JP2021158448A - Communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a relay device that enables utilizing a first slave station.SOLUTION: A communication device comprises: a first communication unit that performs, with a first master station, communication of a signal conforming to a first interface; a second communication unit that performs, with a second master station, communication of a signal conforming to a second interface; a third communication unit that performs, with a first slave station, communication of a signal conforming to the first interface; and a control unit that performs conversion between a signal conforming to the first interface and a signal conforming to the second interface. The control unit performs adjustment processing for adjusting at least one of timing to transmit a signal received from the second master station to the first slave station and timing to transmit a signal received from the first slave station to the second master station on the basis of latency between the communication device and the first slave station.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

The present invention relates to a communication device corresponding to a front hall interface.

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has specified Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (hereinafter referred to as LTE including LTE-Advanced), and 5th generation mobile communication system for the purpose of further speeding up LTE. (Hereinafter, also referred to as 5G, New Radio (NR) or Next Generation (NG)) is being specified. Furthermore, specifications for mobile communication systems after 5G are being advanced (sometimes called 6G, beyond 5G, etc., but not limited to these names) (for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

3GPP TS38.300 v15.8.0

By the way, in the above-mentioned LTE, a mechanism (for example, C-RAN; Centralized Radio Access Network) for connecting an LTE slave station (hereinafter, first slave station) to an LTE master station (hereinafter, first master station) is known. There is. The interface between the first master station and the first slave station is sometimes called CPRI (Common Public Radio Interface). The first master station may be referred to as a BBU (Base Band Unit) or a CU (Central Unit). The first slave station may be referred to as RRH (Remote Radio Head) or DU (Distributed Unit).

On the other hand, in the above-mentioned 5G and the like, a mechanism (for example, O-RAN; Open Radio Access Network) for connecting an NR slave station (hereinafter, second slave station) to an NR master station (hereinafter, second master station) is known. Has been done. The interface between the second master station and the second slave station is sometimes called eCPRI (evolved Common Public Radio Interface). The second master station may be referred to as an O-DU (O-RAN Distributed Unit), and the second slave station may be referred to as an O-RU (O-RAN Radio Unit).

Against this background, as a result of diligent studies, the inventors have obtained a new idea of expanding the coverage area of NR at an early stage by utilizing the existing first slave station.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a relay device capable of using the first slave station.

One aspect of the present disclosure is a communication device, the first communication unit that executes signal communication conforming to the first interface with the first master station, and the second master station communicating signals conforming to the second interface. A second communication unit that executes communication with the first slave station, a signal that conforms to the first interface, and a signal that conforms to the second interface. The control unit includes a control unit that executes conversion processing between the two, and the control unit receives a signal received from the second master station based on a delay time between the communication device and the first slave station. The gist is to execute an adjustment process for adjusting at least one of the timing of transmitting to the first slave station and the timing of transmitting a signal received from the first slave station to the second master station.

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of the wireless communication system 10 according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the eNB 100 that employs the front hole (FH) interface of the C-RAN according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the gNB 200 that employs the front hole (FH) interface of the O-RAN according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an application scene according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a functional block configuration diagram of the first master station 110 according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a functional block configuration diagram of the second master station 210 according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a functional block configuration diagram of the intermediate device 300 according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the delay time according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a DL delay profile in O-RAN according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the DL adjustment process according to the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a delay profile of UL in O-RAN according to the embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the UL adjustment process according to the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the adjustment process according to the change example 1. FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the synthesis process and the separation process according to the second modification. FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the synthesis process and the separation process according to the second modification. FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the DSS according to the third modification. FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the synchronization process according to the third modification. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the first master station 110, the second master station 210, and the intermediate device 300.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. The same functions and configurations are designated by the same or similar reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[Embodiment]
(1) Overall Schematic Configuration of Wireless Communication System FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of the wireless communication system 10 according to the embodiment. The wireless communication system 10 is a wireless communication system that complies with Long Term Evolution (LTE) and 5G New Radio (NR). In addition, LTE may be called 4G, and NR may be called 5G. LTE and NR may be interpreted as radio access technology (RAT), and in embodiments, LTE may be referred to as the first radio access technology and NR may be referred to as the second radio access technology. NR may also be considered to include 5G and later wireless access technologies (eg beyond 5G, evolved 5G, 6G, etc.).

The radio communication system 10 includes an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network 31 (hereinafter, E-UTRAN31), a Next Generation-Radio Access Network 32 (hereinafter, NG RAN32), and a core network 33. The wireless communication system 10 includes a terminal 20.

E-UTRAN31 includes eNB100, which is an LTE-compliant base station. eNB100 has one or more cells C11. E-UTRAN31 may contain two or more eNB100s.

NG RAN32 includes gNB200, which is a base station according to 5G (NR). gNB200 has one or more cells C21. NG RAN32 may contain two or more gNB200.

The term "cell" may be used to mean a function of the eNB 100 or gNB 200, that is, a function of communicating with the terminal 20. The term "cell" may be used to mean the coverage area of the eNB 100 or gNB 200. Each cell may be distinguished by the frequency used in each cell. E-UTRAN31 and NG RAN32 (which may be eNB100 or gNB200) may be simply referred to as a radio access network or an access network.

The eNB100, gNB200 and terminal 20 may support carrier aggregation (CA) using a plurality of component carriers (CC), and dual connectivity (DC) that simultaneously transmits component carriers between the plurality of eNB100 and the terminal 20. ) May be supported, and dual connectivity (DC) in which component carriers are simultaneously transmitted between a plurality of gNB 200s and the terminal 20 may be supported, and component carriers may be simultaneously transmitted between the eNB 100 and gNB 200 and the terminal 20. It may support dual connectivity (DC) to transmit.

The eNB100, gNB200 and terminal 20 execute wireless communication via a wireless bearer. The radio bearer may include a Signaling Radio Bearer (SRB) and a Data Radio Bearer (DRB).

The terminal 20 is not particularly limited, but may be referred to as a “mobile station (MS)” or a “user terminal (UE)”.

Core network 33 includes LTE-compliant EPC (Evolved Packet Core) and 5G (NR) -compliant 5G Core. The EPC may include a network node (for example, MME; Mobility Management Entity) according to LTE. 5G Core may include network nodes according to 5G (NR) (for example, AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function)). MME and AMF are network nodes that execute processing related to the C-plane (control plane). Nodes may be referred to as functions.

Here, the interface between the eNB 100 and the MME and the interface between the gNB 200 and the MME may be referred to as an S1 interface. The interface between gNB200 and AMF may be referred to as the NG interface or N2 interface. The interface between the eNB 100 and the eNB 100 and the interface between the eNB 100 and the gNB 200 may be referred to as an X2 interface. The interface between the gNB 200 and the gNB 200 may be referred to as the Xn interface. The interface between MME and AMF may be referred to as the N26 interface.

In an embodiment, the eNB 100 may employ a front hole (FH) interface defined by a C-RAN (Centralized Radio Access Network). The gNB200 may employ a fronthaul (FH) interface defined by an O-RAN (Open Radio Access Network).

(2) C-RAN Front Hall Configuration Figure 2 shows an example of the internal configuration of the eNB 100 that employs the C-RAN front hole (FH) interface. As shown in FIG. 2, the eNB 100 includes a BBU110 (Base Band Unit) and an RRH120 (Remote Radio Head). BBU110 and RRH120 are functionally split within the layers specified by 3GPP.

The BBU110 executes signal communication conforming to the first interface. For example, the first interface is CPRI (Common Public Radio Interface). CPRI compliant signals are time domain OFDM signals. In the embodiment, the BBU 110 functions as the first master station, and may be referred to as the first master station 110 in the following. The BBU110 is primarily a logical node that hosts the Packet Data Convergence Protocol layer (PDCP), wireless link control layer (RLC), and medium access control layer (MAC). The RRH120 may host part of the physical layer (PHY). Here, the BBU110 is provided on the side closer to the E-UTRAN31 with respect to the RRH120. In the following, the side closer to E-UTRAN31 may be referred to as the RAN side.

The RRH120 executes signal communication conforming to the first interface (hereinafter, CPRI). In the embodiment, the RRH 120 functions as a first slave station, and may be referred to as a first slave station 120 in the following. RRH120 is mainly a logical node that hosts RF processing. Here, the RRH120 is provided on the side away from the E-UTRAN31 with respect to the BBU110. In the following, the side away from E-UTRAN31 may be referred to as the radio (air) side.

In addition, the eNB100 includes a logical node that hosts Radio Resource Control (RRC) and other control functions.

The front hall (FH) may be interpreted as a line between the baseband processing unit of the radio base station (base station device) and the radio device, and an optical fiber or the like is used.

(3) O-RAN Front Hall Configuration Figure 3 shows an example of the internal configuration of the gNB 200 that employs the O-RAN front hole (FH) interface. As shown in FIG. 3, the gNB200 includes an O-DU210 (O-RAN Distributed Unit) and an O-RU220 (O-RAN Radio Unit). O-DU210 and O-RU220 are functionally separated within the physical (PHY) layer defined by 3GPP.

