JP4570986B2 - Base station apparatus, base station apparatus control method, and communication control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention includes a base station device including a plurality of signal processing units and a main processing unit that controls these signal processing units, and assigns channels to radio resources to perform data communication between the plurality of radio communication terminals and the base station device. The present invention relates to a wireless communication technique that performs authentication processing during communication.

  In general, a wireless Internet access system uses a random access channel (RACH) to connect between a user terminal (wireless communication terminal: UT) and a base station (BS: BaseStation) before performing data communication. Some perform data communication related to control.

  In this type of system, first, the user terminal transmits an RA (Request Access) which is a connection request message to the base station. Upon receiving the connection request RA transmitted from the user terminal, the base station transmits an AA (Access Assignment), which is a connection assignment message, to the user terminal using the same radio resource as the connection request RA, and a traffic channel (TCH: Traffic Channel). ) As a license. Thereafter, the same radio resource is transferred to the traffic channel for communication.

  In the above system, there is a case where a method of restricting the connection of each user terminal is operated for the purpose of assigning TCHs as fairly as possible to the user terminals registered in the base station. In such a system, in order to guarantee the connection to the user terminal that wants to use the TCH, when allocating channels to radio resources, RACHs having a certain number of channels or more are always left open. Regarding channel allocation, there is a technique described in Patent Document 1, for example.

In addition, radio resources include frequency division multiplexing (FDMA), time division multiplexing (TDMA), space division multiplexing (SDMA), and multiple combinations of space division multiple (SDMA). It is illustrated. In managing such a large number of radio resources, for example, the base station has a configuration in which processing is distributed and executed by a main processor that performs protocol control and a plurality of sub-processors that perform modulation and demodulation. On the other hand, at the start of connection, registration is performed in which the user terminal and the base station authenticate each other. Conventionally, the main processor is in charge of authentication processing performed at the time of registration.
JP 2004-254201 A

  Since the above authentication process is a high-load process that requires a long time of about several tens to several hundreds of milliseconds, an overload problem occurs. In other words, if authentication processing is executed while the main processor is performing a great deal of protocol control processing, congestion may occur in the main processor, which may affect packet communication and the like. It was. On the other hand, for example, a sub-processor usually shares radio resources of specific frequencies and time slots set in advance, for example. If a sub-processor is assigned to perform authentication processing, the sub-processor takes charge. It can lead to a situation where radio resources are disturbed.

  In view of such circumstances, the present invention includes a base station apparatus including a plurality of signal processing units and a main processing unit that controls these signal processing units, and allocates a channel to a radio resource to provide a plurality of radio communication terminals and base stations. In a wireless communication technology for performing data communication between station devices and performing authentication processing of a wireless communication terminal in communication, the wireless communication terminal is effectively used to improve the use efficiency of the arithmetic processing capability of the wireless communication system. It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique that can solve the problem of overload associated with authentication processing.

In order to solve the above problems, it has adopted the following means.
A base station apparatus according to the present invention assigns a plurality of types of channels to radio resources for communication and performs data communication with a radio communication terminal and performs authentication processing of a radio communication terminal in communication An apparatus comprising: a plurality of signal processing units that perform predetermined signal processing corresponding to the channel; and a main processing unit that controls the plurality of signal processing units, wherein the signal processing unit includes: An authentication processing means for executing the authentication processing when receiving an instruction, wherein the main processing unit includes a weight corresponding to each type of the channel corresponding to the signal processing unit and a channel assigned to the type of the channel; The channel weight is obtained using the number of uses, and the signal processing unit having the smallest weight total value for each of the signal processing units obtained by adding the channel weights is selected, and the selected signal processing unit Characterized by instructing to perform the authentication process.

The base station apparatus control method according to the present invention performs data communication with a wireless communication terminal by allocating a plurality of types of channels to wireless resources for communication and performs authentication processing of the wireless communication terminal in communication And performing a predetermined signal processing corresponding to the channel by a plurality of signal processing units, and a weight corresponding to each type of the channel corresponding to the signal processing unit and a type of the channel selecting and using number of assigned channels, comprising the steps asking you to channel weights using, the weight sum of each of the signal processing unit which is the sum of channel weights is minimized signal processor was chosen And instructing a signal processing unit to perform the authentication processing.
Provide a method.

The communication control program according to the present invention performs data communication with a wireless communication terminal by allocating a plurality of types of channels to wireless resources for communication and performs authentication processing of the wireless communication terminal in communication. there are a weight the intended computer system for performing predetermined signal processing corresponding to the channel by a plurality of signal processing units, corresponding to each type of the channel corresponding to the signal processing unit, assigned to the type of the channel and use the number of channels that are the steps asking you to channel weights using the steps of weighting the total value of each of the signal processing unit which is the sum of the channel weights to select the smallest signal processing unit, selected signals And a step of instructing a processing unit to perform the authentication processing.

