JP4847570B2 - Wireless communication network and software update method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication network and a software update method, and more particularly to a wireless communication network and a software update method for updating software without interrupting communication services.

  In addition to the conventional wired communication network, introduction of a wireless communication network using a wireless terminal and a wireless communication device has been rapidly promoted. Wireless communication networks began with the introduction of a TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) communication network that performs time-division multiplexing of signals such as voice, and in the future, CDMA that performs communication by code-multiplexing signals such as voice with spreading codes. (Code Division Multiple Access) It is expected that communication networks will become widespread, and anytime, anywhere, and anyone will be able to communicate. The communication network operates by software provided in each communication device in the network and provides various communication services such as voice communication and data communication to the user of the wireless terminal. The contents of the communication service provided by the communication network are as follows. Every time it evolves, it is necessary to update the software of the communication device as appropriate.

A wireless communication device called a base station used in a wireless communication network is an interface device between a wireless terminal and a communication network, and requires software updates as described above to provide various communication services. Various software update methods have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). In addition, it is necessary to update software for providing a communication service even in a general communication network, and software update is performed even when the communication network (communication network) is being operated so as not to impair the reliability of the communication network. There has been proposed a software update method that enables this (see, for example, Patent Documents 3 and 4).
Further, conventionally, in a system for interconnecting a wireless communication network and another communication network, an apparatus for performing diversity and handover for selectively combining signals having excellent call quality based on signals transmitted to and received from a plurality of base stations is provided. It is known (see, for example, Patent Document 5). In a CDMA communication network, a soft handover technique is known in which signals are combined or a communication path is selected by communication with a plurality of base stations when the base station is changed, and the communication path is switched without instantaneous interruption ( For example, refer nonpatent literature 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-63498 Japanese Patent No. 2980201 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-320210) JP-A-7-319683 JP 2001-56756 A JP 2001-16227 A

"3G TR25.832 V4.0.0", 3GPP issued, March 2001, chapter 5.2.1

  In general communication networks, it is important to ensure reliability to prevent communication disruption, so software that provides communication services or controls the operation of the communication network can be updated even during operation, for example, As described in Patent Documents 3 and 4, the hardware is configured in a redundant configuration, and a method of updating software set in hardware that is not in operation is used.

  On the other hand, in a wireless communication network, communication with a wireless terminal is performed in an area called cellular in a range where radio waves of a base station can reach, and a cellular having a radius of about several kilometers is generally used. That is, since the number of users and the coverage area to be accommodated are significantly smaller than those of a conventional wired communication network (switching network), a large number of these base stations must be arranged in a wide range in order to provide a communication service in a wide range. Therefore, installing each of these many base stations in a redundant manner as in the wired communication network equipment described in the above document significantly impairs the economics of the communication network. Furthermore, it is necessary to assign a plurality of frequency bands and CDMA spreading codes, and finite resources are wasted, and the service providing capability such as the number of users is reduced. For this reason, for example, as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a method of selecting a base station according to an appropriate rule and stopping a communication service at the base station to update software is generally performed. For example, an operator selects a base station with low traffic during a time zone such as midnight, and performs an operation of updating the software while the base station is offline while protecting an important call.

  However, the above-described method will further increase the burden on the operator who manages the wireless communication network in the future, which may make it difficult to provide an economical wireless communication network and communication service. For example, as the wireless communication network becomes more widespread in the future and the number of terminals used by users increases, the traffic of each base station constantly fluctuates because these terminals move and are used. Furthermore, with the globalization of communication networks, the use of communication networks that do not care about time differences will increase, and there is no guarantee that traffic will be low even in Japan at midnight. This makes it difficult to select a base station with low traffic and to protect important calls, increasing the burden on the operator. Furthermore, from the user's point of view, there is an increased chance of communication service disruption (or communication disconnection) due to software updates, and a decrease in reliability and serviceability due to delays in receiving new services due to update delays. . So-called online communication device software is provided so that the latest communication service can be provided without interrupting the communication service being provided even in a wireless communication network in which the wireless communication device (base station) does not have a redundant configuration. There is a need for a wireless communication device that can be updated, a wireless communication network, and an operation method (software update method) thereof.

  In view of the above, the present invention provides a wireless communication network and software update capable of updating software provided to each wireless communication device in the wireless communication network even when the wireless communication network is providing various communication services. It aims to provide a method. Another object of the present invention is to realize software update without interrupting a communication service being provided. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to realize these apparatuses and methods with a simple and economical configuration and procedure. It is another object of the present invention to realize the above object even when the apparatus is integrated and densified.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention pays attention to a soft handover technique defined in a CDMA communication network (for example, refer to Chapter 5.2.1 of 3GPP TR25.832, Non-Patent Document 1) and a wireless communication apparatus and a wireless A communication network is configured and these operation methods are provided. Specifically, in a CDMA communication network, paying attention to the fact that a communication path from a certain terminal to a plurality of base stations is set, and one having a good communication state is selected and used for communication with an actual counterpart, By switching the state of the transmitted radio wave of the base station that is trying to update the communication path, the communication path providing the communication service is switched from the corresponding base station to another base station without interruption, and the communication service is provided at the corresponding base station. The software is updated in this state, and after the software update, the state of the transmission radio wave is restored. The base station selection is repeated according to a predetermined rule, and the software of the base station in the wireless communication network is updated without interruption of the communication service.

According to the first solution of the present invention,
A plurality of base station apparatuses that communicate between a wireless terminal and a wired communication network using a plurality of wireless communication paths having different frequencies;
In a wireless communication network including a network management device that is connected to the plurality of base station devices by wire and transmits and receives control signals for maintaining the plurality of base station devices,
The base station device includes a device management unit that manages the base station device based on a control signal from the network management device, and a signal processing unit that is provided for each of a plurality of frequencies.
When the network management device transmits software update requests to the plurality of base station devices after transmitting update software to the plurality of base station devices,
The plurality of base station apparatuses sequentially select software update target frequencies so as not to simultaneously update software for a plurality of frequencies under the control of each of the apparatus management units, and the signals of the selected frequencies By updating the software set in the processing unit to the received software,
A wireless communication network is provided in which software is updated while the plurality of base station apparatuses in the wireless communication network are in use.
According to the second solution of the present invention,
A plurality of base station apparatuses that communicate between a wireless terminal and a wired communication network using a plurality of wireless communication paths having different frequencies;
A software update method for the plurality of base station apparatuses in a wireless communication network comprising a network management apparatus that is connected to the plurality of base station apparatuses by wire and transmits and receives control signals for maintaining the plurality of base station apparatuses. And
After sending update software to the plurality of base station devices, and sending a software update request to the plurality of base station devices,
Software in which each of the plurality of base station devices sequentially selects a software update target frequency so as not to update software for a plurality of frequencies simultaneously, and is set in the signal processing unit of the selected frequency By updating to the received software
A software update method is provided, wherein software update is performed while a plurality of base station apparatuses in the wireless communication network are in use.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a wireless communication network and a software updating method capable of updating software provided to each wireless communication device in the wireless communication network even when the wireless communication network is providing various communication services. be able to. In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a wireless communication network and a software update method capable of updating software without interrupting a communication service being provided. Furthermore, according to the present invention, these devices and methods can be realized with a simple and economical configuration and procedure. Also, the present invention can be applied to various integration and densification forms of the base station apparatus.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure and operation example of a radio | wireless communication network. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a base station. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a base station control part. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a network management apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the operation example at the time of lowering | hanging the structure of a radio | wireless communication network, and the transmission radio wave of a base station. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing explaining an example of the software update operation | movement of a base station. It is an operation | movement flowchart which shows an example of selection operation | movement of the base station which updates software. It is explanatory drawing (1) explaining the mode of base station selection operation | movement. It is explanatory drawing (2) explaining the mode of base station selection operation | movement. It is explanatory drawing (3) explaining the mode of base station selection operation | movement. It is explanatory drawing (4) explaining the mode of base station selection operation | movement. It is explanatory drawing (5) explaining the mode of base station selection operation | movement. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the operation example of the base station which updates software. It is a block diagram which shows the structure and operation example of a radio | wireless communication network in which one base station has several sectors. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the base station which has multiple sectors. It is a block diagram which shows the structure and another example of operation | movement of a radio | wireless communication network in which one base station has several sectors. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing explaining an example of the software update operation | movement of a base station. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows a part of operation example of the base station which updates software. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the operation example of the sector control part inside the base station which updates software. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the operation example of the apparatus management part inside the base station which updates software. It is a block diagram which shows the structure and operation example of the radio | wireless communication network with which one base station has a some sector and several frequencies. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the base station which has multiple sectors and multiple frequencies. It is a block diagram which shows the structure and another example of operation | movement of a radio | wireless communication network in which one base station has a some sector and several frequencies. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing explaining an example of the software update operation | movement of a base station. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows a part of operation example of the base station which updates software. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the operation example of the radio signal processing part inside the base station which updates software. It is a block diagram which shows the structure and operation example of the radio | wireless communication network with which one base station has a some sector and several frequencies. It is a block diagram which shows another structural example of the base station which has multiple sectors and multiple frequencies. It is a block diagram which shows the structure and operation example of the radio | wireless communication network with which one base station has a some sector and several frequencies. It is a block diagram which shows the structure and operation example of the radio | wireless communication network with which one base station has a some sector and several frequencies. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing explaining an example of the software update operation | movement of a base station. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows a part of operation example of the base station which updates software. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the operation example of the sector radio signal processing part inside the base station which updates software. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows a part of operation example of the base station which updates software. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the operation example of the sector radio signal processing part inside the base station which updates software.

Hereinafter, a configuration of a wireless communication apparatus and a wireless communication network and a software update method according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(First software update)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a wireless communication network to which the present embodiment is applied. The wireless communication network (10) is configured as follows and performs communication between terminals.

  A plurality of mobile terminals MS1, MS2 (300-1, 2) and a plurality of wireless communication apparatuses (hereinafter referred to as base stations) BS1 to BS8 (110-1 to 8) are wireless communication paths (not shown). ). Specifically, each base station BS has a radio wave reachable range called cellular (100-1 to 8), and performs radio communication using, for example, the terminal MS and CDMA. Although not shown, the cellular of each base station actually overlaps, for example, communication from the terminal MS1 (300-1) via a plurality of base stations BS1 and 2 (110-1 and 2). Paths (900-2 and 910-2) can be set. In the present embodiment, an area where the plurality of base stations BS1 to BS8 (110-1 to 8) can communicate with the terminal MS is referred to as a mobile communication network 400.

