JP4847785B2 - Wireless relay amplification system and wireless relay method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a radio relay amplification apparatus, a radio relay amplification system, and a radio relay method, and more particularly, a radio relay amplification such as a booster or a repeater that receives, amplifies, and transmits a signal to be transmitted / received between a base station and a mobile device. The present invention relates to an apparatus, a wireless relay amplification system, and a wireless relay method realized thereby.

  A conventional wireless relay amplification apparatus used for measures against weak electric field areas indoors and outdoors will be described with reference to FIG. Communication between the base station 114 and the mobile device 115 when the mobile device 115 exists indoors in the weak electric field building as shown in FIG. 5A or in the outdoor weak electric field area as shown in FIG. It becomes difficult. Therefore, the radio relay amplification apparatus 100 functioning as a booster that directly amplifies and re-radiates the downlink signal transmitted from the base station 114 and the uplink signal transmitted from the mobile device 115 is installed, and the base station 114, the mobile device 115, Ensure communication between.

At this time, the gain of the downlink signal and the uplink signal needs to be set to the same value in order to balance the upper and lower areas.
If the levels of the uplink signal and downlink signal that are normally input to the wireless relay amplification device are too large, the output of the wireless relay amplification device becomes overpowered and the wireless characteristics of the wireless relay amplification device may be degraded. Therefore, when the wireless relay amplification device is applied, the gain of the wireless relay amplification device is optimally set so as not to cause excessive output. There are two methods for setting the gain of the wireless relay amplifying device: a method of setting manually optimally and a method of automatically setting according to the magnitude of the signal received by the wireless relay amplifier. These methods are designed to optimize the output of the wireless relay amplification device.

  By the way, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for adjusting booster gain so that booster noise does not greatly affect the base station. Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for outputting a continuous alarm signal by a peak hold circuit when the input level of the relay amplifier exceeds a threshold value. Furthermore, Patent Document 3 discloses a technique for controlling the signal gain of the variable gain drive amplification stage in accordance with a necessary transmission signal level. Patent Document 4 discloses a technique for detecting a part of a high-frequency signal output from a power amplifier and controlling an attenuation factor of an attenuator unit.

JP 2001-69091 A JP-A-10-303800 JP 2001-156654 A JP 2000-13248 A

  Even when the gain is set and the output is adjusted as described above, the signal from the base station that is input to the wireless relay amplifying device changes due to a change in the propagation status, such as a base station newly installed near the wireless relay amplifying device. When it becomes larger, the wireless relay amplification device becomes overpowered, spurious and the like occur, and the wireless characteristics deteriorate. In addition, since the noise of the radio relay amplifying device received at the base station also increases, the subscriber capacity of the base station deteriorates.

  In this case, it is necessary to readjust the output of a radio relay amplifying apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a fixed gain radio relay amplifying apparatus) whose gain is fixed, such as by inserting an attenuator once in operation. On the other hand, in the case of a wireless relay amplification device provided with an automatic gain control function, the gain can be lowered and automatically adjusted. However, if the output is excessive at the minimum gain, it is necessary to readjust the output of the wireless relay amplifying device, such as by inserting an attenuator once the operation is interrupted as in the case of the fixed gain wireless relay amplifying device.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to detect noise of a radio relay amplification apparatus received at a base station when the output of the radio relay amplification apparatus becomes an excessive output. It is to provide a wireless relay amplification device, a wireless relay amplification system, and a wireless relay method that can appropriately suppress the above.

