The present invention relates, in general, to a scheme for shortening the time required to obtain synchronization between Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) signals and detect a preamble sequence in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) uplink system and, more particularly, to a scheme for shortening a time required to detect a preamble sequence using an inverse discrete Fourier transform.
A Long Term Evolution (LTE) system based on an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) scheme is a next generation mobile communication system which will replace a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) that is a third (3rd) generation mobile communication standard, and is currently being discussed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). An OFDM scheme is configured to transmit data using multiple subcarriers in a frequency domain. Since such an OFDM scheme transmits data while maintaining orthogonality between subcarriers, it has high frequency efficiency, is robust to frequency selective fading and multi-path fading, and is capable of reducing interference between symbols using a guard period (Cyclic Prefix: CP). Further, an OFDM scheme has an advantage of being robust to impulse noise owing to the simple structure of an equalizer from the standpoint of hardware, thus obtaining optimal transmission efficiency upon transmitting data at high speed.
In 3GPP LTE uplink, a Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) is performed before mapping between subcarriers is performed so as to solve the problem of a Peak to Average Power Ratio (PAPR) in OFDM technology. This technology is called Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) in LTE. In LTE uplink, Zadoff-Chu Constant Amplitude Zero Auto Correlation (CAZAC) (hereinafter referred to as ‘CAZAC code’) having excellent auto-correlation and cross-correlation characteristics is used to establish initial synchronization using a PRACH and maintain synchronization using a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS). CAZAC is a code used to generate a Reference Signal (RS).
A Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH), and a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) Channel are used as LTE uplink channels. PRACH denotes an LTE uplink channel transmitted by a terminal so as to establish initial synchronization. PUCCH denotes an LTE uplink control channel, and includes Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) information, ACK/NACK, etc. PUSCH denotes an LTE uplink data channel. SRS is one of Reference Signals (RSs) of the LTE uplink, and is periodically transmitted by the terminal, thus maintaining the synchronization of the terminal, the initial synchronization of which has been established using the PRACH. Further, SRS indicates the quality of the uplink channel and then causes the channel quality to be used as the input information of the uplink scheduler of a base station.
Referring to
When receiving the preamble transmitted from the terminal, a base station transmits a random access response to a downlink physical channel. The base station transmits Acknowledgment (ACK) or Not-Acknowledgment (NACK) based on the random access response to the terminal.
The terminal is allocated 64 preambles (that is, sequences), which can be used by the terminal, from the base station, and uses one selected from among the allocated sequences as a preamble for the random access process. The base station has information about all possible sequences and must simultaneously calculate correlations between all sequences. The maximum number of preambles allocated to the terminal is 64. In this case, the base station must detect a single sequence, which has been selected and transmitted by the terminal, and thus 64 correlators must be simultaneously implemented.
An object of the present invention is to provide a scheme for allowing a base station to detect a preamble sequence used by a terminal from a plurality of preamble sequences while consuming less hardware resources, by using a simple method.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a scheme for shortening the time required by a base station to detect a preamble sequence, used by a terminal, from a plurality of preamble sequences.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a scheme for obtaining synchronization between a terminal and a base station by calculating, with regard to a CP and a sequence constituting a PRACH, a point at which the sequence starts, and for shortening the time required to detect a preamble sequence used by the terminal using synchronization.
In order to accomplish the above objects, a reference signal generation apparatus according to the present invention includes a preamble sequence generation unit for receiving a first signal having a predetermined value and outputting a plurality of second signals, each having a length of 839, a Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) unit for performing a DFT on the second signals received from the preamble sequence generation unit, and transforming the second signals to frequency domain signals, a subcarrier mapping unit for performing subcarrier mapping on the frequency domain signals output from the DFT unit, and an Inverse DFT (IDFT) unit for receiving a signal having a length of 2n (where n is a natural number) from the subcarrier mapping unit, performing an IDFT on the signal, and transforming a resulting signal into a time domain signal having a length of 2n (where n is a natural number).
In order to accomplish the above objects, a preamble sequence detection apparatus according to the preset invention includes a reference signal generation unit including a preamble sequence generation unit for receiving a first signal having a predetermined value and outputting a plurality of second signals, each having a length of 839, a Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) unit for performing a DFT on the second signals received from the preamble sequence generation unit, and transforming the second signals to frequency domain signals, a subcarrier mapping unit for performing subcarrier mapping on the frequency domain signals output from the DFT unit, and an Inverse DFT (IDFT) unit for receiving a signal having a length of 2n (where n is a natural number) from the subcarrier mapping unit, performing an IDFT on the signal, and transforming a resulting signal into a time domain signal having a length of 2n (where n is a natural number), a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) reception unit for receiving a PRACH signal transmitted from a terminal, and a second correlation unit for detecting correlations between reference signals received from the reference signal generation unit and the signal received from the PRACH reception unit.
