JP2007074355A - Base station device and method for monitoring overlap of control channels using the base station device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately perform segregation processing between a base station device and other base station devices. <P>SOLUTION: A base station device 100 includes; a timing generation part 172 which generates a timing signal defining a timing at which a transmission part 152 and a reception part 120 should be operated; a switching part 190 which switches a mode of the base station device 100 to a transmission mode or a reception mode on the basis of the timing signal generated by the timing generation part and outputs a control signal for operating the transmission part to the transmission part in the case of the transmission mode and outputs a control signal for operating the reception part to the reception part in the case of the reception mode; and a monitor part 174 which observes peripheral radio frequency signals to monitor control channels transmitted from other base station devices, in the reception mode. In the transmission mode, the switching part outputs the control signal to the reception part synchronously with a transmission timing of a control channel in a preliminarily determined proportion. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a base station apparatus that monitors an overlap between its own control channel and a control channel of another base station apparatus in order to execute a segregation process with another base station apparatus. The present invention relates to an overlap monitoring method.

  As a base station apparatus that communicates with a mobile station apparatus by a time division multiple access (TDMA) method, for example, there is a base unit of a digital cordless telephone. A base unit of a digital cordless telephone communicates with a handset which is a mobile station apparatus by a TDMA system.

  The base unit of the digital cordless telephone includes a transmission unit and a reception unit as a wireless communication mechanism. The control unit of the master unit determines, depending on time, an ON signal and an OFF signal that specify the ON and OFF operation timings of the transmission unit, and an ON signal and an OFF signal that specify the ON and OFF operation timings of the reception unit (hereinafter referred to as ON The signal and the OFF signal are collectively referred to as a timing signal) and are alternately output to the transmission unit and the reception unit. Thereby, the control unit of the base unit operates the transmission unit and the reception unit alternately to transmit a radio frequency signal to the surroundings (hereinafter referred to as a transmission mode) and a mode to receive a radio frequency signal from the surroundings. (Hereinafter referred to as reception mode) are executed alternately.

  The communication frame of the master unit is usually composed of a transmission frame for 4 slots and a reception frame for 4 slots. Therefore, the base unit normally executes the transmission mode for 4 slots and the reception mode for 4 slots alternately. Note that a transmission frame is assigned to transmission of a control channel for controlling a slave unit in which any one of the four slots is a mobile station apparatus. The master unit transmits a control channel to the slave unit at a slot assigned to control channel transmission (hereinafter referred to as a control channel slot). Thereby, the master unit synchronizes the transmission timing and the reception timing of the radio frequency signal with the slave unit.

  The control unit of the master unit is composed of a microcomputer physically built as an LSI component for control of the master unit. The control unit of the base unit stores a fixed communication frame so that the mode can be switched in conformity with international regulations. The control unit of the base unit alternately outputs timing signals to the transmission unit and the reception unit along the communication frame. Thereby, a transmission part and a receiving part operate | move alternately. At this time, since the transmission unit and the reception unit operate alternately, the base unit cannot receive the radio frequency signal during the transmission frame, and cannot transmit the radio frequency signal during the reception frame.

  On the other hand, the slave unit of the digital cordless telephone is set in the reception mode and the transmission mode so that it is in the reception mode in the transmission mode of the master unit and in the transmission mode in the reception mode of the master unit in synchronization with the communication frame of the master unit. Execute alternately. Thereby, the slave unit can communicate with the master unit.

  Note that synchronization between the master unit and the slave unit is performed when the master unit transmits a control channel to the surroundings when the control channel slot, and the slave unit transmits a control channel transmitted from the master unit (hereinafter referred to as a control channel of the master unit). And the switching timing between the transmission mode and the reception mode of the master unit is identified based on the detected control channel.

  Such a digital cordless telephone may be used in a place where many households are close to each other, such as an apartment. In this case, when a digital cordless telephone is used in a plurality of homes, an overlap occurs in a wireless zone used between the master unit and the slave unit of each digital cordless phone.

  When an overlap occurs in each radio zone, each parent unit operates independently (that is, each parent unit operates asynchronously with the other parent unit), and therefore overlaps the control channel of each parent unit. Sometimes occurs.

  At this time, since the control channels transmitted from the respective parent devices interfere with each other, the child device cannot normally detect the control channel of the parent device. For this reason, the slave unit cannot synchronize with the master unit and cannot normally send and receive calls with the master unit. Therefore, the slave unit cannot communicate with the master unit.

  Therefore, conventionally, for example, the following first or second method has been used so that the control channels of the respective parent devices do not overlap.