Wireless relay amplification system in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, uplink radio signals of the radio signal between the base station and the mobile station a radio relay amplification system for relaying to the variable amplifier, to the base station from the mobile station And an amplifying unit that performs an amplification operation for each of the downlink radio signals from the base station to the mobile device, a detecting unit that detects a power level of the radio signal, the uplink radio signal detected by the detecting unit, and the When the power level of at least one of the downlink radio signals exceeds the first threshold, the power of the amplifying unit is kept on, the amplification operation of the uplink radio signal by the amplifying unit, and the downlink radio signal both amplification operation and a control means for performing control to stop, without using the pilot signal, the relay of the radio signals between the said mobile station and said base station And the radio relay amplifier to realize,
The installation location of the wireless relay amplification device includes a monitoring device that is installed at a remote location and controls the amplification operation when the power level of the wireless signal exceeds the threshold value,
The monitoring apparatus is characterized in that after the amplification operation is stopped, the attenuator amount is adjusted according to the first threshold value and the amplification operation is continued . By automatically stopping the amplification operation of the device itself when the power level exceeds the threshold, the amplification operation can be resumed by adjusting the amount of attenuator thereafter, and the noise of the wireless relay amplification device is appropriately suppressed it can. In other words, if either the uplink radio signal or the downlink radio signal is overpowered, the amplification operation can be stopped immediately, and then the amplification operation can be resumed by adjusting the amount of attenuator. The noise of the device can be appropriately suppressed. By adopting such a system configuration, it is possible to readjust the radio relay amplifying device without going to the installation location of the radio relay amplifying device.

The wireless relay amplification system according to another aspect of the present invention further includes a timer for measuring a time during which the power level detected by the detecting means exceeds the first threshold, and the amplification after the time measured by the timer elapses. The operation is stopped. In this way, the amplification operation can be stopped only when the excessive input allowable time has elapsed.

Wireless relay amplification system according to another aspect of the present invention, wherein the control means of the radio relay amplification device, in addition to the first threshold value, the radio signal for suppressing an input so as not to overpower the second It has the threshold value of. By having two threshold values, it is possible to respond flexibly to changes in the propagation environment around the wireless relay amplifying device, and by adjusting the output based on the difference between the two overpower thresholds after the output of the wireless relay amplifying device is stopped, There is no need for readjustment due to interruption of operation of the relay amplifier.

A radio relay method according to an aspect of the present invention is a radio relay method for variably amplifying and relaying a radio signal between a base station and a mobile device, the uplink radio signal from the mobile device to the base station, and the radio station An amplifying step for performing an amplifying operation by an amplifying unit for each downlink radio signal from a base station to the mobile device, a detecting step for detecting a power level of the radio signal, and the uplink radio signal detected in the detecting step; When the power level of at least one of the downlink radio signals exceeds a first threshold, the power of the amplifying unit is kept on, the amplification operation of the uplink radio signal by the amplifying unit, and the downlink radio signal after both of the amplification operation is stopped, unrealized and a control step of performing control to Ru to continue the amplification operation by adjusting the attenuator amount in accordance with the first threshold value Without using the pilot signal, characterized in that to realize the relaying of the radio signal between the said mobile station and said base station. By automatically stopping the amplification operation of the device itself when the power level exceeds the threshold, the amplification operation can be resumed by adjusting the amount of attenuator thereafter, and the noise of the wireless relay amplification device is appropriately suppressed it can.

According to the present invention, when the output of the wireless relay amplifying device becomes an excessive output, the output is stopped by the output threshold of the wireless relay amplifying device, thereby degrading the wireless characteristics of the wireless relay amplifying device (spurious or IM (Intermodulation)). ) And the like, and the noise of the wireless relay amplification device received at the base station can be suppressed.
Furthermore, by having two overpower thresholds, it is possible to flexibly cope with changes in the propagation environment around the wireless relay amplifier and to adjust the output based on the difference between the two overpower thresholds after the output of the wireless relay amplifier is stopped. By doing so, there is an effect that there is no need for readjustment due to the operation interruption of the wireless relay amplifying apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings referred to in the following description, the same parts as those in the other drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals.
(Configuration of wireless repeater amplifier)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a wireless relay amplification device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a radio relay amplifying apparatus 4 according to this embodiment includes duplexers 6 and 12, input controllers 7 and 13 for stopping input signals and stopping output of the own apparatus, and distributors for distributing received signals. 8, 14, amplifiers 9 and 15 that perform amplification operations on the received signal, detectors 10 and 16 that detect the power level of the received signal, and the power level detected by the detectors 10 and 16 is compared with a threshold level. The comparator 11 includes a timer 20 for measuring the time when the comparison result by the comparator 11 exceeds the threshold level, that is, the excessive input allowable time.