The preamble sequence detection apparatus according to the present invention obtains synchronization between a terminal and a base station by calculating, with regard to a CP and a sequence constituting a PRACH, a point at which the sequence starts, and shortens the time required by the base station to detect a preamble sequence used by the terminal using synchronization.
The above and other objects, features, and aspects of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail so that those skilled in the art may easily understand and implement the present invention from those embodiments.
The base station decides to use one preamble format among preamble formats based on a channel environment, a cell radius, etc., and broadcasts information about the preamble format to a terminal located in a cell. The terminal receives the broadcasted preamble format, and configures a PRACH using the received information.
As described above, the LTE system transmits/receives data by inserting a guard period, to which a cyclic Prefix (CP) is input, into a transmission signal for each symbol as a method for reducing multi-path influence (ghost). That is, the guard period to which the CP is input is inserted by lengthening the symbol period of a transmission signal to be transmitted, and so data is transmitted, thus reducing inter-symbol interference that may occur due to the delay of symbols received while passing through the multi-path, and also reducing inter-channel interference owing to the maintenance of orthogonality between subcarriers.
The terminal selects one from among available preamble sequences, and transmits the selected preamble sequence through the PRACH. For example, the terminal may select one from among 64 available preamble sequences and transmit the selected preamble sequence through the PRACH.
As shown in
The present invention obtains synchronization using a signal received through the PRACH by the following Equation 1:
where m=sequence length, and R(i)=signal received from terminal.
As proposed in Equation 1, the present invention calculates correlations between the signal received from the terminal and signals obtained by shifting the received signal at regular intervals. By using a correlation having a maximum value among the calculated correlations, synchronization that is information about a time at which the terminal transmitted the signal through the PRACH is obtained. That is, the base station must obtain synchronization with the terminal so as to perform smooth communication with the terminal, and such synchronization is obtained by calculating correlations between the signal received from the terminal and signals obtained by shifting the received signal at regular intervals, as described above.
Referring to
In order to transmit control information, orthogonal sequences may be used. An orthogonal sequence denotes a sequence having excellent correlation characteristics. There is a Constant Amplitude Zero Auto-Correlation (CAZAC) sequence as an example of the orthogonal sequence.
A Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequence, one of CAZAC sequences, will be described. The kth element c(k) of a root ZC sequence which is a root index M may be represented by the following Equation 2:
where N denotes the length of the ZC sequence, index M denotes a natural number equal to or less than N, and M and N are relatively prime to each other. If N is a prime number, the number of root indices of the ZC sequence is N−1.
Equation 3 indicates that the magnitude of the ZC sequence is always 1, and Equation 4 indicates that the auto-correlation of the ZC sequence is represented by a Dirac-delta function. Here, the auto-correlation is based on a circular correlation. Equation 5 indicates that cross-correlation is always a constant.
It is assumed that, in a wireless communication system, cells are distinguished from each other using the root indices of the ZC sequence. The terminal needs to be aware of a root index that is available in the corresponding cell or a group of available root indices. The base station must broadcast an available root index or a group of available root indices to the terminal.
When the length of the ZC sequence is N, a number of root indices that are relatively prime to each other and are less than N are present. When N is a prime number, the number of root indices is N−1. In this case, the base station notifies the terminal of any one of N−1 root indices.
Each cell may use a variety number of root indices depending on the cell radius. When the cell radius increases, the number of ZC sequences between which orthogonality may be maintained through a cyclic shift may be decreased due to the influence of propagation delay or round trip delay and/or delay spread. That is, when the cell radius increases, even the number of cyclic shifts that are available in the corresponding root index may be reduced if the lengths of ZC sequences are uniform. In this way, sequences generated by cyclic shifts in the root index have orthogonality therebetween, and so they are also called Zero Correlation Zone (ZCZ) sequences. The minimum number of ZC sequences allocated to the terminal for each cell must be guaranteed, so that when the cell radius increases, the minimum number of ZC sequences may be ensured by increasing the number of root indices used in the cell.
The preamble sequence generation unit 300 generates 64 preamble sequences by shifting a ZC sequence, generated using CAZAC code.
The DFT unit 302 performs a DFT on the 64 preamble sequences generated by the preamble sequence generation unit 300. In relation to the present invention, the DTF unit 302 transforms the preamble sequences into frequency domain signals by performing 839-DTF. If an input signal having a length of 839, which is a prime number, is received, the DFT unit 302 performs 839-DFT, and outputs a signal having a length of 839 which is a prime number.
