JP4419144B2 - Wireless communication apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a wireless communication apparatus, and more particularly to a wireless communication apparatus and method for isolating a failure in a microwave communication line.

  As one communication method for transmitting a large amount of data at high speed, a microwave radio communication apparatus is widely used. Antennas (parabolic antennas) are installed on buildings or hills, and obstacles are eliminated between these antennas, and microwaves are modulated with information to be transmitted and transmitted / received. By providing a plurality of such antennas and wireless transceivers at predetermined intervals, wireless communication over a long distance is possible.

  However, in such microwave radio communication, a failure may occur in the radio communication line between the antennas for various reasons. In order to verify wireless channel quality, a wireless device failure diagnosis method that performs IF (intermediate frequency) loopback or IF loopback control as cause isolation has been disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Also, a wireless communication system is disclosed that performs loopback control for notifying the opposite station of failure information when a failure other than a failure in which the transmission power of the wireless device must be stopped (for example, Patent Document 2). reference.).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-324086 (page 4, FIG. 1) JP 2001-86060 A (page 4, FIG. 2)

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional wireless communication apparatus. This wireless communication apparatus is a hot standby type wireless communication apparatus having a redundant configuration of two systems, an active system and a standby system. This wireless communication apparatus includes a local station side 10 and a counter station side 30.

  The own station side 10 has an input terminal 11 to which an input signal (main signal) to be transmitted is input, a distributor 12 for branching the input signal, a modulator 13a and a transmitter 14a for a working line, a modulator 13b for a protection line and a transmission. It includes a transmission system composed of a device 14b, a switch 15 and an antenna 16. Also, an antenna 21 that receives the signal on the opposite station side 30, a distributor 22 that branches the received signal, a receiver 23a and a demodulator 24a for the working line, a receiver 23b and a demodulator 24b for the protection line, a switch 25, and an output A receiving system comprising the end 26 is included. Further, the outputs of the receiving demodulators 24 a and 24 b are input to the transmitting modulators 13 a and 13 b via the device control board 28.

  On the other hand, the opposite station side 30 includes an antenna 31 that receives a transmission signal from the local station side 10, a distributor 32 that branches the received signal, a receiver 33a and a demodulator 34a for the working line, a receiver 33b for the protection line, and a demodulator. It includes a receiving system comprising a device 34b, a switch 35 and an output end 36. Also, an input terminal 41 to which a transmission signal is input, a distributor 42, a working line modulator 43a, a switch 44a and a transmitter 45a, a protection line modulator 43b, a switch 44b and a transmitter 45b, a switch 46 and A transmission system including an antenna 47 is included. The active line receiver 33a and demodulator 34a and the protection line receiver 33b and demodulator 34b are connected to the switches 44a and 44b, respectively. Furthermore, an equipment control panel 49 is provided for inputting the outputs of the demodulators 34a and 34b to the modulators 43a and 43b.

  In the conventional wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG. 2, when performing IF loopback control from the own station side 10 to the opposite station side 30, the IF loopback control signal is sent from the device control panel 28 of the own station side 10. The signal is multiplexed and transmitted to the device control panel 49 on the opposite station side 30. On the other hand, when the equipment control board 49 receives the IF loopback control signal at the opposite station side 30, the equipment control board 49 switches the switching unit 44a and the switching unit 44b to receive the signal from the local station side 10 to the local station side. Wrap.

  At this time, since the receiver 33a and the receiver 33b on the opposite station side 30 and the transmitter 45a and the transmitter 45b are turned back, a monitoring control signal from the device control panel 49 on the opposite station side 30 is transmitted to the own station side 10. It is impossible to monitor and control the opposite station 30. For such a problem, in the hot standby configuration, since the monitoring control signal from the opposite station side 30 cannot be received by the own station side 10, when performing IF loopback as a cause isolation at the time of failure occurrence, There is a problem that the device status of the opposite station side 30 cannot be collected, and therefore effective failure diagnosis is difficult.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication apparatus and method that overcome or reduce such problems.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the wireless communication apparatus and method according to the present invention employ the following characteristic configuration.