  As a first method, each parent device executes segregation processing with other parent devices at the start of operation. The segregation process is a process in which the master unit allocates control channel slots to empty slots so that the control channel transmitted by the host device and the control channel transmitted by another master unit do not overlap. This sorting process is performed as follows, for example. First, the base unit enters a reception mode for a certain period of time, and observes the received electric field strength of the received radio frequency signal while receiving the radio frequency signal from the surroundings. At this time, when there is a control channel transmitted from one or more other parent devices, the parent device detects the control channel of the other parent device according to the received electric field strength of the radio frequency signal. Next, the master unit identifies the slot timing of the other master unit based on the detected control channel of the other master unit. Next, the master unit detects an empty slot from the surrounding signal status based on the slot timing of the other master unit identified. When there is no control channel transmitted from another master unit, all slots become empty slots. Finally, the base unit assigns control channel slots to empty slots. In this way, the master unit executes the segregation process. Each master unit starts operation when the segregation process ends. Each master unit waits for a while and does not start the operation when the sorting process does not end due to a reason that an empty slot cannot be detected.

As a second method, each parent device generates a frame synchronization signal based on the radio frequency signal received from the other parent device, and generates a communication frame with the child device based on the frame synchronization signal. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-16977 (paragraphs 1 to 43, FIG. 1)

  However, the conventional base station apparatus (here, the base unit of the digital cordless telephone) corresponds to, for example, one of the following cases 1 to 4 even when the first or second method described above is used. In such a case, there is a problem that there is a case where the segregation process with other base units cannot be performed properly.

Case 1: A case where the segregation process is performed simultaneously between two base units of a digital cordless phone Case 2: A case where the reference clocks of the two base units of the digital cordless phone are shifted Case 3: A grudge When the radio wave of another base unit is weak during the separation process Example 4: When the installation location of itself or another base unit changes after the segregation process

  When any of these cases 1 to 4 is applicable, there is a case where the control channel of each parent device overlaps.

  At this time, once the operation starts, the base unit cannot receive a signal in the transmission mode, and thus cannot detect an overlap between its own control channel and the control channel of another base unit. For this reason, the master unit cannot properly perform segregation processing with other master units.

  At this time, since the control channels of the respective parent devices interfere with each other, the child device cannot normally detect the control channel of the parent device. For this reason, the slave unit cannot synchronize with the master unit and cannot normally send and receive calls with the master unit. Therefore, the slave unit cannot communicate with the master unit.

  As described above, the conventional base station apparatus may not be able to properly perform segregation processing with other base station apparatuses even when the first or second method described above is used. There was a problem.

  The present invention provides a base station apparatus that detects an overlap between a control channel of its own apparatus and a control channel of another base station apparatus with higher accuracy than before in order to appropriately perform segregation processing with other base station apparatuses, And it aims at providing the overlap monitoring method of a control channel.

  The apparatus invention of this application relates to a base station apparatus that communicates with a mobile station apparatus by a time division multiple access method. In order to solve the above-described problem, a base station apparatus according to the present invention operates a transmission unit for transmitting a radio frequency signal, a reception unit for receiving a radio frequency signal, a transmission unit, and a reception unit. Based on the timing signal generated by the timing generator and the timing signal generated by the timing generator, the mode of the base station apparatus is switched to the transmission mode or the reception mode, and the transmission unit is operated in the transmission mode. A switching unit that outputs a control signal to the transmission unit and outputs a control signal that activates the reception unit to the reception unit in the reception mode, and a surrounding radio frequency signal that is transmitted from another base station device in the reception mode. And a monitoring unit for monitoring the control channel. In the transmission mode, the switching unit outputs a control signal for operating the receiving unit to the receiving unit at a predetermined rate in accordance with the transmission timing of the control channel.

  In the base station apparatus of the present invention, in the transmission mode, the switching unit sends a control signal (that is, an ON signal) for operating the receiving unit to the receiving unit at a predetermined rate in accordance with the transmission timing of the control channel. Output. As a result, the transmission mode of the base station apparatus changes to the reception mode at a predetermined rate in accordance with the transmission timing of the control channel.

  In addition, the method invention of this application uses a base station apparatus that communicates with a mobile station apparatus while alternately switching between a transmission mode and a reception mode, so that the transmission timing of the control channel of the base station apparatus and the control channel of another base station apparatus The present invention relates to a method for monitoring overlap of control channels for monitoring the overlap with the transmission timing. In order to solve the above-described problem, the control channel overlap monitoring method of the present invention sets the mode of the base station apparatus from the transmission mode at a predetermined rate in accordance with the transmission timing of the control channel in the transmission mode. In the reception mode, including the forced switching step forcibly switching to the reception mode and the transmission timing of the control channel switched to the reception mode by the forced switching step, the surrounding radio frequency signals are observed and transmitted from other base station devices. Monitoring the monitored control channel.

  The control channel monitoring method of this method invention forcibly switches the mode of the base station apparatus from the transmission mode to the reception mode at a predetermined rate in accordance with the control channel transmission timing in the transmission mode.

  According to the base station apparatus of the present invention, the switching unit receives the control signal (that is, the ON signal) that operates the receiving unit at a predetermined rate in accordance with the transmission timing of the control channel in the transmission mode. Output to. As a result, the transmission mode of the base station apparatus changes to the reception mode at a predetermined rate in accordance with the transmission timing of the control channel.

