This application claims the benefit of Taiwan application Serial No. 97134256, filed Sep. 5, 2008, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a wireless communication system and method, and more particularly to a channel scan method and architecture for wireless communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), having larger bandwidth, farther transmission distance, larger on-line coverage, has become a focus in wireless Network or mobile communication.
Currently, WiMAX products comprises WIMAX wireless Network card for notebook computer, USB interface WiMAX wireless Network card, WiMAX modem, WiMAX wireless broad band router, and mobile phone adopting WiMAX specification.
In WiMax application, how to quickly scan correct channel and center frequency is an important issue to be resolved.
In generally known techniques, a channel is randomly or sequentially selected from many candidate channels (from high frequency to low frequency, or from low frequency to high frequency). Next, timing synchronization, estimation, decoding, authorization and so on are performed in the selected channel. If authorization is passed in the selected channel, this implies that the selected channel is a correct channel. If authorization is not passed in the selected channel, then a next channel is randomly or sequentially selected from many candidate channels (from high frequency to low frequency, or from low frequency to high frequency) until a correct channel is scanned.
United States Patent Application Publication No. US200310027577 discloses a control apparatus and method of wireless communication system for scanning which frequency bands are available. FIG. 7 of United States Patent Application Publication No. US2003/0027577 shows a method for determining frequency spectrum. Firstly, frequency spectrum is analyzed. Next, average operation and smooth operation are performed in the analyzed frequency spectrum. Then, a threshold is set. If the signal strength in one or some channels is higher than the threshold, then the channel(s) is regarded as occupied. After that, a guard band (GB) is disposed at two sides of the occupied channel. Afterwards, the frequency bands other than the occupied channel and the guard band are defined as available. That is, United States Patent Application Publication No. US2003/0027577 determines the location of the guard band according to the frequency spectrum density, to determine which frequency bands are available.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a wireless communication method is provided. The method comprises the following steps. A channel is selected from a plurality of channels. A guard band detection (GBD) is performed in the selected channel to detect existence of a guard band of a correct channel. If the GBD is passed in the selected channel, then a subsequent process is performed in the selected channel. If the subsequent process is passed in the selected channel, then the selected channel is determined as the correct channel.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, a wireless communication method is provided. The method comprises the following steps. Signal strengths in different frequencies are measured respectively. It is checked that whether these signal strengths are conformed to the conditions. If so, then a frequency is predicted according to these signal strengths and a channel is selected according to the predicted frequency. If a subsequent process is passed in the selected channel, then the selected channel is determined as the correct channel.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, a wireless communication method is provided. The method comprises the following steps. Signal strengths in different frequencies are measured respectively. It is checked that whether the characteristics of these signal strengths are conformed to a condition. If so, then a frequency is predicted according to the characteristics of these signal strengths and a channel is selected according to the predicted frequency. A GBD is performed in the selected channel to detect the existence of guard bands of a correct channel. In order to determine whether the selected channel is the correct channel, it is checked that whether the GBD and a subsequent process are both passed in the selected channel.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a wireless communication system is provided. The wireless communication system comprises a channel selection module, a GBD module, and a subsequent processing module. The channel selection module is used for selecting one channel from a plurality of channels. The GBD module is coupled to the channel selection module, for performing a GBD in the selected channel to detect the existence of guard bands of a correct channel. The subsequent processing module is coupled to the GBD module, for performing a subsequent process in the channel where has been passed the GBD, wherein if the subsequent process is passed in the channel, then the selected channel is determined as the correct channel.
The invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Embodiments of the invention provide wireless communication systems and methods using guard band detection (GBD), which are capable of predetermining whether the current channel is correct. Only if the channel is correct will subsequent operations such as timing synchronization, decoding, authorization and so on be performed. Other embodiments of the invention provides wireless communication systems and methods using multiple point estimation (MPE), which are capable of predicting approximate location of the correct channel, and then performing subsequent operations in the predicted channel. Yet other embodiments of the invention provide a wireless communication system and method using GBD and MPE, which are capable of predicting the location of correct channel and predetermining whether the current channel is correct.