(1) each comprise an modulator local station and the opposite station side including a reception system including a transmission system and a receiver with a demodulator which includes a transmitter, said the local station side, a demodulator of the reception system A device control panel connected between the modulators of the transmission system, and on the opposite station side, between the demodulator of the reception system and the modulator of the transmission system, the device control panel and the modulator of the transmission system; A switch connected between the transmitters and switching the output of the receiver of the reception system and the output of the modulator of the transmission system to output to the transmitter is provided, and the main signal from the input terminal and the device control panel In the wireless communication device that multiplexes the control signals by the modulator,
A synchronization switch is provided after the demodulator of the reception system on the local station side, and an input signal from the input end of the transmission system or an output signal demodulated by the demodulator of the reception system A wireless communication device that is selected under control and outputs to the output end of the receiving system .
(2) A delay compensator is provided between the preceding stage of the transmission-system modulator on the local station side and the synchronous switching unit, and a signal passed through the switching unit on the opposite station side during IF loopback control. The wireless communication apparatus according to (1), wherein the main signal delay compensation is performed in consideration of a time difference .
(3) The wireless communication apparatus according to (1) or (2), wherein the reception system and the transmission system on the own station side and the opposite station side include an active circuit and a spare circuit in a hot standby configuration, respectively.
(4) Each of the local station side and the opposite station side includes a transmission system including a modulator and a transmitter and a reception system including a receiver and a demodulator, and the local station side includes a demodulator of the reception system and A device control board connected between the modulators of the previous transmission system, and on the opposite station side, between the demodulator of the reception system and the modulator of the transmission system, the equipment control board and the modulator of the transmission system; A switch connected between the transmitters and switching the output of the receiver of the reception system and the output of the modulator of the transmission system to output to the transmitter is provided, and the main signal from the input terminal and the device control panel In a wireless communication method in which a control signal is multiplexed and communicated with each of the modulators,
The signal is demodulated by the input signal from the input end of the transmission system or by the demodulator of the reception system by a synchronization switch provided after the demodulator of the reception system on the local station side and controlled by a synchronization control signal. Selecting an output signal; and outputting the signal selected in the step to an output terminal of the receiving system;
A wireless communication method comprising:
(5) A signal that passes through the switch on the opposite station side during IF loopback control by a delay compensator provided between the preceding stage of the modulator of the transmission system on the local station side and the synchronous switch (4) The wireless communication method according to (4), further comprising a step of performing delay compensation of the main signal in consideration of a time difference between

According to the wireless communication apparatus and method of the present invention, the following practical effects can be obtained. By intermittently performing IF loopback control on the opposite station side during IF loopback control, it is possible to receive an alarm from the opposite station side even during IF loopback. Also, when IF loopback control is performed, IF loopback control is intermittently performed on the opposite station side, and the main signal on the own station side is temporarily turned back during IF loopback OFF, and the IF loopback is performed. By synchronously switching the signal and the signal returned on the local station side , the line quality during IF loopback can be continuously measured. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to a wireless communication apparatus without a protection line (only a working line).

  Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of a preferred embodiment of a wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a preferred embodiment of a wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention. This wireless communication apparatus is an embodiment applied to a microwave wireless communication apparatus having a hot standby configuration. For convenience of explanation, the same reference numerals are used for the constituent elements corresponding to the constituent elements of the prior art described above.

  First, the configuration of the wireless communication device will be described. The transmission system on the local station side 10 includes an input terminal 11, a distributor 12, a working line modulator 13 a and a transmitter 14 a, a protection line modulator 13 b and a transmitter 14 b, a switch 15 and an antenna 16. On the other hand, the receiving system includes an antenna 21, a distributor 22, a receiver 23a for the working line, a demodulator 24a and a synchronous switch 27a, a receiver 23b for the protection line, a demodulator 24b and a synchronous switch 27b, a switch 25 and an output. It is constituted by the end 26. Further, the demodulator 24a and 24b of the reception system are connected to the modulators 13a and 13b of the transmission system via the device control board 28. Further, both outputs of the distributor 12 are connected to synchronous switchers 27a and 27b via delay compensators 29a and 29b, respectively.