The O-DU210 executes signal communication conforming to the second interface. For example, the second interface is eCPRI (evolved Common Public Radio Interface). The eCPRI compliant signal is an OFDM signal in the frequency domain. In the embodiment, the O-DU 210 functions as a second master station, and may be referred to as a second master station 210 in the following. The O-DU210 may be referred to as an O-RAN distribution unit. The O-DU210 is a logical node that mainly hosts a wireless link control layer (RLC), a medium access control layer (MAC), and a PHY-High layer based on the lower layer functional. Here, the O-DU210 is provided on the side closer to the NG RAN32 with respect to the O-RU220. In the following, the side closer to NG RAN 32 may be referred to as the RAN side.

The O-RU220 executes signal communication conforming to the second interface (hereinafter, eCPRI). The O-RU220 may be referred to as an O-RAN radio unit. The O-RU220 is a logical node that mainly hosts the PHY-Low layer and RF processing based on the low-level functional division. Here, the O-RU220 is provided on the side away from the NG RAN 32 with respect to the O-DU210. In the following, the side away from the NG RAN 32 may be referred to as the radio (air) side.

The PHY-High layer is the part of PHY processing on the O-DU210 side of the front hole interface, such as Forward Error Correction (FEC) encoding / decoding, scrambling, modulation / demodulation, etc.

The PHY-Low layer is part of the PHY processing on the O-RU220 side of the fronthaul interface, such as Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) / iFFT, digital beamforming, Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) extraction and filtering.

O-CU is an abbreviation for O-RAN Control Unit, which is a logical node that hosts Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP), Radio Resource Control (RRC), Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP), and other control functions. ..

The front hall (FH) may be interpreted as a line between the baseband processing unit of the radio base station (base station device) and the radio device, and an optical fiber or the like is used.

Here, in the FH between the O-DU210 and the O-RU220, the signals shown below are communicated. Specifically, in the FH between the O-DU210 and the O-RU220, signals are communicated on a plurality of planes (for example, U / C / M / S-plane).

U-Plane is a protocol for transferring user data, and C-Plane is a protocol for transferring control signals. M-Plane is a management plane that handles maintenance and monitoring signals, and S-Plane is a protocol for realizing synchronization between devices.

Specifically, the U-Plane signal includes a (DL) signal transmitted by the O-RU220 to the radio section and a (UL) signal received from the radio section, and is exchanged by a digital IQ signal. In addition to the so-called U-Plane (User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), etc.), C-Plane (RRC, Non-Access Stratum (NAS), etc.) defined by 3GPP is also an FH perspective. It should be noted that all are U-Planes.

The C-Plane signal includes a signal necessary for various controls related to transmission / reception of the U-Plane signal (a signal for notifying information related to radio resource mapping and beamforming of the corresponding U-Plane). It should be noted that the signal is completely different from the C-Plane (RRC, NAS, etc.) defined in 3GPP.

The M-Plane signal contains the signal necessary for the management of O-DU210 / O-RU220. For example, it is a signal for notifying various hardware (HW) capabilities of O-RU220 to O-RU220, and notifying various setting values from O-DU210 to O-RU220.

The S-Plane signal is a signal required for synchronous control between O-DU210 / O-RU220.

(4) Application Scene FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an application scene according to the embodiment. The applicable scene is a case where both the first master station 110 (for example, BBU) and the second master station 210 (for example, O-DU) communicate signals via the first slave station 120 (for example, RRH). Suppose. As shown in FIG. 4, an intermediate device 300 that relays the communication between the first master station 110 and the first slave station 120 and relays the communication between the second master station 210 and the first slave station 120. It will be provided. The intermediate device 300 is an example of a communication device.

The intermediate device 300 executes communication between the first master station 110 and a signal conforming to CPRI. The intermediate device 300 executes communication between the second master station 210 and an eCPRI-compliant signal. The intermediate device 300 executes communication between the first slave station 120 and a signal conforming to CPRI.

Here, the intermediate device 300 executes a conversion process between a CPRI-compliant signal (hereinafter, CPRI signal) and an eCPRI-compliant signal (hereinafter, eCPRI signal). Specifically, the intermediate device 300 converts the eCPRI signal received from the second master station 210 into a CPRI signal, and converts the CPRI signal received from the first slave station 120 into an eCPRI signal. The conversion process may include an IFFT (Inverse Fast Fourier Transform) that converts an eCPRI signal, which is a signal in the frequency domain, into a CPRI signal, which is a signal in the time domain. The conversion process may include an FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) that converts a CPRI signal, which is a signal in the time domain, into an eCPRI signal, which is a signal in the frequency domain. The conversion process may include a process of converting the signal format of the eCPRI signal into the signal format of CPRI, or may include a process of converting the signal format of the CPRI signal into the signal format of eCPRI.

Further, the intermediate device 300 may execute a synthesis process for synthesizing the CPRI signal received from the first master station 110 and the eCPRI signal (CPRI signal after the conversion process) received from the second master station 210. The intermediate device 300 separates the CPRI signal received from the first slave station 120 into a CPRI signal addressed to the first master station 110 and a CPRI signal addressed to the second master station 210 (eCPRI signal after conversion processing). You may do it. The synthesis process and the separation process are performed by the multiplexer 301. The multiplexer 301 may be referred to as a demultiplexer 301.

Against this background, the second master station 210 (for example, O-DU) may treat the intermediate device 300 and the first slave station 120 as O-RU220.

(5) Functional Block Configuration of Wireless Communication System Next, the functional block configuration of the wireless communication system 10 will be described. Specifically, the functional block configuration of the first master station 110, the second master station 210, and the intermediate device 300 will be described.

(5.1) First master station 110
FIG. 5 is a functional block configuration diagram of the first master station 110. As shown in FIG. 5, the first master station 110 includes a communication unit 111 and a control unit 113.

The communication unit 111 executes communication of a CPRI signal conforming to CPRI. The communication unit 111 transmits the CPRI signal to the intermediate device 300 and receives the CPRI signal from the intermediate device.

The control unit 113 controls the first master station 110. The control unit 113 adjusts the timing of transmitting the CPRI signal from the first master station 110 so that the radio transmission timing of the first slave station 120 becomes a predetermined timing.

(5.2) Second master station 210
FIG. 6 is a functional block configuration diagram of the second master station 210. As shown in FIG. 6, the second master station 210 includes a communication unit 121 and a control unit 213.

The communication unit 121 executes communication of an eCPRI signal conforming to eCPRI. The communication unit 121 transmits the eCPRI signal to the intermediate device 300, and receives the eCPRI signal from the intermediate device.

The control unit 213 controls the second master station 210. The control unit 213 adjusts the timing of transmitting the eCPRI signal from the second master station 210 so that the radio transmission timing of the first slave station 120 becomes a predetermined timing. For example, when O-RAN is adopted as the FH, the control unit 213 transmits an eCPRI signal in the Transmission window (DL) described later.

(5.3) Intermediate device 300
FIG. 7 is a functional block configuration diagram of the intermediate device 300. As described above, the intermediate device 300 is an example of a communication device. As shown in FIG. 7, the intermediate device 300 includes a first communication unit 310, a second communication unit 320, a third communication unit 330, and a control unit 340.

The first communication unit 310 executes communication of a CPRI signal conforming to CPRI with the first master station 110.

The second communication unit 320 executes communication of an eCPRI signal conforming to eCPRI with the second master station 210.

The third communication unit 330 executes communication of a CPRI signal conforming to CPRI with the first slave station 120.

The control unit 340 executes conversion processing between the CPRI signal conforming to CPRI and the eCPRI signal conforming to eCPRI. Specifically, the control unit 340 converts the eCPRI signal received from the second master station 210 into a CPRI signal, and converts the CPRI signal received from the first slave station 120 into an eCPRI signal. As described above, the conversion process may include IFFT or FFT. The conversion process may include a process of converting the format. The control unit 340 may execute the synthesis process or the separation process.

In the embodiment, the control unit 340 sets the eCPRI signal (CPRI signal after conversion processing) received from the second master station to the first slave station based on the delay time between the intermediate device 300 and the first slave station 120. The adjustment process for adjusting the timing of transmission to 120 (hereinafter referred to as DL adjustment process) is executed. The control unit 340 executes an adjustment process (hereinafter, UL adjustment process) for adjusting the timing of transmitting the CPRI signal (eCPRI signal after conversion processing) received from the first slave station to the second master station 210. The control unit 340 may execute at least one of the DL adjustment process and the UL adjustment process.

(6) Delay time Next, the delay time between the first master station 110 and the first slave station 120 will be described. The delay time for the second master station 210 will be described later, but the transmission delay time between the intermediate device 300 and the first slave station 120 and the processing delay time of the first slave station 120 are common.

As shown in FIG. 8, the DL delay times are the transmission delay time T ₁ between the first master station 110 and the intermediate device 300, the processing delay time T _{E 1} of the intermediate device 300, and the intermediate devices 300 and the first. The transmission delay time T ₂ between the slave station 120 and the processing delay time T _E 2 of the first slave station 120 are included.

