JP4189170B2 - Wireless system - Google Patents

Description

次に、この表１に示す各動作について説明する。
【００２４】
＃▲１▼：ＯＤＵ１でのアンテナの方向を調整する図示しない保守者（以下、ＯＤＵ１担当の保守者という：他の無線局についても同様）とＩＤＵ５でこのＯＤＵ１の受信状態を監視する図示しない保守者（以下、ＩＤＵ５担当の保守者という：他の無線局についても同様）との間で音声通信（通話）を行なうことができ、この場合には、ＯＤＵ１のハンドセット２でＩＤＵ５のハンドセット９への発呼操作を行なうことにより、音声回線接続先切替回路７がこのＩＤＵ５での保守者のハンドセット９に接続された信号線１０を選択することにより、信号線３，４，８，１０による音声回線を形成し、信号線８から供給される音声信号をハンドセット９に供給する。この場合、ハンドセット９で生成された音声信号も、このハンドセット９でＯＤＵ１のハンドセット２への発呼操作をすることにより、かかる音声回線を介してＯＤＵ１のハンドセット２に供給される。このことは、他の無線局Ｂについても同様であり、従って、同じ無線局でのＯＤＵ担当の保守者とＩＤＵ担当の保守者との通話が可能となる。
【００２５】
＃▲２▼：また、音声回線接続先切替回路７は図示しない送受信部と信号線２０を介して公衆回線１８にも接続されており、同様にして、無線局Ｂにおいても、ＩＤＵ１５の図示しない音声回線接続先切替回路が図示しない送受信部と信号線１９とを介して公衆回線１８と接続されている。このため、無線局Ａでの音声回線接続先切替回路７が信号線２０を選択すると、受信部６からの音声信号がこの信号線２０，公衆回線１８，信号線１９を介して無線局Ｂの送受信部に送られる。この無線局Ｂでは、この受信されて音声信号が音声回線接続先切替回路に供給されるが、この音声回線接続先切替回路は、送受信部からの音声信号に付加されている宛先情報に応じて、この音声信号をＯＤＵ１１のハンドセット１２あるいはＩＤＵ１５のハンドセット１６に送る。従って、ハンドセット２で生成された音声信号が上記の回線を介してハンドセット１２に送信され、また、逆にハンドセット１２で生成された音声信号が上記の回線を介してハンドセット２に送信されることにより、無線局ＡのＯＵＤ１担当の保守者と無線局ＢのＯＤＵ１１担当の保守者との間で通話が可能となる。
【００２６】
なお、このように公衆回線網１８を介して無線局Ａ，ＢのＯＤＵ１，１１間で通話が行なわれる場合には、これと同時に、音声回線接続先切替回路７は信号線１０も選択でき、ＩＤＵ５担当の保守者がこの通話をモニタ可能な構成とすることができる。これにより、無線局Ａ，ＢのＯＤＵ１，１１間での音声通話の最中でも、通話内容に応じたＩＤＵ５の設定操作が可能になり、作業効率のさらなる向上が望める。
【００２７】
＃▲３▼：公衆回線網１８を介した他の無線局Ｂに対する通話の発呼は、ＩＤＵ５，１５のハンドセット９，１６からも実行できる。このため、かかる発呼操作がなされたときには、ハンドセット９から信号線１０，２０，公衆回線網１８，信号線１９，無線局ＢでのＩＤＵ１５，信号線１７を介したハンドセット１６までの音声回線が形成されることになり、異なる無線局Ａ，Ｂ間のＩＤＵ担当の保守者同士が音声通話が可能となって、互いに連絡をとり合うことができる。このように音声通話が行なわれると、その後はＩＤＵ担当の保守者の操作次第で音声回線を自由に切り替えることができるので、無線局ＡのＯＤＵ１やＩＤＵ５と無線局ＢのＯＤＵ１１やＩＤＵ１５との任意の２点間での音声通話が可能となる。
【００２８】
次に、本発明による無線システムの他の実施形態について説明する。この実施形態は、メッシュ型無線システムとするものであって、ここでは、かかる無線システムでのオーダーワイヤ接続方法について説明するものであるが、その説明に先立って、まず、図２により、メッシュ型無線システムについて、その概念を簡単に説明する。
