KR100894553B1 - Attenuation and report apparatus for mobile communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a technique for reporting received signal attenuation and received signal strength information to a higher level in a mobile communication system. According to the present invention, attenuation and reporting can be performed together in a module provided in a down converter. In particular, in the Teddy-based mobile communication system, in consideration of the delay time required to detect and process the received signal, a delay is added to the reference synchronization signal to be used as a synchronization signal for attenuation control (or information reporting) to improve productivity. Disclosed is a technique for enabling accurate detection of a received signal.

Description

Attenuation and Reporting Device for Mobile Communication System {ATTENUATION AND REPORT APPARATUS FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to an attenuation and reporting device for a mobile communication system, a down converter, a method for attenuating a received signal in a mobile communication system, and a method for reporting strength information.

In general, the mobile communication system reports the received signal strength information to a higher level so that an administrator can monitor the signal strength information or controls the power level of the signal in the mobile communication terminal and the entire mobile communication system in the upper control system. In addition, it is designed to protect various elements existing on the reception path by detecting the strength of the received signal and then attenuating it if the detected signal is large.

However, in the conventional mobile communication system, the reporting device for reporting the strength information of the received signal and the attenuation device for controlling the attenuation degree of the received signal by detecting the strength of the received signal are separately configured so that the productivity decreases as the parts increase. And size expansion of the system.

Therefore, the present invention is to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a technology that can be implemented in the down-converter apparatus that can perform the reporting function and the attenuation control function together.

Attenuation and reporting device for a mobile communication system according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the attenuation unit provided on the signal receiving path to attenuate the RF signal received from the antenna; A coupling unit coupling the RF signal output through the attenuation unit on the signal receiving path; A detector unit detecting an RF signal coupled from the coupling unit with an analog voltage; An A / D converter converting the analog voltage detected by the detector into a digital signal; And a controller which analyzes the digital signal output from the A / D converter to control attenuation of the signal by the attenuator and reports the analyzed information to a higher level. Characterized in that it comprises a.

In addition, the down converter for a mobile communication system according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the attenuator provided on the signal receiving path to attenuate the RF signal received from the antenna under the control of the control unit; A coupling unit coupling the RF signal output through the attenuation unit on the signal receiving path; A down converter for converting an RF signal output from the coupling part on the signal receiving path into an IF signal and outputting the IF signal; A detector unit detecting an RF signal coupled from the coupling unit with an analog voltage; And by converting the analog voltage detected by the detector into a digital signal and outputting the digital signal to the controller, the controller analyzes the digital signal to control the attenuation of the signal by the attenuator or report the analyzed information to a higher level. An A / D conversion unit; Characterized in that it comprises a.

The down converter for the mobile communication system is characterized by further including the control unit.

According to the present invention, the attenuation function of the received signal and the function of reporting the intensity information of the received signal can be performed together using one detection path, thereby increasing the utilization rate of components, thereby reducing system size and improving productivity.

1 is a block diagram of a TDD mobile communication system to which a down converter according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the downconverter of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a reference diagram for describing a function of a control unit included in the down converter of FIG. 1.

4 is a flow chart for attenuation control and information reporting in the downconverter of FIG.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

120: down converter

121: attenuation part

122: coupling part

123: down converter

124: Detector

125: A / D converter

126: control unit

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating major portions of a reception path in a TDD type (TDD TYPE) mobile communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the TMD type mobile communication system to which the attenuation and reporting device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied includes a switch 110, an amplifier, and a down on a reception path RP. The converter 120 is provided. In addition, an A / D converter or a modem unit for converting an IF signal into a digital signal may be provided at the rear end of the down converter 120 on the signal reception path R.P.

The switch 110 is applied to remove the transmission signal on the signal reception path (R.P) in the Teddy-type mobile communication system. Therefore, the configuration of the switch 110 may not be considered when the time division duplexing method is not used.

The amplifier Amp amplifies the RF signal which is received from the reception antenna Rx and then output through the switch 110.

The down converter 120 is provided to down convert the RF received signal received through the receiving antenna Rx and passing through the switch 110 and the amplifier Amp into an IF signal. The present invention is characterized by such a down-converter 120.

2 is a block diagram illustrating the downconverter 120 of FIG. 1 in more detail.

As shown in FIG. 2, the down converter 120 according to the present invention includes an attenuation unit 121, a coupling unit 122, a down conversion unit 123, a detector unit 124, and an A / D conversion unit 125. ) And the control unit 126 and the like. In the above configuration, the attenuation part 121, the coupling part 122, and the down conversion part 123 are provided on the signal receiving path RP, and the detector part 124 and the A / D conversion part 125 are the signals. It is provided on the detection path DP.