The delay time of UL is the processing delay time T _E3 of the first slave station 120, the transmission delay time T _{3 between the intermediate device 300 and the first slave station 120, the processing delay time T E 4} of the intermediate device 300, and so on. _{The transmission delay time T 4} between the first master station 110 and the intermediate device 300 is included.

In FIG. 8, T _{off_A} is the time until the HFN of the DL signal received by the intermediate device 300 from the first master station 110 is reflected in the UL signal transmitted from the intermediate device 300 to the first master station 110. T _{off_B} is the time until the HFN of the DL signal transmitted from the intermediate device 300 by the first slave station 120 is reflected in the UL signal transmitted from the first slave station 120 to the intermediate device 300.

Here, in CPRI, it is possible to measure the delay time between the nodes that terminate CPRI, but it is not possible to measure the delay time beyond the nodes that terminate CPRI. Therefore, the first master station 110 cannot measure _{T 2} , T _{E 2, T E 3} , T ₃ , T _{off_B, and the like.} Against this background, each node performs the following operations.

First, the intermediate device 300 requests the first slave station 120 to report the delay time. The first slave station 120 reports _{T E2} , T _E3 and T _{off_B to the intermediate device 300.} Since T _E2 and T _E3 can be considered to have the same value, _{only one of T E 2} and T _{E 3} may be reported.

Second, the intermediate device 300 sets the time T until the HFN of the DL signal transmitted from the intermediate device 300 to the first slave station 120 is reflected in the UL signal transmitted from the first slave station 120 to the intermediate device 300. taking measurement. T has the relationship of T = T ₂ + T _{off_B} + T _3.

Third, the intermediate device 300 _{calculates T 2} (T ₃ ). Here, since the DL transmission path and the UL transmission path are the same between the intermediate device 300 and the first slave station 120, it can be considered that T ₂ and T ₃ have the same value. .. Therefore, the intermediate device 300 can calculate _{T 2} (T ₃ ) by the equation _{T 2} (T ₃ ) = (TT _{off_B) / 2.}

Fourth, the first master station 110 requires the intermediate device 300 to report the delay time between the intermediate device 300 and the first slave station 120. The intermediate device 300 reports _{T E2} , T _E3 and T _{off_B} to the first master station 110.

Fifth, the intermediate device 300 sets _{T off_A.} T _{off_A} is expressed by the formula _{T off_A} = T _E1 + T ₂ + T _{off_B} + T ₃ + T _E4.

Sixth, in the first master station 110, the time until the HFN of the DL signal transmitted from the first master station 110 to the intermediate device 300 is reflected in the UL signal transmitted from the intermediate device 300 to the first master station 110. Measure T'. _T'has a relationship of T'= T ₁ + T off_A + T _4.

Seventh, the first master station 110 calculates the transmission delay time between the first master station 110 and the first slave station 120. The transmission delay time is considered to include the processing delay time of the intermediate device 300. Since the DL transmission path and the UL transmission path are the same between the first master station 110 and the intermediate device 300, it can be considered that T ₁ and T ₄ have the same value. Therefore, the transmission delay time is T ₁ + T _E1 + T ₂ (T ₃ + T _E4 + T ₄ ). Since T _{off_B} is reported from the intermediate device 300, the first master station 110 has _{the equation T 1} + T _E1 + T ₂ (T ₃ + T _E4 + T ₄ ) = (T'-T _{off_B} ) / 2. It is possible to calculate T ₁ + T _E1 + T ₂ (T ₃ + T _E3 + T _4).

Eighth, the first master station 110 _{calculates T 1} + T _E1 + T ₂ + T _E2 (T _E3 + T ₃ + T _E4 + T ₄ ). T _E3 (T _E4 ) is known because it was reported by Intermediate Device 300.

In the above example, the case where the intermediate device 300 _{does not report T off_A} to the first master station 110 has been described, but the intermediate device 300 has T _E1 + T ₂ + T _{E2 with respect to the first master station 110.} And T _{off_A} (synonymous with _{T E3} + T ₃ + T _{E 4} and T _{off_A).} In such a case, the first master station 110 can calculate _{T 1} (T ₄ ) by the formula _{T 1} (T ₄ ) = (T'-T _{off_A) / 2.} With such a configuration, the first master station 110 may calculate _{T 1} + T _E1 + T ₂ + T _E2 (T _E3 + T ₃ + T _E4 + T _4).

(7) Adjustment processing (7.1) DL adjustment processing First, the DL delay profile in O-RAN will be described. In the following, "max" means the maximum value and "min" means the minimum value. In addition, the time t at which wireless transmission by the O-RU antenna is executed is represented by “0”.

As shown in FIG. 9, in DL in O-RAN, the Transmission window (DL) of O-DU210 and the Reception window (DL) of O-RU220 are defined as follows.

The Transmission window (DL) of O-DU210 can be defined by parameters (T1a_min_up, T1a_max_up). The Transmission window (DL) can be represented by the difference between T1a_max_up and T1a_min_up. The parameters (T1a_min_up, T1a_max_up) may be interpreted as the measurement results from the output at the O-DU port (R1) to the wireless transmission. The parameters (T1a_min_up, T1a_max_up) may be measured by a delayed measurement message (Measured Transport Method).

On the other hand, the reception window (DL) of O-RU220 can be defined by parameters (T2a_min_up, T2a_max_up). The reception window (DL) can be represented by the difference between T2a_max_up and T2a_min_up. The parameters (T2a_min_up, T2a_max_up) may be interpreted as measurement results from reception at the O-RU port (R2) to wireless transmission. T2a_min_up and T2a_max_up are examples of O-RU delay profiles.

Here, as the FH delay parameter described above, a parameter (T12_min) indicating the difference between T1a_max_up and T2a_max_up may be defined in advance. As the FH delay parameter described above, a parameter (T12_max) indicating the difference between T1a_min_up and T2a_min_up may be defined in advance. The FH delay parameter is managed by the intermediate device 300. T12_min and T12_max may be set for each use case of O-RAN.

Note that T12_min defines the minimum delay time (minimum distance) between O-DU110 and O-RU120, and T12_max defines the maximum delay time (maximum distance) between O-DU110 and O-RU120. You may think that you are doing it.

Under such a premise, T1a_min_up that defines the Transmission window (DL) may satisfy the condition that the value is T2a_min_up + T12_max or more for O-RU220 existing on the air side of O-DU210. T1a_max_up, which defines the Transmission window (DL), may satisfy the condition that the value is T2a_max_up + T12_min or less for O-RU220 existing on the air side of O-DU210. The intermediate device 300 determines the window parameters so as to satisfy these conditions (window conditions). Alternatively, the O-DU210 sets the Transmission window (DL) so as to satisfy the window condition.

Thus, the Transmission window (DL) can be defined by the O-RU delay profile (T2a_min_up, T2a_max_up) and the FH delay parameters (T12_min, T12_max). Window parameters may include T1a_min_up and T1a_max_up.

In the embodiment, it is assumed that the intermediate device 300 and the first slave station 120 function as the O-RU 220, but the first slave station 120 does not support the reception window (DL) described above. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the timing of transmitting the CPRI signal (eCPRI signal after conversion processing) from the intermediate device 300 to the first slave station 120.

Further, the position where the intermediate device 300 is arranged is variable between the second master station 210 and the first slave station 120, and the reception window (DL) of the O-RU 220 described above is applied to the intermediate device 300 as it is. I can't. For example, in the case where the intermediate device 300 is arranged near the second master station 210, if the reception window (DL) of the O-RU 220 described above is used, the eCPRI signal is transmitted from the second master station 210 and then the eCPRI signal. The time until the CPRI signal corresponding to is transmitted from the first slave station 120 does not fall within T1a_max_up.

Therefore, the intermediate device 300 according to the embodiment executes the DL timing adjustment shown below.

First, the intermediate device 300 first converts the eCPRI signal transmitted from the second master station 210 to the converted CPRI signal based on the delay time between the intermediate device 300 and the first slave station 120. Adjust the timing of transmission to slave station 120. Specifically, the intermediate device 300 transmits the converted CPRI signal at a timing earlier than the time t = 0 by a delay time. According to such a configuration, the eCPRI signal (CPRI signal after conversion processing) received from the second master station 210 so that the radio transmission timing of the first slave station 120 becomes a predetermined timing (that is, time t = 0). ) Can be transmitted from the first slave station 120.

As shown in FIG. 10, the delay time includes at least _{the transmission delay time (T 2 described above) between the intermediate device 300 and the first slave station 120.} Delay time may further include a (T _E2 described above) processing delay time of the first child station 120. Delay time, (in Figure 10, T _{E_NR2)} at least a portion of the processing delay time of the intermediate apparatus 300 (T _E1 mentioned above) may further comprise a. For example, the delay time may be T _E2 + T ₂ + T _{E_NR2} .