【００２９】
メッシュ型無線システムは、図２（ａ）に示すように、複数の無線局３１，３３を無線リンク３２で接続することにより、メッシュ型のネットワークトポロジーを構築するものである。ネットワークを構成する１つ以上の無線局３３は基幹網３０に接続される。
【００３０】
これら無線局３１，３３は、図２（ｂ）に示すように、隣接する（即ち、無線リンク３２（図２（ａ））で接続される）各方向の他の無線局と無線通信するための無線機３４とこれら無線機３４に接続されたルータ３６とを備え、各無線機３４は隣接する各方向の他の無線局のアンテナに向けて指向性を絞ったアンテナ３５により、これら他の無線局の無線機と無線接続される。また、ルータ３６はＬＡＮ（ローカルエリアネットワーク）３７に接続され、このＬＡＮ３７とのデータ授受を行なうとともに、他の無線局宛のデータについては中継処理を行ない、送信先の無線局が存在する方向にアンテナ３５が向いた無線機３４からデータを送出する。つまり１つ１つの無線リンクはＰ−Ｐ方式であるが、全体としてはメッシュ型のネットワークトポロジーとなっている。
【００３１】
図３は本発明によるメッシュ型無線システムの他の実施形態の音声通話回線構成を示す図であって、１ａ，１１ａはＯＤＵ、４ａ，１４ａは信号線、２１は信号線、２２はＬＡＮ、２３はメッシュ型無線アクセス網、２４，２５は既設の無線リンク、２６は新規の無線リンクであり、図１に対応する部分には同一符号を付けて重複する説明を省略する。
【００３２】
同図において、無線局Ａ，Ｂも、無線局Ｃ，Ｄと同様、メッシュ型無線アクセス網２３を構成するものである。そして、無線局Ａは、ＯＤＵ１ａにより、無線局Ｃとの間に既に無線リンク２４が確立されており、また、無線局Ｂも、ＯＤＵ１１ａにより、無線局Ｄとの間に既に無線リンク２５が確立されている。従って、ＯＤＵ１ａ−無線リンク２４−無線局Ｃ−……−無線局Ｄ−無線リンク２５−ＯＤＵ１１ａの経路により、無線局Ａ，Ｂ間のデータ通信が可能である。
【００３３】
この実施形態は、図３において、かかるメッシュ型無線アクセス網２３において、既設の無線局Ａ，Ｂ間で直接データの通信を可能とするために、無線局ＡにＯＤＵ１を、無線局ＢにＯＤＵ１１を夫々設けて新規の無線リンク２６を確立する際に、これらＯＤＵ１，１１のアンテナが互いに精度良く向かい合うように、これらアンテナの向きを調整して新規の無線リンク２６を確立する際の保守者の通話を可能とする音声通話回線構成に関するものである。
【００３４】
ここで、メッシュ型無線アクセス網２３に既に接続されている各無線局は図２（ｂ）に示す構成をなすものであり、設置されているＯＤＵ毎に図２（ｂ）で示すような無線機３４やアンテナ３５，ルータ３６，ＬＡＮ３７を備えている。無線局Ａに示すＬＡＮ２２はこのＬＡＮ３７に相当するものである。
【００３５】
既にメッシュ型無線アクセス網２３との接続が確立している各無線局は夫々固有のアドレスを有するルータを備えており、このため、音声通信を希望する無線局に割り当てられたかかるアドレス宛にパケット化された音声データを送ることにより、メッシュ型無線アクセス網２３による音声通信ができ、インバンド(データ通信の帯域内での伝送）でのオーダーワイヤ通信が可能になる。これは、新規の無線リンクを新規に確立する無線局Ａ，Ｂについても同様である。なお、送信先を指定するためのアドレスとしては、適用するシステムに応じて、EtherネットのＭＡＣ(Media Access Control)アドレスでもよいし、ＩＰ(Internet Protocol)アドレスでもよいが、この実施形態では、メッシュ型無線アクセス網２３をＩＰネットワークとし、上記のアドレスをＩＰアドレスとして、以下、説明する。
【００３６】