  According to the present invention, since an index indicating the signal processing load of each signal processing unit is obtained and the signal processing unit is selected based on the index and the authentication processing of the wireless communication terminal is executed, the calculation processing load of the authentication processing Thus, there is an advantage that the main processing unit is released and authentication processing can be executed without hindering provision of radio resources.

  Also, if the number of channels allocated to the radio resource is used as an index indicating the signal processing load of the signal processing unit, it reflects characteristics that greatly depend on the number of channels to which the processing load of the signal processing unit is allocated. There is an advantage that the processing load can be accurately grasped by simple processing.

  Further, referring to the weight set in advance for the channel for data communication and the channel for communication control, the signal value of the signal processing unit is obtained by weighting the total number of channels allocated to the radio resource. By using the index indicating the processing load, the characteristics of the above-mentioned signal processing load differ due to the type of channel, especially the amount of processing data greatly differing between the channel for data communication and the channel for communication control. This is advantageous in that it can be reflected and more accurately determine the load of signal processing to achieve more appropriate load distribution.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a wireless Internet access system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a user terminal (wireless communication terminal: UT) 1 is a terminal having a function capable of wirelessly communicating with a base station (base station apparatus: BS) 2 and uses an existing configuration. Since this embodiment is applicable, detailed description of the configuration of the user terminal 1 is omitted here.

The base station 2 is connected to an IP (Internet Protocol) network 3 by wire and provides an Internet access service to the user terminal 1. The base station 2 can be connected to a large number of user terminals 1, and a plurality of base stations 2 can be recognized from the user terminal 1 in a normal form.
Although the base station 2 is connected to the IP network here, the connection destination is not limited to the IP network and may be a general network.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main part of the base station 2. As shown in the figure, the base station 2 is configured as a multi-antenna multi-carrier type. The main processor (main processing unit) 4 controls the entire base station 2 and controls the components shown in FIG. The data input / output interface 5 is a circuit for performing data input / output with an internal circuit of the base station 2 (not shown) such as an interface for performing data input / output with the IP network 3 (see FIG. 1).

  The modem unit 6 is a circuit that is connected between the input / output interface 5 and the path control unit 7 and performs modulation / demodulation of input / output data. The path control unit 7 controls a data transmission path between the modem unit 6 and the wireless communication unit 8 (8-1 to 8-n). Each of the wireless communication units 8 (8-1 to 8-n) includes an antenna 801, a high frequency circuit unit (RF: Radio Frequency) 802, a digital down converter (DDC) 803, and a digital up converter (DUC) 804. The antenna 801 and the high-frequency circuit unit 802 transmit and receive radio waves. The digital down converter 803 digitizes a received signal (analog signal). The digital up converter 804 converts the transmission signal (digital data) into analog.

  The modem unit 6 performs modulation / demodulation of a plurality of carrier frequencies (in this example, f1 to f4, f5 to f8), and from the processing system 60 (60-1 to 60-4) in charge of modulation / demodulation for each carrier frequency. Composed. Each processing system 60 has a plurality of sub-processors (signal processing units) 600 (600-1 to 600-3) corresponding to the number of slots by time division multiplexing (three slots in this example). The sub processor 600 (600-1 to 600-3) is configured by a digital signal processor (DSP). Each DSP stores a program necessary for user terminal authentication processing in a main memory (not shown) in addition to a program for modulation / demodulation processing. The programs necessary for the authentication process include a user terminal certificate authentication calculation program and an encrypted common key decryption calculation program.

  When the sub-processor 600 operates based on the program related to the modulation / demodulation processing, the modulation / demodulation processing of the data of the slot for which each sub-processor 600 is responsible is performed. Each slot provides radio resources for three channels by space division multiplexing. That is, each sub-processor 600 is in charge of modulation / demodulation of communication data for up to three channels. The Tx / Rx buffer 601 is a buffer that temporarily holds transmission / reception data for each carrier frequency, and separates and combines data for three slots.

  Here, it is assumed that N radio resources that can be used in this system are provided by adopting, for example, a frequency division multiplexing method, a time division multiplexing method, a space division multiplexing method, or the like. Among these N radio resources, a predetermined number is used for broadcast channel (BCH: Broadcast Channel) or PPP (Point to Point Protocol) alive signal (signal for confirming connection), for fair distribution function ( It is assigned to a signal for control that disconnects the connection of the user during communication and gives a connection opportunity to other users, and the remaining radio resources are a random access channel and a traffic channel (TCH: Traffic Channel). Assigned).

