WO2011160371A1

WO2011160371A1 - System and method for upgrading software of remote radio unit

Info

Publication number: WO2011160371A1
Application number: PCT/CN2010/077989
Authority: WO
Inventors: 皇甫祯; 杨东良; 山海丰
Original assignee: 中兴通讯股份有限公司
Priority date: 2010-06-22
Filing date: 2010-10-22
Publication date: 2011-12-29
Also published as: CN102300201A

Abstract

A system and a method for upgrading software of a Remote Radio Unit (RRU) are disclosed. The system includes: a version server, for returning the version information corresponding to RRU hardware information according to the RRU hardware information included in a version inquiring request from a RRU, and for receiving a request for downloading version files corresponding to the version information, and supporting the download of the version files; a network management sub-system, for receiving an request for activating the version software corresponding to the RRU version information, and indicating the RRU to activate the version software. In the solution, a version inquiring request carrying RRU hardware information is created and sent by a RRU, thereby solving the problem that it is hard for a Base Band Unit (BBU) to upgrade RRU software with regard to various hardware, accordingly achieving the goal of identifying RRUs with various hardware by the BBU, and then performing software upgrading on the RRUs with various hardware.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to communications or, in particular, to a system and method for upgrading a Radio Radio Unit (RRU) software. BACKGROUND In the development of a wireless communication system architecture, a radio frequency unit is gradually separated from a baseband control unit, and the two are connected by a long-distance transmission means (optical fiber or cable), so that the radio frequency unit can be placed in various places where needed. . The advantage of this architecture is that the entire system is divided into two separate parts for independent development. Multiple RF units share a baseband control unit, which not only reduces the cost, but also improves the flexibility and network coverage of the network. Convenient for engineering installation. The two parts are divided into a Base Band Unit (BBU) and a Radio Frequency Unit (RBU). The RRU can be deployed in a variety of ways, including: chain, star, ring, etc. Normal work affects all RRUs connected to it.

Maintenance of RRU equipment (including software management) is an important part of the entire system. For the RRU, the general location is not easy to reach, and the maintenance work is usually carried out by the BBU connected to it. With the continuous development of mobile communication systems, multi-mode and common-mode technologies continue to mature, and the interfaces between BBUs and RRUs are continuously improved, and unified standards at home and abroad are gradually formed, so that BBUs can manage different types (including different models and different vendors, RRUs of different standards, etc. are possible. In the prior art, the RRU software upgrade usually adopts the following methods: (1) Forming multiple RRU versions of the RRU into a specification package (the small version may be the CPU software version, the communication module software version, and the RF module software version). And downloaded to the BBU through the network pipe system, the BBU parses the 'j, version information of the RRU from the specification package according to a fixed format.

(2) The BBU notifies the RRU to upgrade the version. The RRU downloads the version file from the BBU, resets itself, and completes the version upgrade. (3) The RRU actively reports the version information to the BBU without performing the operation (2).

