This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-194500, filed on Sep. 4, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Techniques disclosed in the embodiments discussed herein are related to adjustment programs, wireless terminal devices, and adjustment methods.
Communication timings of communication between a base station and a wireless terminal within a wireless system are defined by communication standards from the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). A wireless terminal determines a transmission timing on the basis of a transmission processing time, which is the time it takes for a transmitter to carry out transmission processing, and also determines a reception timing on the basis of a reception processing time, which is the time it takes for a receiver to carry out reception processing.
However, there are variations among wireless terminals, which leads to variations in their communication timings. Therefore, a wireless terminal communicates with a base station, and if the base station detects a deviation in the communication timing with the wireless terminal, the wireless terminal obtains information on the deviation in the communication timing from the base station. Thus, the wireless terminal adjusts the communication timing on the basis of the information on the deviation in the communication timing obtained from the base station. Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 10-107725, for example, discusses such techniques.
According to an aspect of the invention, a wireless terminal device includes a transmitter, a receiver, a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory, the processor being configured to measure a transmission processing time and a reception processing time, the transmission processing time being a time for the transmitter to carry out transmission processing, the reception processing time being a time for the receiver to carry out reception processing, and adjust a transmission timing of the transmitter on the basis of the transmission processing time and a reception timing of the receiver on the basis of the reception processing time.
The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
In an existing technique, a wireless terminal communicates with a base station and adjusts communication timings on the basis of information on a deviation in the communication timings obtained from the base station. For example, if the communication timings deviate markedly from the communication standards, the wireless terminal becomes unable to communicate with the base station. Then, the wireless terminal fails to obtain information on a deviation in the communication timings since the wireless terminal is unable to communicate with the base station, and thus the wireless terminal fails to adjust the communication timings. Techniques discussed in the embodiments described hereinafter allow a wireless terminal to adjust communication timings.
Hereinafter, embodiments of an adjustment program, a wireless terminal device, and an adjustment method disclosed in the present specification will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It is to be noted that the embodiments do not limit the disclosed techniques. Furthermore, the embodiments described hereinafter may be combined appropriately as long as no inconsistency arises.
The antenna 11 transmits and receives an RF signal. The DUP 12 is arranged between the antenna 11 and the RF-LSI 13 and serves as a bidirectional switch for switching between a transmission RF signal and a reception RF signal within the RF-LSI 13. The PM 17 is a power supply that supplies power to the entire wireless terminal 1. The LCD 18 is an output interface that displays various information pieces. The operation unit 19 is an input interface through which various commands are inputted. The non-volatile memory 15 stores various information pieces.
The RF-LSI 13 includes frequency conversion functionality for converting a reception RF signal into a baseband signal or a baseband signal into a transmission RF signal through frequency conversion using a local oscillator and a mixer (not illustrated). The RF-LSI 13 includes an RF receiver 21, an RF transmitter 22, a microprocessing unit (MPU) 23, and a memory 24. The RF receiver 21 carries out reception processing on a reception RF signal received via the antenna 11. The reception processing includes frequency conversion processing, filter processing, and digital conversion processing. In the frequency conversion processing, the RF receiver 21 converts an RF signal into a baseband signal through frequency conversion. In the filter processing, the RF receiver 21 removes an unwanted noise component from the baseband signal that has been obtained through frequency conversion. In the digital conversion processing, the RF receiver 21 digitally converts the baseband signal that has been subjected to the filter processing to obtain reception data.
The RF receiver 21 includes a reception processing unit 31, a reception FIFO 32, and a reception measuring unit 33. The reception processing unit 31 carries out the reception processing on an RF signal to obtain reception data. The reception FIFO 32 sequentially stores reception data pieces obtained by the reception processing unit 31. The reception measuring unit 33 measures a reception processing time, which is the time it takes for the reception processing unit 31 to carry out the reception processing.
The RF transmitter 22 carries out transmission processing on transmission data of a baseband signal from the BB-LSI 14 to obtain a transmission RF signal. The transmission processing includes analog conversion processing, filter processing, and frequency conversion processing. In the analog conversion processing, the RF transmitter 22 converts transmission data of a baseband signal into an analog signal. In the filter processing, the RF transmitter 22 removes an unwanted noise component from the baseband signal that has been converted into an analog signal. In the frequency conversion processing, the RF transmitter 22 converts the baseband signal that has been subjected to the filter processing into an RF signal through frequency conversion.