In FIG. 10, the processing delay time of the first child station 120 (T _E2) there is T2a_min_up the case is the same as shown in FIG. 9 are illustrated, processing delay time of the first child station 120 (T _E2 ) May be longer than T2a_min_up shown in FIG. Processing delay time of the first child station 120 (T _E3) may be shorter than T2a_max_up shown in FIG.

Here, the T _{E_NR1} included _{in the T E 1} may include the time required for the IFFT described above. The T _{E_NR2} contained in the _{T E 1} may include the time required for the above-mentioned synthesis process. As described in FIG. 8, T _{E 2} and T ₂ can be identified by the intermediate device 300, and T _{E_NR1} and T _{E_NR 2} are known to the intermediate device 300.

Second, the intermediate device 300 receives the eCPRI signal received from the second master station 210 based on the delay time between the intermediate device 300 and the first slave station 120 (in FIG. 10, the reception window (DL)). )') Is set. Specifically, the intermediate device 300 changes the size of the reception window (DL) shown in FIG. The intermediate device 300 may set the Reception window (DL) -T ₂ (that is, {(T2a_max_up-T2a_min_up) -T ₂ }) shown in FIG. 9 as the Reception window (DL)'. Along with this, T2a_min_up'may be set in the intermediate device 300 as T2a_min_up, and T12_max' may be set in the intermediate device 300 as T12_max.

In such a case, the adjustment unit 303 (for example, a delay buffer) that executes the DL adjustment process may be provided between the IFFT processing unit 302 and the multiplexer 301. The IFFT processing unit 302 and the adjusting unit 303 may be a part of the control unit 340 described above.

(7.2) UL adjustment process First, the delay profile of UL in O-RAN will be described. In the following, "max" means the maximum value and "min" means the minimum value. In addition, the time t at which reception by the O-RU antenna is executed is represented by “0”.

As shown in FIG. 11, in UL in O-RAN, the Transmission window (UL) of O-RU220 and the Reception window (UL) of O-DU210 are defined as follows.

The transmission window (UL) of O-RU220 can be defined by the parameters (Ta3_min, Ta3_max). That is, the Transmission window (UL) can be represented by the difference between Ta3_max and Ta3_min. The parameters (Ta3_min, Ta3_max) may be interpreted as the measurement results from reception at the O-RU antenna to output at the O-RU port (R3). Ta3_min and Ta3_max are examples of O-RU delay profiles.

On the other hand, the reception window (UL) of O-DU210 can be defined by the parameters (Ta4_min, Ta4_max). That is, the reception window (UL) can be expressed by the difference between Ta4_max and Ta4_min. The parameters (Ta4_min, Ta4_max) may be interpreted as the measurement results from reception at the O-RU antenna to reception at the O-DU port (R4). The parameters (Ta4_min, Ta4_max) may be measured by a delayed measurement message (Measured Transport Method).

Here, as the FH delay parameter described above, a parameter (T34_min) indicating the difference between Ta4_min and Ta3_min may be defined in advance. As the FH delay parameter described above, a parameter (T34_max) indicating the difference between Ta4_max and Ta3_max may be defined in advance. The FH delay parameter is managed by the intermediate device 300. T34_min and T34_max may be set for each use case of O-RAN.

Note that T34_min defines the minimum delay time (minimum distance) between O-DU110 and O-RU120, and T34_max defines the maximum delay time (maximum distance) between O-DU110 and O-RU120. You may think that you are doing it.

Under such a premise, Ta4_min, which defines the reception window (UL), may satisfy the condition that the value of Ta3_min + T34_min or less for O-RU220 existing on the air side of O-DU210. Ta4_max, which defines the reception window (UL), may satisfy the condition that it is Ta3_max + T34_max or more for O-RU220 existing on the air side of O-DU210. The intermediate device 300 determines the window parameters so as to satisfy these conditions (window conditions). Alternatively, the O-DU210 sets the Reception window (UL) so as to satisfy the window condition.

Thus, the reception window (UL) can be determined by the O-RU delay profile (Ta3_min, Ta3_max) and the FH delay parameter (T34_min, T34_max). Window parameters may include Ta4_min and Ta4_max.

In the embodiment, it is assumed that the intermediate device 300 and the first slave station 120 function as the O-RU 220, but the first slave station 120 does not support the above-mentioned Transmission window (UL). Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the timing of transmitting the eCPRI signal (CPRI signal after conversion processing) from the intermediate device 300 to the second master station 210.

Therefore, the intermediate device 300 according to the embodiment executes the UL timing adjustment shown below.

First, the intermediate device 300 secondly converts the converted eCPRI signal for the CPRI signal transmitted from the first slave station 120 based on the delay time between the intermediate device 300 and the first slave station 120. Adjust the timing of transmission to the master station 210. Specifically, the intermediate device 300 transmits the converted CPRI signal at a timing delayed by a delay time from the time t = 0.

As shown in FIG. 12, the delay time includes at least _{the transmission delay time (T 3 described above) between the intermediate device 300 and the first slave station 120.} Delay time may not include the processing delay time of the first child station 120 (T _E3 described above). The delay time does not have to include the processing delay time of the intermediate device 300 ( _{TE4 described above).} For example, the delay time may be _{T 3.} Processing delay time of the intermediate apparatus 300 (T _E4 described above) may satisfy the condition that it is Ta3_max-Ta3_min following values.

In FIG. 12, the processing delay time of the first child station 120 (T _E3) is the same as Ta3_min case are illustrated, processing delay time of the first child station 120 (T _E3) is than Ta3_min It may be long. Processing delay time of the first child station 120 (T _E3) may be shorter than Ta3_max.

Here, T _{E_NR3 included in T E 4} may include the time required for the above-mentioned separation process. The T _{E_NR4} contained in the _{T E 4} may include the time required for the FFT described above. As described in FIG. 8, T ₃ can be identified by the intermediate device 300, and T _{E_NR 3 and T E_NR 4} are known to the intermediate device 300.

Second, the intermediate device 300 transmits the eCPRI signal transmitted to the second master station 210 based on the delay time between the intermediate device 300 and the first slave station 120 (Transmission window (UL in FIG. 10). )') Is set. Specifically, the intermediate device 300 shifts the Transmission window (UL) shown in FIG. 9 in the time axis direction. The intermediate device 300 may set Transmission window (UL) + T ₃ as Transmission window (UL)'.

In such a case, the adjustment unit 306 (for example, a delay buffer) that executes the UL adjustment processing may be provided on the second master station 210 side of the FFT processing unit 305. The FFT processing unit 305 and the adjusting unit 306 may be a part of the control unit 340 described above.

In the UL adjustment process, unlike the DL adjustment process, the timing is adjusted by the intermediate device 300 without changing the reception window (UL) used between the second master station 210 and the second slave station 220. Based on, the Reception window (UL) used between the second master station 210 and the second slave station 220 can be used without change.

(8) Actions and effects In the embodiment, by newly introducing the concept of the intermediate device 300, the coverage area of the NR can be expanded at an early stage by utilizing the existing first slave station 120.

In the embodiment, the intermediate device 300 executes at least one of the DL adjustment process and the UL adjustment process based on the delay time between the intermediate device 300 and the first slave station 120. According to such a configuration, the eCPRI signal (CPRI signal after conversion processing) received from the second master station 210 can be transmitted to the first slave station 120 at an appropriate timing, or the first slave station 120. The CPRI signal (eCPRI signal after conversion processing) received from is transmitted to the second master station 210 at an appropriate timing.

[Change example 1]
Hereinafter, modification 1 of the embodiment will be described. In the following, the differences from the embodiments will be mainly described.

In the embodiment, the signal transmission timing from the first slave station 120 to the second master station 210 and the signal transmission timing from the second master station 210 to the first slave station 120 have been described. On the other hand, in the first modification, the transmission timing of the signal from the first master station 110 to the first slave station 120 will be described.

As described above, it is necessary to adjust the timing of transmitting the CPRI signal from the first master station 110 so that the radio transmission timing of the first slave station 120 becomes a predetermined timing. However, as described with reference to FIG. 8, in CPRI, although it is possible to measure the delay time between the nodes terminating the CPRI, it is not possible to measure the delay time beyond the nodes terminating the CPRI. Therefore, each node executes the operation shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 13, in step S10, the intermediate device 300 requests the first slave station 120 to report the delay time.

In step S11, the first slave station 120 reports _{T E2} , T _E3 and T _{off_B to the intermediate device 300.} Since T _E2 and T _E3 can be considered to have the same value, _{only one of T E 2} and T _{E 3} may be reported.

In step S12, the intermediate device 300 sets the time T until the HFN of the DL signal transmitted from the intermediate device 300 to the first slave station 120 is reflected in the UL signal transmitted from the first slave station 120 to the intermediate device 300. taking measurement. T has the relationship of T = T ₂ + T _{off_B} + T _3.

In step S13, the intermediate device 300 _{calculates T 2} (T ₃ ). Here, since the DL transmission path and the UL transmission path are the same between the intermediate device 300 and the first slave station 120, it can be considered that T ₂ and T ₃ have the same value. .. Therefore, the intermediate device 300 can calculate _{T 2} (T ₃ ) by the equation _{T 2} (T ₃ ) = (TT _{off_B) / 2.}

In step S14, the first master station 110 requests the intermediate device 300 to report the delay time between the intermediate device 300 and the first slave station 120.