  For example, when the base station device transmits a control channel to the mobile station device at the first control channel transmission timing, the base station device at the second to n-th (n is a predetermined number) control channel transmission timing. The mode changes from the transmission mode to the reception mode. Then, in addition to the original reception mode, the base station apparatus performs control channel monitoring processing for other base station apparatuses at the second to n-th control channel transmission timings.

  Therefore, the base station apparatus of this invention can detect the overlap of the control channel of the own apparatus and the control channel of another base station apparatus with higher precision than before.

  As a result, the base station apparatus of the present invention can perform the segregation process with other base station apparatuses more appropriately than in the past.

  Further, according to the control channel monitoring method of the present invention, in the transmission mode, the mode of the base station apparatus is forcibly changed from the transmission mode to the reception mode at a predetermined rate in accordance with the transmission timing of the control channel. Switch. As a result, the transmission mode of the base station apparatus changes to the reception mode at a predetermined rate in accordance with the transmission timing of the control channel. Such a control channel monitoring method can perform control channel monitoring processing of another base station apparatus at the transmission timing of the control channel in addition to the original reception mode.

  Therefore, the control channel monitoring method of the present invention can detect the overlap between the control channel of the own device and the control channel of another base station apparatus with higher accuracy than in the past.

  As a result, the control channel monitoring method of the present invention can perform the segregation process with other base station apparatuses more appropriately than in the past.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the illustrated example. Moreover, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the common component and the same component, and those overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

<Configuration of base station device (main unit of digital cordless telephone)>
The configuration of the base station apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 shows an internal block of the base station apparatus. Here, the base station apparatus 100 will be described by taking a base unit of a digital cordless telephone as an example. Further, as a mobile station device, a slave unit of a digital cordless telephone will be described as an example. In the following description, “own device” means “base station apparatus (master unit of digital cordless telephone) 100” itself. Further, in the following description, “another device” means “a base station device other than the own device (a parent device of a digital cordless telephone)”.

  Note that the base station apparatus of the present invention is based on the idea of using the same control unit as the conventional one. This is because the control unit has a physically built-in configuration, and changing the configuration of the control unit increases the cost and complicates the design, thus avoiding such problems. .

  The base unit 100 of the digital cordless telephone includes an antenna 110, a high frequency switch 112, a receiving unit 120, a demodulating unit 122, a received electric field strength detecting unit 124, a digital processing unit 130, an analog processing unit 132, a calling unit 140, a modulating unit 150, and transmission. Unit 152, frequency synthesizer 160, control unit 170, oscillator 180, switching unit 190, and the like. Among these components, the control unit 170 includes a timing generation unit 172, a monitoring unit 174, a memory 176, and the like.

  The antenna 110 is a functional unit that transmits or receives a radio frequency signal (Radio Frequency: RF signal) to and from the surroundings via a radio call channel.

  The high frequency switch 112 is a functional unit that switches between transmission and reception of a radio frequency signal. That is, when the radio frequency signal is acquired from the transmission unit 152 in the transmission mode, the radio frequency switch 112 outputs the radio frequency signal to the antenna 110, and when the radio frequency signal is acquired from the antenna 110 in the reception mode, the radio frequency signal is output. This is a functional means for outputting to the receiving unit 120.

  The receiving unit 120 amplifies the radio frequency signal received by the antenna 110 to a predetermined reception power level, mixes the amplified radio frequency signal and a local oscillation frequency signal described later, and receives a received intermediate frequency signal (Intermediate Frequency: IF). Signal).

  The demodulator 122 is a functional unit that demodulates the received intermediate frequency signal generated by the receiver 120.

  The received electric field strength detection unit 124 is a functional unit that observes the received electric field strength of the radio frequency signal received by the antenna 110.

  The digital processing unit 130 is a functional unit that extracts a digital audio signal that matches the received frame from the digital audio signal separated from the received intermediate frequency signal by the demodulating unit 122. The digital processing unit 130 is also functional means for generating a multiplexed digital audio signal by inserting the digital audio signal A / D converted by the analog processing unit 132 into a transmission frame.

  The analog processing unit 132 is a functional unit that D / A converts a digital audio signal that matches the received frame and reproduces the analog audio signal. The analog processing unit 132 is also functional means for A / D converting the analog audio signal to generate a digital audio signal.

  The call unit 140 includes a microphone for inputting sound, a speaker for outputting sound, a display panel for displaying information necessary for a call, a button for inputting information necessary for a call, and an interface for transmitting and receiving analog audio signals to and from the network 600 ( I / F) is a functional means for inputting / outputting voice and information.

  When acquiring the digital audio signal from the digital processing unit 130, the modulation unit 150 modulates the digital audio signal to generate a transmission intermediate frequency signal, and outputs the transmission intermediate frequency signal to the transmission unit 152.