  Each base station BS1 to 8 (110-1 to 8) of the mobile communication network (400-1) is connected to the base station control unit (control device) (200-1) via the main signal communication path (500-1). Is done. The base station control unit (200), which will be described in detail below, is a diversity handover unit that performs soft handover as defined in, for example, Chapter 5.2.1 of 3GPP TR25.832 (see Non-Patent Document 1). A DHT (210) is provided, and communication is performed by selecting one communication path with good communication quality from a plurality of communication paths (900, 910).

  If the destination of the terminal MS1 (300-1) is in the same mobile communication network (400-1), the base station controller (200-1) controls the subordinate base stations BS1-8 (110-1-8). ), The signal (930) selected by the DHT (210) is returned to communicate with the destination terminal MS. On the other hand, the base station control unit (200-1) is a base station control unit if the destination is a terminal of another mobile communication network (400-2: detailed configuration is almost the same as 400-1). (200) Through the communication network (150) that connects the two, the destination station by transmitting and receiving the signal (930-2) using the base station controller (200-2) and the mobile communication network (400-2) Communicate with the terminal. The communication network (150) may be a public network, a private line network, or a private network. Further, the mobile communication network (400-2) may be a so-called fixed network composed of a wired communication network and terminals fixedly installed therein.

  The network management device (250) is a control signal communication path (600) that transmits and receives control signals such as monitoring and maintenance to and from the base station BS (110) and the base station control unit (200) provided in the communication network (10). For example, it is a device for managing and controlling the entire equipment of the communication network (10) such as updating software of the base station (110). The base station BS (110), the base station control unit (200), and the network management apparatus (250) are not limited to the numbers shown in FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a base station provided in the communication network. The base station (110) is configured as follows, and performs connection between the terminal and the base station control unit and communication with the network management device.

  When the base station (110) receives a signal (radio signal) transmitted from the terminal MS (300) via a wireless communication path (not shown) by the antenna (119), the base station (110) converts the signal to an electrical signal by the wireless IF unit (116). Terminal processing such as conversion is performed. Processing for performing various communication services (for example, communication processing such as call control) on the signal after termination processing is performed by the communication processing unit (117), and the base station control unit (200) by the line IF unit (118). ), The signal is transmitted to the base station control unit (200) via the main signal communication path (500). The base station (110) transmits a signal from the base station control unit (200) to the terminal MS (300) by a process reverse to the above process.

  The CPU (111) of the base station (110) stores the control program stored in the memory (112) and data necessary for operation of the wireless communication network (10) stored in the storage device (113) (for example, the terminal The entire base station (110) is controlled using information and the like. These units are connected by an internal bus (115). The I / O (114) connected to the internal bus (115) is an interface with the network management device (250), and control signals (commands, etc.) necessary for control such as operation and maintenance of the communication network (10). And various data are transmitted and received via the control signal communication path (600). Note that these control signals and data are added to signals transmitted / received via the main signal communication path (500) using the main signal communication path (500) without the I / O (114), and the line IF It is good also as a structure which transmits / receives via a unit (118).

  In this base station (110), the CPU (111) has software (such as a control program) stored in the memory (112) or a wireless IF unit as the communication service provided by the wireless communication network (10) is updated. (116)-The communication processing unit (117)-The firmware (control program, etc.) stored in the line IF unit (118) is being used (in operation or online) by the procedure and operation as described later. The status is updated as it is. In the following embodiment, the operation of updating software or firmware as described above while the base station is in use may be referred to as online upgrade.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the base station control unit. The base station control unit (200) is configured as follows, connects the communication network (150) connecting the base station control units (200) and the base station, and also controls the base station (110).

  The base station control unit (200) includes a plurality of line IF units (206-1 to n) that are interfaces with the base stations (110) and a plurality of lines that are interfaces with the communication network (FIG. 1: 150). Switch between IF units (208-1 to m) and a plurality of diversity handover units DHT (210-1, 2) that perform soft handover processing defined by standards such as 3GPP (see Non-Patent Document 1, for example) (207) is connected to perform communication of the base station (200). The line IF unit (208) and the DHT (210) may be configured as a single unit depending on the scale of the communication network.

  The CPU (201) of the base station control unit (200) is a control program stored in the memory (202) or data required for operation of the wireless communication network (10) stored in the storage device (203) (for example, a terminal The base station controller (200) as a whole and the base station (110) connected to the base station controller (200) are controlled using the base station information and the like. These units are connected by an internal bus (205).

  Further, the memory (202) or the storage device (203) temporarily stores programs (software and firmware) necessary for online upgrade at the base station (110). An I / O (204) connected to the internal bus (205) is an interface with the network management device (250), and is a control signal (for controlling operation / maintenance of the wireless communication network (10)). Command) and various data are transmitted / received via the control signal communication path (600). The main signal communication path (500) or the like is not provided with the I / O (204), and these control signals and data are added to signals transmitted and received via the main signal communication path (500). It may be configured to transmit and receive via the IF unit (206 or 208).

  Next, handover will be described. In the present embodiment, the base station control unit (200) performs soft handover processing defined by a standard such as 3GPP (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1). This will be described with reference to FIG. As the DHT (210), one that performs diversity handover (soft handover) with the configuration and method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-16227 (see Patent Document 5) can be used (see It corresponds to DH (30) in the drawing). Although this publication is described in ATM, non-ATM signals can be processed with the same configuration and method, and the radio communication apparatus and radio communication network of the present invention are limited to those that handle ATM signals. It is not a thing.

  A signal from terminal MS1 (300-1) reaches the base station control unit (200) via at least two base stations. For example, in FIG. 1, the signal reaches the base station control unit (200-1) via the communication paths (900-2, 910-2). The base station control unit (200) inputs at least two signals received by the line IF (206) to the same DHT (either 210-1 or 210) via the switch (207).

  The DHT (210) selects a signal received from a radio wave having a better radio wave condition based on information on the state of the wireless communication path included in at least two input signals. For example, if the radio wave condition of the base station BS1 (110-1) is poor, the DHT (210) communicates with a good radio wave condition among signals received via the communication channels (900-2, 910-2). Select the signal from the path (910-2). The signal selected by the DHT (210) is output to the destination via the switch (207) and the line IF (206 or 208). Specifically, if the destination is in the same mobile communication network 400, the signal is output to the destination base station (110) via the line IF (206), and in other cases, the signal selected via the line IF (208) (FIG. 1: 930-2) is output to the communication network (FIG. 1: 150). Note that the DHT (210) may combine a plurality of received signals as necessary.

  The DHT (210) accumulates the selection result (from which base station (110) the signal is selected) as call information in the memory (202) or the storage device (203), and the base station (110) described later. It is used as information for selecting a base station when the software is changed. Also, each base station (110) and / or network management device (250) that has transmitted a signal using a route via the line IF (206) or a route via the network management device (250) by the I / O (204). The selection result may be notified to the base station (110) and / or the memory (112, 252) or the storage device (113, 253) of the network management device (250) and stored as call information.

  Note that call information stored in the memory (202) or the storage device (203) includes control signals such as call setting and disconnection actually transmitted and received between the base station (110) and the base station control unit (200). It is good also as a structure produced and accumulate | stored based on this. In this case, since the base station (110) itself can manage the call state, it is not necessary to notify each base station (110) of the selection result (call information) from the base station control unit (200).

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the network management apparatus. The network management device (250) is configured as follows, and communicates with and controls the base station (110) or the base station control unit (200) via the control signal communication path (600).

  This network management device (250) is a device that manages the maintenance operation of the entire wireless communication network (10) that includes a plurality of mobile communication networks (400) that accommodate a plurality of base stations (110). Specifically, the network management device (250) includes, for example, a plurality of I / O (254), a CPU (251), a memory (252), a storage device (253), a keyboard (256), And a monitor (257), which are connected by an internal bus (255).

  The I / O (254) is a communication interface of the base station (110) and the base station control unit (200) provided in the wireless communication network (10). The CPU (251) controls the entire network management device (250), and transmits and receives control signals (commands, etc.) and data via the I / O (254), thereby including mobile communication including the base station (110). The entire network (400) is also maintained and operated.

  The memory (252) stores an operation program of the CPU (251) and the like. The storage device (253) is a network management device (250) that is required to operate the wireless communication network (10) (for example, information on terminals and base stations) and a new one at the base station (110). Stores software and firmware to be updated. The keyboard (256) is an input means for inputting an instruction from a maintenance person, for example, and the monitor (257) is a display means for notifying the maintenance person of the operation state of the wireless communication network (10). .

  For example, after storing software or firmware to be updated by online upgrade in the storage device (253) in accordance with the instructions of the maintenance person, online upgrade of the base station (110) is supported by the procedure described below.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration and an operation example of the wireless communication network when the transmission radio waves of the base stations BS1 (110-1) and BS8 (110-8) are lowered as compared with FIG. In FIG. 1, the cellular station (100-1) of the base station BS1 (110-1) overlaps with the cellular stations (100-2 to 7) of the adjacent base stations BS2 to 7 (110-2 to 7). In the state shown in FIG. 5, the cellular (100-1) is narrowed because the transmission radio wave of the base station BS1 (110-1) is lowered and does not overlap with other cellular. Similarly, cellular (100-8) of base station BS8 (110-8) does not overlap with cellular (100-2 and 3) of base stations BS2 and BS3 (110-2 and 3).

  As a result, the terminal MS1 (300-1) cannot set the communication path (900-2) with the base station BS1 (110-1), and can set the communication path only with the base station BS2 (110-2). . Although the terminal MS1 (300-1) has selected the communication path (900-2) with good communication quality in FIG. 1, it cannot be set in the state shown in FIG. 5, so the base station control unit (200-1) ) Is switched to the communication path (910-2) by the DHT (210-2) included in the network. The terminal MS2 is also switched from the communication channel (900-1) to the communication channel (910-1) by the same reason. Further, the base station control unit (200-1) communicates with the destination terminal using the signal (920-1, 2) from the switched communication path.

  In this way, by controlling the transmission radio wave of the base station, the communication path providing the communication service is switched from a specific base station to an adjacent base station without interruption, and the communication service is not provided in the base station Can be created. In such a state, the software is updated, and the transmitted radio wave is restored after the software is updated. The base station software in the wireless communication network is updated without interruption of the communication service by repeatedly selecting the base station whose software is to be updated according to a predetermined rule and executing it on the selected base station. Is possible.

  FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the software update operation of the base station. The network management device (250) first performs a process (7-1) for selecting a base station whose software is to be updated according to a predetermined rule (grouping). Hereinafter, the group of base stations selected in the process (7-1) is referred to as base station group 1 (800-1). Details of the base station selection will be described later. When the network management device (250) performs processing (7-2) for requesting software transfer to the base station group 1, each base station belonging to the base station group 1 (800-1) sends new software to the network management device. Processing (7-3) acquired from (250) is performed, and processing (7-4) for transmitting a software transfer completion response to the network management device (250) is performed. The network management device (250) performs processing (7-5) for prohibiting the service stop operation for the base stations (800-x) other than the base station group 1 (800-1), and the base station group 1 (800 The process (7-6) for transmitting a software update request to -1) is performed. Note that the above-described processing (7-5) can be omitted.

  When receiving the request, the base station belonging to the base station group 1 (800-1) performs processing (7-7) for gradually reducing the transmission power. As a result, the call connected to the base station is sequentially handed over to the adjacent base station. The base station belonging to the base station group 1 (800-1) performs processing (7-9) for confirming that the call (communication channel providing communication service) connected to the base station becomes zero. . Each base station refers to call information stored in the memory (112) or the storage device (113), or refers to call information managed by the base station control unit (200). By doing so, it can be confirmed that the number of calls connected to the base station becomes zero. After confirming that the number of calls is zero, a process (7-11) for reading new software is performed by a process (7-10) for resetting the own base station, and a process (7-12) for restarting the base station is performed. . The base station belonging to the base station group 1 (800-1) further performs a process (7-13) of gradually increasing the transmission power of the own base station, and when the original transmission power is reached, the network management apparatus (250) Processing for transmitting a software update completion response (7-14) is performed.

  The network management device (250) receives a software update completion response from all the base stations belonging to the base station group 1 (800-1), and then newly selects (groups) a base station whose software is to be updated (grouped). 7-15). Hereinafter, the group of selected base stations is referred to as base station group 2 (800-2). The network management device 250 performs processing (7-16) for requesting software transfer to the base station group 2 (800-2). Note that the process (7-16) is the same as the above process (7-2). The network management device (250) performs the same processing for the base station group 2 (800-2) as the processing (7-2 to 7-14) performed for the base station group 1 (800-1). Do. By repeating these processes until there is no base station that does not belong to any base station group, software update of all base stations can be performed.

  In order to switch a communication channel of a call that is connected to a base station that updates software and that is providing a service to an adjacent base station, it is preferable not to update the software of the adjacent base stations at the same time. Therefore, a predetermined rule is required for selecting the software update target base station.

  FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart showing an example of the operation of selecting a base station for updating software in the network management apparatus. The flowchart shown in FIG. 7 is a detailed flow of processing (7-1) and processing (7-15) in FIG. With the operation shown in FIG. 7, the network management device (250) selectively creates a base station group n (n is an integer of 1 or more).

  First, the network management device (250) performs processing (8-1) for reading the number of call connections from the memory (252). The network management device (250) may read the number of call connections from the base station control unit (200) or each base station (110). Next, the network management apparatus (250) sets a base station that does not belong to any group and a base station that is not excluded from the selection candidates in process 8-4 and process 8-8 as a candidate for base station group n. The base station having the smallest number of call connections (or a base station having a smaller number of call connections than a predetermined number of call connections) is determined from the candidates. The processing (8-3) for “station A” is performed.

  Next, when the number of call connections of “base station A” is larger than a predetermined value, the network management apparatus (250) performs processing (8-4) for excluding the base station from selection candidates. On the other hand, if not larger, the network management device (250) performs processing (8-6) for assigning “base station A” to the base station group n, and stores the adjacent base station information of “base station A” in the memory ( 252) is performed (8-7). The adjacent base station of “base station A” is excluded from the selection candidates by the process (8-8) of removing from the base station group n candidates. If the base station is excluded from the selection candidates in the above process (8-4), the processes from the process (8-6) to the process (8-8) may not be performed.

  Thereafter, the network management device (250) performs a process (8-9) for determining whether or not the base station group n candidate remains, and as a result, the candidate base station still remains. If it is determined, the process returns to the process (8-2), and the process following the process (8-2) is performed again. On the other hand, if not, the network management device (250) performs a creation selection end process (8-10) for the base station group n.

  By performing the above processing, software updates are not performed simultaneously on the adjacent base station of the base station performing software update. Therefore, a call that is providing a communication service at the base station performing software update is communicated to the adjacent base station. It is possible to switch the path.

  8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are explanatory diagrams (1) to (5) for explaining the state of the base station selection operation shown in FIG. In the memory (252) of the network management device (250), for example, as shown in any of FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, the base station number and the number of calls connected to the base station (call connection) Number), adjacent base station number and group information exists. By using this table and performing the processing shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to select a group of base stations that perform software update at the same time. The base station selection operation will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state before base station group selection is performed. First, creation of the base station group 1 will be described. “0” in the “Group” column in the figure indicates that the base station does not yet belong to any group, that is, becomes a selection candidate. According to the selection operation of FIG. 7, the network management device (250) first starts the base station 1 (or a predetermined number of call connections (in this example), which has the smallest number of call connections of 5 by processes 8-1 to 8-6). For example, the base station 1), which has a smaller number of call connections than 15) and is found first, is selected, and “1” is assigned to the group number column.

  Next, by the processes 8-7 to 8-8 in FIG. 7, the adjacent base station number corresponding to the base station 1 is referred to, and “x” is given to the group number column of the base station corresponding to the base station number. . Here, “x” indicates that it is excluded from the selection candidates.

FIG. 9 shows the state at that time.
Further, the network management apparatus (250) performs selection of the base station after the process 8-2 again because the base station as a selection candidate remains by the process 8-9 of FIG.

  The network management device (250) is the base station 21 having the smallest number of call connections of 6 from the base station to which “0” is assigned (or the base stations other than the base stations to which “1” and “x” are assigned). (Or the base station 21 that was found first with a smaller number of call connections than the predetermined number of call connections (for example, 15 in this example)) (processing 8-2 to 8-4), and the group number field "1" is assigned to (step 8-6), the adjacent base station number 22 of the base station 21 is referred to (step 8-7), and "x" is assigned to the group number column of the base station 22 (step 8-6). 8-8).

  Furthermore, from the base station to which “0” is assigned to the group number column (or the base stations other than the base stations to which “1” and “x” are assigned) through the process 8-9 and the process 8-2 and later, The base station 8 having the smallest number of call connections of 11 (or the base station 8 having the smaller number of call connections than the predetermined number of call connections (for example, 15) and first found) is selected, and “1” is entered in the group number column. Is given. The base station group 1 can be created and selected by continuing this process until there is no base station whose group number column is not “1” and “x” (then, the process proceeds to process 8-10).

  FIG. 10 is a diagram when the selection of the base station group 1 is completed. The network management device (250) performs a software update process on the base station to which “1” is assigned in the group number column. In addition, after the software update for the base station group 1 is completed, the network management device (250) changes “×” in the group number column to data indicating updated or selected candidates such as “0”, for example. In the same manner as described above, the base station group 2 is selected. In this example, “0” stored in the group number column indicates that software has not been updated (selection candidate), and group numbers such as “1” have been updated. It shows that.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram when the selection of the base station group 2 is completed. Also in FIG. 11, the network management device (250) selects a base station and assigns the group number “2” or “x” in the same manner as when the base station group 1 in FIG. 10 is selected. In the case of FIG. 11, the order in which base stations are selected as group 2 follows the selection operation shown in FIG. 7 (when the base station with the smallest number of call connections is selected), base station 5, base station 22, base station 7, Become base station 3.

  10 and 11 differ in the number of calls connected to the base station. This means that the number of connected calls fluctuates due to, for example, the movement of a call because there is a time gap between the software update of the base station group 1 and the software update of the base station group 2. In the present embodiment, the number of call connections is read during the selection process and the selection process is performed with reference to the read number of call connections so that the number of call connections referred to during the base station group selection process does not fluctuate. . However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the selection process may be performed with reference to the fluctuating number of call connections.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram when the selection of the base station group 3 is completed. Also in FIG. 12, the network management device (250) selects a base station and assigns the group number 3 or “x” in the same manner as when the base station groups 1 and 2 in FIGS. 10 and 11 are selected. In the case of FIG. 12, the order in which the base stations are selected as the group 3 follows the selection operation shown in FIG. 7 (when the base station with the smallest number of call connections is selected), the base station 6, the base station 4, and the base station 2 become. As shown in FIG. 12, when there is no “×” base station when group selection is completed, it means that a group number is assigned to all base stations and the base station group creation is completed.

  FIG. 13 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating an operation example of transmission power reduction processing in the base station for updating software. The operation example of FIG. 13 is a detailed process of the process (7-7) shown in FIG. In the base station (110) that updates the software, the CPU (111) starts the transmission power reduction process (12-1) in response to the software update request from the network management device (250). The CPU (111) performs processing (12-2) for requesting the wireless IF (116) to reduce the transmission power by a predetermined power reduction range. In response to the request, the wireless IF (116) executes a process (12-3) for reducing the transmission power, and performs a process (12-4) for notifying the CPU (111) of the transmission power value after the transmission power is reduced. Do. The CPU (111) performs a process (12-5) for determining whether or not the power value notified from the wireless IF (116) is a preset lower limit value of transmission power. Returning to 2), the process (12-2) and subsequent processes are performed again. On the other hand, if the notified power value has reached the lower limit value, the CPU (111) performs a transmission power reduction end process (12-6).

  Through these processes, the base station (110) gradually lowers the transmission power of the base station, switches the communication path providing the communication service in the base station to the adjacent base station, and the base station (110) It is possible to create a state where is not provided.

(Second software update)
Next, another wireless communication network to which this embodiment is applied will be described below.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a wireless communication network to which the present embodiment is applied. The wireless communication network (10 ′) is configured as follows and performs communication between terminals.
A plurality of mobile terminals MS1 and MS2 (300-1 and 2) and a plurality of wireless communication apparatuses (hereinafter referred to as base stations) BS1 to BS8 (110′-1 to 8) are wireless communication paths (not shown). Connected). Specifically, each base station BS has radio wave reach ranges called a plurality of sectors (130-1 to 130-3), and performs radio communication with the terminal MS using CDMA. In this example, three sectors, an α sector, a β sector, and a γ sector are shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the base station can have an appropriate number of sectors. Although not shown, the actual cellular stations of the base stations overlap each other, and the terminals MS1 (300-1) communicate with the communication paths (900-2 and 910-2) between the α sector and the γ sector of the base station BS1. ) Can be set. In the present embodiment, an area in which the plurality of base stations BS1 to BS8 (110′-1 to 8) can communicate with the terminal MS is referred to as a mobile communication network 400 ′.