In wireless communication system, radio frequency channels are normally disposed in a particular frequency band. Generally speaking, there are many candidate channels. For example, under IEEE 802.16e specification, radio frequency profile (RF profile) is expressed as follows:
Fstart+k·ΔFc, ∀k ∈ Krange, wherein
Let the channel bandwidth be 10 MHz, Krange range from 0 to 736, and ΔFc be 250 KHz.
For example, when the wireless device is re-started but the wireless device does not store any useful data or the stored data is already outdated, all channels must be scanned in order to scan the correct channel. Besides, when the wireless device roams between two wireless Network areas, all the channels must be scanned.
In the first embodiment of the invention, in detecting the guard band, approximate location of the correct channel is scanned first, so that authorization times and the time spent are decreased, and the scanning of channel and frequency is speeded up.
In wireless communication, one specification of the spectrum mask is illustrated in
As indicated in the spectrum mask of
In the first embodiment of the invention, before performing subsequent operations such as timing synchronization, authorization and so on, it is checked that whether the channel is close to the correct channel or is exactly the correct channel. Normally, there are still many operations needs to be done before the operation of authorization is completed. By predetermining whether the channel is close to the correct channel or is exactly the correct channel, a lot of time and power are saved because the times and time of subsequent operations performed in incorrect channel are reduced.
The first embodiment of the invention provides a guard band detection (GBD) method.
As indicated in
If the GBD is not passed in the channel, then the next channel is selected, and the method returns to step 310. If the GBD is passed in the channel, then operations of timing synchronization, estimation, decoding, authorization and so on are performed in the selected channel as indicated in step 340.
Afterwards, it is checked that whether authorization is passed as indicated in step 350. If authorization is passed in the channel, this implies that the channel is exactly a correct channel. If authorization is not passed in the channel, then the method returns to step 310.
As indicated in
The operation of the GBD is disclosed below. Suppose the channel bandwidth is 10 MHz, sampling frequency is 11.2 MHz, the size of fast Fourier transformation (FFT size) is 1024. Also, suppose the time length of a frame is 5 ms.
Next, an average power value is obtained from 32 continual sub-carriers in the same sub-group. By the same token, 32 average power values are obtained which are P1˜P32 corresponding to 32 sub-groups respectively.
Next, 8 smallest values of the 32 average power values P1˜P32 are located and stored.
After that, it is checked that whether the average power values P2, P3, P30 and P31 are among the 8 smallest values. If there are two or more of the average power values P2, P3, P30 and P31 among the 8 smallest values, this implies that GBD is passed in the channel. As disclosed above, there are guard bands at two sides of the correct channel, and the signal strength is very strong in the correct channel but very weak in the guard band. If in the bandwidth, sub-carrier sub-groups at two sides have lower average power (lower signal strength) but sub-carrier sub-groups at middle have higher average power (higher signal strength), this implies that the center frequency of the bandwidth falls within the correct channel or is close to the correct channel.
If GBD is not passed on 4 continual frames in the channel, this implies that the channel is farther away from the correct channel. Under such circumstances, a next channel is selected (that is, a next center frequency is selected). On the other hand, if the GBD is passed on one of the 4 continual frames in the channel, this implies that the channel is likely being a correct channel, or, the channel is close to the correct channel.
In short, according to the first embodiment of the invention, GBD is performed in the selected channel so as to predetermine whether the channel is a correct channel or the channel is close to the correct channel.
The second embodiment of the invention still uses GBD and avoids performing authorization in these channels farther away from the correct channel. The second embodiment of the invention further discloses how to appropriately select channel before GBD is performed.
Next, in step 510, the channels in the table are scanned. The channels listed in the table could be the correct channel previously used by the wireless device, or, the channels listed in the table are more likely a correct channel. In step 515, a channel is selected.
If the check result in step 505 is no (that is, there are unscanned candidate channels in the table), then the method proceeds to step 520 to scan all the channels.
In step 520, the overall frequency band range is divided into several channel regions and the signal strengths in these channel regions are measured. For example, each channel region covers 10 MHz.
