example of the communication apparatus of this embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram showing the example of a processing flow of the process which a signal processing part performs. It is a conceptual diagram showing the example of a processing flow of the control processing of the signal processing part which CPU performs. It is a block diagram showing the structure of the minimum communication apparatus of this invention.

[Configuration and operation]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication apparatus 101 that is an example of a communication apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  The communication apparatus 101 includes a radio wave conversion unit 111, a signal processing unit 116, a CPU 106, an audio processing unit 126, and UI units 511 and 512. Here, CPU is an abbreviation for Central Processing Unit. UI is an abbreviation for User Interface. In addition to these components, the communication device 101 includes a power source (not shown) that supplies power to each component of the communication device 101, and a switch that turns on / off power supply from the power source to each component.

  The communication device 101 is, for example, a wireless device, and more typically a software defined radio described in the background art section.

  In FIG. 1, a wireless communication network 501 and a control device 506 are shown together.

  Here, the wireless communication network 501 is a communication network composed of a group of communication devices in which the communication device 101 performs wireless communication.

  The control device 506 is a host controller that performs various settings and management of the communication device 101 based on user operations. The control device 506 is connected to the CPU 106 of the communication device 101 by, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark).

  The radio wave converter 111 converts a radio wave transmitted from the radio communication network 501 into a radio frequency signal by an antenna (not shown) provided in the radio wave converter 111. The radio wave conversion unit 111 converts the radio frequency signal into an intermediate frequency signal or a baseband signal by a circuit (not shown) provided in the radio wave conversion unit 111. The radio wave converter 111 further samples the intermediate frequency signal or baseband signal and converts it to a digital signal. The converted digital signal is sent to the signal processing unit 116.

  The radio wave converter 111 also converts the digital signal sent from the signal processor 116 into an analog signal. The radio wave conversion unit 111 converts the analog signal into a radio frequency signal by frequency conversion by a circuit (not shown) included in the radio wave conversion unit 111. Then, the radio wave conversion unit 111 converts the radio frequency signal into a radio wave using the antenna described above. The radio wave is emitted toward a radio space related to the radio communication network 501.

  The signal processing unit 116 performs predetermined processing (first processing) on the digital signal transmitted from the radio wave conversion unit 111. The first process is, for example, a waveform shaping process by amplification or filtering. However, the first process is not limited to the waveform shaping process and may be any process. The signal processing unit 116 sends the digital signal after the waveform shaping process to the CPU 106.

  The signal processing unit 116 also performs a second process on the digital signal sent from the CPU 106. The second process is, for example, a waveform shaping process. However, the second process is not limited to the waveform shaping process and may be any process. The signal processing unit 116 sends the digital signal after the waveform shaping process to the radio wave conversion unit 111.

  The signal processing unit 116 directly reads the program A held by the recording unit 131a from the recording unit 131a without using the CPU 106, and executes the first and second processes according to the instructions of the program A.

  The signal processing unit 116 includes, for example, a DSP. Here, DSP is an abbreviation for Digital Signal Processor. Then, the DSP executes the first and second processes according to the instruction of the program A directly read from the recording unit 131a. In this case, the signal processing unit 116 may include a plurality of DSPs. The program A may be composed of a plurality of programs.

  The CPU 106 starts up various application programs that operate on the OS program in response to the above-described command signal sent from the control device 506. Here, OS is an abbreviation for Operating System. Then, the CPU 106 performs various processes such as signal level adjustment and frequency allocation setting at the time of transmission and reception by the application program.

  The CPU 106 processes the digital signal sent from the signal processing unit 116 based on the various processes. Then, when the processed digital signal is an audio signal, the CPU 106 sends the audio signal to the audio processing unit 126. On the other hand, when the processed digital signal is a signal other than the audio signal, the CPU 106 sends the audio signal to the UI unit 511.

  The CPU 106 also processes the digital signal sent from the UI unit 511 or the audio processing unit 126 based on the various processes. Then, the CPU 106 sends the processed digital signal to the signal processing unit 116.

  The CPU 106 activates an OS program held by the recording unit 131b, and executes predetermined processing based on an application program that operates on the OS program. The CPU 106 may be a general-purpose CPU used in a general computer, but any of the CPUs 106 can shift to a state where the predetermined processing can be executed only after the activation of the OS program is completed.