Each of the base stations BS1 to 8 (110′-1 to 8) of the mobile communication network (400′-1) includes a base station control unit (control device) (200-1) and a main signal communication path (500-1). Connected with. The base station control unit (200), which will be described in detail below, is a diversity handover unit that performs soft handover as defined in, for example, Chapter 5.2.1 of 3GPP TR25.832 (see Non-Patent Document 1). A DHT (210) is provided, and communication is performed by selecting one communication path with good communication quality from a plurality of communication paths (900, 910).
If the destination from terminal MS1 (300-1) is in the same mobile communication network (400′-1), base station controller (200-1) will control base stations BS1-8 (110′-1) under control. -8), the signal (930) selected by the DHT (210) is returned to communicate with the destination terminal MS. On the other hand, the base station control unit (200-1) is a base station if the destination is a terminal of another mobile communication network (400′-2: detailed configuration is almost the same as 400′-1). Signals are transmitted / received to / from the destination terminal using the base station control unit (200-2) and the mobile communication network (400′-2) via the communication network (150) connecting the control units (200). The communication network (150) may be a public network, a private line network, or a private network. Further, the mobile communication network (400′-2) may be a so-called fixed network composed of a wired communication network and a terminal fixedly installed on the wired communication network.

The network management apparatus (250) transmits and receives control signals such as monitoring and maintenance to and from the base station BS (110 ') and the base station control unit (200) provided in the communication network (10'). ), And is a device for managing and controlling the entire equipment of the communication network (10 ′), for example, updating software of the base station (110 ′). Note that the number of sectors in the base station BS (110 ′), the base station control unit (200), the network management device (250), and each base station BS is not limited to the number shown in FIG. it can.
FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a base station provided in a communication network. The base station (110 ′) is configured as follows and performs connection between the terminal and the base station control unit and communication with the network management apparatus.
When the base station (110 ′) receives a signal (radio wave signal) transmitted from the terminal MS (300) via a wireless communication path (not shown) by the antenna (119′-1), the base station (110 ′) In 1), termination processing such as conversion to an electric signal is performed. Processing (for example, communication processing such as call control) for performing various communication services on the signal after termination processing is performed by the communication processing unit (117-1), and the base station control unit by the line IF unit (118) After matching the interface with (200), this signal is transmitted to the base station controller (200) via the main signal communication path (500). The base station (110 ′) transmits a signal from the base station control unit (200) to the terminal MS (300) by a process reverse to the above process. The above is the case where the sector α control unit (120-1) transmits and receives a signal (radio signal), but the sector β control unit (120-2) and the sector γ control unit (120-3) perform signals (radio signal). The same applies to the case of transmitting / receiving.

The CPU (111-4) of the device management unit (121) of the base station (110 ′) has a control program stored in the memory (112-4) and a wireless communication network (10 stored in the storage device (113)). ') Controls the entire base station (110') such as each sector control unit (120-1 to 3) and line IF (118) using data necessary for operation (eg, terminal information, etc.) It is.
The CPU (111-1 to 3) of each sector control unit (120-1 to 3) of the base station (110 ′) uses the control program stored in the memory (112-1 to 3) to use the device management unit. In response to the instruction from (121), the wireless IF units (116-1 to 116) and the communication processing (117-1 to 117) of each sector are controlled.
These units are connected by an internal bus (115). The I / O (114) connected to the internal bus (115) is an interface with the network management device (250), and control signals (commands, etc.) necessary for control such as operation and maintenance of the communication network (10 ′). ) And various data are transmitted and received through the control signal communication path (600). Note that these control signals and data are added to signals transmitted / received via the main signal communication path (500) using the main signal communication path (500) without the I / O (114), and the line IF It is good also as a structure which transmits / receives via a unit (118).

The base station (110 ′) is configured such that the CPU (111-4) of the device management unit (121) changes the device management unit (121) and each sector in accordance with the update of the communication service provided by the wireless communication network (10 ′). Software (control program, etc.) stored in the memory (112-1 to 4) of the control unit (120-1 to 3), or the wireless IF unit (116-1 to 3) and the communication processing unit (117-1 to 1) 3) Updating the firmware (control program, etc.) stored in the line IF unit (118) while the base station is in use (in operation or online) with the procedures and operations described below. It is. In the following embodiment, the operation of updating software or firmware as described above while the base station is in use may be referred to as online upgrade.
FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a configuration and an operation example of the wireless communication network when the transmission radio wave output of the α sector (120-1) of each of the base stations BS1 to 8 (110′-1 to 8) is lower than that in FIG. FIG. In FIG. 14, the α sector of the base station BS1 (110′-1) covers the area where the terminal MS1 (300-1) is located. However, in FIG. 16, the transmission radio wave output of the α sector of each base station is lowered. Therefore, the area covered by the α sector of the base station BS1 (110′-1) is narrowed, and the area where the terminal MS1 (300-1) is located cannot be covered. Similarly, the α sector of the base station BS8 (110′-8) cannot cover the area where the terminal MS2 (300-2) is located. As a result, the terminal MS1 (300-1) cannot set the communication path (900-2) with the α sector of the base station BS1 (110′-1), and the γ sector of the base station BS1 (110′-1) Only the communication path can be set. The terminal MS1 (300-1) has selected the communication channel (900-2) with good communication quality in FIG. 14, but cannot be set in FIG. 16, so it is provided in the base station control unit (200-1). The DHT (210-2) is switched to the communication path (910-2). The terminal MS2 is also switched from the communication channel (900-1) to the communication channel (910-1) by the same reason. Further, the base station control unit (200-1) communicates with the destination terminal using the signal (920-1, 2) from the switched communication path.

By controlling the transmission radio waves of the base station in this way, the communication path providing the communication service can be switched from a specific sector of each base station without interruption, and a state where the communication service is not provided in the sector can be created. It becomes possible. In such a state, the software is updated, and after the software update, the process of returning the transmission radio wave to the original state is performed in order for each base station in order to the plurality of sector (α, β and γ) control units. The software of the base station in the communication network can be updated without interrupting the communication service.
FIG. 17 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the software update operation of the base station. The network management device (250) performs software transfer instruction processing (17-1) for each base station. Each base station acquires new software by a process (17-2) of acquiring new software, and performs a process (17-3) of responding to the network management device (250) that the software transfer is completed. Next, the network management device (250) performs software update instruction processing (17-4) for each base station. A software update process (17-5) of the sector α control unit, a software update process (17-6) of the sector β control unit, and a software update process (17-7) of the sector γ control unit are sequentially performed, and the device management unit (121 ) After the software update process (17-8) is completed, a process (17-9) for responding the completion of the software update to the network management apparatus is performed. Detailed processing of the software update processing (17-5 to 7) of each sector control unit is shown in FIG. 18, and further detailed processing is shown in FIG. 19, and the software update processing (17-9) of the device management unit (121). Detailed processing is shown in FIG.

FIG. 18 is an operation flowchart for explaining detailed processing of software update processing (17-5 to 7) of each sector control unit. First, the device management unit (121) performs transmission power reduction request processing (18-1) for the sector X (X is α, β, or γ) control unit (120). The sector X control unit (120) performs processing (18-2) for gradually reducing the transmission power. As a result, the call processed by the sector X is handed over to the adjacent sector, and the communication service of the call is continued. When the transmission power reduction processing is completed, the sector X control unit (120) performs processing (18-3) for responding completion to the device management unit (121). The device management unit (121) performs a process (18-4) for confirming that the call connected to the sector X is zero, and then updates the software of the sector X control unit (120) to the sector X control unit (120 ) (18-5) requested to the above. Upon receiving the software update request, the sector X control unit (120) performs its own reset process (18-6), thereby performing a process (18-7) for reading new software. Thereafter, the sector X control unit (120) performs the sector X restart process (18-8) and the process of gradually increasing the transmission power of the sector X (18-9), thereby enabling the communication process of the sector X again. Become. When the process of gradually increasing the transmission power of sector X (18-9) is completed, the sector X control unit (120) performs a process (18-10) of responding to the device management unit (121) that the software update is completed. Do. Note that the processing in FIG. 18 is not performed simultaneously for each sector (α, β, or γ) control unit so that a call can be handed over to an adjacent sector, and the software update of each sector control unit in FIG. The steps are sequentially performed as shown in the processing (17-5 to 7).
FIG. 19 is an operation flowchart illustrating in detail the process (18-2) for gradually decreasing the transmission power shown in FIG. In response to a transmission power reduction request (18-1) from the CPU (111-4) of the device management unit, the CPU (111-1 to 3) of the sector X control unit (120) reduces the transmission power (19- Start 1). The CPU (111-1 to 3) performs a process (19-2) for requesting the wireless IF (116-1 to 3) to reduce the transmission power by a predetermined power reduction range. In response, the wireless IF (116-1 to 3) executes a transmission power reduction process (19-3), and notifies the CPU (111-1 to 4) of the transmission power value after the transmission power reduction (19-19). -4). The CPU (111-1 to 3) performs a process (19-5) for determining whether or not the power value notified from the wireless IF (116-1 to 3) is the lower limit value of the transmission power. The process (19-2) is performed again. If the notified power value has reached the lower limit value, transmission power reduction completion response processing (18-3) is performed.

Through these processes, the base station can gradually reduce the transmission power of the sector in its own base station, switch the communication path providing the communication service in its own base station to the adjacent sector or adjacent base station, and It becomes possible to update the software after creating a state where the communication service is not provided in the corresponding sector of the station.
FIG. 20 is an operation flowchart for explaining the details of the software update process (17-9) of the base station apparatus management unit (121) in FIG. The device management unit (121) reads new software (20-2) by its own reset processing (20-1) and performs resumption processing (20-3) of the device management unit (121). Even if the device management unit (121) is reset, the main signal communication path (500) is not affected. Therefore, the communication service is not interrupted even during software update of the device management unit (121).