In step S15, the intermediate device 300 executes a reporting process for reporting _{T E2} , T _E3, and T _{off_B to the first master station 110.} As in step S11, T _{E 2} and T _{E 3} can be considered to have the same value, so _{only one of T E 2} and T _{E 3} may be reported. Here, T _E2 (T _E3 ) and T _{off_B} are examples of information elements for specifying the delay time between the intermediate device 300 and the first slave station 120. Specifically, T _E2 (T _E3 ) is an example of an information element for specifying the processing delay time of the first slave station 120. T _{off_B} is an example of an information element for specifying the transmission delay time between the intermediate device 300 and the first slave station 120.

In step S16, the intermediate device 300 sets _{T off_A.} T _{off_A} is expressed by the formula _{T off_A} = T _E1 + T ₂ + T _{off_B} + T ₃ + T _E4.

In step S17, the first master station 110 takes time until the HFN of the DL signal transmitted from the first master station 110 to the intermediate device 300 is reflected in the UL signal transmitted from the intermediate device 300 to the first master station 110. Measure T'. _T'has a relationship of T'= T ₁ + T off_A + T _4.

In step S18, the first master station 110 calculates the transmission delay time between the first master station 110 and the first slave station 120. The transmission delay time is considered to include the processing delay time of the intermediate device 300. Since the DL transmission path and the UL transmission path are the same between the first master station 110 and the intermediate device 300, it can be considered that T ₁ and T ₄ have the same value. Therefore, the transmission delay time is T ₁ + T _E1 + T ₂ (T ₃ + T _E4 + T ₄ ). Since T _{off_B} is reported from the intermediate device 300, the first master station 110 has _{the equation T 1} + T _E1 + T ₂ (T ₃ + T _E4 + T ₄ ) = (T'-T _{off_B} ) / 2. It is possible to calculate T ₁ + T _E1 + T ₂ (T ₃ + T _E3 + T _4). Subsequently, the first master station 110 _{calculates T 1} + T _E1 + T ₂ + T _E2 (T _E3 + T ₃ + T _E4 + T ₄ ). T _E3 (T _E4 ) is known because it was reported by Intermediate Device 300.

In step S19, the first master station 110 transmits a CPRI signal at a timing earlier than a predetermined timing by a delay time based on the delay time between the first master station 110 and the first slave station 120. The delay time is T ₁ + T _E1 + T ₂ + T _E2 (T _E3 + T ₃ + T _E4 + T ₄ ).

In FIG. 13, the _{case where the intermediate device 300 does not report T off_A} to the first master station 110 has been described, but the intermediate device 300 has T _E1 + T ₂ + T _E2 and T _{off_A with respect to the first master station 110.} ( _{Synonymous with T E3} + T ₃ + T _E4 and T _{off_A} ) may be reported. In such a case, the first master station 110 can calculate _{T 1} (T ₄ ) by the formula _{T 1} (T ₄ ) = (T'-T _{off_A) / 2.} With such a configuration, the first master station 110 is earlier than the predetermined timing by the delay time (here, T ₁ + T _E1 + T ₂ + T _E2 (T _E3 + T ₃ + T _E4 + T ₄ )). A CPRI signal may be transmitted at the timing. When the intermediate device 300 and the first slave station 120 are regarded as the first slave station, T _E1 , T ₂ and T _{E 2} (T _E3 + T ₃ + T _E4 ) are delayed in processing the first slave station. You can think of it as time. T _E1 + T ₂ + T _E2 (T _E3 + T ₃ + T _E4 ) can be considered as an example of an information element for identifying the delay time between the intermediate device 300 and the first slave station 120. good.

(Action and effect)
In the first modification, the intermediate device 300 executes a reporting process for reporting an information element for specifying the delay time between the intermediate device 300 and the first slave station 120 to the first master station 110. According to such a configuration, the first master station 110 can transmit the CPRI signal from the first master station 110 at an appropriate timing so that the radio transmission timing of the first slave station 120 becomes a predetermined timing. ..

[Change example 2]
Hereinafter, modification 2 of the embodiment will be described. In the following, the differences from the embodiments will be mainly described.

In the second modification, variations of the synthesis processing of the signal received from the first master station 110 and the signal received from the second master station 210 and the separation processing of the signal received from the first slave station will be described.

First, a case where the intermediate device 300 does not handle the CPRI signal addressed to the first master station 110 and the eCPRI signal addressed to the second master station separately will be described.

As shown in the upper part (DL) of FIG. 14, the processing unit 381 of the intermediate device 300 executes the format conversion of the CPRI signal received from the first master station 110, and inputs the CPRI signal conforming to CPRI to the multiplexer 301. .. On the other hand, the processing unit 382 of the intermediate device 300 executes IFFT and format conversion of the eCPRI signal received from the second master station 210, and inputs the CPRI signal conforming to CPRI to the multiplexer 301. The multiplexer 301 synthesizes the CPRI signal input from the processing unit 381 and the CPRI signal input from the processing unit 382, and outputs the combined CPRI signal.

On the other hand, as shown in the lower part (UL) of FIG. 14, the demultiplexer 301 of the intermediate device 300 inputs the CPRI signal received from the first slave station 120 to the processing unit 383 and receives it from the first slave station 120. The CPRI signal is input to the processing unit 384. The demultiplexer 301 only has a function of branching the CPRI signal received from the first slave station 120 into two systems, and the CPRI signal input to the processing unit 383 and the processing unit 384 is the first slave station. It may be the CPRI signal itself received from 120. The processing unit 383 executes format conversion of the CPRI signal input from the demultiplexer 301, and outputs a CPRI signal conforming to CPRI. The processing unit 384 executes FFT and format conversion of the CPRI signal input from the demultiplexer 301, and outputs an eCPRI signal conforming to eCPRI.

In such a case, the first master station 110 extracts the CPRI signal addressed to the first master station 110 from the CPRI signals output from the intermediate device 300, and processes the extracted CPRI signal. Similarly, the first master station 110 extracts the eCPRI signal addressed to the first master station 110 from the eCPRI signals output from the intermediate device 300, and processes the extracted eCPRI signal.

The multiplexer (demultiplexer) 301, processing unit 381, processing unit 382, processing unit 383, and processing unit 384 may be a part of the control unit 340 described above.

Second, a case where the intermediate device 300 handles the CPRI signal addressed to the first master station 110 and the eCPRI signal addressed to the second master station separately will be described.

As shown in the upper part (DL) of FIG. 15, the processing unit 391 of the intermediate device 300 executes the format conversion of the CPRI signal received from the first master station 110 in the same manner as the processing unit 381, and CPRI conforms to CPRI. The signal is input to the multiplexer 301. On the other hand, the processing unit 392 of the intermediate device 300 executes IFFT and format conversion of the eCPRI signal received from the second master station 210, and inputs the CPRI signal conforming to CPRI to the multiplexer 301, similarly to the processing unit 382. .. The multiplexer 301 synthesizes the CPRI signal input from the processing unit 391 and the CPRI signal input from the processing unit 392, and outputs the combined CPRI signal.

On the other hand, as shown in the lower part (UL) of FIG. 15, the demultiplexer 301 of the intermediate device 300 inputs the CPRI signal received from the first slave station 120 to the processing unit 393 and receives it from the first slave station 120. Input the CPRI signal to the extraction & processing unit 394. The demultiplexer 301 only has a function of branching the CPRI signal received from the first slave station 120 into two systems, and the CPRI signal input to the processing unit 393 and the processing unit 394 is the first slave station. It may be the CPRI signal itself received from 120. The processing unit 393 extracts the CPRI signal of the first band (for example, the LTE band) corresponding to the first master station 110 from the CPRI signal input from the demultiplexer 301, and performs format conversion of the extracted CPRI. Executes and outputs a CPRI signal conforming to CPRI. The processing unit 394 extracts the CPRI signal of the second band (for example, the NR band) corresponding to the second master station 210 from the CPRI signal input from the demultiplexer 301, and FFT and format of the extracted CPRI. Performs conversion and outputs an eCPRI signal that conforms to eCPRI.

The multiplexer (demultiplexer) 301, processing unit 391, processing unit 392, processing unit 393, and processing unit 394 may be a part of the control unit 340 described above.

Here, in the configuration shown in FIG. 15, the first band (for example, LTE band) corresponding to the first master station 110 and the second band (for example, NR band) corresponding to the second master station 210 may be different. It may be a premise. When at least a part of the first band and the second band overlap, the configuration shown in FIG. 14 may be adopted.

(Action and effect)
In the second modification, the intermediate device 300 transmits the CPRI signal received from the first master station 110 and the eCPRI signal received from the second master station 210 to the first slave station 120 as a CPRI signal conforming to CPRI. According to such a configuration, the coverage area of NR can be expanded by using the first slave station 120 which is not compliant with eCPRI.