メッシュ型無線アクセス網２３に接続された無線局Ａ，Ｂ間で新規に無線リンク２６を構築する場合には、無線局ＡのＯＤＵ１と無線局ＢのＯＤＵ１１との設置時のアンテナの方向調整を行なう際に必要となる保守者間の音声通話回線は、上記のように、無線局Ａ，Ｂに既設のＯＤＵ１ａ，１１ａを用いたインバンドでのオーバーワイヤ通信により、他の通信システムに依存することなく、独自のメッシュ型無線アクセス網２３だけで実現可能となる。
【００３７】
なお、無線リンクの設置時のみならず、既設の無線リンクの保守を目的とする無線局間の音声通話も、音声のＩＰ化により、実現可能であることはいうまでもない。
【００３８】
図４は図３における無線機ＡでのＩＤＵ５の一具体例を示す構成図であって、７ａは音声回線接続先切替回路、６ａは無線部、８ａは信号線、２７はルータ、２８は音声／ＩＰ変換回路、２９ａ〜２９ｃは信号線であり、前出図面に対応する部分には、同一符号を付けて重複する説明を省略する。
【００３９】
同図において、無線部６ａは、図１での無線部６に相当するものであって、信号線４，４ａを介してＯＤＵ１，１ａ（図３）に接続されている。音声回線接続先切替回路７ａは、図１での音声回線接続先切替回路７に相当するものであって、信号線８ａを介して無線部６ａに接続されている。また、この音声回線接続先切替回路７ａは、信号線２０を介して公衆回線網１８（図３）に接続されており、さらに、信号線１０を介して、取り外し可能に、ＩＤＯ５担当の保守者（図示せず）のためのハンドセット９が接続される。
【００４０】
以上の構成は、図１におけるＩＤＵ５と同様であるが、この実施形態では、さらに、信号線２９ａを介して無線部６ａにルータ２７（図２（ｂ）でのルータ３６に相当する）が接続され、また、信号線２９ｂを介して音声回線接続先切替回路７ａに音声／ＩＰ変換回路２８が接続されている。そして、ルータ２７は、信号線２１を介してＬＡＮ２２（図３）に接続され、また、信号線２９ｃを介して音声／ＩＰ変換回路２８に接続されている。音声回線接続先切替回路７ａは、状況に応じて信号線８ａ，１０，２０，２９ｂのいずれか選択し、所定の音声回線を確立する。
【００４１】
なお、以上の構成は、メッシュ型無線アクセス網２３に接続される図２（ａ）に示すような各無線局３１，３３のＩＤＵについて同様である。
【００４２】
以下、図３も参照して説明すると、ＯＤＵ１と無線部６ａとを接続する信号線４は、このＯＤＵ１担当の保守者のハンドセット２との通話のための音声信号（以下、通話信号という）をアウトバンド（伝送データの帯域以外の信号帯域）で通し、また、ＯＤＵ１ａと無線部６ａとを接続する信号線４ａは、他の無線局Ｂとの通話信号をインバンド（伝送データの帯域内でこの伝送データに挿入して伝送）で通す。
【００４３】
無線部６ａは、信号線４からのアウトバンドの通話信号を抽出して音声回線接続先切替回路７ａに供給するが、信号４ａからのインバンドの通話信号はＬＡＮ２２に供給すべきユーザ情報などのデータと区別することができないため、無線フレームから抽出した情報信号として、信号線２９ａを介し、ルータ２７に供給する。
【００４４】
ルータ２７は、無線部６ａから供給される情報信号から、ＩＰヘッダ情報やデータグラム内部に挿入された識別情報などを参照することにより、伝送データとしてのユーザ情報を信号線２１を介してＬＡＮ２２に出力し、また、通話信号を、ＩＰパケット化された音声情報として、音声／ＩＰ変換回路２８に出力する。
【００４５】
音声／ＩＰ変換回路２８は、ルータ２７からのＩＰパケットを音声信号へ変換して、これを音声回線接続先切替回路７ａに供給し、また、音声回線接続先切替回路７ａからの通話のための音声信号をＩＰパケットヘ変換し、信号線２９ｃを介してルータ２７に供給する。ＩＰパケット化されたこの音声信号は、このユーザ情報に対して識別できるようにする識別情報が付加されて、ＬＡＮ２２から信号線２１を介して供給されるユーザ情報からなる伝送データの無線フレームに挿入され、インバンドの通話信号として信号線２９ａを介して無線部６ａに供給される。無線部６ａは、このようにインバンドで通話信号が挿入された伝送データを信号線４ａを介して既存のＯＤＵ１ａに供給し、無線局Ｂへ伝送させる。
