WO2005029735A1 - Radio link check - Google Patents
Radio link check Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2005029735A1 WO2005029735A1 PCT/EP2004/009487 EP2004009487W WO2005029735A1 WO 2005029735 A1 WO2005029735 A1 WO 2005029735A1 EP 2004009487 W EP2004009487 W EP 2004009487W WO 2005029735 A1 WO2005029735 A1 WO 2005029735A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- signal
- unit
- signal strength
- base station
- power control
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04B—TRANSMISSION
- H04B17/00—Monitoring; Testing
- H04B17/30—Monitoring; Testing of propagation channels
- H04B17/309—Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters
- H04B17/318—Received signal strength
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04B—TRANSMISSION
- H04B17/00—Monitoring; Testing
- H04B17/20—Monitoring; Testing of receivers
- H04B17/23—Indication means, e.g. displays, alarms, audible means
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04B—TRANSMISSION
- H04B17/00—Monitoring; Testing
- H04B17/20—Monitoring; Testing of receivers
- H04B17/24—Monitoring; Testing of receivers with feedback of measurements to the transmitter
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W52/00—Power management, e.g. TPC [Transmission Power Control], power saving or power classes
- H04W52/04—TPC
- H04W52/06—TPC algorithms
- H04W52/08—Closed loop power control
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W52/00—Power management, e.g. TPC [Transmission Power Control], power saving or power classes
- H04W52/04—TPC
- H04W52/18—TPC being performed according to specific parameters
- H04W52/24—TPC being performed according to specific parameters using SIR [Signal to Interference Ratio] or other wireless path parameters
Definitions
- the present invention relates to radio link check in a portable communication device. More particularly it relates to a method and a device for radio link check in a portable communication device for a user to be able to choose a more favourable location for radio link connection.
- base station strength i. e. the strength of the radio link from the base station to the mobile terminal is often shown graphically on a display of the mobile terminal.
- the base station signal strength indicates a so-called "down-link” connection, which unfortunately is normally of little help where coverage is bad, since the radio link from the mobile terminal up to the base station, the so-called "up-link” is often the weakest link, i. e. the real cause of the bad radio link performance. Therefore, the known solution only taking the down-link signal strength in account to select better radio conditions is not satisfactory.
- the present invention is thus directed towards solving the problem with the radio signal strength including the weakest radio link.
- One object of the present invention is to provide a method for communication link check using both down- and uplink signal strength.
- this object is achieved by a method for communication link check in a portable communication device, said method comprising the steps of:
- COWFSRMATSOM COPY receiving information including power control commands from a base station on a first link; monitoring said first link for base station signal strength and power control commands; - providing a first signal strength representation signal based on base station signal strength; providing a second signal strength representation signal based on the power control commands; and combining said first and second representation signals to provide a third signal strength representation signal which is transmitted to a user presentation unit for communication link check.
- the invention provides signal strength representation using both the down-link as well as the uplink, which improves determination of actual signal strength including also the weakest link.
- a second aspect of the present invention is directed towards a method including the features of the first aspect, in which the said first and second signal strength representation signals are noise signals.
- a third aspect of the present invention is directed towards a method including the features of the first aspect, in which the step of combining said first and second signal strength representation signals includes adding said noise signals.
- a fourth aspect of the present invention is directed towards a method including the features of any one of the first aspect to the third aspect, including the step wherein the third signal is transmitted as audible noise to a user audio output.
- a fifth aspect of the present invention is directed towards a method including the features of the fourth aspect wherein the third signal is presented visually as well.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide a communication link check device for a portable communication device, that easily enables a user to find a location having better radio conditions.
- a communication link check device for a portable electronic device device, said communication link check device comprising : a receiver unit provided for receiving information including a power control signal from a base station on a first link; a monitoring unit connected to said receiver unit for monitoring said first link for base station signal strength and power control; a first signal generating unit connected to said receiver unit, said first signal generating unit being arranged to provide a first signal strength representation signal based on the base station signal strength; a second signal generating unit connected to said receiver unit, said second signal generating unit being arranged to provide a second signal strength representation signal based on the power control signal; a combining unit connected to said first and second signal generating units arranged to combine the first and second signal strength representation signals to a third signal strength representation signal; and a control unit connected to the receiver unit, first and second signal generating units and combining unit for control thereof and being arranged to provide the third signal to a user presentation unit for communication link check.