Afterwards, in step 530, the signal strengths measured in each channel region are sorted from the strongest to the weakest. Then, in step 535, one of the channel regions is selected according to the result of sorting. For example, the channel region with strongest signal strength is selected because such channel region is most likely covering the correct channel.
After that, in step 540, a channel is selected from the channel region.
After a channel is selected in step 515 or step 540, GBD is performed in the channel, as indicated in step 545. The details of performing the GBD are disclosed in the first embodiment, and are not repeated here.
Then, in step 550, it is checked that whether GBD is passed in the channel, so as to determine whether the channel is a correct channel or is close to correct channel. If the check result in step 550 is yes, then the method jumps to step 575. If the checking result in step 550 is no and the channel is selected in steps 510˜515, then the method jumps to step 555. On the other hand, if the check result in step 550 is no and the channel is selected according to steps 520˜540, then the method jumps to step 560.
In step 555, it is checked that whether all the channels in the table are selected. If not all candidate channels are selected yet, then the method returns to step 515, to select a next candidate channel. If all candidate channels are already selected, this implies that all the channels are not correct channel, and the method jumps to step 570.
In step 560, it is judged that whether all the candidate channels in the selected channel region are selected. If no, then the method returns to step 540 to select a next candidate channel. If all the candidate channels in the channel region are selected already, then the method jumps to step 565.
In step 565, it is checked that whether all channel regions are selected. If no, then the method jumps to step 535 to select a next channel region. If all channel regions are selected, this implies that all the candidate channels in the channel region are not correct channel, and the method jumps to step 570.
In step 570, correct channel cannot be scanned from existing candidate channels, so the method waits for the next scanning.
In step 575, timing synchronization, estimation, decoding, authorization and so on are performed in the channel having been passed GBD. In step 580, it is checked that whether authorization is passed. If authorization is passed, then this implies that correct channel is scanned. If authorization is not passed, then the method jumps to step 555 (if the channel is selected according to steps 510˜515) or to step 560 (if the channel is selected according to steps 550˜540).
In the case of cell plan 1×3×3, there is only one particular unknown center frequency (F71), the bandwidth is 10 MHz, and each cell has three sectors and three segments. In the case of cell plan 3×3×3, there are three different unknown center frequencies (F61˜F63), each center frequency has a bandwidth of 10 MHz, and each cell has three sectors and three segments. Besides, suppose the user (that is, the wireless device) is located at two possible locations, one is the middle location 610 and 710 close to the base station; and the other is the cell edge location 620 and 720 close to the cell boundary.
Besides, in simulation, there are two types of channel model, namely, additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) and VA 60 Km/Hr. Under these conditions, the simulation results of the second embodiment of the invention are disclosed in Table 1, 2, 3. In Table 1˜Table 3, “x” denotes irrelevant data.
Table 1 lists how many channels are scanned (that is, the times of scanning channels).
Suppose it takes 15 frames to complete subsequent operations (such as timing synchronization, decoding, authorization and so on), then the required time for overall scanning is listed in Table 2.
As indicated in Table 3, the scanning process of the second embodiment of the invention is faster than the known scanning process by about 30% of time.
The third embodiment of the invention still uses GBD and avoids performing authorization in these channels farther away from the correct channel. The third embodiment of the invention further discloses how to appropriately select channel before GBD is performed.
After that, in step 825, it is checked that whether GBD is passed in the channel, so as to determine whether the channel is a correct channel or close to the correct channel. If the check result in step 825 is yes, then the method jumps to step 830. If the checking result in step 825 is no, then the method returns to step 815 to select the next channel.
In step 830, the operations of timing synchronization, estimation, decoding, authorization and so on are performed in the channel having been passed GBD. In step 835, it is checked that whether authorization is passed. If authorization is passed, this implies that a correct channel is scanned. If authorization is not passed, then the method jumps to step 815 to select the next channel.
The fourth embodiment of the invention still uses GBD and avoids performing authorization in these channels farther away from the correct channel. The fourth embodiment of the invention further discloses how to appropriately select channel before GBD is performed.