The BBU compares with the version information maintained by the BBU to determine whether to notify the RRU to upgrade the version. When the upgrade is required, go to step (2), otherwise end the execution. In the prior art, during operation, the BBU only manages the same type of RRU. In the process of implementing the present invention, the inventors realized that the prior art has the following drawbacks: The BBU is difficult to upgrade different hardware RRU software. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for upgrading a wireless radio unit RRU software to solve the problem that the BBU is difficult to upgrade different hardware RRU software. According to an aspect of the present invention, a system for upgrading a wireless radio unit RRU software includes: a version server, configured to return version information corresponding to RRU hardware information according to RRU hardware information included in a version query request of an RRU; The version information corresponds to the download request of the version file, and supports the download of the version file. The network pipe system is configured to receive the activation request of the version software corresponding to the version information of the RRU, and instruct the RRU to activate the version software. Preferably, in the technical solution, the version server includes: a version table, configured to store RRU hardware information, version information, and a version file download information correspondence relationship; a query module, configured to receive a RRU version query request, according to the version query request The RRU hardware information and version table are included, and the version information corresponding to the RRU hardware information is returned; the downloading module is configured to receive the download request of the version file corresponding to the version information, and return the version file download information to the RRU according to the version table; run the FTP server, support Download the version file. Preferably, in the technical solution, the query module is further configured to return version information of the highest version if the RRU hardware information corresponds to the plurality of version information. Preferably, in the technical solution, the network pipe system is further configured to: when the RRU version is upgraded in the version server, send a version upgrade indication to the RRU; and/or when the RRU is required to be upgraded to the specified version or the abnormal ^ 爹爹爹 version The version upgrade indication is sent to the RRU, and the version upgrade indication message includes information of the specified version or the abnormally corrected version. Preferably, in the technical solution, the version server is independent of the BBU. According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for upgrading an RRU software is provided, including: the version server maintains the RRU version service information; the RRU creates and sends a version query request, and the version query request carries the RRU hardware. The version server returns the version information corresponding to the RRU hardware information; the RRU compares the version information with the version information maintained by itself, and if the version information returned by the version server is higher than the version information maintained by itself, the version information is sent to the version server. Corresponding The version file download request; the version server supports the version file download; the network pipe system receives the RRU version information corresponding to the version software activation request, and indicates the RRU activation version software. Preferably, in the technical solution, the version server maintains the RRU version service information, and specifically includes: saving the version file corresponding to the version information in the version server preset directory; maintaining the version table on the version server, the version table storing the RRU hardware information, the version information, and Correspondence between version file download information. In the present invention, the RRU is used to create and send a version query request carrying the hardware information of the RRU, thereby solving the problem that the BBU upgrades the hardware RRU software differently, and the BBU identifies different hardware RRUs, and then upgrades the software RRUs of different hardware. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are set to illustrate,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an RRU software upgrade system in accordance with a first embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for upgrading an RRU software according to a first embodiment of the method of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a flowchart of RRU software activation in a method for upgrading a RRU software according to an embodiment of the method of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an activation method in a method for upgrading a RRU software according to an embodiment of the method of the present invention; flow chart. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments in the present application and the features in the embodiments may be combined with each other without conflict. Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an RRU software upgrade system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 , the RRU software upgrade system in this embodiment includes: a version server 104, which passes the BBU and the RRU. Connected, for RRU hardware information included in the RRU version query request, returning the version information corresponding to the RRU hardware information; receiving the version information corresponding to the version file download request, supporting the version file download; the network pipe system 102, The BBU is connected to the RRU, and the version information for receiving the RRU corresponds to the activation request of the version software, and indicates that the RRU activates the version software. In this embodiment, the BBU is only used as a channel for the version server and the network pipe system and the RRU. In this embodiment, the RRU software upgrade system uses the RRU to create and send a version query request that carries the RRU hardware information, thereby solving the problem that the BBU upgrades the hardware RRU software difficulty, and the BBU identifies different hardware RRUs, and then performs different hardware RRUs. The purpose of the software upgrade. Apparatus Embodiment 2: This embodiment will further explain the version server on the basis of the first embodiment. Preferably, the version server includes: a version table, configured to store RRU hardware information, version information, and version file download information correspondence; a query module, configured to receive a RRU version query request, according to the version query request The RRU hardware information and the version table return the version information corresponding to the RRU hardware information. The download module is configured to receive the download request of the version file corresponding to the version information, and the version table, and return the version file download information to the RRU; and run FTP (File Transfer Protocol, File Transfer Protocol) Server, which supports downloading of version files. In this embodiment, the query module is further configured to return version information of the highest version if the RRU hardware information corresponds to multiple software versions. The network pipe system is also used to send a version upgrade indication to the RRU after the RRU version is upgraded in the version server; and/or to send a version upgrade to the RRU when the RRU is required to upgrade to the specified version or the abnormal version. Indicates that the version upgrade indication message contains information about the specified version or the abnormally corrected version. This embodiment is a specific embodiment of the first embodiment. In addition to all the beneficial effects of the first embodiment, the embodiment is more implementable. Device Embodiment 3: In this embodiment, the RRU software upgrade system includes: a network pipe system, a version server, and a BBU. The network pipe system is used to manage the BBU and the RRU. It has the right to decide whether to allow the RRU to be upgraded, and can send the version upgrade command to the RRU. The version server can be part of the network pipe system and is also a stand-alone subsystem that maintains all types of RRU versions of the carrier and supports version information query and version file download. The BBU is connected to the RRU, and provides a channel for the network pipe system and the version server to interact with the RRU, and implements the RRU and the network pipe system and the version server. Transparent transmission of messages between, and transfer of RRU version files from the version server to the RRU. In this embodiment, the RRU software upgrade system does not need to create a specification package in the RRU version upgrade process, and the BBU does not need to maintain the RRU version, thereby reducing the complexity of the BBU version maintenance and making the RRU version upgrade process simple and convenient. Method Embodiment 1 FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for upgrading an RRU software according to Embodiment 1 of the method of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the embodiment includes: Step S202: The version server maintains the RRU version service information; Step S204, the RRU creates and sends a version query request, and the version query request carries the hardware information of the RRU; Step S206, the version server returns the RRU The version information corresponding to the hardware information is compared; in step S208, the RRU compares the version information with the version information maintained by the RRU. If the version information returned by the version server is higher than the version information maintained by the version server, the download of the version file corresponding to the version information is sent to the version server. Step S210, the version server supports the version file downloading; Step S212, the network pipe system receives the RRU version information corresponding to the version software activation request, and instructs the RRU to activate the version software. In this embodiment, the RRU software upgrade method uses the RRU to create and send a version query request that carries the RRU hardware information, thereby solving the problem that the BBU upgrades different hardware RRU software difficulties, and the BBU identifies different hardware RRUs, and thus different hardware. RRU performs software upgrades. Method Embodiment 2: This embodiment will describe each step in the first embodiment of the method in detail. The BBU is only the path between the version server (or network pipe system) and the RRU. For the sake of simplicity, the BBU is not reflected in the interaction of messages between the version server (or network pipe system) and the RRU. The version server maintains the RRU version service information, including the following three aspects. (1) Save the RRU version file of the specific model in the specified directory of the version server; (2) Maintain the RRU version table on the version server, which maintains RRU hardware information and version information and version file download information (for example: server IP, Correspondence of version storage path, etc.; (3) Run the service program on the version server, the service program includes the following functions: Support version information query request processing, when querying multiple version information, the service program can compare and obtain the highest Version information, and responds to the RRU version query result, supports RRU version download request processing, and can respond to the information required for RRU version download.