- a seventh aspect of the present invention is directed towards a communication link check device comprising the features of the sixth aspect, wherein the first first and second signal generating units are noise generating units.
- An eight aspect of the present invention is directed towards a communication link check device comprising the features of the sixth or the seventh aspect, wherein the user presentaion unit is an audio user output and/or a visual user presentation unit.
- a portable communication device comprising : a communication link check device for a portable electronic device device, said communication link check device comprising: a receiver unit provided for receiving information including a power control signal from a base station on a first link; a monitoring unit connected to said receiver unit for monitoring said first link for base station signal strength and power control; a first signal generating unit connected to said receiver unit, said first signal generating unit being arranged to provide a first signal strength representation signal based on the base station signal strength; a second signal generating unit connected to said receiver unit, said second signal generating unit being arranged to provide a second signal strength representation signal based on the power control signal; a combining unit connected to said first and second signal generating units arranged to combine the first and second signal strength representation signals to a third signal strength representation signal; and a control unit connected to the receiver unit, first and second signal generating units and combining unit for control thereof and being arranged to provide the third signal to a user presentation unit for communication link check.
- the uplink which is typically the weakest link, is also monitored so that a user can find a better location having better radio conditions.
- the power control signal can be used to represent the uplink radio conditions, since this signal is depending on the transmission on the uplink.
- the base station instructs the mobile station to increase or decrease transmission power in a way known per se.
- transmit power in the portable electronic device can be less to save battery, as well as reduce interference on neighboring channels.
- Fig. 1 shows a communication link check device for a portable communication device
- Fig. 2 shows a method for communication link check in a portable communication device.
- the communication link check device 102 is controlled by a control unit 103 included in said communication link check device, 102.
- Said communication link check device 102 also comprises a receiver unit 104 provided for communication with a base station (not shown) in a way known per se.
- the communication link check device 102 also includes a monitoring unit 108 for monitoring a first link 109 for base station signal strength and power control commands, and is connected to or located within the receiver unit, 104.
- the communication link check device 102 further comprises a first signal strength representation signal generating unit 110 connected to the receiver unit 104, preferably a first noise generating unit for providing a first signal strength representation signal Ri, preferably a first noise signal based on the base station signal strength.
- the communication link check device 102 further comprises a second signal strength representation signal generating unit 112 connected to the receiver unit 104, preferably a second noise generating unit for providing a second signal strength representation signal R 2 , typically a second noise signal, based on conventional power control commands received from the base station in a way known per se.
- the communication link check device comprises a signal combining unit 114 for combining the first and second signal strength representation signals R 2 and R 2 , i.e. in this embodiment the first and second noise signals to a third signal strength representation signal R 3 provided for link check, typically audible link check by means of transmitting the third signal strength representation signal R 3 to a user audio output 120.
- Fig. 2 presents a flow-chart of one embodiment of a method for communication link check in a portable communication device. Reference will also be given to Fig. 1.
- This method starts by from an incoming radio signal receiving information including a power control signal from a base station on a first link 109 (the so-called downlink), step 202, by means of a receiver unit 104, in a way known per se, as shown in Fig. 1. It is assumed that the receiver unit 104 receives the radio signal and demodulates it in a way known per se, which will therefore not be described in more detail herein. Thereafter, the monitoring unit 108 monitors the first link 109 for base station signal strength, step 204.
- the first signal strength representation signal R preferably a first noise signal based on the base station signal strength is generated, typically in a way known per se, step 206.
- the second signal strength representation signal is generated, step 208.
- the power control signal is a conventional power control signal sent from the base station to the communication link control device for controlling transmitted up-link power, i. e. the signal from a portable communication device including the communication link check device according to the invention.
- the power control signal is received and decoded in a way known per se, which will therefore not be described in more detail and can be transformed into a noise signal or other representation signal in a way known per se.
- the noise generating units do not have to be separate units, but alternatively, they can be included in one unit only, provided that two signal strength representation signals can be generated. Also, they can be integrated with the receiver unit instead of being linked thereto as described.
- a signal combining unit 114 the first and second signal strength representation signals Ri, R 2 are combined, preferably added, step 210 to a third signal strength representation signal R 3 .