In step 910, only the channels in the table are scanned. In step 915, all channels are scanned.
Next, in step 920, a channel is selected. Then, in step 925, GBD is performed in the selected channel. The details of performing GBD are disclosed in the above embodiments and are not repeated here. Then, it is checked that whether GBD is passed in the channel as indicated in step 930. If GBD is not passed and the channel is checked according to step 910, then the method jumps to step 935. On the other hand, if GBD is not passed and channel is selected according to step 915, then the method jumps to step 940. If the GBD is passed, then the method jumps to step 950.
In step 935, it is checked that whether all the channels in the table are selected. If no, then an unscanned channel is selected as indicated in step 920. If yes, then the method jumps to step 915 to scan all channels.
In step 940, it is checked that whether all the channels are selected. If no, then a next channel is selected as indicated in step 920. If yes, then the method jumps to step 945 to wait for the next scanning.
In step 950, the operations of timing synchronization, estimation, decoding, authorization and so on are performed in the channel having been passed the GBD. After that, in step 955, it is checked that whether authorization is passed. If authorization is passed, this implies that a correct channel is scanned. If authorization is not passed, then the method returns to step 935 (if channels are selected according to step 910) or step 940 (if channels are selected according to step 915).
the fifth embodiment of the invention still uses GBD and avoids performing authorization in these channels farther away from the correct channel. The fifth embodiment of the invention further discloses how to appropriately select channel before GBD is performed.
In step 1010, all the unscanned channels in the table are scanned.
In step 1015, all channels are scanned. In step 1020, the strengths of the signals in all channels are measured. Then, the method proceeds to step 1025 and the signal strengths are sorted from the strongest to the weakest.
After that, the method proceeds to step 1020 and a channel is selected. The channel which is selected could be the unscanned channels in the table (step 1010) or the channel with the strongest signal strength (steps 1010˜1025).
After that, the method proceeds to step 1035 and a GBD is performed in the selected channel. The details of performing GBD are disclosed in above embodiments and are not repeated here. Then, it is checked that whether GBD is passed in the channel as indicated in step 1040. If GBD is not passed and the channel is selected according to step 1010, then the method jumps to 1045. On the other hand, if GBD is not passed and the channel is selected according to steps 1015˜1025, then the method jumps to step 1050. If GBD is passed, then the method jumps to 1060.
In step 1045, it is checked that whether all channels in the table are selected. If no, then the next channel is selected as indicated in step 1020. If yes, then the method jumps to step 1015 and all channels are scanned.
Then, the method proceeds to step 1050 and it is checked that whether all channels are selected. If no, then the next channel is selected according to the result of sorting signal strengths as indicated in step 1030. If yes, then the method jumps to step 1055, and the method waits for the next scanning.
In step 1060, operations of timing synchronization, estimation, decoding, authorization and so on are performed in the channel having been passed GBD. Then, the method proceeds to step 1065 and it is checked that whether authorization is passed. If authorization is passed, this implies that correct channel is scanned. If authorization is not passed, then the method returns to step 1045 (if channel is selected according to step 1010) or step 1050 (if channel is selected according to steps 1015˜1025).
The sixth embodiment of the invention uses a multiple-point estimation (MPE) method, wherein the location of correct channel is estimated and predicted according to the signal strengths in different frequencies.
The meaning of multiple points is disclosed below. Suppose that when the channel is getting closer to the correct channel, the signal strengths in the channel will become stronger and stronger. Thus, there are different signal strengths in different frequencies (channels). The meaning of multiple points is exemplified by three different frequencies (channels), also called points, below.
Referring to
In the sixth embodiment, filters 1˜3 are used for measuring the signal strengths of the received signal. The center frequencies of filters 1˜3 are respectively F1˜F3. For example, F2=F1−5 MHz, and F3=F1+5 MHz.
The signal strengths measured by filters 1˜3 are illustrated in
There is one condition to be satisfied: the signal strength measured in the middle frequency cannot be smaller than the signal strength measured in high frequency and that measured in low frequency at the same time. That is, signal strength 1101 cannot be smaller than both signal strengths 1102 and 1103. If this condition is not satisfied, then the MPE method of the sixth embodiment of the invention will not be started.