The step of the RRU to create and send a version query request includes: 1) starting the version upgrade period timer in the RRU, when the timer expires, the RRU sends a request for obtaining the version information to the BBU; 2) the BBU forwards the version information request message to the version month. Server. The steps of the version server supporting the version file downloading include: 1) the information required by the server to respond to the BRU to download the version (for example: server IP, version storage path, etc.); 2) running the FTP server, according to the version file Download the information and download the version file. The network pipe system receives the activation request of the software version of the RRU, and indicates that the step of the RRU activation software version includes:

(1) The RRU stops the version upgrade period timer, uploads the version activation request message to the BBU, and starts the version activation upper cycle timer, and periodically releases the version activation request to the BBU;

(2) The BBU forwards the version activation request message to the network pipe system, and the network pipe system determines whether to activate the RRU version software according to the current situation, and needs to activate the execution step (3), otherwise the current execution is terminated;

(3) The network pipe system sends a version activation indication message to the BBU, and the BBU forwards the message to

RRU;

(4) After receiving the version activation indication message, the RRU stops the version activation. • The cycle timer, switches the current running directory and the backup directory, sends a version activation indication response message to the BBU, and resets itself;

(5) The BBU forwards the version activation indication response message to the network pipe system, and the network pipe system confirms that the RRU version is activated;