  The transmission unit 152 is a functional unit that generates a radio frequency signal based on the transmission intermediate frequency signal generated by the modulation unit 1500.

  The frequency synthesizer 160 is a functional unit that generates a local oscillation frequency signal. The local oscillation frequency signal is a signal that determines the frequency (that is, the radio channel frequency) of the radio frequency signal used for transmission and reception, and is specified by the control unit 170 according to the radio channel frequency.

  The control unit 170 is a functional unit that controls each unit of the parent device 100. The control unit 170 is composed of a microcomputer that is physically built as an LSI component for controlling the parent device 100, as in the prior art. The control unit 170 uses the clock signal generated by the oscillator 180 as an operation clock, and performs various controls for performing communication using a radio frequency signal or an analog audio signal.

  As described above, the control unit 170 includes the timing generation unit 172, the monitoring unit 174, the memory 176, and the like.

  The timing generation unit 172 is a functional unit that generates a timing signal that defines the timing for switching between the transmission mode and the reception mode (that is, a timing signal that defines the timing for operating the transmission unit 152 and the reception unit 120). Based on the clock signal generated by the oscillator 180, the timing generator 172 generates a timing signal unique to the own device.

  The monitoring unit 174 is a functional unit that monitors the control channel of another parent device (hereinafter also referred to as another device).

  The monitoring unit 174 monitors the control channel of the other device as follows. That is, in the reception mode, the monitoring unit 174 acquires a signal indicating the reception field strength of the radio frequency signal from the reception field strength detection unit 124, and the reception field strength is determined based on the signal indicating the reception field strength of the radio frequency signal. A burst signal exceeding a predetermined threshold is detected. The monitoring unit 174 sequentially stores information on the burst signal in the memory 176 each time a burst signal exceeding a predetermined threshold is detected. Next, the monitoring unit 174 reads information related to the burst signal from the memory 176 at a predetermined timing, and detects a burst signal with periodicity. This burst signal with periodicity is the control channel of the other device. Next, the monitoring unit 174 identifies the slot timing of the other device based on the control channel of the other device. Each time the monitoring unit 174 detects the control channel of the other device, the monitoring unit 174 sequentially stores information on the detected control channel of the other device and information on the slot timing of the other device in the memory 176. In this way, the monitoring unit 174 monitors the control channel of the other device.

  The monitoring unit 174 also functions as a segregation processing unit that executes segregation processing with other devices.

  The monitoring unit 174 performs segregation processing that executes segregation processing with other devices as follows. That is, for example, the monitoring unit 174 reads information on the control channel of the other device from the memory 176 once or several times a day, and detects a slot where the control channel of the other device does not exist (that is, an empty slot). Next, the monitoring unit 174 reads information related to the communication frame from the memory 176 and sets the slot timing of the own device. At this time, the monitoring unit 174 allocates its own control channel slot to an empty slot. Then, the monitoring unit 174 outputs information related to its own slot timing to the memory 176 and stores it in the memory 176. As a result, the timing generation unit 172 of the control unit 170 reads information related to the slot timing of the own device from the memory 176 and generates a timing signal based on the information related to the slot timing of the own device. In addition, the monitoring unit 174 outputs information related to the slot timing of the own device to the switching unit 190 and causes the switching unit 190 to store the information. As a result, when the switching unit 190 obtains the timing signal from the control unit 170, the switching unit 190 generates a control signal based on the timing signal and information regarding the slot timing of the own device, and outputs the control signal to the transmission unit 152 or the reception unit 120. To come. The timing generation unit 172 and the switching unit 190 of the control unit 170 are different in slot timing. The slot timing of the timing generation unit 172 of the control unit 170 is as shown in FIG. 3A, and the slot timing of the switching unit 190 is as shown in FIG. 3B. These slot timings will be described later. In this way, the monitoring unit 174 performs segregation processing.

  The memory 176 is a functional unit that stores various information. The memory 176 stores information related to communication frames, information related to the slot timing of the own device, information related to the slot timing of other parent devices, information related to empty slots, and the like.

  The oscillator 180 is a functional unit that generates a clock signal to be supplied to the control unit 170. The oscillator 180 generates a clock signal and outputs it to the control unit 170.

  The switching unit 190 is a functional unit that switches the own mode to the transmission mode or the reception mode by outputting an ON signal to the transmission unit 152 in the transmission mode and outputting an ON signal to the reception unit 120 in the reception mode. The switching unit 190 has a function of storing information regarding communication frames, information regarding slot timing of the own device, and the like. The switching unit 190 generates a control signal based on the timing signal acquired from the control unit 170 and information on the time slot of the own device stored in advance in the switching unit 190 itself. Then, the switching unit 190 outputs a control signal to the transmission unit 152 or the reception unit 120, and physically switches the own mode to the transmission mode or the reception mode. Note that the switching unit 190 outputs an ON signal to the transmission unit 152 and outputs an OFF signal to the reception unit 120 in the transmission mode, and outputs an ON signal to the reception unit 120 and outputs an OFF signal in the reception mode. The data is output to the transmission unit 152.