The subcarrier mapping unit 304 maps the preamble sequences, transformed into frequency domain signals, to desired frequency bands. The IDFT unit 306 transforms preamble sequence signals mapped to the frequency bands into time domain signals by performing an IDFT. In relation to the present invention, the IDFT unit performs 2n (where n is a natural number)-IDFT. As an example, if an input signal having a length of 2048 is received, the IDFT unit performs 2048-IDFT and outputs a signal having a length of 2048.
Referring to
The PRACH reception unit 400 receives a signal transmitted by the terminal through the PRACH. As described above, the terminal selects one from among available preamble sequences, performs a DFT, subcarrier mapping, and an IDTF, adds a CP to a guard period, which is to be inserted, in order to promote the improvement of performance of a PRACH receiver in a time domain, and then transmits a resulting signal to the base station. The PRACH reception unit 400 transfers the signal received through the PRACH to the delay unit. The delay adjustment unit 402 delays the signal received from the PRACH reception unit 400 by a predetermined length so as to generate signals having a plurality of signals, the lengths of which are integer multiples of a unit length, from the received signal. That is, signals R(i) and R(m+i) shown in Equation 1 are generated.
The generated signals are transferred to the first correlation unit 404. The first correlation unit 404 measures correlations between the received signals R(i) and R(m+i) based on formulas shown in Equation 1, and transfers the results of the measurement to the first decision unit 406.
The first decision unit 406 decides on a signal having a highest correlation depending on the received correlations, and obtains information about the time at which the terminal transmitted the signal through the PRACH, based on the decided correlation.
Thereafter, the downsampling unit 408 downsamples a signal having a length of 24576 to have a length of 2n (where n is a natural number), and transfers a resulting signal to the second correlation unit 412. As described above, the downsampling unit may downsample the signal having a length of 24576 to have a length of 2n (where n is a natural number), and then transfer the resulting signal to the second correlation unit 412.
As described above with reference to
The second correlation unit 412 detects correlations between the signal received from the downsampling unit 408 and the reference signals received from the reference signal generation unit 410.
Equation 6 shows an equation used when the second correlation unit 412 detects correlations between the signal received from the downsampling unit 408 and the reference signals received from the reference signal generation unit 412.
where R(i)=signal received through the PRACH, and S(i) denotes signals received from the reference signal generation unit.
The second correlation unit 412 transfers the correlations rF detected using Equation 6 to the second decision unit 414. The second decision unit 414 detects a correlation having a highest value from the correlations received from the correlation unit, and transfers information about the detected correlation to the preamble sequence and time offset detection unit 416.
The preamble sequence and time offset detection unit 416 may know a preamble sequence used by the terminal by checking a reference signal corresponding to the received correlation. That is, a correlation between the reference signal, in which a preamble sequence identical to the preamble sequence used by the signal received from the PRACH reception unit 400 is used, and the signal, received from the PRACH reception unit 400, has the highest value. By performing the above procedures, the base station can detect the preamble sequence used by the terminal and a time offset related to information about the time at which the signal was transmitted through the PRACH.
In this way, the present invention detects the preamble sequence using 2n (where n is a natural number)-IDFT instead of detecting the preamble sequence using existing 24576-IDFT, thus obtaining the advantage of shortening detection time.
Referring to
The division unit 500 receives a plurality of reference signals generated by the reference signal generation unit. As shown in
The signal length adjustment unit 502 adjusts a signal length to a value less than 2n so as to further reduce calculations from the length of 2n. The signal length adjustment unit 502 transfers the length-adjusted signal to the second correlation unit 412. The signal downsampled by the downsampling unit 408 is also transferred to a signal length adjustment unit 504, and the signal length adjustment unit 504 adjusts a signal length to a value less than 2n so as to further reduce calculations from the length of 2n.
The second correlation unit 412 detects a correlation between the signal received from the downsampling unit 408 and the reference signal received from the division unit 500.
The following Equation 7 denotes a formula used when the second correlation unit 412 detects the correlation between the signal received from the downsampling unit 408 and the reference signal received from the division unit 412.
where d denotes the length of the reference signal. The second correlation unit 412 transfers the correlation rF detected using Equation 7 to the decision unit. Thereafter, the operations of the second decision unit and the preamble sequence and time offset detection unit are identical to those of
Although the present invention has been described with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings, these embodiments are only exemplary and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and other equivalent embodiments are possible from the above embodiments.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10-2010-0092336 | Sep 2010 | KR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/KR11/01136 | 2/22/2011 | WO | 00 | 4/30/2013 |