  In such a configuration, the radio relay amplifying device 4 receives a downlink signal from the base stations 1, 2, 3, etc. to the mobile device 18, etc. by the antenna 5, and an amplifier 9 via the input controller 7, distributor 8. To input, amplify, and transmit. The radio relay amplifying apparatus 4 receives an uplink signal from the mobile station 18 or the like to the base stations 1, 2, 3, etc. by the antenna 17 and inputs it to the amplifier 15 via the input controller 13 and the distributor 14. Amplify and transmit. That is, a signal transmitted from the base station 1, 2, 3 or the like is received, the received signal is amplified, and the amplified signal is transmitted to the mobile device 18 or the like. In addition, a signal transmitted by the mobile device 18 or the like is received, the received signal is amplified, and the amplified signal is transmitted to the base stations 1, 2, 3, and the like.

(Operation related to downstream signals)
Signals (downlink signals) transmitted by the base stations 1, 2, 3, etc. are input to the amplifier 9 and the detector 10 through the antenna 5, duplexer 6, input controller 7, and distributor 8. The downlink signal amplified by the amplifier 9 is transmitted to the mobile device 18 and the like via the duplexer 12 and the antenna 17. Further, the downlink input signal detected by the detector 10 is input to the comparator 11, and the detected value is compared with the downlink input threshold value of the wireless relay amplification device.

Two down excess input thresholds are set in the comparator 11. The comparator 11 transmits an alarm to the monitoring device 19 when there is a downlink input signal exceeding a low downlink excess input threshold (downlink excessive input threshold (1)). Further, the input controller 7 lowers the downstream input signal to the downstream input threshold (1) by an attenuator or the like. The amount of attenuator at this time is ATT (1) _DL .

Further, when the comparator 11 has a downlink input signal that exceeds a high downlink excess input threshold value (downlink excess input threshold value (2)), the comparator 11 transmits an alarm to the monitoring device 19. Further, the input controller 7 lowers the downstream input signal to the downstream excessive input threshold (1) by an attenuator or the like. The amount of attenuator at this time is ATT (2) _DL .
Further, when there is a downlink input signal exceeding the downlink excessive input threshold (2), the comparator 11 starts a timer and starts measuring time when the input signal is the downlink excessive input threshold (1). Further, the input controller 7 stops the input signal to the amplifier 9 and stops the input signal to the amplifier 9 when the downstream signal input is the downstream excessive input threshold value (1) continuously exceeding the allowable excessive input time by the timer. Stop output.

  The timer is stopped when the downlink input signal falls below the downlink excess input threshold (1) within the overinput allowable time. Thereby, the time measurement is stopped. The input controller 7 continues to stop the output even when the downstream detection signal becomes equal to or less than the maximum output value. When the output of the wireless relay amplifying apparatus is stopped in this way, the monitoring device 19 adjusts the attenuator amount of the input controller and cancels the output stopped state of the wireless relay amplifying apparatus.

The amount of attenuator adjusted by the monitoring device 19 will be described below. The attenuator amount when the downlink input threshold (1) is exceeded is ATT (1) _DL , the attenuator amount when the downlink input threshold (2) is exceeded is ATT (2) _DL , and the attenuator amount to be adjusted after the wireless relay device is stopped ATT (3) _DL , If the amount of difference between the downlink overinput threshold (2) and the downlink overinput threshold (1) is (threshold margin) α _DL and the overinput prevention margin is β _DL ,
β _DL = ATT (2) _DL -α _DL
ATT (3) _DL = ATT (1) _DL + ATT (2) _DL + β _DL
ATT (3) _DL = ATT (1) _DL + 2 · ATT (2) _DL -α _DL
And

(Operations related to upstream signals)
A signal (uplink signal) transmitted by the mobile device 18 or the like is input to the amplifier 15 and the detector 14 through the antenna 17, the duplexer 6, the input controller 13, and the distributor 14. The uplink signal amplified by the amplifier 15 is transmitted to the base stations 1, 2, 3, etc. via the duplexer 6 and the antenna 5. The upstream input signal detected by the detector 16 is input to the comparator 11, and the detected value is compared with the upstream input threshold value of the wireless relay amplification device.