  Note that the switching unit 190 outputs a control signal (that is, an ON signal) for operating the receiving unit 120 to the receiving unit 120 at a predetermined rate in accordance with the transmission timing of the control channel in the transmission mode. Thereby, the transmission mode of base unit 100 is changed to the reception mode at a predetermined rate in accordance with the transmission timing of the control channel.

<Operation of base station device (base unit of digital cordless telephone)>
The main operation of the base station apparatus (ie, the base unit of the digital cordless telephone) 100 according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. FIG. 2 shows an operation flowchart of base unit 100. FIG. 3 shows an example of the operation of base unit 100. Main unit 100 according to the present invention is characterized by the operation of switching unit 190.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the base unit 100 performs a monitoring process of the control channel of another base unit for a certain period of time before starting operation (S105).

  At this time, first, the control unit 170 of the parent device 100 outputs a timing signal to the switching unit 190.

  When the switching unit 190 acquires the timing signal from the control unit 170, the switching unit 190 generates a control signal based on the timing signal and information on the time slot of the own device stored in the switching unit 190 itself. Then, the switching unit 190 outputs a control signal to the receiving unit 120 and the high frequency switch 112. In response to this control signal, the receiving unit 120 operates, the mode of the base unit 100 becomes the receiving mode, and the high frequency switch 112 outputs the radio frequency signal received by the antenna 110 to the receiving unit 120. When the receiving unit 120 acquires the radio frequency signal from the antenna 110 via the high frequency switch 112, the receiving unit 120 amplifies the radio frequency signal to a predetermined reception power level and sends the amplified radio frequency signal to the reception electric field strength detection unit 124. Output.

  When receiving the radio frequency signal from the receiving unit 120, the received electric field strength detecting unit 124 observes the received electric field strength of the radio frequency signal. This radio frequency signal is a signal transmitted from a child device or another parent device. The reception field strength detection unit 124 detects the reception field strength of the radio frequency signal and outputs a signal indicating the detected reception field strength to the control unit 170.

  The monitoring unit 174 of the control unit 170 acquires a signal indicating the reception field strength of the radio frequency signal from the reception field strength detection unit 124, and based on the signal indicating the reception field strength of the radio frequency signal, a burst signal with periodicity (That is, the control channel of another device) is detected. Next, the monitoring unit 174 identifies the slot timing of the other device based on the control channel of the other device. Each time the monitoring unit 174 detects the control channel of the other device, the monitoring unit 174 sequentially stores information on the detected control channel of the other device and information on the slot timing of the other device in the memory 176.

  After S105, base unit 100 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed by control unit 170 (S110). Here, when the control unit 170 determines that the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to S115, and when the control unit 170 determines that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to S105. .

  If the control unit 170 determines in S110 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the parent device 100 performs an empty slot detection process (S115).

  At this time, the monitoring unit 174 of the control unit 170 reads the intermittent transmission cycle of the LCCH interval burst signal from the memory 176, and detects the timing at which the LCCH interval burst signal is not transmitted from the surrounding master unit (that is, an empty slot). . Then, the monitoring unit 174 stores information on empty slots in the memory 176. Also, the monitoring unit 174 reads information on the communication frame from the memory 176, detects the control channel of the other parent device, and identifies the slot timing of the other parent device based on the detected control channel of the other parent device. To do. Then, the monitoring unit 174 stores information regarding the slot timing of the other parent device in the memory 176.

  After S115, base unit 100 performs its own time slot determination process and sets the forced switching timing (S120). As a result, base unit 100 executes a segregation process with other units.

  At this time, the monitoring unit 174 of the control unit 170 reads information on the empty slot from the memory 176, assigns the empty slot to the control channel of the own device, and determines the time slot of the own device. Then, the monitoring unit 174 generates information related to the slot timing of the own device and stores it in the memory 176. As a result, in the operation after the start of operation, the control unit 170 reads information related to its own slot timing from the memory 176, and generates a timing signal based on the information.

  Further, the control unit 170 of the parent device 100 outputs information related to the slot timing of the own device to the switching unit 190 and causes the switching unit 190 to store information related to the slot timing of the own device.