(Third software update)
Next, still another wireless communication network to which this embodiment is applied will be described below.
FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a wireless communication network to which the present embodiment is applied. The wireless communication network (10 ″) is configured as follows and performs communication between terminals.
A plurality of mobile terminals MS1, MS2 (300-1, 2) and a plurality of wireless communication apparatuses (hereinafter referred to as base stations) BS1 and BS8 (110 ″ -1, 8) are wireless communication paths (see FIG. (Not shown). Specifically, each base station BS has radio wave arrival ranges called a plurality of sectors (130'-1 to 3) for each of a plurality of frequencies, and performs radio communication using the terminal MS and CDMA. In the illustrated example, the terminal MS1 (300-1) communicates with the base station BS1 through the γ sector of the frequency f1 (100 ″ -1-1) and the γ sector of the frequency f2 (100 ″ -1-2). (900-2 and 910-2) can be set. The terminal MS2 (300-2) has a communication path (900-) between the α sector of the frequency f1 (100 ″ -8-1) and the α sector of the frequency f2 (100 ″ -8-2) of the base station BS8. 1 and 910-1) can be set. In the present embodiment, an area where the plurality of base stations BS1 and 8 (110 ″ -1 and 8) can communicate with the terminal MS is referred to as a mobile communication network 400 ″. In addition, the frequency with which a base station (110 '') is provided is not restricted to the number shown in FIG. 21, It can provide with an appropriate number. Further, the frequencies provided in the base station (110 ″) may have different frequency bands. For example, the frequency f1 may be an 800 MHz band and the frequency f2 may be a 2 GHz band.

  Each base station BS1 and 8 (110 ''-1 and 8) of the mobile communication network (400 ''-1) is connected to a base station controller (control device) (200-1) and a communication path (500-1). Connected with. The base station control unit (200), which will be described in detail below, is a diversity handover unit that performs soft handover as defined in, for example, Chapter 5.2.1 of 3GPP TR25.832 (see Non-Patent Document 1). A DHT (210) is provided, and communication is performed by selecting one communication path with good communication quality from a plurality of communication paths (900, 910).

  If the destination of call from terminal MS1 (300-1) is in the same mobile communication network (400 ''-1), base station controller (200-1) will control base stations BS1 and 8 (110 '') under its control. The signal (930) selected by the DHT (210) is returned to either -1 or 8) to communicate with the destination terminal MS. On the other hand, if the communication control unit (200-1) is a terminal of another mobile communication network (400 ″ -2: detailed configuration is almost the same as 400 ″ -1), the base station Signals are transmitted and received between the base station control unit (200-2) and the mobile communication network (400 ''-2) via the communication network (150) connecting the station control units (200) to each other. To do. The communication network (150) may be a public network, a private line network, or a private network. Further, the mobile communication network (400 ″ -2) may be a so-called fixed network composed of a wired communication network and terminals fixedly installed on the wired communication network.

  The network management device (250) transmits and receives control signals such as monitoring and maintenance to and from the base station BS (110 '') and the base station control unit (200) provided in the communication network (10 ''). (600) is a device for managing and controlling the entire equipment of the communication network (10 ″), for example, updating software of the base station (110 ″). Note that the base station BS (110 ″), the base station control unit (200), and the network management device (250) are not limited to the numbers shown in FIG.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a base station provided in a communication network. The base station (110 ″) is configured as follows, and performs connection between the terminal (300) and the base station control unit (200) and communication with the network management device (250).
The base station (110 ″) includes, for example, radio signal processing units (123-1, 2) for each frequency, a line IF (118), and a device management unit (121). In addition, the radio signal (frequency f1) processing unit (123-1) has a sector processing including a wireless IF (first wireless IF) and a communication processing unit (first communication processing unit) for the sectors α, β, and γ. Section (122-1, 2, 3) and a sector control section (120'-1). Similarly, the radio signal (frequency f2) processing unit (123-2) has a radio IF (second radio IF) and a communication processing unit (second communication processing unit) for the sectors α, β, and γ. A processing unit and a sector control unit are provided.

  When the base station (110 ″) receives a signal (radio signal) transmitted from the terminal MS (300) via a wireless communication path (not shown) by the antenna (119′-1), the radio signal (frequency f1) ) Termination processing such as conversion to an electric signal is performed by the wireless IF unit (116-1) of the sector α processing unit (122-1) of the processing unit (123-1). The communication processing unit (117-1) of the sector α processing unit (122-1) performs processing (for example, communication processing such as call control) for performing various communication services on the signal after termination processing. After the interface matching with the base station control unit (200) is performed by the IF unit (118), this signal is transmitted to the base station control unit (200) via the main signal communication path (500). The sector control unit (120′-1) controls the sector α processing unit (122-1) using the CPU (111-5) and the memory (112-5). The base station (110 ″) transmits a signal from the base station control unit (200) to the terminal MS (300) by a process reverse to the above process.

  The above is the case where the sector α processing unit (122-1) of the radio signal (frequency f1) processing unit (123-1) transmits and receives a signal (radio signal) (when the signal is frequency f1). Frequency f1) The sector β processing unit (122-2) of the processing unit (123-1) and the sector γ processing unit (122-3) of the radio signal (frequency f1) processing unit (123-1) are signals (radio signal). The same applies to the case of transmitting / receiving. Each sector control unit of the radio signal (frequency f2) processing unit (123-2) (not shown because the configuration is the same as that of each sector control unit of the radio signal (frequency f1) processing unit (123-1)). The same applies when (radio wave signal) is transmitted / received (when the signal is frequency f2).

The CPU (111-4) of the device management unit (121) of the base station (110 ″) controls the control program stored in the memory (112-4) and the wireless communication network (113) stored in the storage device (113). 10 ″) using the data necessary for operation (for example, terminal information, etc.), the whole base station (110 ″) such as each radio signal processor (123-1, 2) and line IF (118) Is to control.
The CPU (111-5) of the sector control unit (120′-1) of each radio signal processing unit (123) of the base station (110 ″) uses the control program stored in the memory (112-5). In response to an instruction from the device manager (121), the wireless IF units (116-1 to 116) and communication processes (117-1 to 117) of each sector are controlled.

  These units are connected by an internal bus (115). The I / O (114) connected to the internal bus (115) is an interface with the network management device (250), and control signals (commands) necessary for control such as operation and maintenance of the communication network (10 ″). Others) and various data are transmitted / received via the control signal communication path (600). Note that these control signals and data are added to signals transmitted / received via the main signal communication path (500) using the main signal communication path (500) without the I / O (114), and the line IF It is good also as a structure which transmits / receives via a unit (118).

  The base station (110 ″) is connected to the device management unit (121) and the CPU (111-4) of the device management unit (121) with the update of the communication service provided by the wireless communication network (10 ″). Software (control program, etc.) stored in the memory (112-5) of the sector control unit (120′-1) of each radio wave signal processing unit (123-1, 2), or the wireless IF unit (116-1 to 116-1) 3) The firmware (control program, etc.) stored in the communication processing unit (117-1 to 3) and the line IF unit (118) is being used (operating by the procedure and operation as described later) Alternatively, it is updated in the online state. In the following embodiment, the operation of updating software or firmware as described above while the base station is in use may be referred to as online upgrade.

  FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration and an operation example of the wireless communication network when the transmission radio wave of the frequency f1 of each of the base stations BS1 and 8 (110 ″ -1, 8) is lowered as compared with FIG. In FIG. 21, the frequency f1 (100 ″ -1-1) of the base station BS1 (110 ″ -1) covers the area where the terminal MS1 (300-1) is located, but in FIG. Since the transmission frequency of the station frequency f1 is lowered, the area covered by the frequency f1 (100 ''-1-1) of the base station BS1 (110 ''-1) is narrowed and the terminal MS1 (300-1) is located. The area cannot be covered. Similarly, the frequency f1 (100 ″ -8-1) of the base station BS8 (110 ″ -8) cannot cover the area where the terminal MS2 (300-2) is located.

  As a result, the terminal MS1 (300-1) cannot set the communication path (900-2) with the frequency f1 (100 ''-1-1) of the base station BS1 (110 ''-1), and the base station BS1 The communication path can be set only with the frequency f2 (100 ''-1-2) of (110 ''-1). Although the terminal MS1 (300-1) has selected the communication path (900-2) with good communication quality in FIG. 21, it cannot be set in FIG. 23, so it is provided in the base station control unit (200-1). The DHT (210-2 or 1) is switched to the communication path (910-2). The terminal MS2 is also switched from the communication channel (900-1) to the communication channel (910-1) by the same reason. Further, the base station control unit (200-1) communicates with the destination terminal using the signal (920-1, 2) from the switched communication path.

  By controlling the transmission radio waves of the base station in this way, it is possible to switch the communication path providing the communication service from the specific frequency of each base station without interruption, and create a state where the communication service is not provided at the frequency. It becomes possible. In such a state, the software is updated, and after updating the software, the process of returning the transmission radio wave to the original state is sequentially performed for each of the plurality of frequency (f1 and f2) processing units for each base station. The software of the base station can be updated without interrupting the communication service.

  FIG. 24 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the software update operation of the base station. The network management device (250) first performs a grouping process (24-1) for selecting a base station whose software is to be updated according to a predetermined rule. Hereinafter, the group of base stations selected in the process (24-1) is referred to as base station group 1 (800-1). The selection of the base station can be realized by using, for example, the methods shown in FIGS. The number of call connections is managed for each sector and each frequency, and the total number of these calls can be used for the number of call connections of the base station.

  When the network management device (250) performs the software transfer instruction process (24-2) for the base station group 1 (800-1), each base station belonging to the base station group 1 (800-1) receives new software. New software is acquired by the acquisition process (24-3), for example, via the line IF (118), and a process (24-4) for responding the completion of software transfer to the network management apparatus (250) is performed. The network management device (250) performs a process (24-5) for prohibiting the service stop operation for the base stations (800-x) other than the base station group 1 (800-1), and the base station group 1 (800 -1) Software update instruction processing (24-6) is performed. Note that the above-described processing (24-5) may be omitted.

  When the base station belonging to the base station group 1 (800-1) receives the instruction, the software update process (24-7) of the radio signal (frequency f1) processing unit and the software update process of the radio signal (frequency f2) processing unit (24-8) are sequentially performed, and after completion of the software update process (24-9) of the apparatus management unit (121), a process (24-10) of responding to the completion of the software update to the network management apparatus is performed. Detailed processing of the software update processing (24-7, 8) of each radio signal processing unit is shown in FIG. 25, and further detailed processing is shown in FIG. Detailed description will be given later. The detailed process of the software update process (24-9) of the device management unit (121) is the same as each process shown in FIG. The processing (24-7, 8, 9) can be performed in an appropriate order. For example, one of predetermined frequencies can be sequentially selected, and software update processing (24-7, 8) can be performed for the selected frequency.