The attenuation unit 121 is attenuated or not attenuated by the control unit 126 of the RF reception signal received through the antenna Rx and then amplified through the switch 110 and the amplifier Amp. It performs the role of outputting.

The coupling unit 122 couples the RF reception signal output from the attenuation unit 121 and outputs the coupled signal on the detection path D.P.

The down conversion unit 123 down-converts the RF reception signal passing through the coupling unit 122 to the IF signal and outputs the signal to the rear end of the signal reception path R.P.

The detector 124 detects the RF signal coupled from the coupling unit 122 with analog voltage, and the A / D converter 125 converts the analog signal into a digital signal and then outputs the analog signal.

The controller 126 detects and analyzes a digital signal output from the A / D converter 125 and controls the attenuator 121 based on the analyzed information or reports the analyzed information to a higher level. . In the present exemplary embodiment, the control unit 126 is implemented as being configured in the down converter 120, but according to the embodiment, the control unit 126 may be configured outside the down converter 120. In addition, in the present embodiment, only the control unit 126 performs the functions of attenuation control and information reporting. However, according to the embodiment, the control unit 126 may be configured only with a control unit for performing the functions of attenuation control and information reporting. It can also be configured as a control unit to control the whole, which is optional in the system configuration.

On the other hand, the control unit 126 in the mobile communication system according to the present invention considering the TDD scheme is designed to detect a digital signal output from the A / D conversion unit 125 in the case of a reception link. However, in case of designing to detect in case of receiving link, it is necessary to check the starting point of the correct receiving signal. In this case, it is difficult to accurately detect the received signal due to the delay caused by the signal processing on the signal detection path DP. For reference, the reception link defined in this embodiment is typically an uplink (UP LINK, a link through which a signal can be transmitted from a mobile communication terminal to a base station) based on a transmitting and receiving end of a base station. The defined transmission link is typically a downlink (DOWN LINK, a link from which a signal can be transmitted from a base station to a mobile communication terminal) based on a base station transceiver.

Therefore, the control unit 126 applied to the mobile communication system according to the present invention adds the delay derived in the process on the signal detection path D.P to the reference synchronization signal from the upper stage to obtain the attenuation control synchronization signal. Here, the synchronization signal for the attenuation control is named in terms of the delayed synchronization signal is used for the attenuation control, and as described later, the synchronization signal with the delay is used as the information reporting synchronization signal in view of the utilization of the information signal for delay. You can name it.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, in the general TDD scheme, the reception link interval (UL-base station receiving end criterion: 1728us) and the transmission link section (DL-base station receiving end criterion: 3110.4us) are classified according to time. There is a gap section called TTG between the link section (DL: 3110.4us) and the receive link section (UL: 1728us), and a gap section called RTG between the receive link section (UL: 1728us) and the transmit link section (DL: 3110.4us). The receiving signal and the transmitting signal are separated. And by switching the switch in the TTG (87.2us) and RTG interval (74.4us) it is possible to maximize the limited radio frequency resources.

However, since the RF received signal coupled on the signal reception path RP is detected by the control unit 126 by a time that is processed by the signal detection algorithm on the signal detection path DP, the control unit 126 is moved from the upper end. When the digital signal output from the A / D converter 125 is detected in accordance with the reference synchronization signal PFS, accuracy is lost by a delayed time. Therefore, the control unit 126 according to the present invention adds the delay caused by the processing delay on the signal detection path DP to the reference synchronization signal PFS at the time when the transmission link is switched from the transmission link to the reception link. (PFS ') and the digital signal output from the A / D converter 125 in accordance with the attenuation control synchronization signal (PFS') thus obtained to accurately detect the received signal. It is.

A reception signal attenuation method and a strength information reporting method performed in the attenuation and reporting device 100 for a TDID mobile communication system according to the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 for convenience. .

<Received signal attenuation method>

1. Confirm the reference synchronization signal (PFS) <S401>

The controller 126 receives the reference synchronization signal PFS from the upper end and checks it.

2. Acquisition of synchronous signal for attenuation control <S402>

In step S401, the control unit 126 confirms the reference synchronization signal PFS, and adds a predetermined delay to the reference synchronization signal PFS to obtain the attenuation control synchronization signal PFS '.

3. Receive link / transmit link judgment <S403>

The control unit 126 having obtained the attenuation control synchronization signal PFS 'in step S402 determines whether it is a reception link or a transmission link according to the attenuation control synchronization signal PFS'. In other words, it is to determine when to detect a signal coming on the signal detection path D.P.

4. Check the operation of the protection circuit <S404>

If it is determined in step S403 that the reception link, the control unit 126 detects a protection circuit, that is, the received signal to determine whether the entire circuit for controlling the attenuation unit 121 is in an ON state. Of course, depending on the implementation, it may be possible to keep the protection circuit always ON, in which case step S404 may not be required.