[Change example 3]
Hereinafter, modification 3 of the embodiment will be described. In the following, the differences from the embodiments will be mainly described.

In the third modification, a case where DSS (Dynamic Spectrum Sharing) that shares a band between the first master station 110 and the second master station 210 is applied will be described. In DSS, RB (Resource Block) may be shared. For the synthesis process and the separation process, the configuration shown in FIG. 14 may be used.

For example, in DSS, as shown in FIG. 16, the RB (hereinafter, RB (LTE)) and the second parent used by the first master station 110 in the unit defined by frequency and time (for example, subframe). RBs are assigned so that the RBs used by the station 210 (hereinafter referred to as RB (NR)) do not overlap. For example, the second master station 210 receives information indicating RB (LTE) from the first master station 110, and executes resource allocation using RBs other than RB (LTE). Therefore, the intermediate device 300 suppresses the interference of these signals in the synthesis processing of the CPRI signal received from the first master station 110 and the eCPRI signal (CPRI signal after conversion processing) received from the second master station 210. In addition, it is necessary to synchronize these signals.

Under such a background, the first master station 110 adds subframe number information (hereinafter, SFN information) to the field included in the CPRI signal, and transmits the CPRI signal to which the SFN information is added. The field to which the SFN information is added may be a field in which the base station frame number (BFN; Node B Frame Number) corresponding to the first master station 110 is stored.

On the other hand, the second master station 210 transmits an eCPRI signal including an information element for identifying the SFN. The information element may include C-plane information such as Start Symbol ID. The Start Symbol ID is a parameter that identifies the number of the first symbol contained in the slot. The information element may include a delay management parameter. The delay management parameter is a parameter such as T12_min, T12_max, T34_min, T34_max, T2a_max_up, T2a_min_up, T3a_min, T3a_max described above.

The intermediate device 300 identifies the SFN corresponding to the first master station 110 based on the SNF information added to the field (for example, the BFN field) included in the CPRI signal received from the first master station 110. The intermediate device identifies the SFN corresponding to the second master station 210 based on the information elements (for example, Start Symbol ID and delay management parameter) included in the eCPRI signal received from the second master station 210. The intermediate device 300 receives a CPRI signal received from the first master station 110 and an eCPRI signal received from the second master station 210 based on the SFN corresponding to the first master station 110 and the SFN corresponding to the second master station 210 ( Executes synchronization processing that synchronizes with the CPRI signal after conversion processing).

For example, as shown in FIG. 17, in step S30, the first master station 110 and the second master station 210 receive the reference time information. Although not particularly limited, the reference time information may be time information using GPS (Global Positioning System) or time information using PTP (Precision Time Protocol).

In step S31, the first master station 110 adds SFN information to a field (for example, a BFN field) included in the CPRI signal, and transmits the CPRI signal to which the SFN information is added.

In step S32, the second master station 210 transmits an eCPRI signal including information elements for identifying the SFN (for example, Start Symbol ID and delay management parameter).

In step S33, the intermediate device 300 receives the CPRI signal received from the first master station 110 and the second master station 210 based on the SFN corresponding to the first master station 110 and the SFN corresponding to the second master station 210. Executes synchronization processing that synchronizes with the eCPRI signal (CPRI signal after conversion processing). The intermediate device 300 executes a synthesis process for synthesizing the CPRI signal received from the first master station 110 and the eCPRI signal (CPRI signal after conversion processing) received from the second master station 210.

In step S34, the intermediate device 300 transmits the combined CPRI signal to the first slave station 120.

(Action and effect)
In the third modification, the intermediate device 300 identifies the SFN of the first master station 110 based on the SFN information included in the field included in the CPRI signal, and the second master station based on the information element included in the eCPRI signal. Identify the SFN. The intermediate device 300 performs a synchronization process for synchronizing the CPRI signal received from the first master station 110 and the eCPRI signal (CPRI signal after conversion processing) received from the second master station 210 based on the specified SFN. Run. With such a configuration, DSS can be operated appropriately.

[Change example 4]
Hereinafter, modification 4 of the embodiment will be described. In the following, the differences from the embodiments will be mainly described.

In the embodiment, the intermediate device 300 has an operation mode corresponding to both the first master station 110 and the second master station 210. On the other hand, in the fourth modification, the intermediate device 300 corresponds to both the first operation mode in which the control corresponding to the first master station 110 is executed and the first master station 110 and the second master station 210. It has two operation modes and a third operation mode that executes control corresponding to the second master station 210.

The first operation mode may be an operation mode applied to a case where the intermediate device 300 is connected to the first master station 110 but the intermediate device 300 is not connected to the second master station 210. The first operation mode may be referred to as the LTE independent operation mode. In such a case, the intermediate device 300 may relay the CPRI signal received from the first master station 110 to the first slave station 120. For example, the intermediate device 300 functions as an optical signal relay device. However, the intermediate device 300 may have the function described in the above-described modification example 1.

The second operation mode is an operation mode applied to the case where the intermediate device 300 is connected to both the first master station 110 and the second master station 210. The second operation mode may be referred to as the LTE / NR operation mode. In such a case, the relay device 300 may have one or more functions selected from the functions described in the embodiment and the modified examples 1 to 3.

The third operation mode may be an operation mode applied to the case where the intermediate device 300 is connected to both the first master station 110 and the second master station 210. The third operation mode may be an operation mode applied to a case where the intermediate device 300 is connected to the second master station 210, but the intermediate device 300 is not connected to the first master station 110. The third operation mode may be referred to as an NR independent operation mode. In such a case, the intermediate device 300 may have a function of executing the adjustment processing (DL adjustment processing and UL adjustment processing) described in the embodiment. If the intermediate device 300 is used in the third operation mode from the beginning,
For example, the first operation mode is an operation mode applied before connecting the second master station 210 to the intermediate device 300, that is, at the stage of introducing the intermediate device 300 for the purpose of expanding the coverage area of NR. May be good. The second operation mode may be an operation mode applied when the second master station 210 is connected to the intermediate device 300 for the purpose of expanding the coverage area of the NR. The third operation mode may be an operation mode applied when the first slave station 120 finishes its role as a slave station of LTE.

The third operation mode may be applied from the beginning when the intermediate device 300 is introduced. In such a case, the intermediate device 300 does not have to have the first communication unit 310 described above.

[Other Embodiments]
In the above-mentioned disclosure, the embodiment and the modified example 4 are described separately, but one or more functions selected from the functions described in the embodiment, the modified example 1 to the modified example 4 may be provided. .. Such a function may be provided as a method.

Although the contents of the present invention have been described above with reference to Examples, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to these descriptions and various modifications and improvements can be made.

The block configuration diagrams (FIGS. 5 to 7) used in the description of the above-described embodiment show blocks of functional units. These functional blocks (components) are realized by any combination of at least one of hardware and software. Further, the method of realizing each functional block is not particularly limited. That is, each functional block may be realized using one physically or logically coupled device, or two or more physically or logically separated devices can be directly or indirectly (eg, for example). , Wired, wireless, etc.) and may be realized using these plurality of devices. The functional block may be realized by combining the software with the one device or the plurality of devices.

Functions include judgment, decision, judgment, calculation, calculation, processing, derivation, investigation, search, confirmation, reception, transmission, output, access, solution, selection, selection, establishment, comparison, assumption, expectation, and assumption. Broadcasting, notifying, communicating, forwarding, configuring, reconfiguring, allocating, mapping, assigning, etc., but limited to these I can't. For example, a functional block (component) that functions transmission is called a transmitting unit or a transmitter. As described above, the method of realizing each of them is not particularly limited.

Further, the first master station 110, the second master station 210, and the intermediate device 300 (the device) may function as a computer that processes the wireless communication method of the present disclosure. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the device. As shown in FIG. 13, the device may be configured as a computer device including a processor 1001, a memory 1002, a storage 1003, a communication device 1004, an input device 1005, an output device 1006, a bus 1007, and the like.

In the following description, the word "device" can be read as a circuit, a device, a unit, or the like. The hardware configuration of the device may be configured to include one or more of the devices shown in the figure, or may be configured not to include some of the devices.

Each functional block of the device (see FIGS. 5 and 6) is realized by any hardware element of the computer device or a combination of the hardware elements.

Further, for each function in the device, the processor 1001 performs an operation by loading predetermined software (program) on the hardware such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002, and controls the communication by the communication device 1004, or the memory. It is realized by controlling at least one of reading and writing of data in 1002 and storage 1003.

Processor 1001 operates, for example, an operating system to control the entire computer. The processor 1001 may be composed of a central processing unit (CPU) including an interface with peripheral devices, a control device, an arithmetic unit, a register, and the like.

Further, the processor 1001 reads a program (program code), a software module, data, etc. from at least one of the storage 1003 and the communication device 1004 into the memory 1002, and executes various processes according to these. As the program, a program that causes a computer to execute at least a part of the operations described in the above-described embodiment is used. Further, the various processes described above may be executed by one processor 1001 or may be executed simultaneously or sequentially by two or more processors 1001. Processor 1001 may be implemented by one or more chips. The program may be transmitted from the network via a telecommunication line.