  The network management device (250) receives a software update completion response from all the base stations belonging to the base station group 1 (800-1), and then newly selects (groups) a base station whose software is to be updated (grouped). 24-11). Hereinafter, the group of selected base stations is referred to as base station group 2 (800-2). The network management device 250 performs processing (24-12) for requesting software transfer to the base station group 2 (800-2). The process (24-12) is the same as the above process (24-2). The network management device (250) performs the same processing as that performed on the base station group 1 (800-1) (24-2 to 24-10) also on the base station group 2 (800-2). Do. By repeating these processes until there is no base station that does not belong to any base station group, software update of all base stations can be performed.

  Also, in a wireless communication network in which base stations capable of communicating at a plurality of frequencies (for example, the configuration shown in FIG. 22) and base stations capable of communicating at one frequency (for example, the configuration shown in FIG. 2) are mixed, By selecting the base station to update the service as described above, the software can be updated without interrupting the service. In this embodiment, a base station group is created. However, software update may be sequentially performed for all base stations for each frequency without creating a group. In this case, the above-described process (24-1) can be omitted.

  FIG. 25 is an operation flowchart for explaining detailed processing of software update processing (24-7, 8) of each radio signal processing unit. First, the device management unit (121) performs a transmission power reduction request process (25-1) for all sectors on the radio wave signal (frequency fx: x is 1 or 2) processing unit (123-x). The radio wave signal (frequency fx) processing unit (123-x) performs processing (25-2) for gradually reducing the transmission power of all sectors. As a result, the call covered by the frequency fx is handed over to another frequency, and the communication service of the call is continued. On the other hand, the communication service is not provided at the frequency fx. When the radio wave signal (frequency fx) processing unit (123-x) completes the transmission power reduction processing for all sectors, the radio signal (frequency fx) processing unit (123-x) performs processing (25-3) for responding completion to the device management unit (121).

  The device management unit (121) performs processing (25-4) for confirming that calls connected to all sectors of the radio signal (frequency fx) processing unit (123) are zero, and then performs radio signal ( A process (25-5) for requesting the radio signal (frequency fx) processing unit (123-x) to update the software of the frequency fx) processing unit (123-x) is performed. When receiving the software update request, the radio signal (frequency fx) processing unit (123-x) performs its own reset process (25-6), thereby performing a process (25-7) for reading new software. Here, the software to be read can be the software acquired in the process (24-3), for example. Thereafter, restart processing (25-8) of the radio signal (frequency fx) processing unit (123-x) and processing for gradually increasing the transmission power of all sectors included in the radio signal (frequency fx) processing unit (123-x) By performing (25-9) by the radio wave signal (frequency fx) processing unit (123-x), communication processing of all sectors of the frequency f1 becomes possible again.

  When the processing (25-9) for gradually increasing the transmission power of all sectors included in the radio signal (frequency fx) processing unit (123-x) is completed, the radio signal (frequency fx) processing unit (123-x) A process (25-10) for responding the completion of software update to the apparatus management unit (121) is performed. Note that the processing in FIG. 25 is not performed simultaneously with respect to each radio signal processing unit (123) so that a call can be handed over to each sector of another frequency. 123) can be sequentially performed as shown in the software update process (24-7, 8).

  FIG. 26 is an operation flowchart illustrating in detail the process (25-2) for gradually reducing the transmission power of all sectors shown in FIG. 25 for the frequency f1. The same applies to the frequency f2. Upon receiving a transmission power reduction request (25-1) from the CPU (111-4) of the device management unit, the CPU (120′-1) of the sector control unit (120′-1) of the radio signal (frequency f1) processing unit (123-1) ( 111-5) starts processing (26-1) for reducing transmission power. The CPU (111-5) performs processing (26-2) for requesting the wireless IF (116-1 to 3) to reduce the transmission power by a predetermined power reduction range.

  In response to this, the wireless IF (116-1 to 116-3) executes transmission power reduction processing (26-3), and notifies the CPU (111-5) of the transmission power value after the transmission power reduction (26-4). )I do. The CPU (111-5) performs a process (26-5) for determining whether or not the power value notified from the wireless IF (116-1 to 3) is the lower limit value of the transmission power. (26-2) is performed again. If the notified power value has reached the lower limit value, the transmission power decrease termination process (26-3) is performed.

  Through these processes, the base station can gradually lower the transmission power of the frequency fx of all sectors in the base station, and switches the communication path providing the communication service in the base station to another frequency. It is possible to update the module related to the frequency fx, that is, the software of the radio wave signal (frequency fx) processing unit, after creating a state where the communication service is not provided at the frequency fx of all the sectors in the station. In the above processing, the transmission power of the frequency fx is increased and decreased for the previous sector, but each sector may be increased and decreased sequentially.

(4th software update)
Next, still another wireless communication network to which this embodiment is applied will be described below.
FIG. 27 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of another wireless communication network to which the present embodiment is applied. The wireless communication network (10 ′ ″) is configured as follows and performs communication between terminals.
A plurality of mobile terminals MS1, MS2 (300-1, 2) and a plurality of wireless communication devices (hereinafter referred to as base stations) BS1, 2, 3 and BS8 (110 ′ ″-1, 2, 3 and 8) is connected by a wireless communication path (not shown). Specifically, each base station BS has radio wave arrival ranges called a plurality of sectors (130'-1 to 3) for each of a plurality of frequencies, and performs radio communication using the terminal MS and CDMA. In the illustrated example, from the terminal MS1 (300-1), for example, the β sector of the frequency f1 (100 ″ -1-1) of the base station BS1 and the β sector of the frequency f2 (100 ″ -1-2) The communication path (900-2-1, 900-2-2 and 910-2) can be set in the α sector of the frequency f2 (100 ″ −2-2) of the base station BS2. Further, from the terminal MS2 (300-2), for example, the α sector of the frequency f1 (100 ″ -8-1) of the base station BS8, the α sector of the frequency f2 (100 ″ -8-2), and the base station Communication paths (900-1-1, 900-1-2, and 910-1) can be set in the β sector of the frequency f2 (100 ″ -3-2) of BS3.

  In the present embodiment, the area where the plurality of base stations BS1, 2, 3, and 8 (110 ′ ″-1, 2, 3, and 8) can communicate with the terminal MS is defined as the mobile communication network 400 ″. Call it '. Note that the frequency of the base station (110 '' ') is not limited to the number shown in FIG. Further, the frequencies provided in the base station (110 '' ') may have different frequency bands. For example, the frequency f1 may be an 800 MHz band and the frequency f2 may be a 2 GHz band.

  Each base station BS1, 2, 3 and 8 (110 ′ ″-1, 2, 3 and 8) of the mobile communication network (400 ″ ′-1) has a base station control unit (control device) (200− 1) and a communication channel (500-1). The base station control unit (200), which will be described in detail below, is a diversity handover unit that performs soft handover as defined in, for example, Chapter 5.2.1 of 3GPP TR25.832 (see Non-Patent Document 1). A DHT (210) is provided, and communication is performed by selecting one communication path with good communication quality from a plurality of communication paths (900, 910). In the figure, communication paths (900-1-1 and 900-2-1) indicated by solid lines indicate communication paths selected by the DHT (210), and communication paths indicated by dotted lines indicate communication paths that are not selected. Indicates.

  If the destination of the terminal MS1 (300-1) is in the same mobile communication network (400 ′ ″-1), the base station control unit (200-1) transmits the subordinate base stations BS1, 2, 3, and The signal (930) selected by the DHT (210) is returned to any one of 8 (110 ′ ″-1, 2, 3 and 8) to communicate with the destination terminal MS. On the other hand, if the communication control unit (200-1) is a terminal whose destination is another mobile communication network (400 ′ ″-2: detailed configuration is almost the same as 400 ′ ″-1), it is a terminal. , The destination terminal using the base station control unit (200-2) and the mobile communication network (400 '' '-2) via the communication network (150) connecting the base station control units (200) to each other Send and receive. The communication network (150) may be a public network, a private line network, or a private network. Further, the mobile communication network (400 '' '-2) may be a so-called fixed network composed of a wired communication network and terminals fixedly installed on the wired communication network.

  The network management device (250) transmits and receives control signals such as monitoring and maintenance to and from the base station BS (110 '' ') and the base station controller (200) provided in the communication network (10' ''). It is an apparatus for managing and controlling the entire equipment of the communication network (10 ′ ″), for example, by updating software of the base station (110 ′ ″). Note that the base station BS (110 '' '), the base station control unit (200), and the network management device (250) are not limited to the numbers shown in FIG.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a base station provided in the communication network of FIG. The base station (110 ′ ″) is configured as follows, and performs connection between the terminal (300) and the base station control unit (200) and communication with the network management device (250).
The base station (110 ′ ″) includes, for example, signal processing units (124-1 and 2) for each frequency, radio signal processing units (125-1 to 3) for each sector, a line interface (118), A device management unit (121).

  When the base station (110 ′ ″) receives a signal (radio signal) transmitted from the terminal MS (300) via a wireless communication path (not shown) by the antenna (119′-1), the sector α radio signal Terminal processing such as conversion to an electrical signal is performed by the wireless IF unit (116-1) of the processing unit (125-1). A processing unit (communication processing unit) of a signal processing unit (for frequency f1) (124-1) performs processing (for example, communication processing such as call control) for performing various communication services on the signal after termination processing ( 117-4). When the frequency of the received signal is f2, communication processing is performed by the signal processing unit (for frequency f2) (124-2). After the interface matching with the base station control unit (200) is established by the line IF unit (118), this signal is transmitted to the base station control unit (200) via the main signal communication path (500).

  The base station (110 '' ') transmits a signal from the base station control unit (200) to the terminal MS (300) by a process reverse to the above process. The above is the case where a signal (radio wave signal) of frequency f1 is transmitted / received in sector α, but the same applies when a signal (radio wave signal) of frequency f1 or frequency f2 is transmitted / received in sector α, sector β or sector γ. is there. In addition, each radio signal processing unit (125-1 to 3) can decrease and increase the output of the transmission radio wave with respect to the frequencies f1 and f2.