- This third signal strength representation signal R 3 is transmitted to a user output provided for link check, preferably as an audible noise signal transmitted to the user of a portable communication device comprising the link check device according to the invention.
- noise will appear to a user as receiver noise comparable to prior analog systems (for instance NMT 450) in which a user could hear noise decreasing when he/she moved to a more favourable location as regards radio signal conditions.
- prior analog systems for instance NMT 450
- down-link noise could be heard, which as described earlier is often of little help since the up-link is typically the weakest point.
- the third signal R 3 representing overall signal strength of both down-link as well as uplink can be presented for the user in some other way than as an audible noise signal.
- some visual means may be provided instead or as a complement to the audible representation, even if this solution is typically less suitable for the user than the audible alternative which is preferred.
- the portable communication device comprising the link check device is a cellular telephone, a smart-phone or a PDA.
- the invention is characterised in that both uplink as well as down-link transmission are monitored to help the user to find a better location having both links optimised.
- both uplink as well as down-link transmission are monitored to help the user to find a better location having both links optimised.
- the invention will help the user to find a better location.
- An example could be a situation where the user has a headset connected to a cellular phone, whereby he/she can move the cellular phone just a little bit to improve radio conditions.
- the invention is also applicable to save battery as a consequence of less transmitting power required for the uplink.
- a user can use this invention to save battery as well.
- radio communication between the base station and the mobile is effected typically using TDMA/FDMA.
- this is by no means intended to limit the invention in any sense, since communication could also be effected for instance by means of CDMA or any other suitable technique.
- the term “down-link” refers to the radio transmission of information bearing signals from the base station to the mobile station.
- the term “uplink”, refers to the radio transmission of information bearing signals from the mobile stations to the base station.
- the portable communication device can be any one of a variety of device like a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, .
- PDA personal digital assistant
- cellular phone a cellular phone
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Quality & Reliability (AREA)
- Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP03021260.9 | 2003-09-19 | ||
EP03021260A EP1517463B1 (en) | 2003-09-19 | 2003-09-19 | Radio link check |
US50634903P | 2003-09-26 | 2003-09-26 | |
US60/506,349 | 2003-09-26 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2005029735A1 true WO2005029735A1 (en) | 2005-03-31 |
Family
ID=34379365
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2004/009487 WO2005029735A1 (en) | 2003-09-19 | 2004-08-25 | Radio link check |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
WO (1) | WO2005029735A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP2697997B1 (en) * | 2011-04-13 | 2019-12-11 | Druid Software Limited | A method of monitoring radio signal coverage |
WO2020098913A1 (en) * | 2018-11-13 | 2020-05-22 | Nokia Solutions And Networks Oy | Apparatus for radio carrier analyzation |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2001024418A1 (en) * | 1999-09-29 | 2001-04-05 | Nokia Corporation | Estimating an indicator for a communication path |
US6266527B1 (en) * | 1998-04-28 | 2001-07-24 | Ericsson Inc. | System and method for measuring power and bit error rate on the up-link and down-link simultaneously |
US20010046867A1 (en) * | 1997-07-31 | 2001-11-29 | Tamiyuki Mizoguchi | Mobile radio communication device provided with functions for detecting and informing interference |
-
2004
- 2004-08-25 WO PCT/EP2004/009487 patent/WO2005029735A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20010046867A1 (en) * | 1997-07-31 | 2001-11-29 | Tamiyuki Mizoguchi | Mobile radio communication device provided with functions for detecting and informing interference |
US6266527B1 (en) * | 1998-04-28 | 2001-07-24 | Ericsson Inc. | System and method for measuring power and bit error rate on the up-link and down-link simultaneously |
WO2001024418A1 (en) * | 1999-09-29 | 2001-04-05 | Nokia Corporation | Estimating an indicator for a communication path |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP2697997B1 (en) * | 2011-04-13 | 2019-12-11 | Druid Software Limited | A method of monitoring radio signal coverage |
WO2020098913A1 (en) * | 2018-11-13 | 2020-05-22 | Nokia Solutions And Networks Oy | Apparatus for radio carrier analyzation |
US11901962B2 (en) | 2018-11-13 | 2024-02-13 | Nokia Solutions And Networks Oy | Apparatus for radio carrier analyzation |
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