  At this time, switching section 190 rewrites and stores information related to its own slot timing so that the transmission timing of the control channel is in the reception mode at a predetermined rate. As a result, each unit of base unit 100 operates along the time slot shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3 shows an operation example of base unit 100 as described above. 3A shows the operation timing of the control unit 170, FIG. 3B shows the operation timing of the switching unit 190, and FIG. 3C shows the transmission timing of the control channel. ing. In FIG. 3, t indicates the period of one communication frame. The value of the period t is about 5 mS. Note that the communication frame normally includes a transmission frame for 4 slots and a reception frame for 4 slots. In addition, any one of the four slots in the transmission frame is assigned to the control channel slot. T represents the interval between the previous control channel and the next control channel transmitted by the transmission unit 152. The value of the interval T is a predetermined value within a range of about 100 to 150 mS. Master device 100 transmits the control channel to the slave device at a predetermined interval within a range of 100 to 150 mS. Since this interval is the same as that in the prior art, each part of base unit 100 can operate without causing any trouble as in the prior art. Further, TA indicates a period for executing a segregation process with the other device by the parent device 100. The monitoring unit 174 of the parent device 100 executes segregation processing with other devices during the period TA. Further, ta represents the detection processing execution period of the parent device 100 by the child device. In the period Ta, the slave unit detects the control channel transmitted by the master unit 100 and identifies the transmission mode and reception mode time slots of the master unit 100. And the subunit | mobile_unit performs reception mode and transmission mode alternately so that it may become reception mode at the time of transmission mode of a main | base station, and it may become transmission mode at the time of reception mode of a main | base station.

  The timing generation unit 172 of the control unit 170 generates a timing signal along the time slot shown in FIG. 3A and outputs the timing signal to the switching unit 190.

  In contrast, when the switching unit 190 acquires the timing signal from the timing generation unit 172 of the control unit 170, the switching unit 190 generates a control signal along the time slot shown in FIG. 3B and transmits the control signal to the transmission unit 152 or the reception unit. To the unit 120. At this time, the switching unit 190 outputs a control signal (that is, an ON signal) for operating the receiving unit 120 to the receiving unit 120 at a predetermined rate in accordance with the transmission timing of the control channel. Accordingly, the slot indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 3B is forcibly changed from the transmission mode to the reception mode.

  As a result, the transmission unit 152 transmits the control channel to the slave unit along the time slot shown in FIG.

  Therefore, for example, when base unit 100 transmits the control channel to the slave unit at the first control channel transmission timing, the base unit 100 transmits the control channel at the second to n-th (n is a predetermined number) control channel transmission timing. The mode changes from transmission mode to reception mode. Then, base unit 100 performs the monitoring process of the control channel of the other unit at the transmission timing of the second to n-th control channels in addition to the original reception mode. Therefore, base unit 100 increases the time for executing the reception mode, and increases the time for monitoring the control channel of the other unit by monitoring unit 174.

  Therefore, the control unit 170 sets the forced switching timing in the switching unit 190 by outputting information regarding the slot timing of the own device to the switching unit 190 in S120.

  After S120, base unit 100 starts operation and performs transmission mode or reception mode switching processing (S125).

  At this time, first, control unit 170 of base unit 100 outputs a timing signal along the time slot shown in FIG. Thereby, base unit 100 starts operation. Next, when the switching unit 190 of the parent device 100 acquires the timing signal from the control unit 170, the switching unit 190 generates a control signal along the time slot shown in FIG. 3B, and transmits the control signal to the transmission unit 152 and the reception unit 120. And output to the high-frequency switch 112. Thereby, base unit 100 switches its own mode to transmission mode or reception mode.

  After S125, base unit 100 repeatedly performs transmission / reception (monitoring) processing alternately (S130).

  At this time, the control unit 170 of the parent device 100 executes communication processing while alternately switching between the transmission mode and the reception mode, and in parallel with this communication processing, monitors the control channel of the other device in the reception mode. Execute. The operation during the communication process will be described later.

  After S130, base unit 100 determines whether control unit 170 has detected a control channel of another device (S135). If the control unit 170 determines that the control channel of the other device has been detected, the process proceeds to S140. If the control unit 170 determines that the control channel of the other device has not been detected, the process proceeds to step S140. Returns to S125.

  In S135, when it is determined that the control channel of the other device is detected by the control unit 170, the parent device 100 determines the control channel of the own device and the other device by the control unit 170 (specifically, the monitoring unit 174). It is determined whether or not the interval is greater than or equal to a threshold value (S140). Here, when the control unit 170 determines that the control channel interval between the own device and the other device is equal to or greater than the threshold, the process proceeds to S145, and the control unit 170 determines that the control channel interval between the own device and the other device is greater. When it determines with it being less than a threshold value, a process returns to S115. In addition, when the process returns to S115, the parent device 100 executes the segregation process with another device again. As a result, base unit 100 can prevent the control channel of its own unit from interfering with the control channel of other units. Therefore, master device 100 can always operate the slave device normally.

  After S140, base unit 100 determines whether or not power is turned off by control unit 170 (S145). Here, when it is determined by the control unit 170 that the power source has been cut off, the process ends. When the control unit 170 determines that the power source has not been cut off, the process returns to S125.

  The main operation of base unit 100 is as described above.

  The operation of each unit during the communication process in S130 is as follows.

  First, the oscillator 180 generates a clock signal and outputs it to the control unit 170.