The CPU (111-4) of the device management unit (121) of the base station (110 ′ ″) controls the control program stored in the memory (112-4) and the wireless communication network stored in the storage device (113). (10 ′ ″) using data necessary for the operation (for example, terminal information and the like), each sector radio signal processing unit (125-1 to 35-1), each frequency signal processing unit (124-1, 2) and the whole base station (110 ′ ″) such as the line IF (118).
The CPU (111-11-13) of each sector radio signal processor (125-1-3) of the base station (110 ′ ″) uses the control program stored in the memory (112-11-13). In response to an instruction from the device management unit (121), the wireless IF units (116-1 to 116-3) of each sector are controlled. Further, the CPU (111-6) (the frequency f2 for the frequency f2 is the same as that for the f1 and not shown) of the signal processing unit (124-1, 2) for each frequency is the memory (112-6) (for the frequency f2). Is used to control the communication processing unit (117-4) for each frequency (not shown for frequency f2) in response to an instruction from the device management unit (121) using a control program stored in (not shown). To do.

  These units are connected by an internal bus (115). The I / O (114) connected to the internal bus (115) is an interface with the network management device (250), and is a control signal (for control / operation of the communication network (10 ″ ′)). Command) and various data are transmitted / received via the control signal communication path (600). Note that these control signals and data are added to signals transmitted / received via the main signal communication path (500) using the main signal communication path (500) without the I / O (114), and the line IF It is good also as a structure which transmits / receives via a unit (118).

  The base station (110 ′ ″) is connected to the device management unit (121) by the CPU (111-4) of the device management unit (121) in accordance with the update of the communication service provided by the wireless communication network (10 ′ ″). ), Software stored in the memory (112-11 to 13) of each sector radio signal processing unit (125-1 to 13) and the memory (112-6) of each frequency signal processing unit (124-1 etc.) (Control program, etc.), or firmware (control program, etc.) stored in the wireless IF unit (116-1 to 3), communication processing unit (117-4), and line IF unit (118) will be described later. According to the procedure and operation, the base station is updated while it is in use (in operation or online). In the following embodiment, the operation of updating software or firmware as described above while the base station is in use may be referred to as online upgrade. The base station as shown in FIG. 28 has a block for each sector and a block for each frequency, and it is possible to use both the software update for each sector and the software update for each frequency.

  FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing a configuration and an operation example of a wireless communication network when the transmission radio wave of frequency f1 of each base station BS1 and 8 (110 ′ ″-1 and 8) is lowered as compared with FIG. . In FIG. 27, the frequency f1 (100 ″ -1-1) of the base station BS1 (110 ′ ″-1) covers the area where the terminal MS1 (300-1) is located. Since the transmission radio wave of the base station frequency f1 is lowered, the area covered by the frequency f1 (100 ″ -1-1) of the base station BS1 (110 ′ ″-1) is narrowed, and the terminal MS1 (300-1) The area where is located cannot be covered. Similarly, the frequency f1 (100 "-8-1) of the base station BS8 (110" "-8) cannot cover the area where the terminal MS2 (300-2) is located. As a result, the terminal MS1 (300-1) cannot set the communication path (900-2-1) with the frequency f1 (100 ''-1-1) of the base station BS1 (110 '' '-1). Of the frequency f2 (100 ''-1-2) beta sector of the base station BS1 (110 '' '-1) and the frequency f2 (100' '-2-2) of the base station BS2 (110' ''-2) A communication path can be set only with the α sector. The terminal MS1 (300-1) has selected the communication channel (900-2-1) with good communication quality in FIG. 27, but cannot be set in FIG. 29, so it is prepared for the base station control unit (200-1). The DHT (210-2) is switched to, for example, the communication path (900-2-2). The terminal MS2 is switched from the communication path (900-1-1) to the communication path (900-1-2) by the same reason. Further, the base station control unit (200-1) communicates with the destination terminal using the signal (920-1, 2) from the switched communication path.

  By controlling the transmission radio waves of the base station in this way, it is possible to switch the communication path providing the communication service from the specific frequency of each base station without interruption, and create a state where the communication service is not provided at the frequency. It becomes possible. In such a state, the software of the module unit provided for each frequency in the base station is updated, and after the software update, the process of returning the transmission radio wave to the original state is performed for each base station with a plurality of frequencies (f1 and f2). By sequentially performing the processing on the signal processing units (124-1, 2), the module unit (in the case of FIG. 28, the signal processing unit (124)) provided for each frequency inside the base station in the wireless communication network. Software can be updated without interrupting the communication service.

  FIG. 30 shows a radio in the case where the transmission radio wave output of the sector α radio signal processing unit (125-1) of the base stations BS1 and 8 (110 ′ ″-1 and 8) is lowered for all frequencies compared to FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure and operation example of a communication network. In FIG. 27, the α sector of the base station BS8 (110 ′ ″-8) covers the area where the terminal MS2 (300-2) is located, but in FIG. 30, the transmission radio wave output of the α sector of each base station. Is reduced for all frequencies, the area covered by the α sector of the base station BS8 (110 ′ ″-8) is narrowed and the area where the terminal MS2 (300-2) is located cannot be covered. As a result, the terminal MS2 (300-2) cannot set communication channels (900-1-1 and 900-1-2) with all frequencies of the α sector of the base station BS8 (110 ′ ″-8). The communication path (910-1) can be set only with the β sector of the base station BS3 (110 ′ ″-3).

  The terminal MS2 (300-2) has selected the communication channel (900-1-1) with good communication quality in FIG. 27, but cannot be set in FIG. 30, so it is prepared for the base station control unit (200-1). The DHT (210-2) is switched to the communication path (910-1). The base station control unit (200-1) communicates with the destination terminal using the signal (940-1) from the switched communication path.

By controlling the transmission radio waves of the base station in this way, the communication path providing the communication service can be switched from a specific sector of each base station without interruption, and a state where the communication service is not provided in the sector can be created. It becomes possible. In such a state, the software is updated, and after updating the software, the radio wave signal processing unit (125-1 to 3) of a plurality of sectors (α, β, and γ) is processed for each base station. The communication service interrupts the software of the module unit (in the case of FIG. 28, the sector radio signal processing unit (125)) provided for each sector in the base station in the wireless communication network. Software update is possible without any problems.
29 and 30 can be used in combination to update the software of the base station having the configuration of FIG. 28 without interrupting the communication service.

  FIG. 31 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the software update operation of the base station. The network management device (250) first performs (grouping) processing (31-1) for selecting a base station for updating software according to a predetermined rule. Hereinafter, the group of base stations selected in the process (31-1) is referred to as base station group 1 (800-1). The selection of the base station can be realized by using, for example, the methods shown in FIGS. Note that the number of call connections (number of calls) is managed for each sector and each frequency, and the total number of call connections for the base station can be used.

  When the network management device (250) performs the software transfer instruction process (31-2) for the base station group 1 (800-1), each base station belonging to the base station group 1 (800-1) receives new software. New software is acquired by the acquisition process (31-3), and a process (31-4) for responding the completion of software transfer to the network management apparatus (250) is performed. The network management device (250) performs a process (31-5) for prohibiting the service stop operation for the base stations (800-x) other than the base station group 1 (800-1), and the base station group 1 (800 -1) Software update instruction processing (31-6) is performed. Note that the above-described processing (31-5) may be omitted.

  When the base station belonging to the base station group 1 (800-1) receives the request, the software update process (31-7) of the signal processing unit (for frequency f1) and the software update process of the signal processing unit (for frequency f2) (31-8), software update process (31-9) of sector α radio signal processor, software update process (31-10) of sector β radio signal processor, and software update process (31-10) of sector γ radio signal processor (31) -11) are sequentially performed, and after completion of the software update process (31-12) of the apparatus management unit (121), a process (31-13) of responding to the completion of the software update to the network management apparatus is performed. Note that the software update order of (31-7 to 12) is an example, and any order may be used. For example, one frequency can be sequentially selected from a plurality of predetermined frequencies, and software updates can be sequentially performed on the signal processing unit corresponding to the selected frequency. Similarly, each sector can be sequentially selected, and software update can be sequentially performed on the radio signal processing unit corresponding to the selected sector.

  Detailed processing of the software update processing (31-7, 8) of each frequency signal processing unit (124-1, 2) is shown in FIG. 32, and further detailed processing is shown in FIG. Further, FIG. 34 shows detailed processing of software update processing (31-9 to 11) of each sector radio signal processing unit (125-1 to 13), and FIG. 35 shows further detailed processing. The detailed process of the software update process (31-12) of the device management unit (121) is the same as that shown in FIG.

  The network management device (250) receives a software update completion response from all the base stations belonging to the base station group 1 (800-1), and then newly selects (groups) a base station whose software is to be updated (grouped). 31-14). The selection of the base station can be the same as the method shown in FIGS. Hereinafter, the group of selected base stations is referred to as base station group 2 (800-2). The network management device 250 performs processing (31-15) for requesting software transfer to the base station group 2 (800-2). The process (31-15) is the same as the above process (31-2). The network management device (250) performs the same processing for the base station group 2 (800-2) as the processing (31-2 to 31-13) performed for the base station group 1 (800-1). Do. By repeating these processes until there is no base station that does not belong to any base station group, software update of all base stations can be performed. The selection of the base station group may be omitted.

FIG. 32 is an operation flowchart for explaining detailed processing of software update processing (31-7, 8) of each signal processing unit. First, the device management unit (121) performs a transmission power reduction request process (32-1) of the frequencies fx of all sectors with respect to the sector radio signal processing units (125-1 to 13-5). Each sector radio signal processing section (125-1 to 3) performs a process (32-2) for gradually decreasing the transmission power of the frequency fx (f1 or f2) of each sector. As a result, the area covered by the frequency fx is narrowed like the area covered by the frequency f1 of the base stations BS1 and 8 (110 ′ ″-1 and 8) illustrated in FIG. 29, and the frequency fx covers the area. The call is handed over to another frequency (frequency f2 in FIG. 29), and the communication service of the call is continued. Upon completion of the transmission power reduction processing of the frequency fx, the sector radio signal processing units (125-1 to 3) of each sector perform processing (32-3) for responding completion to the device management unit (121).
The device management unit (121) performs a process (32-4) for confirming that calls connected to all sectors of the frequency fx are zero, and then performs a signal processing unit (for the frequency fx) (124-x). ) Performs a process (32-5) for requesting the signal processor (for frequency fx) (124-x) to update the software.