  In the wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG. 1, a main signal (that is, an input signal to be transmitted) input from an input terminal 11 is branched into a working line and a protection line by a distributor 12. The main signal branched to the working line is further branched to the delay compensator 29a and the modulator 13a. Similarly, the main signal branched to the protection line is branched to the delay compensator 29b and the modulator 13b.

  In the modulator 13a, the supervisory control signal output from the device control board 28 is multiplexed on the main signal and output to the transmitter 14a as a modulated wave. Similarly, in the protection line, the modulated wave is output to the transmitter 14b. In the transmitter 14a and the transmitter 14b, the input modulated waves are amplified by an amplifier (not shown) and output to the switch 15. The switch 15 is output to the antenna 16 after either one of the working line or the protection line is selected, and is transmitted to the opposite station side 30 as a radio signal therefrom.

  Next, after the radio signal transmitted to the opposite station side 30 is received by the antenna 31 of the receiving system, it is branched into a working line and a protection line by the distributor 32, and is output to the receiver 33a and the receiver 33b, respectively. The The received signal on the working line input to the receiver 33a is amplified by an amplifier (not shown) and output to the demodulator 34a and the switches 44a and 44b. Similarly, the reception signal of the protection line input to the receiver 33b is also amplified and output to the demodulator 34b and the switches 44a and 44b. The signals input to the demodulator 34a and the demodulator 34b are demodulated and separated into a main signal and a supervisory control signal. The monitoring control signal is output to the device control panel 49.

  From the equipment control board 49, the monitoring control signal for the opposite station 30 itself is output to the modulator 43a and the modulator 43b. In the modulator 43a, the monitoring control signal output from the device control panel 49 and the main signal input from the input terminal 41 are multiplexed and output as a modulated wave to the switch 44a. Similarly, in the modulator 43b, the monitoring control signal output from the device control board 49 and the main signal input from the input terminal 41 are multiplexed and output as a modulated wave to the switch 44b. When receiving the IF loopback control signal from the device control panel 49, the switcher 44a intermittently switches on / off.

When switch 44a is ON, it selects the side of the signal selected in the switch 35 of the receiver 33a or receiver 33b. On the other hand, when the signal is OFF, the modulated wave output from the modulator 43a is selected. Similarly, when the switch 44b receives the IF loopback control signal from the device control panel 49, the switch 44b is intermittently switched ON / OFF. When the switch 44b is ON, the signal on the side selected by the switch 35 in the receiver 33a or the receiver 33b is selected. On the other hand, when the signal is OFF, the modulated wave output from the modulator 43b is selected. The signal selected by the switch 44a is output to the transmitter 45a, amplified by the transmitter 45a, and output to the switch 46. Similarly, the signal selected by the switch 44b is also output to the transmitter 45b, amplified by the transmitter 45b, and output to the switch 46.

  In the switch 46, either the working line or the protection line is selected and transmitted from the antenna 47 to the local station side 10 as a radio signal. The transmitted radio signal is received by the antenna 21 on the local station side 10 and branched by the distributor 22 to the receiver 23a and the receiver 23b. The signal branched to the receiver 23a is amplified and output to the demodulator 24a. Similarly, the signal branched to the receiver 23b is amplified and output to the demodulator 24b. The input signal to the demodulator 24a is demodulated and then separated into a main signal and a supervisory control signal. Then, the main signal is output to the synchronization switch 27a, and the monitoring control signal is output to the device control panel 28. Similarly, an input signal to the demodulator 24b is also demodulated and separated into a main signal and a supervisory control signal. Then, the main signal is output to the synchronization switch 27b, and the monitoring control signal is output to the device control panel 28.

  On the other hand, the signal branched from the distributor 12 and input to the delay compensator 29a takes into account the temporal difference from the signal that has passed through the switch 44a and the switch 44b on the opposite station 30 during IF loopback control. After being compensated for delay, it is input to the synchronous switch 27a and the synchronous switch 27b. Similarly, the signal input to the delay compensator 29b is also input to the synchronous switch 27a and the synchronous switch 27b after delay compensation. When the synchronization switching device 27a receives the synchronization switching control signal from the device control panel 28, the synchronization switching device 27a operates in synchronization so that the switching control is the reverse of the ON / OFF control operation of the switching device 44a and the switching device 44b. When the switching is ON, the signal of the line selected by the switch 15 among the input signals from the delay compensator 29a and the delay compensator 29b is input and output to the switch 25. On the other hand, when the switching is OFF, the signal input from the demodulator 24 a is output to the switch 25.