(6) The RRU starts running from the running directory load version and checks if the version is normal. Normally, the version upgrade period timer is started, and the version is upgraded normally. This execution is terminated. Improper In the case, continue to perform the subsequent step 4;

(7) Maintain the current abnormal version information to the abnormal version information table of the local FLASH, switch the current running directory and the backup directory, and reset itself;

(8) The RRU version is rolled back to the pre-upgrade version and is running normally. In the RRU software upgrade method of this embodiment, the specification package is not required, and the specification package is not downloaded to the BBU, thereby reducing the workload of the RRU version upgrade. At the same time, the BBU does not need to maintain the RRU version and version information, which reduces the complexity of BBU version maintenance. Finally, this embodiment successfully solves the problem that the upgrade of different types of RRU versions in the prior art is difficult. The RRU version upgrade process only needs to maintain the corresponding version information in the version server, and the RRU actively upgrades the version, which saves the RRU version upgrade time and improves the version upgrade efficiency. Method Embodiment 3: This embodiment will describe the RRU software upgrade method in detail. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of RRU software upgrade in a method for upgrading a RRU software according to an embodiment of the method of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the RRU software upgrade method in this embodiment includes: Step S302: When the version upgrade period timer T1 timing of the RRU arrives, the RRU sends a version information request message to the BBU, where the message body carries the RRU. Hardware information, the hardware information may include information such as the RRU hardware type and the hardware version number; in step S304, the BBU forwards the version information request message to the version server; and in step S306, the RRU hardware information and the RRU hardware in the version table are used by the version server. The information is matched to find the version information corresponding to the RRU. When the version server does not find the version information corresponding to the RRU, the BBU responds with a version information response failure message; when the version server finds multiple version information, Comparing to obtain the latest version information; Step S308, responding to the BBU to obtain a version information response message, the message body may include information such as the number of the RRU version, the version type, and the version number; and in step S310, the BBU forwards the version server to obtain the version information response. Message to the RRU; Step S312, after receiving the version information response message, the RRU first Find judge success, the lookup fails, then the end of this execution; find success case, RRU compare their current version The information and the version information obtained from the server, if the version level obtained is lower, the RRU ends the execution and does not perform the upgrade; otherwise, the RRU reads the abnormal version information from the local FLASH (this information is used to maintain the last abnormality of the RRU). Version information), whether the current version information is consistent with the abnormal version information. When the results are consistent, the RRU ends the current execution; when it is inconsistent, the RRU decides to upgrade the current version; Step S314, sends a version file download request message to the BBU, the request The message includes the version information that needs to be downloaded, and may include information such as the number of versions, the version type, and the version number. Step S316: The BBU forwards the version file download request message to the version server; Step S318, the version server receives After the version file download request, find the version path to be downloaded in the version table, and obtain the information of the FTP server server (including: Ftp Server server IP, user name, password, etc.); Step S320, send a version file download response message to the BBU. Step S322, the BBU forwards the version file download response After the RRU receives the version file download response message, the RRU downloads the version file from the version server to the BACKUP directory through the BBU using the FTP protocol; Step S326, after the RRU version file is downloaded, sends the version to the BBU. a software activation request message, stopping the version cycle upgrade timer T1, and starting the version activation period reporting timer T2; Step S328, the T2 timer is used on the periodic network pipe system. A new version of the RRU has been downloaded and needs to be activated; S330, the BBU forwards the version software activation request message to the network pipe system; step S332, after receiving the version software activation request message, the network pipe system determines whether to allow the RRU to perform version software activation according to the current situation; Step S334, if not allowed, activate The request is not processed; permission is sent to the BBU to send a version software activation indication message; Step S336, the BBU forwards the version software activation indication message to the RRU; Step S338, after receiving the version software activation indication message, the RRU stops the version activation period 艮 Timer T2, and send a version software activation indication response message to the BBU to perform version software activation processing; Step S340, the BBU forwards the version software activation indication response message to the network pipe system; Step S342, the RRU starts version software activation processing. This embodiment is a refinement of the corresponding steps in the first to third embodiments of the foregoing method, and has all the beneficial effects of the foregoing embodiments, and will not be repeated here. Method Embodiment 4: This embodiment will describe the RRU software activation method in detail. 