Next, a line L1 is drawn which passes the signal strength 1101 and the signal strength 1103 (to be more correctly, the smaller of the signal strengths 1102 and 1103). Assume the slope of the line L1 is X.
Next, another line L2 with slope −X is drawn which passes through signal strength 1101 and signal strength 1102 (to be more correctly, the larger of signal strengths 1102 and 1103). The frequency at the crossing point of the lines L1 and L2 is close to the center frequency Fc.
In step 1205, the signal strengths in different frequencies are measured. For example, as indicated in
If the check result in step 1210 is no, then the method jumps to step 1215. If the check result in step 1210 is yes, then the method jumps to step 1220.
In step 1215, a channel is selected randomly or sequentially (from high frequency to low frequency or from low frequency to high frequency).
In step 1220, center frequency is predicted according to the above MPE method. Then, the method proceeds to step 1225 and a channel is selected from channels nearby to channels afar according to the predicted center frequency. “A channel is selected from channels nearby to channels afar” means the predicted center frequency is used as a reference point, and in the direction moving away from the reference point, the next channel (center frequency) is selected alternately (high frequency followed by low frequency or low frequency followed by high frequency).
In step 1230, the operations of timing synchronization, estimation, decoding, authorization and so on are performed in the selected channel. In step 1235, it is checked that whether authorization is passed. If authorization is passed, this implies that the selected channel is exactly the correct channel. If authorization is not passed, then the method returns to step 1215 (if channel is selected according to step 1215) or jumps to step 1225 (if channel is selected according to steps 1220˜1225).
Also, in the sixth embodiment, the parameter (the slope of the line L1 or L2) used for estimation may be non-linear; and the line L1 or L2 is not limited to be a straight line.
The seventh embodiment of the invention uses both GBD and MPE to speed up scanning channels and frequencies.
Despite
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The simulation scenarios of
As indicated in simulation, the probability that the channel searching times is smaller than 10 is increased by 30%˜50%.
In the seventh embodiment of the invention, before selecting the channel, the MPE method can be used to predict approximate location of the center frequency and the correct channel. After that, subsequent operations of authorization and so on are performed in the predicted center frequency (channel). Thus, the times of and time taken on performing subsequent processes in some channel farther away from the correct channel are largely reduced.
The eighth embodiment of the invention discloses a wireless communication system.
The channel selection module 1510 can select one channel from several channels. The details of the channel selection module 1510 can be referred from the above embodiments of the invention and are not repeated here.
The GBD module 1520 performs GBD in the selected channels. The details of the GBD module 1520 can be referred from the above embodiments of the invention and are not repeated here.
The subsequent processing module 1530 performs subsequent processes such as timing synchronization, estimation, decoding, authorization and so on in the channel.
The ninth embodiment of the invention discloses a wireless communication system.
The channel selection module 1610 can select one channel from several channels. The details of the channel selection module 1610 can be referred from the above embodiments of the invention and are not repeated here.
MPE module 1620 performs MPE in the selected channels. The details of the MPE module 1620 can be referred from the above embodiments of the invention and are not repeated here.
The subsequent processing module 1630 performs subsequent process such as timing synchronization, estimation, decoding, authorization and so on in the channel.
The tenth embodiment of the invention discloses a wireless communication system.
The channel selection module 1710 can select one channel from several channels. The details of the channel selection module 1710 can be referred from the above embodiments of the invention and are not repeated here
The GBD module 1720 performs GBD in the selected channels. The details of the GBD module 1720 can be referred from the above embodiments of the invention and are not repeated here.
The MPE module 1730 performs MPE in the channel. The details of the MPE module 1730 can be referred from the above embodiments of the invention and are not repeated here.
The subsequent processing module 1740 performs subsequent process (such as timing synchronization, estimation, decoding, authorization and so on in the channel.
While the invention has been described by way of examples and in terms of embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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97134256 | Sep 2008 | TW | national |