  The timing generation unit 172 of the control unit 170 generates a timing signal along the time slot shown in FIG. 3A based on the clock signal and outputs the timing signal to the switching unit 190. Further, the control unit 170 generates a frame synchronization signal based on the clock signal and outputs the frame synchronization signal to the digital processing unit 130.

  When the switching unit 190 acquires the timing signal from the timing generation unit 172 of the control unit 170, the switching unit 190 generates a control signal along the time slot shown in FIG. 3B, and transmits the control signal to the transmission unit 152, the reception unit 120, and the high-frequency switch. To 112. Thereby, the switching unit 190 sets the own mode to the transmission mode or the reception mode.

  The operation of each unit in the transmission mode is as follows.

  First, it is assumed that the calling unit 140 receives an analog voice signal from the network 600 via a telephone line, for example. Then, the calling unit 140 outputs an analog voice signal to the analog processing unit 132.

  When the analog processing unit 132 acquires the analog voice signal from the calling unit 140, the analog processing unit A / D converts the analog voice signal to generate a digital voice signal, and outputs the digital voice signal to the digital processing unit 130.

  The digital processing unit 130 acquires a frame synchronization signal from the control unit 170 and also acquires a digital audio signal from the analog processing unit 132. Then, the digital processing unit 130 generates a multiplexed digital audio signal by inserting the digital audio signal into the transmission frame based on the frame synchronization signal, and outputs the multiplexed digital audio signal to the modulation unit 150.

  When acquiring the digital audio signal from the digital processing unit 130, the modulation unit 150 modulates the digital audio signal to generate a transmission intermediate frequency signal, and outputs the transmission intermediate frequency signal to the transmission unit 152.

  The transmission unit 152 acquires a transmission intermediate frequency signal from the modulation unit 150, acquires a local oscillation frequency signal for transmission from the frequency synthesizer 160, and mixes the transmission intermediate frequency signal and the local oscillation frequency signal for transmission. Generate a radio frequency signal. Then, the transmission unit 152 amplifies the radio frequency signal to a predetermined transmission power level and outputs it to the high frequency switch 112.

  When acquiring the radio frequency signal from the transmission unit 152, the high frequency switch 112 outputs the radio frequency signal to the antenna 110.

  When the antenna 110 acquires the radio frequency signal from the high frequency switch 112, the antenna 110 transmits the radio frequency signal to the surroundings (that is, the slave unit) via the radio call channel.

  The operation of each unit in the transmission mode is as described above.

  On the other hand, the operation of each unit in the reception mode is as follows.

  First, it is assumed that the antenna 110 receives a radio frequency signal from the surroundings (that is, a child device or another parent device) via the wireless communication channel. Then, the antenna 110 outputs a radio frequency signal to the high frequency switch 112.

  When the radio frequency signal is acquired from the antenna 110, the high frequency switch 112 outputs the radio frequency signal to the receiving unit 120.

  When receiving the radio frequency signal from the antenna 110 via the high frequency switch 112, the receiving unit 120 amplifies the radio frequency signal to a predetermined reception power level. The receiving unit 120 then mixes the amplified radio frequency signal and the local oscillation frequency signal for reception output from the frequency synthesizer 160 to generate a reception intermediate frequency signal, and the reception intermediate frequency signal is sent to the demodulation unit 122. Output. At this time, the receiving unit 120 outputs the amplified radio frequency signal to the received electric field strength detecting unit 124. As a result, base unit 100 executes the monitoring process of the control channel of the other unit.

  When the demodulation unit 122 obtains the reception intermediate frequency signal from the reception unit 120, the demodulation unit 122 demodulates the reception intermediate frequency signal, further separates the reception intermediate frequency signal into a communication control signal and a digital audio signal, and transmits the communication control signal and the digital audio signal. The audio signal is output to the digital processing unit 130. Note that this digital audio signal may have a plurality of audio signals time-division multiplexed.

  The digital processing unit 130 acquires a frame synchronization signal from the control unit 170 and also acquires a digital audio signal from the demodulation unit 122. Then, when a plurality of audio signals are time-division multiplexed, the digital processing unit 130 extracts individual digital audio signals from the digital audio signals based on the frame synchronization signal and outputs them to the analog processing unit 132. To do.

  When the analog processing unit 132 acquires each digital audio signal from the digital processing unit 130, the analog processing unit 132 performs D / A conversion on each digital audio signal, reproduces the analog audio signal, and outputs the analog audio signal to the call unit 140.

  When acquiring the analog voice signal from the analog processing unit 132, the calling unit 140 transmits the analog voice signal to the network 600 via, for example, a telephone line.

  The operation of each unit in the reception mode is as described above.

  As described above, base unit 100 executes the monitoring process of the control channel of the other unit in the reception mode. The operation of each unit during the monitoring process is as follows.

  When receiving the radio frequency signal from the antenna 110 via the high frequency switch 112, the receiving unit 120 amplifies the radio frequency signal to a predetermined reception power level. Then, the reception unit 120 outputs the amplified radio frequency signal to the reception electric field strength detection unit 124.