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an outline of a communication procedure in the wireless Internet access system according to this embodiment. The procedure at the start of communication will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. When the user terminal 1 connects to the base station 2, the base station 2 registers the user terminal 1. Specifically, the user terminal 1 transmits a connection request RA, which is a connection request message, to the base station 2 using a random access channel. In the base station 2, the sub processor in charge of the radio resource used for the random access channel is assumed to be # 1. When the base station 2 receives the connection request RA, the base station 2 selects a radio resource (not shown) according to a predetermined algorithm and assigns it to a traffic channel, and assigns a connection assignment AA, which is a connection assignment message including the designation of the radio resource, to the user terminal. 1 to send.

  After exchanging messages between the connection request RA and the connection allocation AA, the user terminal 1 transmits user terminal information (UT Capability Message) including unique information (ID (identifier), protocol version, etc.) of the user terminal 1 through the traffic channel to the base station. 2 to send. Thereafter, communication between the user terminal 1 and the base station 2 is performed by shifting to the traffic channel. Usually, the radio resources used for the random access channel continue to be used for the traffic channel.

  During data communication using the traffic channel, authentication processing is performed between the user terminal 1 and the base station 2 at a predetermined timing. For this authentication process, a known method may be used. The procedure will be briefly described. First, the base station 2 transmits BS parameter information (BS Param Message) to the user terminal 1. This message includes information such as the base station certificate and public key.

  Upon receiving this message, the user terminal 1 generates and encrypts the common key Kr from the public key, generates UT parameter information (UT Params Message), and transmits it to the base station 2. This message includes the user terminal certificate and the encrypted common key Kr.

  Upon receiving this message, the base station 2 first performs user terminal certificate authentication processing. In this process, the main processor 4 first executes a selection process (described later) for selecting a sub processor 600 having a low calculation processing load, and the sub processor 600 selected in the same process (# in FIG. 3). 2) (indicated by 2). Upon receiving this calculation request, the sub-processor 600 (# 2) executes user terminal certificate authentication processing and returns the calculation result to the main processor 4. Since this authentication process can be executed by using a known method, a description of a specific certificate format and processing procedure is omitted.

  When the validity of the user terminal certificate is authenticated as a result of the above authentication process, the main processor 4 further executes the above selection process to select the sub processor 600 having a low load, and the sub processor selected in the same process. A calculation request is instructed to 600 (indicated by # 3 in FIG. 3). Upon receiving this calculation request, the sub-processor 600 (# 3) executes the decryption calculation of the encrypted common key Kr and returns the calculation result to the main processor 4. In addition, since the encryption / decryption method can be adopted and executed, a specific example will not be described here.

  The main processor 4 performs authentication evaluation of the user terminal 1 using the decrypted common key Kr, and transmits the result to the user terminal 1 on registration parameter information (Reg Params Message). In the above procedure, the main processor 4 is released from the user terminal certificate authentication calculation and the common key decryption calculation, which have a large calculation processing load. Therefore, congestion occurs in the main processor 4 and affects packet communication and the like. You can avoid fear.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the selection process of the sub processor. As shown in the figure, in the selection process, the main processor 4 first acquires used channel information (S1). The use channel information is updated when the use channel is changed (S2), thereby holding the state reflecting the current state. Thereafter, the number of used channels for each sub processor 600 is calculated (S3), and the sub processor with the smallest number of used channels is selected (S5).

  Here, in the calculation of the number of used channels in step S3, the number in use of the channels in charge for each sub-processor is summed, but the traffic channels used for packet communication and various communication control various types are used. Channels (random access channels, broadcast channels, etc.) have a high probability that the processing load will vary greatly due to the large difference in the amount of data. Therefore, when evaluating the number of used channels, the total value may be used by weighting according to the type of channel.

  This procedure will be described with reference to Table 1. Table 1 shows a table indicating the total value of channel weights, which is an index of the signal processing load of the sub processor.

  The total value of channel weights is used as an index indicating the signal processing load of each sub processor. For example, a weight m (0 <m ≦ 1) corresponding to the assumed processing load is set in advance for each channel type and stored in the table of Table 1. When calculating the number of channels, Referring to this table, for each sub-processor, the number n of channels used for each channel type is multiplied by a weight m, and then totaled. That is, if the number of uses n for each channel type is n = n1, n2... Nk, and the weight m is m = m1, m2,.