  The audio processing unit 126 performs a predetermined process (third process) on the digital audio signal sent from the CPU 106. The third processing is, for example, waveform shaping or decoding processing. However, the third process is not limited to the waveform shaping or decoding process, and may be any process. The audio processing unit 126 converts the digital audio signal after the third processing into an analog audio signal. The converted analog audio signal is sent to the UI unit 512.

  The audio processing unit 126 also converts the analog audio signal sent from the UI unit 512 into a digital audio signal, and then performs predetermined processing (fourth processing) on the digital audio signal. The fourth process is, for example, waveform shaping or code processing for the audio signal. However, the fourth process is not limited to waveform shaping or code processing, and any process may be used. The digital signal after the fourth processing is sent to the CPU 106.

  The audio processing unit 126 performs the third and fourth processes by a program (program B) held by the recording unit 131c. The signal processing unit 116 executes the third and fourth processes according to the instruction of the program B read directly from the recording unit 131c without using the CPU 106.

  The audio processing unit 126 includes, for example, a DSP. Then, the DSP reads the program B directly from the recording unit 131c and executes the processing according to the instruction of the program B. In this case, the audio processing unit 126 may include a plurality of DSPs. Further, the program B may be composed of a plurality of programs.

  The UI unit 512 is an interface with the outside of a user or the like for call voice. The UI unit 512 converts call voice input from the outside into an analog voice signal. The converted analog audio signal is sent to the audio processing unit 126. The UI unit 512 also converts an analog voice signal sent from the voice processing unit 126 into a call voice. The converted call voice is output to the outside of the user or the like.

  The UI unit 512 is, for example, a microphone with respect to external audio input, and is, for example, a speaker with respect to external audio output.

  The UI unit 511 is an interface with the outside such as a user for information other than the call voice. The UI unit 511 outputs a signal sent from the CPU 106 to the outside of the user or the like. The UI unit 511 also sends information input from the outside such as a user to the CPU 106. The UI unit 511 is an external storage device such as a keyboard or a USB memory with respect to input from the outside. The UI unit 511 is an external storage device such as a display or a USB memory, for example, for output to the outside.

  The recording unit 131 a sends the information held by the recording unit 131 a and instructed by the signal processing unit 116 to the signal processing unit 116. The information includes the aforementioned program A. The recording unit 131a also records information instructed by the signal processing unit 116. The recording unit 131a includes, for example, a flash memory that holds the program A.

  The recording unit 131b sends the information held by the recording unit 131b and instructed by the CPU 106 to the CPU 106. The information includes the OS program and the application program described above. The recording unit 131b also records information instructed by the CPU 106. The recording unit 131b includes, for example, a flash memory that holds an OS program and the above-described application program. The recording unit 131b may include a DRAM, a hard disk drive, or the like in addition to the flash memory. Here, DRAM is an abbreviation for Dynamic Random Access Memory.

The recording unit 131 c sends information that is stored in the recording unit 131 c and instructed by the signal processing unit 116 to the signal processing unit 116. The information includes program B. The recording unit 131c also records information instructed by the signal processing unit 116. The recording unit 131c includes, for example, a flash memory that holds the program B.
[Processing flow]
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a processing flow example of processing performed by the signal processing unit 116 illustrated in FIG. 1.

  For example, the signal processing unit 116 starts the processing illustrated in FIG. 2 by supplying the power supply voltage.

  Then, the signal processing unit 116 reads the program A from the recording unit 131a and starts to start the program A as the processing of S102.

  Then, the signal processing unit 116 determines whether the activation of the program A is completed as the process of S103.

  The signal processing unit 116 performs the process of S104 when the determination result by the process of S103 is yes.

  On the other hand, the signal processing part 116 performs the process of S103 again, when the determination result by the process of S103 is no.

  When performing the processing of S104, the signal processing unit 116 notifies the CPU 106 as the same processing. The notification is performed to notify the CPU 106 that the signal processing unit 116 has completed the activation of the program A and is in a state where predetermined signal processing can be performed according to an instruction from the program A.

  Then, the signal processing unit 116 determines whether the CPU 106 has recognized the notification performed by the process of S104 as the process of S105. The signal processing unit 116 performs the determination by, for example, determining whether or not there is a response from the CPU regarding the notification.

  The signal processing part 116 performs the process of S106, when the determination result by S105 is yes.

  On the other hand, if the determination result in S105 is no, the signal processing unit 116 performs the process represented in S104 again.

  When performing the process of S106, the signal processing unit 116 performs a predetermined amount of signal processing by the activated signal processing program as the same processing.