  When receiving a software update request, the signal processing unit (for frequency fx) (124-x) performs its own reset process (32-6), thereby performing a process of reading new software (32-7), After completion of the restart process (32-8), a signal processor (for frequency fx) restart completion notification (32-9) is sent to the device manager (121). Here, the software to be read can be the software acquired in the process (31-3), for example. Upon receiving the restart completion notification (32-9) from the signal processing unit (for frequency fx) (124-x), the device management unit (121) sends a frequency to each sector radio wave signal processing unit (125-1 to 3). fx all-sector transmission power increase request processing (32-10) is performed. Each sector radio signal processor (125) performs a process (32-11) of gradually increasing the transmission power in response to a request to increase the transmission power of the frequency fx. As a result, communication processing of all sectors of frequency fx (for example, f1) becomes possible again.

  When the process (32-11) for gradually increasing the transmission power is completed, each sector radio wave signal processing unit (125-1 to 3) responds to the device management unit (121) with the completion of the frequency fx transmission power increase. (32-12) is performed. Note that the processing in FIG. 32 is not performed simultaneously for each signal processing unit (124) so that a call can be handed over to each sector of another frequency, for example, each signal processing unit (124 in FIG. 31). As shown in the software update process (31-7, 8)), it is sequentially performed for each frequency. For example, in the process 31-7 in FIG. 31, each process in FIG. 32 is executed with fx = f1, and in the process 31-8 in FIG. 31, each process fx = f2 in FIG. 32 is executed.

  FIG. 33 is an operation flowchart illustrating in detail the process (32-2) for gradually decreasing the transmission power of the frequency fx shown in FIG. Although FIG. 33 shows the sector α, the same applies to the sectors β and γ. Upon receiving a transmission power reduction request (32-1) at frequency fx from the CPU (111-4) of the apparatus management unit, the CPU (111-11) of the sector α radio signal processing unit (125-1) transmits at the frequency fx. The process (33-1) for reducing the power is started. The CPU (111-11) performs processing (33-2) for requesting the wireless IF (116-1) to reduce the transmission power of the frequency fx by a predetermined power reduction range. In response, the wireless IF (116-1) executes transmission power reduction processing (33-3), and performs processing (33-4) for notifying the CPU (111-11) of the transmission power value after transmission power reduction. Do.

The CPU (111-11) performs a process (33-5) for determining whether or not the power value notified from the wireless IF (116-1) is a lower limit value of the transmission power. -2) is performed again. On the other hand, if the notified power value has reached the lower limit value, a transmission power reduction end process (32-3) is performed. For example, the CPU (111-11) notifies the CPU (111-4) of the apparatus management unit of a frequency fx transmission power reduction process completion response.
Through these processes, the base station can gradually lower the transmission power of the frequency fx of all sectors in the base station, and switches the communication path providing the communication service in the base station to another frequency. It becomes possible to update the module related to the frequency fx, that is, the software of the signal processing unit (for the frequency fx) after creating a state where the communication service is not provided at the frequency fx of all the sectors in the station.

  FIG. 34 is an operation flowchart for explaining detailed processing of software update processing (31-9) of the sector α radio signal processing unit. The processing in the case of sector β and sector γ (31-10, 31-11) is the same. First, the device management unit (121) performs a transmission power reduction request process (34-1) for all frequencies on the sector α radio signal processing unit (125-1). The sector α radio signal processing unit (125-1) performs processing (34-2) for gradually reducing the transmission power of all frequencies of the sector α. As a result, the area covered by all the frequencies of the sector α is narrowed to the area covered by the sector α of the base stations BS1 and 8 (110 ′ ″-1 and 8) shown in FIG. The call covered by the frequency is handed over to another sector (β sector of the base station BS3 (110 ′ ″-3) in the terminal MS2 (300-2) in FIG. 30), and the communication service of the call is continued. The When the sector α radio signal processing unit (125-1) completes the transmission power reduction processing for all frequencies of the sector α, the sector α radio signal processing unit (125-1) performs processing (34-3) for responding completion to the device management unit (121).

  The device management unit (121) performs a process (34-4) for confirming that calls connected to the sector α of all frequencies are zero, and then performs a process of the sector α radio signal processing unit (125-1). Processing (34-5) for requesting software update to the sector α radio signal processing unit (125-1) is performed. When the sector α radio signal processing unit (125-1) receives a software update request, the sector α radio signal processing unit (125-1) performs its own reset process (34-6), thereby performing a process of reading new software (34-7) and a restart process. (34-8) A process (34-9) of gradually increasing the transmission power of all frequencies after completion. Here, the software to be read can be the software acquired in the process (31-3), for example. As a result, communication processing of all frequencies in the sector α becomes possible again.

  When the processing (34-9) for gradually increasing the transmission power is completed, the sector α radio signal processing unit (125-1) responds to the device management unit (121) with the completion of the sector α radio signal processing unit software update. The process (34-10) is performed. Note that the processing in FIG. 34 is not performed simultaneously on each sector radio signal processing unit (125) so that a call can be handed over to another sector. For example, each sector radio signal processing unit (125 in FIG. ) Can be sequentially performed as shown in the software update process (31-9 to 11).

  FIG. 35 is an operation flow diagram illustrating in detail the process (34-2) for gradually reducing the transmission power of all frequencies of the sector α shown in FIG. Although FIG. 35 shows the sector α, the same applies to the sectors β and γ. Upon receiving a transmission power reduction request (34-1) for all frequencies from the CPU (111-4) of the apparatus management unit, the CPU (111-11) of the sector α radio signal processing unit (125-1) transmits all frequencies. The process (35-1) for reducing the power is started.

The CPU (111-11) performs processing (35-2) for requesting the wireless IF (116-1) of the own radio signal processing unit to reduce the transmission power by a predetermined power reduction range. In response to this, the wireless IF (116-1) executes transmission power reduction processing (35-3) for all frequencies, and notifies the CPU (111-11) of the transmission power value after reduction of all frequency transmission power ( 35-4).
The CPU (111-11) performs a process (35-5) for determining whether or not the power value notified from the wireless IF (116-1) is the lower limit value of the transmission power. -2) is performed again. On the other hand, if the notified power value has reached the lower limit value, the CPU (111-11) performs a transmission power reduction end process (34-3). For example, the CPU (111-11) notifies the CPU (111-4) of the apparatus management unit of a response for completion of the all frequency transmission power reduction process.

  Through these processes, the base station can gradually reduce the transmission power of all frequencies of a certain sector in its own base station, and the communication path providing the communication service in its own base station can be changed to another sector or an adjacent base station. It is possible to update the module related to the sector, that is, the software of the sector radio signal processing unit, after creating a state where the communication service is not provided in the corresponding sector in the base station.

  The present invention is applicable to industries related to wireless communication devices, wireless communication networks, and software updates.

10 wireless communication network 100 cellular 110 wireless communication device (base station)
111 CPU
112 Memory 113 Storage device 114 I / O
115 Internal bus 116 Wireless IF unit 117 Communication processing unit 118 Line IF unit 119 Antenna 120 Sector control unit 121 Device management unit 122 Sector processing unit 123 Radio wave signal processing unit 124 Signal processing unit 125 Sector radio wave signal processing unit 130 Sector 150 Communication network 200 Base station controller 210 Diversity handover unit 250 Network management device 300 Terminal 400 Mobile communication network 500 Main signal communication path 600 Control signal communication path

Claims (6)

A plurality of base station apparatuses that communicate between a wireless terminal and a wired communication network using a plurality of wireless communication paths having different frequencies;
In a wireless communication network including a network management device that is connected to the plurality of base station devices by wire and transmits and receives control signals for maintaining the plurality of base station devices,
The base station device includes a device management unit that manages the base station device based on a control signal from the network management device, and a signal processing unit that is provided for each of a plurality of frequencies.
When the network management device transmits software update requests to all of the plurality of base station devices in the wireless communication network after transmitting update software to the plurality of base station devices,
All the base station apparatus that has received the software update request, the control of the device manager, the plurality of the plurality of signal processing section provided for each frequency, the frequency of the software updated in a predetermined order The software set in the selected signal processing unit is updated to the received software so that the software is not updated simultaneously for a plurality of signal processing units in the same base station apparatus. By performing software update processing, to ensure that a call that has set a communication path via each base station device that has received the software update request can be handed over to another frequency of each base station device,
A wireless communication network, wherein software is updated for all base station devices that have received the software update request in a wireless communication network while using a plurality of base station devices in the wireless communication network. The wireless communication network according to claim 1,
The signal processing unit that performs software update processing based on control from the device management unit,
Perform processing to reduce the transmission power of the signal processing unit of the selected frequency by a predetermined power reduction width,
It is determined whether the transmission power value after the decrease in transmission power is the lower limit value of the transmission power. If it is not the lower limit value, the transmission power is reduced again by a predetermined power reduction range, and the lower limit value is reached. If so, a wireless communication network characterized in that processing for reducing transmission power is completed, reset processing and software update processing are performed, and thereafter processing for gradually increasing transmission power is performed. The wireless communication network according to claim 2,
By reducing the transmission power to a lower limit value, a state where a communication service is not provided at a corresponding frequency is created. A plurality of base station apparatuses that communicate between a wireless terminal and a wired communication network using a plurality of wireless communication paths having different frequencies;
A software update method for the plurality of base station apparatuses in a wireless communication network comprising a network management apparatus that is connected to the plurality of base station apparatuses by wire and transmits and receives control signals for maintaining the plurality of base station apparatuses. And
When the network management device transmits a software update request to all of the plurality of base station devices in the wireless communication network after transmitting update software to the plurality of base station devices,
The software update request plurality of base stations which has received from a plurality of frequencies, to select the frequency of the software updated in a predetermined order, the software at the same time to the plurality of frequencies in the same base station apparatus Each base station apparatus that has received the software update request by performing software update processing that updates software set in the signal processing unit of the sequentially selected frequency to the received software. Securing a state in which a call setting a communication path can be handed over to another frequency of each base station device,
A software update method , comprising: updating software for all base station devices that have received the software update request in a wireless communication network while using a plurality of base station devices in the wireless communication network . The software update method according to claim 4,
When performing software update processing based on control from the device management unit,
Each of the plurality of base station apparatuses is
Perform processing to reduce the transmission power of the signal processing unit of the selected frequency by a predetermined power reduction width,
It is determined whether the transmission power value after the decrease in transmission power is the lower limit value of the transmission power. If it is not the lower limit value, the transmission power is reduced again by a predetermined power reduction range, and the lower limit value is reached. If so, a software update method comprising: completing a process of reducing transmission power, performing a reset process and a software update process, and thereafter performing a process of gradually increasing the transmission power. A software update method according to claim 5, comprising:
A software update method characterized in that a state in which a communication service is not provided at a corresponding frequency is created by reducing the transmission power to a lower limit value.

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