The comparator 11 is set with two upstream excess input thresholds. The comparator 11 transmits an alarm to the monitoring device 19 when there is an upstream input signal that exceeds a low upstream input threshold value (upstream excessive input threshold (1)), and the input controller 13 receives the upstream input signal. It is lowered by an attenuator or the like to the upstream input threshold (1). The amount of attenuator at this time is ATT (1) _UL . Further, when the comparator 11 has an upstream input signal that exceeds a high upstream excessive input threshold value (upstream excessive input threshold value (2)), the comparator 11 transmits an alarm to the monitoring device 19 and transmits the upstream input signal. Is reduced by an attenuator or the like to the upstream excess input threshold (1). The amount of attenuator at this time is ATT (2) _UL .

  Further, when there is an upstream input signal exceeding the upstream excessive input threshold (2), the comparator 11 starts a timer and starts measuring time when the input signal is the upstream excessive input threshold (1). Further, the input controller 13 stops the input signal to the amplifier 15 and outputs the output of the wireless relay amplifying device when the upstream signal input is the upstream excessive input threshold (1) continuously exceeding the excessive input allowable time. Stop. In addition, the timer stops time measurement when the upstream input signal falls below the upstream excessive input threshold (1) within the allowable excessive input time. The input controller 13 continues to stop output even when the input controller 13 is below the maximum output value. When the output of the wireless relay amplifying apparatus is stopped in this way, the monitoring device 19 adjusts the attenuator amount of the input controller and cancels the output stopped state of the wireless relay amplifying apparatus.

The amount of attenuator adjusted by the monitoring device 19 will be described below. The attenuator amount when the uplink input threshold (1) is exceeded is ATT (1) _UL , the attenuator amount when the uplink input threshold (2) is exceeded is ATT (2) _UL , and the attenuator amount to be adjusted after the wireless relay device is stopped ATT (3) _UL , If the amount of difference between the uplink overinput threshold (2) and the uplink overinput threshold (1) is (threshold margin) α _UL and the overinput prevention margin is β _UL ,
β _UL = ATT (2) _UL -α _UL
ATT (3) _UL = ATT (1) _UL + ATT (2) _UL + β _UL
ATT (3) _UL = ATT (1) _UL +2 • ATT (2) _UL -α _UL
And
As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, the outputs of the downlink and uplink radio relay amplifying apparatuses are performed at the same time. In the case of uplink input control and output stop operation, the downlink operates in the same manner.

(Operation example)
Hereinafter, an operation example of the present apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, the radio relay amplification apparatus downlink input signal (1) will be described with reference to FIG. When the wireless relay amplification device is turned on from the power supply OFF, the reception signal from the base station A is received (S101). Here, when the base station B is newly established in the vicinity of the wireless relay amplification device during operation of the wireless relay amplification device (S102), the signal of the base station B is added to the signal of the base station A in the wireless relay amplification device. (S103). Since the base station B is in the vicinity of the wireless relay amplification device, the downlink input signal of the wireless relay amplification device becomes large. Further, when the base station C is newly established immediately next to the radio relay amplification device (S104), the signal of the base station C is added to the signals of the base stations A and B in the radio relay amplification device (S105).

  The downlink input signal (2) in the wireless relay amplification apparatus in this case is as shown in FIG. That is, when the base station B is installed (S102), an input level exceeding the downlink overinput threshold (1) is detected (S103), and the input controller 13 operates to lower the input level to the downlink overinput threshold (1) ( S201), an alarm is transmitted to the monitoring device. Next, when the base station C is installed (S104), an input level exceeding the downlink excessive input threshold (2) is detected (S105), and the input controller 13 operates to lower the input level to the downlink excessive input threshold (2). (S202), a timer is started and an alarm is transmitted to the monitoring device.