The RF transmitter 22 includes a transmission processing unit 41, a transmission FIFO 42, and a transmission measuring unit 43. The transmission processing unit 41 carries out transmission processing on transmission data to obtain a transmission RF signal. The transmission FIFO 42 sequentially stores transmission data pieces. The transmission measuring unit 43 measures a transmission processing time, which is the time it takes for the transmission processing unit 41 to carry out the transmission processing.
The BB-LSI 14 includes an RX_IQ receiver 51, a TX_IQ transmitter 52, a transmission data selecting unit 53, a test data generating unit 54, and a control circuit 55. The RX_IQ receiver 51 demodulates reception data of an IQ component stored in the reception FIFO 32. The TX_IQ transmitter 52 modulates transmission data. The test data generating unit 54 generates, for example, transmitter-side test data, which is an example of a second test signal, to be used to measure a transmission processing time by the transmission measuring unit 43. Note that the test data, for example, is a digitally converted continuous wave (CW) signal. The transmission data selecting unit 53 selects between the test data generating unit 54 and the TX_IQ transmitter 52 in accordance with a selection signal from the control circuit 55. The control circuit 55 controls the entire BB-LSI 14. Upon receiving a reception processing time, that is, a measurement result, from the reception measuring unit 33, the control circuit 55 stores the reception processing time in the non-volatile memory 15. Further, upon receiving a transmission processing time, that is, a measurement result, from the transmission measuring unit 43, the control circuit 55 stores the transmission processing time in the non-volatile memory 15.
An antenna connector 11A is arranged between the antenna 11 and the DUP 12, and this antenna connector 11A can, for example, be connected to a measuring device 2 such as a radio communication analyzer. The measuring device 2, when connected to the antenna connector 11A, for example, transmits a sine wave CW signal, which is an example of a test signal or a first test signal, to the RF receiver 21 via the DUP 12 within the wireless terminal 1. In addition, the measuring device 2 transmits a start signal to the reception measuring unit 33 within the RF receiver 21 in synchronization with the start of transmission of the CW signal to the RF receiver 21. Note that this start signal serves as a trigger signal for starting a count operation of the reception measuring unit 33.
The measuring device 2 receives a transmission RF signal of the test data generated by the test data generating unit 54 via the RF transmitter 22 and the DUP 12. In addition, the measuring device 2 transmits a stop signal to the transmission measuring unit 43 within the RF transmitter 22 at a timing at which the measuring device 2 receives the transmission RF signal of the test data. Note that the stop signal serves as a trigger signal for stopping the count operation of the transmission measuring unit 43.
Upon detecting a power supply being turned on through the PM 17, the control circuit 55 loads into the memory 24 the reception processing time and the transmission processing time stored in the non-volatile memory 15 and starts the RF-LSI 13 and the BB-LSI 14. Here, turning on the power supply means turning on the power supply of the wireless terminal 1 and starting communication upon the power supply being turned on. The MPU 23 adjusts a read timing of the reception FIFO 32 on the basis of the reception processing time stored in the memory 24 so that a communication processing cycle falls within the standard.
In the communication processing illustrated in
The operation of the wireless terminal 1 of the first embodiment will now be described.
The control circuit 55 stores the reception processing time obtained by the reception measuring unit 33 in the non-volatile memory 15 (step S12). In addition, the control circuit 55 measures a transmission processing time with the transmission measuring unit 43 (step S13). The control circuit 55 stores the transmission processing time obtained by the transmission measuring unit 43 in the non-volatile memory 15 (step S14) and terminates the processing operation illustrated in
The control circuit 55 in the pre-shipment measurement processing illustrated in
In addition, the control circuit 55 measures the transmission processing time, which is the time it takes for the RF transmitter 22 to carry out the transmission processing, with the transmission measuring unit 43 and stores the measurement result in the non-volatile memory 15. Thus, the control circuit 55 can obtain the transmission processing time spent on the transmission processing before the wireless terminal 1 is shipped from the factory.