4 is a flow chart of RRU software activation in a four-RRU software upgrade method according to an embodiment of the method of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the RRU software upgrade method in this embodiment includes: Step S402, the RRU switches the current running directory RUNNING and the backup directory BACKUP; Step S404, the RRU resets itself; Step S406, the RRU loads the version file from the running directory RUNNING, and Step S408, the RRU checks whether the running status of the RNG is normal; Step S410, normal, step 4 is performed S412; abnormally, step 4 is performed S416; Step S412, the RRU starts the version upgrade period timer T1; Step S414, RRU version If the upgrade succeeds, the process ends; Step S416, the RRU records the current abnormal version information to the local FLASH; Step S418, the RRU switches the current running directory RUNNING and the backup directory BACKUP; Step S420, the RRU resets itself; Step S422, the RRU loads the version from the running directory RUNNING And start; in step S424, the RRU starts normally, and rolls back to the pre-upgrade version. This embodiment is a refinement of the corresponding steps in the first to third embodiments of the foregoing method, and has the above embodiment. All the benefits, not repeated here. Method Embodiment 5: The foregoing method embodiments describe the RRU software upgrade method in detail, and the main feature is that the RRU initiates an upgrade process. However, in the actual process, there may be three special cases as follows: (1) After the RRU version is upgraded, the RRU upgrade version needs to be notified immediately; (2) The RRU needs to be upgraded to the specified version instead of the latest version; The RRU exception version ^ ί ' tampering is completed, but the RRU cannot be automatically upgraded to the version due to the abnormal version information stored in the RRU local FLASH. In view of the above situation, the embodiment solves the problem by using the network pipe system to notify the RRU to perform version upgrade. When the RRU is required to be upgraded immediately, the RRU version upgrade indication message is sent to notify the RRU to upgrade the version. If the RRU is upgraded to the specified version or the abnormal version, the version upgrade information may be included in the version upgrade indication message. , notify the RRU to upgrade to the specified version. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an activation method of a method for upgrading a RRU software according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the RRU software upgrade method in this embodiment includes: Step S502: Send a version upgrade indication message to the BBU through the network pipe system, and start a timer T3; the indication message may include whether to upgrade the RRU to the specified version, and The information about the specified version (the number of the version, the version type, and the version number) is forwarded to the RRU by the BBU. Step S504: After receiving the version upgrade indication, the RRU determines whether to upgrade to the specified version. If yes, go to step S510; otherwise, Step S506: Step S506, the RRU resets the version upgrade period timer T1, and obtains upgrade version information from the version server through the BBU. Step S508, the RRU uses the obtained version information and the version version of the local FLASH and the abnormal version information in the local FLASH. In the step S512, the RRU determines whether the download information is successfully obtained through the BBU. In step S512, the RRU determines whether the download information is successfully obtained. , proceeding to the subsequent step S514; otherwise, performing step S518; step S514, RRU pass BBU sends version upgrade instructions to the network management subsystem response message (message content can be expressed as: a response indicating successful upgrade); away from the RRU via the server version BBU After downloading the RRU version, in step S516, after the RRU version is downloaded, the current running directory RUNNING and the backup directory BACKUP are switched, and the user is reset, the version upgrade process is completed, and the process ends; Step S518, the RRU sends a version upgrade indication response message to the network pipe system. (The message content can be expressed as: no upgrade or no version information is required), and the process ends. In this embodiment, after receiving the version upgrade indication response message, the network pipe system stops the timer T3, and determines the RRU version upgrade status according to the content of the indication message, such as success, no upgrade, or no version information. When the timer T3 expires, the network pipe system has not received the RRU version upgrade indication response message, indicating that the RRU status is abnormal. In this embodiment, the RTU is notified by the network pipe system to perform the version upgrade, which is complementary to the technical solution of the second embodiment of the method, and has the beneficial effects of being easier to operate and implement. The invention uses the version server to maintain the RRU version, and uses the network pipe system to manage the upgrade and activation of the RRU version. The BBU only provides the channel exchanged between the RRU and the version server and the network pipe system, thereby effectively reducing the version of the BBU in the prior art. Maintenance work, which enables BBU and RRU version management to be decommissioned, and implements systems and methods for different types of RRU version management. At the same time, the version of the server maintains the RRU version, which eliminates the process of downloading the version to the BBU, shortens the version upgrade time, and relieves the pressure on the FLASH storage space in the BBU. Finally, the RRU cycle upgrade version method provided by the present invention makes the RRU version upgrade process time-saving and labor-saving. Obviously, those skilled in the art should understand that the above modules or steps of the present invention can be implemented by a general-purpose computing device, which can be concentrated on a single computing device or distributed over a network composed of multiple computing devices. Alternatively, they may be implemented by program code executable by the computing device, such that they may be stored in the storage device by the computing device and, in some cases, may be different from the order herein. The steps shown or described are performed, or they are separately fabricated into individual integrated circuit modules, or a plurality of modules or steps are fabricated as a single integrated circuit module. Thus, the invention is not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software. The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention, and various modifications and changes can be made to the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the scope of the present invention are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claim