  Similarly, when the synchronization switching device 27b receives the synchronization switching control signal from the device control panel 28, the synchronization switching device 27b operates in synchronization so that the switching control is the reverse of the ON / OFF control operation of the switching devices 44a and 44b. . When the switch is ON, the signal of the line selected by the switch 15 among the input signals from the delay compensator 29a and the delay compensator 29b is input and output to the switch 25. On the other hand, when the switch is OFF, the signal input from the demodulator 24 b is output to the switch 25. The signal output from the synchronous switch 27a and the synchronous switch 27b to the switch 25 is output to the output terminal 26 after either one is selected.

  Next, the operation of the wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail. The wireless communication apparatus in FIG. 1 is a microwave wireless communication apparatus having a hot standby configuration. The upper half is the own station side 10 and the lower half is the opposite station side 30. In this embodiment, the IF loopback control signal is multiplexed with the main signal from the monitoring control board 28 on the local station side 10 and transmitted to the equipment control board 49. Then, the switching unit 44a and the switching unit 44b are switched on the opposite station side 30, and the IF loopback is controlled by returning the output signals from the receivers 33a and 33b to the transmitters 45a and 45b.

  Now, when IF loopback switching is ON at the opposite station side 30, the synchronization switch 27 a selects and outputs the signal from the demodulator 24 a to the switch 25 at the local station side 10. The synchronization switch 27b selects the signal from the demodulator 24b and outputs it to the switch 25. On the opposite station side 30, the switching device 44a and the switching device 44b are turned on, and the signal received by the receiver 33a or the receiver 33b is returned to the transmitter 45a or the transmitter 45b to perform IF loopback control.

  During the IF loopback, the switch 44a and the switch 44b are continuously switched, so that signals from the modulator 43a and the modulator 43b to the transmitter 45a and the transmitter 45b are not output. For this reason, the own station side 10 cannot receive the monitoring control signal of the opposite station side 30 from the device control panel 49.

  Next, when the IF loopback switching is OFF at the opposite station side 30, the configuration is turned back to the switching unit 25 from the delay compensator 29a and the delay compensator 29b through the synchronous switching unit 27a and the synchronous switching unit 27b on the local station side 10. Use to wrap. When the IF loopback switching is ON, the delay compensator 29a and the delay compensator 29b send the main signal via the switch 44a and the switch 44b on the opposite station side 30 and the output signal of the distributor 12 to the local station 10 Compensate for the delay time with the main signal turned back in.

  On the other hand, on the opposite station side 30, the switch 44a is switched to OFF and the signal from the modulator 43a is output to the transmitter 45a. Similarly, the switch 44b switches to OFF and outputs the signal from the modulator 43b to the transmitter 45b. In the transmitter 45a and the transmitter 45b, the input signal is amplified and output to the switch 46. In the switch 46, either the working line or the protection line is selected and transmitted from the antenna 47 to the local station side 10 as a radio signal. When the IF loopback is not performed, the switch 44a is switched so that a signal is output from the modulator 43a to the transmitter 45a. Similarly, since the switch 44b is switched so as to output a signal from the modulator 43b to the transmitter 45b, the own station side 10 can receive the monitoring control signal of the opposite station side 30 from the device control panel 49.

  Here, when switching from IF loopback ON to OFF or from OFF to ON, the switching device 44a and switching device 44b on the opposite station side 30 and the synchronization switching device 27a and synchronization switching device 27b on the local station side 10 are switched synchronously. And the synchronous switching devices 27a and 27b on the local station side 10 switch the main signal looped back from the opposite station side 30 and the main signal turned back on the local station side 10 without interruption. When the IF loopback ON and OFF are repeated intermittently, the main signal can be IF loopbacked by the opposite station 30 during the IF loopback ON period. During the IF loopback OFF period, it is possible to receive the monitoring control signal from the opposite station 30. In either case, the signal input to the input terminal 11 can be turned back to the output terminal 26.