The control circuit 55 of the wireless terminal 1 determines whether or not the control circuit 55 has detected a power supply being turned on through the PM 17 (step S21). If the control circuit 55 has detected the power supply being turned on (YES in step S21), the control circuit 55 reads the measurement results stored in the non-volatile memory 15 and then stores the measurement results in the memory 24 (step S22). The MPU 23 starts the RF-LSI 13 and the BB-LSI 14 and then calculates a transmission timing and a reception timing on the basis of the measurement results stored in the memory 24 (step S23). The MPU 23 stores the calculated transmission and reception timings in the memory 24 (step S24).
The MPU 23 adjusts a read timing of the reception FIFO 32 on the basis of the reception timing so that the communication processing cycle falls within the standard (step S25). In addition, the MPU 23 adjusts a read timing of the transmission FIFO 42 on the basis of the transmission timing so that the communication processing cycle falls within the standard (step S26) and terminates the processing operation illustrated in
The MPU 23 in the communication timing adjustment processing illustrated in
The MPU 23 generates the transmission timing on the basis of the transmission processing time stored in the non-volatile memory 15 in response to the power supply being turned on. Then, the MPU 23 adjusts the read timing of the transmission FIFO 42 on the basis of the transmission timing so that the communication processing cycle falls within the standard. Thus, even if the transmission processing time of the RF transmitter 22 varies, the MPU 23 can adjust the communication processing cycle to stay within the standard by suppressing a variation in the output timing of a transmission RF signal in the transmission processing.
Although a case where a delay occurs in the transmission processing has been illustrated in the example illustrated in
The wireless terminal 1 of the first embodiment, when connected to the measuring device 2 prior to being shipped from the factory, measures a reception processing time that has elapsed since the measuring device 2 starts transmitting a CW signal to the RF receiver 21 via the DUP 12 until the RF receiver 21 completes the reception processing on the CW signal. Then, the wireless terminal 1 stores the reception processing time in the non-volatile memory 15. It is to be noted that the wireless terminal 1 does not have to be in synchronization with a base station while measuring the reception processing time.
The wireless terminal 1 measures a transmission processing time that has elapsed since the RF transmitter 22 receives test data from the test data generating unit 54 via the transmission FIFO 42 until an RF signal that has been subjected to the transmission processing by the RF transmitter 22 reaches the measuring device 2 via the DUP 12. Then, the wireless terminal 1 stores the transmission processing time in the non-volatile memory 15. It is to be noted that the wireless terminal 1 does not have to be in synchronization with the base station while measuring the transmission processing time.
Then, the wireless terminal 1, upon its power supply being turned on, adjusts the read timing of the transmission FIFO 42 on the basis of the measurement result of the transmission processing time stored in the non-volatile memory 15. Accordingly, even if the transmission processing time goes off, the wireless terminal 1 can suppress a variation in the output timing of the transmission RF signal in the transmission processing by individually adjusting the transmission timing, and thus the communication processing cycle can be adjusted to stay within the standard.
In addition, the wireless terminal 1, upon its power supply being turned on, adjusts the read timing of the reception FIFO 32 on the basis of the measurement result of the reception processing time stored in the non-volatile memory 15. Accordingly, even if the reception processing time goes off, the wireless terminal 1 can suppress a variation in the output timing of the reception data to the BB-LSI 14 by individually adjusting the reception timing, and thus the communication processing cycle can be adjusted to stay within the standard.
Furthermore, even if a change occurs in the RF-LSI 13, the BB-LSI 14, and so on over the years, the wireless terminal 1 adjusts the read timings of the reception FIFO 32 and the transmission FIFO 42 on the basis of the measurement results of the reception processing time and the transmission processing time, each time the power supply thereof is turned on. As a result, even if the communication timing goes off over the years, the communication processing cycle can be adjusted to stay within the standard.
In addition, the wireless terminal 1 calculates the reception timing and the transmission timing on the basis of the reception processing time and the transmission processing time, respectively, and makes an adjustment for each terminal. Thus, a variation among terminals is suppressed, and a situation where the terminals no longer meet the standards through changes over the years can be avoided.