A radio frequency unit RRU software upgrade system, comprising:

a version server, configured to return version information corresponding to the RRU hardware information according to the RRU hardware information included in the version query request of the RRU; receive a download request of the version file corresponding to the version information, and support downloading the version file ;

The network pipe system is configured to receive an activation request of the version information of the RRU corresponding to the version software, and instruct the RRU to activate the version software.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein: the version server comprises:

a version table, configured to store correspondences between RRU hardware information, version information, and version file download information;

a querying module, configured to receive a version query request of the RRU, and return the version information corresponding to the RRU hardware information according to the RRU hardware information and the version table included in the version query request;

a downloading module, configured to receive a download request of the version file corresponding to the version information, and return the version file download information to the RRU according to the version table; and run a file transfer protocol FTP server to support the version file download.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein:

The query module is further configured to return version information of the highest version if the RRU hardware information corresponds to multiple version information.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the network pipe system is further configured to: after upgrading the RRU version in the version server, send a version upgrade indication to the RRU; and / or

When the RRU is upgraded to the specified version or the abnormal version, the version upgrade indication is sent to the RRU, and the version upgrade indication message includes the specified version or the abnormal information.

The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that:

The version server is independent of the baseband unit BBU.

6. A method for upgrading a wireless radio unit RRU software, comprising: The server maintains RRU version service information;

The RRU creates and sends a version query request, where the version query request carries hardware information of the RRU;

The version server returns version information corresponding to the RRU hardware information;

The RRU compares the version information with the version information maintained by the version, and if the version information returned by the version server is higher than the version information maintained by the version server, the version information corresponding to the version information is sent to the version server. Request

The version server supports downloading the version file;

The network pipe system receives the activation request of the version information of the RRU corresponding to the version software, and instructs the RRU to activate the version software.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein:

The version server maintains the RRU version service information, and the method includes: saving the version file corresponding to the version information in the version server preset directory; maintaining a version table on the version server, where the version table stores the RRU hardware information, the version information, and the version file. The correspondence of the download information.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the version server supports version file downloading specifically:

Receiving a download request of the version file corresponding to the version file of the RRU, and storing the version file download information to the RRU;

Running the file transfer protocol FTP server, according to the version file download information, downloading the version file.

The method according to any one of claims 6-8, characterized in that:

The RRU creates and sends a version query request specifically: the RRU sends a version query request to the version server according to a preset period;

Before the network pipe system receives the activation request of the version information of the RRU, the method further includes: sending, by the RRU, the activation request of the version information corresponding to the version software to the network pipe system according to a preset period. A method according to any one of claims 6-8, characterized in that:

The version server is independent of the baseband unit BBU.