5. Output value detection of A / D converter <S405>

If it is confirmed in step S404 that the protection circuit is ON, the controller 126 detects the digital signal output from the A / D converter 125. At this time, even if the reception signal of one reception link section (UL: 1728us) has a change in intensity, a plurality of times (5 times, 10 times, etc.) at a narrower time interval than the predetermined one reception link section (UL: 1728us). ) Will be detected.

6. Signal Analysis

When the digital signal is detected in step S405, the controller 126 analyzes the intensity of the detected signal, and this analyzing step may be divided into more specific steps as follows.

6-1 Average value calculation <S406a>

The controller 126 calculates an average value of the strengths of the signals detected a plurality of times.

6-2 Comparing Average Value <S406b>

The controller 126 compares the average value obtained in step S406a with a preset intensity value. For example, if the preset intensity value is -50 dBm, the attenuation should be attenuated if the average value obtained in step S406a is -40 dBm and no attenuation if it is -60 dBm. Therefore, it is required to compare the average value obtained in step S406a with the preset intensity value. .

7. Attenuation Control

The control unit 126 attenuates the received signal when the average value obtained in step S406a is greater than the preset intensity value according to the comparison in step S406b. The damping unit 121 is controlled to pass through 121. At this time, the attenuation degree of the received signal is changed in accordance with the degree of the average value obtained in S406a. For example, when the preset intensity value is -50 dBm and the average value obtained in step S406a is -40 dBm and -30 dBm, the amount of attenuation of the received signal should be greater when -30 dBm than when -40 dBm. will be.

In addition, the control unit 126 reports the received signal strength information to the upper stage in parallel with this process.

<Received Signal Strength Information Reporting Method>

1. Confirm reference sync signal <S401>

The controller 126 receives the reference synchronization signal PFS from the upper end and checks it.

2. Acquisition of synchronization signal for information reporting <S402>

In step S401, the control unit 126 confirms the reference synchronization signal PFS, and adds a predetermined delay to the reference synchronization signal PFS to obtain the attenuation control reference signal PFS '.

3. Receive link / transmit link judgment <S403>

In step S402, the control unit 126, which has acquired the information reporting synchronization signal PFS ', determines whether it is a reception link or a transmission link according to the attenuation control reference signal PFS.

4. Check the operation of the protection circuit <S404>

If it is determined in step S403 that the reception link, the control unit 126 detects the protection circuit, that is, the received signal and checks whether the entire circuit for controlling the attenuation unit 121 is in an OFF state. Here, if the intensity information reporting method is to be implemented independently of the received signal attenuation method, or if it is implemented together, as described above, the operation of the protection circuit is always kept on, this step in the intensity information reporting method Any number may be omitted.

5. Output value detection of A / D converter <S505>

If it is confirmed in step S404 that the protection circuit is OFF, the controller 126 detects the digital signal output from the A / D converter 125. At this time, even if the reception signal of one reception link section (UP: 1728us), because the intensity fluctuates, it is detected a plurality of times at a narrower time interval than the predetermined one reception link section (UP: 1728us).

6. Signal Analysis

When the digital signal is detected in step S505, the controller 126 analyzes the intensity of the detected signal, and this analyzing step may be divided into more specific steps as follows.

6-1 Average value calculation <S506a>

The controller 126 calculates an average value of the strengths of the signals detected a plurality of times.

6-2 Comparing Average Value <S506b>

The control unit 126 compares the average value obtained in step S506a with a preset intensity value.

7. Century information report <S507>

The controller 126 reports the intensity information according to the comparison in step S506 to the upper end. Therefore, the upper level control system can adjust the power level of the entire mobile communication system including the mobile communication terminal according to the strength information of the received signal reported from the controller 126.

The reception signal attenuation method and the reception signal strength information reporting method in the TDD-type mobile communication system described above may be implemented together as in the flowchart of FIG. 4, but may be independently implemented.

As described above, the present invention has been described through the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, it should be understood that it should be understood by the matter described in the claims to be described later. Do. Therefore, the present invention will be determined by the claims that follow.

Claims (3)

delete An attenuation unit provided on the signal reception path to attenuate the RF signal received from the antenna; A coupling unit coupling the RF signal output through the attenuation unit on the signal receiving path; A detector unit detecting an RF signal coupled from the coupling unit with an analog voltage; An A / D converter converting the analog voltage detected by the detector into a digital signal; And After confirming the reception link as a reference synchronization signal, in the case of the reception link, the control unit detects and analyzes the digital signal from the A / D converter to control the attenuation of the signal by the attenuation unit, and reports the analyzed information to a higher level. ; Including but not limited to: And the control unit confirms the reception link by adding a delay derived in the process on the signal detection path to the reference synchronization signal. delete