  In the table shown in Table 1, the weight for each channel type is 1.0 for the traffic channel (TCH), 0.3 for the random access channel (RACH), and 0.5 for the broadcast channel (BCH). Sub-processor 600 (# 1) is using one traffic channel, sub-processor 600 (# 2) is using one broadcast channel and one random access channel, and sub-processor 600 (# 3) is traffic Three channels are in use. In this case, the channel weight after weighting of the sub processor 600 (# 1) is “1” (= 0 + 0 + 1), and the channel weight after weighting of the sub processor 600 (# 2) is “0.8” (= 0 + 0.3 + 0). .5) The sub processor 600 (# 3) becomes “3.0” (= 3.0 + 0 + 0), and the sub processor 600 (# 2) is selected. According to such a form, there is an advantage that the actual load of the sub processor can be more accurately determined and more appropriate load distribution can be realized. The selection process of the sub processor 600 using the total value of the channel weights described above is performed by the main processor 4. The table shown in Table 1 is stored in a storage unit (not shown) included in the main processor 4.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, but the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes a design and the like within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, a configuration in which a main processor or sub-processor in a base station is configured by incorporating a predetermined program into a CPU (Central Processing Unit) type arithmetic device or a computer system is a form that can be generally adopted. The program incorporated in the main processor or the sub processor can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium and distributed, and may be distributed in a form that realizes a part of the functions. For example, it may be distributed in the form of application software using basic functions provided by an OS (operation system). Further, it is possible to adopt a form in which a predetermined function can be realized in combination with a program of an existing system already recorded in a computer system, that is, a so-called differential program.

  The computer-readable recording medium includes a storage device such as a hard disk and other nonvolatile storage devices in addition to a storage medium such as a portable magnetic disk and a magneto-optical disk. Furthermore, the form provided from another computer system via arbitrary transmission media, such as the internet and other networks, may be sufficient. In this case, the “computer-readable recording medium” includes a medium that holds a program for a certain period of time in a transmission medium such as a volatile memory inside a computer system serving as a host or client on a network.

  In addition, a form in which the functions handled by the main processor and sub-processors in the above-described embodiment are further realized by distributed processing by a plurality of processors is also a design matter that can be arbitrarily selected. In such a form, a form in which at least a part of the processor is constructed by a field programmable gate array (FPGA) is also possible. In this case, the distribution of the circuit program information to be incorporated into the FPGA can take various forms in the same manner as the distribution of the program.

1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a wireless Internet access system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part of the base station which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the outline of the communication procedure in the wireless internet access system which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the selection process of a sub processor.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... User terminal (wireless communication terminal) 2 ... Base station (base station apparatus) 3 ... IP network 4 ... Main processor (main processing part) 5 ... Data input / output interface 6 ... Modem part 60 (60-1 to 60-4) ) Processing system 60 600 (600-1 to 600-3) Sub processor (signal processing unit, processing device) 601 Tx / Rx buffer 7 Path control unit 8 (8-1 to 8-n) Wireless communication Part 801 ... antenna 802 ... high frequency circuit part 803 ... digital down converter 804 ... digital up converter

Claims (3)

A base station apparatus that assigns a plurality of types of channels to radio resources for communication and performs data communication with a radio communication terminal and performs authentication processing of the radio communication terminal in communication,
A plurality of signal processing units for executing predetermined signal processing corresponding to the channel and a main processing unit for controlling the plurality of signal processing units;
The signal processing unit includes an authentication processing unit that executes the authentication processing when receiving an instruction from the main processing unit,
The main processing unit obtains a channel weight using a weight corresponding to each type of the channel corresponding to the signal processing unit and the number of channels used assigned to the type of the channel,
A base station apparatus , wherein a signal processing unit having the smallest weight total value for each of the signal processing units obtained by summing up the channel weights is selected, and the selected signal processing unit is instructed to perform the authentication processing . A plurality of types of channels are allocated to radio resources for communication and data communication is performed with a radio communication terminal, an authentication process for the radio communication terminal in communication is performed, and predetermined signal processing corresponding to the channel is performed. In a control method of a base station apparatus performed by a plurality of signal processing units,
A weight corresponding to each type of the channel corresponding to the signal processing unit, the steps asking you to channel weights using the number of used channels allocated to the type of the channel,
Selecting a signal processing unit having the smallest weight total value for each signal processing unit summed up the channel weights ;
And a step of instructing the selected signal processing unit to perform the authentication process. A plurality of types of channels are allocated to radio resources for communication and data communication is performed with a radio communication terminal, and authentication processing of a radio communication terminal in communication is performed. For computer systems that perform signal processing of multiple signal processing units,
A weight corresponding to each type of the channel corresponding to the signal processing unit, the steps asking you to channel weights using the number of used channels allocated to the type of the channel,
Selecting a signal processing unit having the smallest weight total value for each signal processing unit summed up the channel weights ;
And a step of instructing a selected signal processing unit to perform the authentication process.

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