  When receiving the radio frequency signal from the receiving unit 120, the received electric field strength detecting unit 124 observes the received electric field strength of the radio frequency signal. This radio frequency signal is a signal transmitted from a child device or another parent device. The reception field strength detection unit 124 detects the reception field strength of the radio frequency signal and outputs a signal indicating the detected reception field strength to the control unit 170.

  When the monitoring unit 174 of the control unit 170 acquires the signal indicating the received electric field strength from the received electric field strength detecting unit 124, the monitoring unit 174 detects the control channel of the other parent device according to the received electric field strength and the timing at which the strength is detected. Monitor the control channel.

  The operation of each unit during the monitoring process is as follows.

  In this way, the control unit 170 of the parent device 100 executes communication processing while alternately repeating the transmission mode and the reception mode, and in parallel with this communication processing, monitors the control channel of the other device in the reception mode. Execute the process.

  The operation of each unit during the communication processing in S130 is as described above.

  By providing the switching unit 190, the parent device 100 can monitor the control channel of the other device in accordance with the transmission timing of the control channel with a simple configuration without changing the configuration of the control unit. it can.

  As described above, in the transmission mode, the base station apparatus according to the present invention switches the mode of the base station apparatus from the transmission mode to the reception mode at a predetermined rate in accordance with the transmission timing of the control channel. Therefore, the base station apparatus can detect the control channel of another base station apparatus at the transmission timing of the control channel in addition to the original reception mode even after the operation is started. Therefore, the base station apparatus can detect the overlap of the control channel of its own apparatus and the control channel of another base station apparatus with higher accuracy than before.

  When such a base station apparatus detects an overlap between its own control channel and the control channel of another base station apparatus, the base station apparatus again executes a segregation process with the other base station apparatus. Or, when the transmission timing of the control channel of the own device becomes an interval equal to or less than a predetermined threshold with the transmission timing of the control channel of the other base station device, the base station device again The segregation process is executed. Thereby, the base station apparatus can eliminate the overlap of the control channel of its own apparatus and the control channel of another base station apparatus.

  As a result, the base station apparatus can perform the segregation process with other base station apparatuses more appropriately than before.

  The present invention is not limited to a base unit of a digital cordless telephone, and can be used for any base station apparatus that communicates with a mobile station apparatus.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the base station apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart of the base station apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation example of the base station apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

100: Base station device (base unit for digital cordless telephone)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 110 ... Antenna 112 ... High frequency switch 120 ... Reception part 122 ... Demodulation part 124 ... Received electric field strength detection part 130 ... Digital processing part 132 ... Analog processing part 140 ... Communication part (microphone, speaker, I / F)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 150 ... Modulation part 152 ... Transmission part 160 ... Frequency synthesizer 170 ... Control part 172 ... Timing generation part 174 ... Monitoring part (squeeze classification processing part)
176 ... Memory 180 ... Oscillator 190 ... Switching unit 600 ... Network

Claims (4)

In a base station device that communicates with a mobile station device by a time division multiple access method,
A transmitter for transmitting a radio frequency signal;
A receiver for receiving radio frequency signals;
A timing generation unit that generates a timing signal that defines a timing for operating the transmission unit and the reception unit;
Based on the timing signal generated by the timing generation unit, the mode of the base station apparatus is switched to the transmission mode or the reception mode, and in the transmission mode, a control signal for operating the transmission unit is output to the transmission unit, A switching unit that outputs a control signal for operating the receiving unit to the receiving unit in the receiving mode;
A monitoring unit for monitoring a control channel transmitted from another base station apparatus by observing surrounding radio frequency signals during the reception mode;
In the transmission mode, the switching unit outputs the control signal for operating the receiving unit to the receiving unit at a predetermined rate in accordance with the transmission timing of the control channel. apparatus. The base station apparatus according to claim 1,
The switching unit sets the control signal for operating the receiving unit so that an interval between the transmission timing of the previous control channel and the transmission timing of the next control channel becomes a predetermined value within a range of 100 to 150 mS. A base station apparatus that outputs to the receiving unit. The base station apparatus according to claim 1,
The monitoring unit performs a segregation process with another base station device when the transmission timing of its own control channel is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold with the transmission timing of the control channel of the other base station device. The base station apparatus characterized by performing. Control channel overlap monitoring method for monitoring overlap between a control channel of a base station apparatus and a control channel of another base station apparatus by a base station apparatus communicating with a mobile station apparatus while alternately switching between a transmission mode and a reception mode In
Forcibly switching step of forcibly switching the mode of the base station apparatus from the transmission mode to the reception mode at a predetermined rate in accordance with the transmission timing of the control channel during the transmission mode;
A monitoring step of observing a surrounding radio frequency signal and monitoring a control channel transmitted from another base station apparatus in the reception mode, including the transmission timing of the control channel switched to the reception mode by the forced switching step A control channel overlap monitoring method characterized by comprising:

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