Further, after the over-input allowable time has elapsed, the input is turned off by the input controller (S203). Thereafter, the attenuator amount is adjusted by the monitoring device, and the input is turned ON (S204).
As a result, in this case, the radio relay amplifying device downlink output signal (3) is obtained by adding the gain G of the radio relay amplifying device to the level of the downlink input signal (2) as shown in FIG. Since the output level is reached, the level is equal to or lower than the downlink excessive output threshold value (1) (that is, the downlink excessive input threshold value (1) + the radio relay amplifying device gain G).

By the way, referring to FIG. 5, the noise (4) of the radio relay amplifying device received by the base station A is the thermal noise, the radio relay amplifying device gain G, the attenuator amount, the base station A, and the radio relay amplifying device. Is added to the propagation loss.
Referring to FIG. 6, the noise (5) of the radio relay amplifying device received by the base station B is the thermal noise, the radio relay amplifying device gain G, the attenuator amount, the base station B, and the radio relay amplifying device. Is added to the propagation loss.

Further, referring to FIG. 7, the noise (6) of the radio relay amplifier received by the base station C is the thermal noise, the radio relay amplifier gain G, the amount of attenuator, the base station C and the radio relay amplifier. Is added to the propagation loss.
Therefore, the radio relay amplifying apparatus that adjusts the amount of attenuator so as not to cause an excessive output according to the input level of the radio relay apparatus reduces the radio relay amplifying apparatus noise received by the base station, thereby reducing the capacity of the base station. There is an effect to suppress. The effect of suppressing the capacity deterioration is described in a document “IMT-2000 booster device for indoor area” (RCS 2005-52 (2005-7)).

Further, when the output of the wireless relay amplifying device is turned OFF, the monitoring device 19 adjusts the attenuator and cancels the output OFF of the wireless relay amplifying device 4, so that the wireless relay is performed without going to the installation location of the wireless relay amplifying device. The readjustment of the amplification device becomes possible.
The downlink signal output control of the radio relay amplification apparatus has been described above with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7. However, the uplink signal control is the same as that of the downlink signal, and the movement in the vicinity of the radio relay amplification apparatus is performed. Output control is performed when a machine signal is input to the apparatus. Detailed description thereof is omitted.

(Wireless relay method)
In the wireless relay amplifying apparatus described above, the following wireless relay method is realized. That is, a radio relay method for variably amplifying and relaying a radio signal between a base station and a mobile device, and an uplink radio signal from the mobile device to the base station and a downlink radio signal from the base station to the mobile device At least one of an amplification step for performing an amplification operation by the amplification means for each signal, a detection step for detecting a power level of the radio signal, and the uplink radio signal and the downlink radio signal detected in the detection step the power of the amplifying means when the power level exceeds a first threshold value and remains on, after the stopping of both the amplification operation of the amplifying operation and the downlink radio signal of the uplink radio signal by the amplifying means , and a control step of performing control to adjust the attenuator amount Ru allowed to continue the amplifying operation in response to the first threshold value, the use of pilot signals Ku, radio relay method for implementing relay of the radio signal between the said mobile station and said base station is realized. By automatically stopping the amplification operation of the own device when the power level exceeds the first threshold, the amplification operation can be resumed by adjusting the attenuator amount thereafter, and the noise of the wireless relay amplification device can be reduced. It can be suppressed appropriately.

(Summary)
The wireless relay amplification device amplifies the input signal and retransmits it to the base station and the mobile station. However, when the input signal is excessively input, spurious and IM are generated and the wireless characteristics are deteriorated. In addition, when there is an excessive input on the downlink, the thermal noise of the radio relay amplification device received by the base station on the uplink increases, which leads to degradation of the base station subscriber capacity. The wireless relay amplification apparatus has an advantage that the area can be expanded at a low cost, but its use is limited because it has a problem of degrading the line capacity on the base station side due to its installation.