In the first embodiment described above, the test data generating unit 54 for generating test data to be used to measure the transmission processing time by the transmission measuring unit 43 is embedded in the wireless terminal 1. Alternatively, output data of the reception processing unit 31 may instead be used as test data. This mode will now be described as a second embodiment, hereinafter.
When the reception processing unit 31 completes the reception processing on the CW signal, the reception measuring unit 33 obtains a measurement result of the reception processing time and notifies the control circuit 55 of the measurement result. The control circuit 55 stores the measurement result in the non-volatile memory 15. Further, upon receiving the measurement result of the reception processing time, the control circuit 55 connects an output of the data switching unit 56 to the transmission data selecting unit 53 and connects an input of the transmission data selecting unit 53 to the data switching unit 56.
Then, the transmission data selecting unit 53 stores the reception data stored in the reception FIFO 32 into the transmission FIFO 42 as test data via the data switching unit 56. Then, the transmission processing unit 41 reads the test data stored in the transmission FIFO 42 and carries out the transmission processing on the test data. In addition, the transmission processing unit 41 transmits a transmission RF signal of the test data to the measuring device 2 via the DUP 12. As a result, the transmission measuring unit 43 starts measuring a transmission processing time of the transmission processing unit 41 at a timing at which the measuring device 2 receives the transmission RF signal of the test data, and notifies the control circuit 55 of the measurement result. Upon receiving the measurement result of the transmission processing time, the control circuit 55 stores the measurement result of the transmission processing time in the non-volatile memory 15.
In addition, upon receiving the measurement result of the transmission processing time, the control circuit 55 controls the data switching unit 56 and the transmission data selecting unit 53 so that the output of the data switching unit 56 is connected to the RX_IQ receiver 51 and the input of the transmission data selecting unit 53 is connected to the TX_IQ transmitter 52.
The wireless terminal 1A of the second embodiment, although the test data generating unit 54 is not embedded therein, can use the reception data of the CW signal used to measure the reception processing time of the reception measuring unit 33 as the test data to be used to measure the transmission processing time of the transmission measuring unit 43.
Although a smartphone is illustrated as an example of the wireless terminal 1 (1A) in the embodiments described above, similar effects can be obtained even if a tablet terminal or an information terminal provided with wireless communication functionality is employed.
Each of the components illustrated in the drawings does not necessarily have a physical configuration as illustrated in the drawings. In other words, specific modes of integration or disintegration of the components are not limited to those illustrated in the drawings, and the whole or a part of the components can be functionally or physically integrated or disintegrated in desired units in accordance with various loads or usage situations.
Furthermore, the whole or a desired part of various processing functions to be carried out in each unit may be implemented with a central processing unit (CPU) (or a microcomputer such as a microprocessing unit (MPU) and a microcontroller unit (MCU)). It is needless to state that the whole or a desired part of the various processing functions may be implemented through a program to be analyzed and executed by a CPU (or a microcomputer such as an MPU and an MCU) or through hardware of a wired logic.
The various processing operations described in the present embodiments can be realized by executing a program prepared in advance in a wireless terminal device. Hereinafter, an example of a wireless terminal device that executes a program having similar functions to those in the above embodiments will be described.
With reference to
The processor 130 reads the programs 110A and 110B from the ROM 110 and executes each of the read programs 110A and 110B. Then, the processor 130 causes the programs 110A and 110B to function as a measurement process 130A and an adjustment process 130B, respectively.
The processor 130 of the wireless terminal device 100 measures a transmission processing time, which is the time it takes for the communication unit 160 to carry out transmission processing, and a reception processing time, which is the time it takes for the communication unit 160 to carry out reception processing, before the wireless terminal device 100 is shipped. Then, the processor 130 stores the measured transmission processing time and reception processing time in the RAM 120. During communication, the processor 130 adjusts a transmission timing of the communication unit 160 on the basis of the transmission processing time stored in the RAM 120. The processor 130 also adjusts a reception timing of the communication unit 160 on the basis of the reception processing time stored in the RAM 120. As a result, the wireless terminal device 100 can adjust the communication timings by individually adjusting the reception timing and the transmission timing.
All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2012-194500 | Sep 2012 | JP | national |