  Then, the signal processing unit 116 determines whether to end the process illustrated in FIG. 2 as the process of S107. The signal processing unit 116 performs the determination by, for example, determining whether or not end information is input from the outside.

  If the determination result obtained in step S107 is yes, the signal processing unit 116 ends the process illustrated in FIG.

  On the other hand, the signal processing part 116 performs the process of S106 again, when the determination result by the process of S107 is no.

  The processing flow example of the processing performed by the audio processing unit 126 shown in FIG. 1 is the processing flow example shown in FIG. 2 and the description thereof, the signal processing unit 116 is the audio processing unit 126, the recording unit 131a is the recording unit 131c, and the program A is replaced with program B, respectively.

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a processing flow example of processing for controlling the signal processing unit 116 performed by the CPU 106 illustrated in FIG. 1.

  The CPU 106 first determines whether a power supply voltage has been supplied as the process of S201.

  If the determination result in S201 is yes, the CPU 106 performs the process in S202.

  On the other hand, if the determination result in S201 is no, the CPU 106 performs the process in S201 again.

  When performing the process of S202, the CPU 106 reads the OS program from the recording unit 131b and starts the OS program as the same process. After the activation of the OS program, the CPU 106 reads the program for communicating with the control device 506 from the recording unit 131b and activates the program.

  Then, the CPU 106 communicates with the control device 506 and acquires control information from the control device 506 as processing of S203. The control information includes information related to an application program for processing performed with the signal processing unit 116 illustrated in FIG. The information is information for identifying an application program used for processing performed with the signal processing unit 116, for example.

  Then, as the process of S204, the CPU 106 reads the application program used for the process performed with the signal processing unit 116 from the recording unit 131b according to the control information acquired by the process of S203, and starts the program.

  Then, the CPU 106 determines whether there is a notification from the signal processing unit 116 as processing of S205. This notification is a notification made by the signal processing unit 116 to the CPU 106 by the process of S104 shown in FIG.

  If the determination result from the process of S205 is yes, the CPU 106 performs the process of S206.

  On the other hand, when the determination result of the process of S205 is no, the CPU 106 performs the process of S205 again.

  When performing the process of S206, the CPU 106 performs a predetermined amount of processing by the application program activated by the process of S204.

  Then, the CPU 106 determines whether to end the process illustrated in FIG. 3 as the process of S207.

  If the determination result in S207 is yes, the CPU 106 ends the process illustrated in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the determination result of the process of S207 is yes, the CPU 106 performs the process of S206 again.

The processing flow example of the processing performed by the CPU 106 with the sound processing unit 126 shown in FIG. 1 is obtained by replacing the signal processing unit 116 with the sound processing unit 126 in the processing flow example shown in FIG. .
[effect]
In the communication apparatus 101, the signal processing unit 116 and the audio processing unit 126 start by reading a program used for performing signal processing directly from the recording units 131a and 131c, not via the CPU 106. In a general communication device (software radio), these programs are read from a predetermined recording unit by a CPU and then sent to a signal processing unit and an audio processing unit. On the other hand, the CPU 106 does not perform an operation of reading these programs at the time of activation and sending them to the signal processing unit 116 and the audio processing unit 126. Therefore, the communication apparatus 101 can shorten the time required for the process at the time of starting by the CPU 106.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the processing device 116x which is the minimum communication device of the present invention.

  The processing device 116x performs signal processing related to communication on at least one of the signal sent to the processing unit and the signal sent from the processing unit, according to the second program. The second program is a program read by the processing device without going through a processing unit (not shown) that performs information processing related to communication by a first program that executes processing on an OS (Operating System). It is.

  In a general communication device (especially a software defined radio), the second program is read from a predetermined recording unit by a processing unit that performs processing on the OS and then sent to the processing device 116x. In contrast, the processing unit does not perform the operation of reading the second program at the time of activation and sending it to the processing device 116x. Therefore, the processing device 116x can shorten the time required for the startup processing by the processing unit that performs processing on the OS in the communication device including the processing device 116x.

  Therefore, the processing apparatus 116x has the effects described in the section [Effects of the Invention] with the above configuration.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and further modifications, substitutions, and adjustments may be made without departing from the basic technical idea of the present invention. Can be added. For example, the configuration of the elements shown in each drawing is an example for helping understanding of the present invention, and is not limited to the configuration shown in these drawings.

  Further, a part or all of the above-described embodiment can be described as the following supplementary notes, but is not limited to the following.