The memory 1002 is a computer-readable recording medium, and is composed of at least one of, for example, Read Only Memory (ROM), Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), and the like. May be done. The memory 1002 may be referred to as a register, a cache, a main memory (main storage device), or the like. The memory 1002 can store a program (program code), a software module, or the like that can execute the method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

The storage 1003 is a computer-readable recording medium, for example, an optical disk such as Compact Disc ROM (CD-ROM), a hard disk drive, a flexible disk, an optical magnetic disk (for example, a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a Blu-ray). It may consist of at least one (registered trademark) disk), smart card, flash memory (eg, card, stick, key drive), floppy (registered trademark) disk, magnetic strip, and the like. Storage 1003 may be referred to as auxiliary storage. The recording medium described above may be, for example, a database, server or other suitable medium containing at least one of memory 1002 and storage 1003.

The communication device 1004 is hardware (transmission / reception device) for communicating between computers via at least one of a wired network and a wireless network, and is also referred to as, for example, a network device, a network controller, a network card, a communication module, or the like.

Communication device 1004 includes, for example, a high frequency switch, a duplexer, a filter, a frequency synthesizer, etc. to realize at least one of Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD). It may be composed of.

The input device 1005 is an input device (for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a switch, a button, a sensor, etc.) that accepts an input from the outside. The output device 1006 is an output device (for example, a display, a speaker, an LED lamp, etc.) that outputs to the outside. The input device 1005 and the output device 1006 may have an integrated configuration (for example, a touch panel).

Further, each device such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002 is connected by a bus 1007 for communicating information. Bus 1007 may be configured using a single bus or may be configured using different buses for each device.

In addition, the device includes hardware such as a microprocessor, digital signal processor (DSP), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), programmable logic device (PLD), and field programmable gate array (FPGA). The hardware may implement some or all of each functional block. For example, processor 1001 may be implemented using at least one of these hardware.

Further, the notification of information is not limited to the embodiment / embodiment described in the present disclosure, and may be performed by using another method. For example, information notification includes physical layer signaling (eg Downlink Control Information (DCI), Uplink Control Information (UCI), higher layer signaling (eg RRC signaling, Medium Access Control (MAC) signaling, Master Information Block). (MIB), System Information Block (SIB)), other signals or combinations thereof. RRC signaling may also be referred to as RRC messages, eg, RRC Connection Setup. ) Message, RRC Connection Reconfiguration message, etc.

Each aspect / embodiment described in the present disclosure includes Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), 5th generation mobile communication system ( 5G), Future Radio Access (FRA), New Radio (NR), W-CDMA (registered trademark), GSM (registered trademark), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)) , IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX®), IEEE 802.20, Ultra-WideBand (UWB), Bluetooth®, and other systems that utilize suitable systems and at least one of the next generation systems extended based on them. It may be applied to one. In addition, a plurality of systems may be applied in combination (for example, a combination of at least one of LTE and LTE-A and 5G).

The order of the processing procedures, sequences, flowcharts, etc. of each aspect / embodiment described in the present disclosure may be changed as long as there is no contradiction. For example, the methods described in the present disclosure present elements of various steps using exemplary order, and are not limited to the particular order presented.

In some cases, the specific operation performed by the base station in the present disclosure may be performed by its upper node. In a network consisting of one or more network nodes having a base station, various operations performed for communication with a terminal are performed by the base station and other network nodes other than the base station (eg, MME or). It is clear that it can be done by at least one of (but not limited to, S-GW, etc.). Although the case where there is one network node other than the base station is illustrated above, it may be a combination of a plurality of other network nodes (for example, MME and S-GW).

Information, signals (information, etc.) can be output from the upper layer (or lower layer) to the lower layer (or upper layer). Input / output may be performed via a plurality of network nodes.

The input / output information may be stored in a specific location (for example, a memory), or may be managed using a management table. Input / output information can be overwritten, updated, or added. The output information may be deleted. The input information may be transmitted to another device.

The determination may be made by a value represented by 1 bit (0 or 1), by a boolean value (Boolean: true or false), or by comparing numerical values (for example, a predetermined value). It may be done by comparison with the value).

Each aspect / embodiment described in the present disclosure may be used alone, in combination, or switched with execution. Further, the notification of predetermined information (for example, the notification of "being X") is not limited to the explicit one, but is performed implicitly (for example, the notification of the predetermined information is not performed). May be good.

Software, whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or other names, is an instruction, instruction set, code, code segment, program code, program, subprogram, software module. , Applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, execution threads, procedures, functions, etc. should be broadly interpreted.

Further, software, instructions, information and the like may be transmitted and received via a transmission medium. For example, a website where the software uses at least one of wired technology (coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), etc.) and wireless technology (infrared, microwave, etc.). When transmitted from a server, or other remote source, at least one of these wired and wireless technologies is included within the definition of transmission medium.

The information, signals, etc. described in the present disclosure may be represented using any of a variety of different techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be referred to throughout the above description are voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, light fields or photons, or any of these. It may be represented by a combination of.

The terms described in the present disclosure and the terms necessary for understanding the present disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meanings. For example, at least one of a channel and a symbol may be a signal (signaling). Also, the signal may be a message. Further, the component carrier (CC) may be referred to as a carrier frequency, a cell, a frequency carrier, or the like.

The terms "system" and "network" used in this disclosure are used interchangeably.

In addition, the information, parameters, etc. described in the present disclosure may be expressed using absolute values, relative values from predetermined values, or using other corresponding information. It may be represented. For example, the radio resource may be one indicated by an index.

The names used for the above parameters are not limited in any way. Further, mathematical formulas and the like using these parameters may differ from those explicitly disclosed in this disclosure. Since various channels (eg, PUCCH, PDCCH, etc.) and information elements can be identified by any suitable name, the various names assigned to these various channels and information elements are in any respect limited names. is not it.

In this disclosure, "Base Station (BS)", "Wireless Base Station", "Fixed Station", "NodeB", "eNodeB (eNB)", "gNodeB (gNB)", " "Access point", "transmission point", "reception point", "transmission / reception point", "cell", "sector", "cell group", "cell group" Terms such as "carrier" and "component carrier" can be used interchangeably. Base stations are sometimes referred to by terms such as macrocells, small cells, femtocells, and picocells.

A base station can accommodate one or more (eg, three) cells (also referred to as sectors). When a base station accommodates multiple cells, the entire coverage area of the base station can be divided into multiple smaller areas, each smaller area being a base station subsystem (eg, a small indoor base station (Remote Radio)). Communication services can also be provided by Head: RRH).

The term "cell" or "sector" refers to a base station that provides communication services in this coverage, and part or all of the coverage area of at least one of the base station subsystems.

In the present disclosure, terms such as "Mobile Station (MS)", "user terminal", "User Equipment (UE)", and "terminal" may be used interchangeably. ..

Mobile stations can be used by those skilled in the art as subscriber stations, mobile units, subscriber units, wireless units, remote units, mobile devices, wireless devices, wireless communication devices, remote devices, mobile subscriber stations, access terminals, mobile terminals, wireless. It may also be referred to as a terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, or some other suitable term.

At least one of a base station and a mobile station may be referred to as a transmitting device, a receiving device, a communication device, or the like. At least one of the base station and the mobile station may be a device mounted on the mobile body, the mobile body itself, or the like. The moving body may be a vehicle (eg, car, airplane, etc.), an unmanned moving body (eg, drone, self-driving car, etc.), or a robot (manned or unmanned). ) May be. It should be noted that at least one of the base station and the mobile station includes a device that does not necessarily move during communication operation. For example, at least one of a base station and a mobile station may be an Internet of Things (IoT) device such as a sensor.

Further, the base station in the present disclosure may be read as a mobile station (user terminal, the same shall apply hereinafter). For example, communication between a base station and a mobile station has been replaced with communication between a plurality of mobile stations (for example, it may be called Device-to-Device (D2D), Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X), etc.). Each aspect / embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied to the configuration. In this case, the mobile station may have the functions of the base station. In addition, words such as "up" and "down" may be read as words corresponding to communication between terminals (for example, "side"). For example, the upstream channel, the downstream channel, and the like may be read as a side channel.

Similarly, the mobile station in the present disclosure may be read as a base station. In this case, the base station may have the functions of the mobile station.
The radio frame may be composed of one or more frames in the time domain. Each one or more frames in the time domain may be referred to as a subframe.
Subframes may further consist of one or more slots in the time domain. The subframe may have a fixed time length (eg, 1 ms) that is independent of numerology.

The numerology may be a communication parameter that applies to at least one of the transmission and reception of a signal or channel. Numerology includes, for example, SubCarrier Spacing (SCS), bandwidth, symbol length, cyclic prefix length, transmission time interval (TTI), number of symbols per TTI, radio frame configuration, transmission / reception. At least one of a specific filtering process performed by the machine in the frequency domain, a specific windowing process performed by the transmitter / receiver in the time domain, and the like may be indicated.