  However, since the introduction of number portability, in which the telephone number is maintained without changing the communication carrier, competition between communication carriers, especially the competition regarding line quality and area size, has become severe, and in underground and rural areas. The use of wireless repeater amplifiers is expected to increase. This wireless relay amplification device is configured to turn off the output by the output threshold of the wireless relay amplification device when the output of the wireless relay amplification device is overpowered, thereby degrading the wireless characteristics of the wireless relay amplification device (spurious, IM, etc.) And the noise of the radio relay amplifier received by the base station is suppressed. Furthermore, by having two over-input thresholds, it is possible to respond flexibly to changes in the propagation environment around the wireless relay amplification device, and by adjusting the output of the wireless relay amplification device from the monitoring device, the operation of the wireless relay amplification device No need for readjustment due to interruption.

  The present invention can be used for a booster, a repeater, or the like that receives, amplifies, and transmits a signal to be transmitted and received between a base station and a mobile device.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the radio relay amplifying apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a change of radio | wireless repeater amplifier downlink input signal (1). It is a figure which shows the example of a change of a radio relay amplifier downstream input signal (2). It is a figure which shows the example of a change of a radio relay amplifier downstream input signal (3). It is a figure which shows the example of a change of the receiving radio relay amplifier apparatus noise (4) of the base station A in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a change of the receiving radio relay amplifier apparatus noise (4) of the base station B in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a change of the receiving radio relay amplifier apparatus noise (4) of the base station C in FIG. It is a figure which shows the conventional radio relay apparatus used for an indoor and outdoor weak electric field area countermeasure.

Explanation of symbols

1-3, 114 Base station 4, 100 Wireless relay amplification device 5, 17 Antenna 6, 12 Duplexer 7, 13 Input controller 8, 14 Divider 9, 15 Amplifier 10, 16 Detector 11 Comparator 18 Mobile device, 115
19 Monitoring device 20 Timer

Claims (4)

A radio relay amplification system that variably amplifies and relays a radio signal between a base station and a mobile device,
Amplifying means for performing an amplifying operation on an uplink radio signal from the mobile station to the base station and a downlink radio signal from the base station to the mobile station, detecting means for detecting a power level of the radio signal; When the power level of at least one of the uplink radio signal and the downlink radio signal detected by the detection means exceeds a first threshold, the power of the amplification means remains on, and the amplification means Control means for performing control to stop both the amplification operation of the uplink radio signal and the amplification operation of the downlink radio signal, and without using a pilot signal, the radio signal between the base station and the mobile station and non-linear repeater amplifier you realize relay,
The installation location of the wireless relay amplification device includes a monitoring device that is installed at a remote location and controls the amplification operation when the power level of the wireless signal exceeds the threshold value,
The monitoring apparatus, after stopping the amplification operation, adjusts the amount of attenuator according to the first threshold and continues the amplification operation. The wireless relay amplifying device further includes a timer that counts a time during which the power level detected by the detection unit exceeds the first threshold, and stops the amplification operation after a lapse of the time measured by the timer. The wireless relay amplification system according to claim 1. The control means of the wireless relay amplification device has, in addition to the first threshold, a second threshold for suppressing input so that the wireless signal does not become an excessive output. The wireless relay amplification system according to claim 2. A radio relay method for variably amplifying and relaying a radio signal between a base station and a mobile device, wherein the uplink radio signal from the mobile device to the base station and the downlink radio signal from the base station to the mobile device At least one of an amplification step for performing an amplification operation by the amplification means, a detection step for detecting a power level of the radio signal, and the uplink radio signal and the downlink radio signal detected in the detection step When the power level exceeds the first threshold, the power of the amplifying unit is kept on, and after both the amplification operation of the uplink radio signal and the amplification operation of the downlink radio signal by the amplification unit are stopped , and a control step of performing control to adjust the attenuator amount Ru allowed to continue the amplifying operation in response to the first threshold value, without using the pilot signal, before Radio relay method characterized by realizing a relay of the radio signal between the base station and the mobile station.

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