(Appendix 1)
A signal sent to the processing unit by a second program read without going through a processing unit that performs information processing related to communication by a first program that executes processing on an OS (Operating System) or the processing unit The processing apparatus which performs the signal processing which concerns on the communication about at least any one of the signals sent from.

(Appendix 2)
The processing apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein the information processing is performed by control information transmitted from the control apparatus by communication.

(Appendix 3)
The processing apparatus according to appendix 2, wherein the first program is a program specified by the control information.

(Appendix 4)
The processing apparatus according to any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 3, further comprising a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), wherein the DSP reads the second program and performs the signal processing.

(Appendix 5)
The processing apparatus according to any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 4, wherein the processing unit is notified after the second program is started.

(Appendix 6)
The processing apparatus according to appendix 5, wherein the processing unit receives the notification and performs the information processing.

(Appendix 7)
The signal processing is
A process of outputting a first analog signal obtained by converting the first digital signal input from the processing unit to a radio wave conversion unit that performs conversion between the first radio wave and the first electrical signal;
A process of outputting a second digital signal obtained by converting the second analog signal input from the radio wave conversion unit to the processing unit;
The processing apparatus described in any one of the supplementary notes 1 thru | or appendix 6.

(Appendix 8)
The processing apparatus according to appendix 7, wherein the signal processing includes processing for converting the first digital signal into the first analog signal.

(Appendix 9)
The processing apparatus according to appendix 7 or appendix 8, wherein the signal processing includes a process of converting the second analog signal into the second digital signal.

(Appendix 10)
The signal processing is
Processing to output a first analog audio signal obtained by converting the first digital audio signal input from the processing unit;
A process of inputting a second digital audio signal obtained by converting the input second analog audio signal to the processing unit;
The processing apparatus described in any one of the supplementary notes 1 thru | or 9 containing these.

(Appendix 11)
The processing apparatus according to appendix 10, wherein the signal processing includes processing for converting the first digital audio signal into the first analog audio signal.

(Appendix 12)
The processing apparatus according to appendix 10 or appendix 11, wherein the signal processing includes a process of converting the second analog audio signal into the second digital audio signal.

(Appendix 13)
The processing apparatus according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 12, which reads the second program from a flash memory.

(Appendix 14)
The processing apparatus according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 13, wherein the processing unit is a central processing unit.

(Appendix A1)
A communication apparatus comprising: the processing device described in any one of the supplementary notes 1 to 14; and the processing unit.

(Appendix A2)
A communication device comprising the processing device described in Appendix A1 (limited to the portion cited in Appendix 7) and the radio wave converter.

(Appendix A3)
The communication apparatus described in Appendix A1 or Appendix A2, which is a software defined radio.

(Appendix B1)
A signal sent to the processing unit by the second program read without a processing unit performing information processing related to communication by a first program for executing processing on an OS (Operating System) or the processing A signal processing method for performing signal processing related to communication for at least one of signals transmitted from a unit.

101 communication device 106 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 111 Radio wave conversion part 116 Signal processing part 116x Processing apparatus 126 Audio | voice processing part 131a, 131b, 131c Recording part 501 Wireless communication network 506 Control apparatus 511, 512 UI part

Claims (10)

  A signal sent to the processing unit by the second program read without a processing unit performing information processing related to communication by a first program for executing processing on an OS (Operating System) or the processing The processing apparatus which performs the signal processing which concerns on the communication about at least any one of the signals sent from the part.   The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing is performed by control information transmitted from the control apparatus by communication.   The processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first program is a program specified by the control information.   The processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), wherein the DSP reads the second program and performs the signal processing.   The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is notified after the second program is started.   The processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the processing unit receives the notification and performs the information processing. The signal processing is
A process of outputting a first analog signal obtained by converting the first digital signal input from the processing unit to a radio wave conversion unit that performs conversion between the first radio wave and the first electrical signal;
A process of outputting a second digital signal obtained by converting the second analog signal input from the radio wave conversion unit to the processing unit;
The processing apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 6 containing these. The signal processing is
Converting the first digital signal into the first analog signal;
Processing to convert the second analog signal to the second digital signal;
The processing apparatus according to claim 7, comprising: The signal processing is
Processing to output a first analog audio signal obtained by converting the first digital audio signal input from the processing unit;
A process of inputting a second digital audio signal obtained by converting the input second analog audio signal to the processing unit;
The processing apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 8 containing these. The signal processing is
Converting the first digital audio signal into the first analog audio signal;
Processing to convert the second analog audio signal into the second digital audio signal;
The processing apparatus according to claim 9, comprising:

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