Slots may consist of one or more symbols in the time domain (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) symbols, and the like). Slots may be in numerology-based time units.

The slot may include a plurality of mini slots. Each minislot may consist of one or more symbols in the time domain. Further, the mini slot may be referred to as a sub slot. A minislot may consist of a smaller number of symbols than the slot. PDSCH (or PUSCH) transmitted in time units larger than the minislot may be referred to as PDSCH (or PUSCH) mapping type A. The PDSCH (or PUSCH) transmitted using the minislot may be referred to as PDSCH (or PUSCH) mapping type B.

The wireless frame, subframe, slot, minislot, and symbol all represent a unit of time when transmitting a signal. The radio frame, subframe, slot, minislot and symbol may have different names corresponding to each.

For example, one subframe may be referred to as the transmission time interval (TTI), multiple consecutive subframes may be referred to as the TTI, and one slot or one minislot may be referred to as the TTI. That is, at least one of the subframe and TTI may be a subframe (1ms) in existing LTE, a period shorter than 1ms (eg, 1-13 symbols), or a period longer than 1ms. It may be. The unit representing TTI may be called a slot, a mini slot, or the like instead of a subframe.

Here, TTI refers to, for example, the minimum time unit of scheduling in wireless communication. For example, in an LTE system, a base station schedules each user terminal to allocate radio resources (frequency bandwidth that can be used in each user terminal, transmission power, etc.) in TTI units. The definition of TTI is not limited to this.

The TTI may be a transmission time unit such as a channel-encoded data packet (transport block), a code block, or a code word, or may be a processing unit such as scheduling or link adaptation. When a TTI is given, the time interval (for example, the number of symbols) to which the transport block, code block, code word, etc. are actually mapped may be shorter than the TTI.

When one slot or one minislot is called a TTI, one or more TTIs (that is, one or more slots or one or more minislots) may be the minimum time unit for scheduling. Further, the number of slots (number of mini-slots) constituting the minimum time unit of the scheduling may be controlled.

A TTI having a time length of 1 ms may be referred to as a normal TTI (TTI in LTE Rel. 8-12), a normal TTI, a long TTI, a normal subframe, a normal subframe, a long subframe, a slot, or the like. TTIs shorter than normal TTIs may also be referred to as shortened TTIs, short TTIs, partial TTIs (partial or fractional TTIs), shortened subframes, short subframes, minislots, subslots, slots, and the like.

The long TTI (for example, normal TTI, subframe, etc.) may be read as a TTI having a time length of more than 1 ms, and the short TTI (for example, shortened TTI, etc.) may be read as less than the TTI length of the long TTI and 1 ms. It may be read as a TTI having the above TTI length.

A resource block (RB) is a resource allocation unit in the time domain and frequency domain, and may include one or more consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain. The number of subcarriers contained in RB may be the same regardless of numerology, and may be, for example, 12. The number of subcarriers contained in the RB may be determined based on numerology.

The time domain of the RB may also include one or more symbols and may be one slot, one minislot, one subframe, or one TTI in length. Each 1TTI, 1 subframe, etc. may be composed of one or a plurality of resource blocks.

In addition, one or more RBs are a physical resource block (Physical RB: PRB), a sub-carrier group (SCG), a resource element group (Resource Element Group: REG), a PRB pair, an RB pair, etc. May be called.

Further, the resource block may be composed of one or a plurality of resource elements (Resource Elements: RE). For example, 1RE may be a radio resource area of 1 subcarrier and 1 symbol.

Bandwidth Part (BWP) (which may also be called partial bandwidth, etc.) may represent a subset of consecutive common resource blocks (RBs) for a neurology in a carrier. good. Here, the common RB may be specified by the index of the RB with respect to the common reference point of the carrier. PRBs may be defined in a BWP and numbered within that BWP.

The BWP may include a BWP for UL (UL BWP) and a BWP for DL (DL BWP). One or more BWPs may be set in one carrier for the UE.

At least one of the configured BWPs may be active and the UE may not expect to send or receive a given signal / channel outside the active BWP. In addition, "cell", "carrier" and the like in this disclosure may be read as "BWP".

The structures such as wireless frames, subframes, slots, minislots and symbols described above are merely examples. For example, the number of subframes contained in a wireless frame, the number of slots per subframe or wireless frame, the number of minislots contained within a slot, the number of symbols and RBs contained in a slot or minislot, and included in RB. The number of subcarriers, as well as the number of symbols in the TTI, the symbol length, the cyclic prefix (CP) length, and other configurations can be changed in various ways.

The terms "connected", "coupled", or any variation thereof, mean any direct or indirect connection or connection between two or more elements, and each other. It can include the presence of one or more intermediate elements between two "connected" or "combined" elements. The connection or connection between the elements may be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. For example, "connection" may be read as "access". As used in the present disclosure, the two elements use at least one of one or more wires, cables and printed electrical connections, and, as some non-limiting and non-comprehensive examples, the radio frequency domain. , Electromagnetic energy with wavelengths in the microwave and light (both visible and invisible) regions, etc., can be considered to be "connected" or "coupled" to each other.

The reference signal may also be abbreviated as Reference Signal (RS) and may be referred to as the Pilot depending on the applied standard.

The phrase "based on" as used in this disclosure does not mean "based on" unless otherwise stated. In other words, the statement "based on" means both "based only" and "at least based on".

The "means" in the configuration of each of the above devices may be replaced with a "part", a "circuit", a "device" and the like.

Any reference to elements using designations such as "first", "second" as used in the present disclosure does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations can be used in the present disclosure as a convenient way to distinguish between two or more elements. Therefore, references to the first and second elements do not mean that only two elements can be adopted there, or that the first element must somehow precede the second element.

When "include", "including" and variations thereof are used in the present disclosure, these terms are as comprehensive as the term "comprising". Is intended. Moreover, the term "or" used in the present disclosure is intended not to be an exclusive OR.

In the present disclosure, if articles are added by translation, for example a, an and the in English, the disclosure may include the plural nouns following these articles.

The terms "determining" and "determining" as used in this disclosure may include a wide variety of actions. "Judgment" and "decision" are, for example, judgment, calculation, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up, search, inquiry. (For example, searching in a table, database or another data structure), ascertaining may be regarded as "judgment" or "decision". Also, "judgment" and "decision" are receiving (for example, receiving information), transmitting (for example, transmitting information), input (input), output (output), and access. (Accessing) (for example, accessing data in memory) may be regarded as "judgment" or "decision". In addition, "judgment" and "decision" mean that the things such as solving, selecting, choosing, establishing, and comparing are regarded as "judgment" and "decision". Can include. That is, "judgment" and "decision" may include considering some action as "judgment" and "decision". Further, "judgment (decision)" may be read as "assuming", "expecting", "considering" and the like.

In the present disclosure, the term "A and B are different" may mean "A and B are different from each other." The term may mean that "A and B are different from C". Terms such as "separate" and "combined" may be interpreted in the same way as "different".

Although the present disclosure has been described in detail above, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described in the present disclosure. The present disclosure may be implemented as an amendment or modification without departing from the purpose and scope of the present disclosure, which is determined by the description of the scope of claims. Therefore, the description of the present disclosure is for the purpose of exemplary explanation and does not have any limiting meaning to the present disclosure.

10 wireless communication system,
20 terminals
31 E-UTRAN
32 NG-RAN
33 Core network
100 eNB
110 First Master Station (BBU)
111 Communication Department
113 Control unit
120 First slave station (RRH)
200 gNB
210 Second master station (O-DU)
211 Communication section
213 Control unit
220 O-RU
300 intermediate device
310 1st Communication Department
320 Second Communication Department
330 Third Communication Department
340 Control unit
1001 processor
1002 memory
1003 storage
1004 communication device
1005 input device
1006 output device
1007 bus

Claims (5)

It ’s a communication device,
The first communication unit that executes signal communication conforming to the first interface with the first master station,
A second communication unit that executes signal communication conforming to the second interface with the second master station,
A third communication unit that executes signal communication conforming to the first interface with the first slave station, and
A control unit that executes conversion processing between a signal conforming to the first interface and a signal conforming to the second interface is provided.
Based on the delay time between the communication device and the first slave station, the control unit transmits a signal received from the second master station to the first slave station and from the first slave station. A communication device that executes an adjustment process for adjusting at least one of the timings at which a received signal is transmitted to the second master station. The first aspect of the present invention, wherein the control unit sets a reception window for receiving a signal received from the second master station based on a delay time between the communication device and the first slave station. Communication device. The control unit executes a reporting process for reporting an information element for specifying a delay time between the communication device and the first slave station to the first master station, according to claim 1 or 2. The communication device described. The information element for specifying the delay time between the communication device and the first slave station includes the information element for specifying the transmission delay time between the communication device and the first slave station and the first slave station. 1. The communication device according to claim 3, which includes an information element for specifying a processing delay time of a slave station. The control unit has a first operation mode for executing control corresponding to the first master station, a second operation mode corresponding to both the first master station and the second master station, and the second master station. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a third operation mode for executing the control corresponding to the above.

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