  The ratio of the duration time of the IF loopback ON and OFF is adjusted in advance by the time for performing the IF loopback to monitor the line quality and the time for transmitting the monitoring control signal. For example, when the ratio of the duration time of IF loopback ON and OFF is 50%, the time in which the line quality including the wireless line can be actually measured is halved, and the time in which the monitoring control signal can be transmitted is also halved. It becomes. For this reason, it is necessary to allow twice as much time as compared with the measurement in the normal IF loopback.

  From the above, it is possible to continuously measure the BER as a line quality inspection by connecting a BER measuring instrument or the like to the input / output terminal in order to isolate the cause when a failure occurs. Of course, the functions of the own station side 10 and the opposite station side 30 described here are the functions of the own station side 10 and the opposite station side 30, and the opposite station side 30 and the opposite station side 10 It shall have a function.

  The configuration and operation of the preferred embodiment of the wireless communication apparatus and method according to the present invention have been described in detail above. However, it should be noted that such examples are merely illustrative of the invention and do not limit the invention in any way. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that various modifications and changes can be made according to a specific application without departing from the spirit and spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above-described preferred embodiment, the microwave radio communication system has a hot standby configuration, but the present invention can also be applied to a radio communication apparatus having only a working line without a protection line.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the preferred Example of the radio | wireless communication apparatus by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the conventional radio | wireless communication apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

10 Local station side 11, 41 Input terminal 12, 32 Divider 13a, 13b, 43a, 43b Modulator 14a, 14b, 45a, 45b Transmitter 15, 25, 35, 46 Switcher 16, 21, 31, 47 Antenna 24a , 24b, 34a, 34b Demodulator 26, 36 Output terminal 27a, 27b Synchronous switch 28, 49 Equipment control panel 29a, 29b Delay compensator 30 Opposite station side

Claims (5)

Each of the local station side and the opposite station side includes a transmission system including a modulator and a transmitter and a reception system including a receiver and a demodulator, and the local station side includes a demodulator of the reception system and the transmission system. A device control board connected between the modulators of the transmission system, and on the opposite station side, between the demodulator of the reception system and the modulator of the transmission system, between the device control board and the modulator and transmitter of the transmission system Is connected to the output of the receiver of the reception system and the output of the modulator of the transmission system and outputs to the transmitter, the main signal from the input terminal and the control signal from the device control panel In the wireless communication device that multiplexes each with the modulator,
A synchronization switch is provided after the demodulator of the reception system on the local station side, and an input signal from the input end of the transmission system or an output signal demodulated by the demodulator of the reception system A radio communication apparatus that is selected under control and outputs to an output terminal of the reception system . A delay compensator is provided between the preceding stage of the modulator of the transmission system on the local station side and the synchronous switch, and a time difference from the signal that has passed through the switch on the opposite station side during IF loopback control The radio communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein delay compensation of the main signal is performed in consideration . The radio communication apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reception system and the transmission system on the own station side and the opposite station side each include an active circuit and a standby circuit having a hot standby configuration . Each of the local station side and the opposite station side includes a transmission system including a modulator and a transmitter and a reception system including a receiver and a demodulator, and the local station side includes a demodulator of the reception system and a previous transmission system. A device control board connected between the modulators of the transmission system, and on the opposite station side, between the demodulator of the reception system and the modulator of the transmission system, between the device control board and the modulator and transmitter of the transmission system Is connected to the output of the receiver of the reception system and the output of the modulator of the transmission system and outputs to the transmitter, the main signal from the input terminal and the control signal from the device control panel In a wireless communication method of performing multiplexing and communication with each of the modulators,
The signal is demodulated by the input signal from the input end of the transmission system or by the demodulator of the reception system by a synchronization switch provided after the demodulator of the reception system on the local station side and controlled by a synchronization control signal. Selecting an output signal; and outputting the signal selected in the step to an output terminal of the receiving system;
Wireless communication method, characterized in that it comprises a. By a delay compensator provided between the preceding stage of the modulator of the transmission system on the local station side and the synchronous switching unit, the time with the signal passing through the switching unit on the opposite station side during IF loopback control the wireless communication method according to claim 4 you further comprising a step of performing a delay compensation of the main signal in consideration of the difference.

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