【００４６】
次に、音声回線接続先切替回路７ａの動作について説明するが、その動作をまとめると、次の表２で示されるようになる。
【００４７】
【表２】

なお、表２に動作は、保守者による音声回線接続先切替回路７ａの設定変更により切替可能な音声回線の接続方法であり、表２中の「経路」の項目における［in]，[out］で示す信号線は夫々、インバンド，アウトバンドによる通話信号の通信によるものであることを示すものである。
【００４８】
ここで、上記表２での各動作＃１〜＃５について説明する。
【００４９】
＃１：これは、無線局ＡのＯＤＵ１担当の保守者がハンドセット２を用いて、公衆回線網１８を介し、他の無線局Ｂと通話する場合であり、この場合には、図１に示した実施形態と同様、音声回線接続先切替回路７ａが無線部６ａ側の信号線８ａと公衆回線網１８側の信号線２０とを選択するものである。これにより、ハンドセット２から信号線３，４，８ａ，２０，公衆回線網１８，……の音声回線が形成されることになり、ＯＤＵ１から公衆回線網１８を介して他の無線局Ｂとの間の保守者同士の音声通話が可能となって、互いに連絡をとり合うことができる。
【００５０】
なお、このように、ＯＤＵ１担当の保守者が公衆回線網１８を介して他の無線局Ｂの保守者と通話が行なわれる場合には、これと同時に、音声回線接続先切替回路７ａは信号線１０も選択でき、ＩＤＵ５担当の保守者がこの通話をモニタ可能な構成とすることができる。これにより、ＯＤＵ１担当の保守者と無線局Ｂの保守者との音声通話の最中でも、通話内容に応じたＩＤＵ５の設定操作が可能になり、作業効率のさらなる向上が望める。
【００５１】
＃２：これは、同じ無線局Ａ内のＯＤＵ１担当の保守者とＩＤＵ５担当の保守者との間で通話をする場合であり、この場合には、図１に示した実施形態と同様、音声回線接続先切替回路７ａが無線部６ａ側の信号線８ａとＩＤＵ５担当の保守者のハンドセット９側の信号線１０とを選択するものである。これにより、ハンドセット２から信号線３，４，８ａ，１０の音声回線が形成されることになり、ＯＤＵ１とＩＤＵ５との担当保守者同士の音声通話が可能となって、互いに連絡をとり合うことができる。
【００５２】
＃３：これは、無線局ＡのＩＤＵ５担当の保守者がハンドセット９を用いて、公衆回線網１８を介し、他の無線局Ｂと通話する場合であり、この場合には、図１に示した実施形態と同様、音声回線接続先切替回路７ａがこのハンドセット９側の信号線１０と公衆回線網１８側の信号線２０とを選択するものである。これにより、ハンドセット９から信号線１０，２０，公衆回線網１８，……の音声回線が形成されることになり、ＩＤＵ５から公衆回線網１８を介して他の無線局Ｂとの間の保守者同士の音声通話が可能となって、互いに連絡をとり合うことができる。
【００５３】
メッシュ型無線システムにおいても、その最初の２つの無線局間で無線リンクを立ち上げるときには、上記の動作＃１〜＃３を用いるものであって、Ｐ−Ｐ方式の場合と同様のオーダーワイヤ接続方法となる。
【００５４】
これに対し、動作＃４，＃５は、既設のメッシュ型無線システム網２３を利用し、インバンドで通話信号を伝送することによって相手無線局Ｂとの通話をするものであって、図１で示した実施形態と異なる点である。
【００５５】
＃４：これは、ＩＤＵ５のハンドセット９で他の無線局Ｂと、インバンドの通話信号でもって、通信を行なう場合のものである。この場合には、音声回線接続先切替回路７ａはハンドセット９側の信号線１０と音声／ＩＰ変換回路２８側の信号線２９ｂとを選択する。これにより、ハンドセット９から信号線１０，２９ｂ，２９ｃ，２９ａ，４ａを介してＯＤＵ１ａに至る音声回線が形成されることになる。この音声回線では、上記のように、ハンドセット９で生成された通話信号が音声／ＩＰ変換回路２８でパケット化され、ルータ２７でユーザ情報の無線フレームに挿入され、無線部６ａからＯＤＵ１ａなどを介してインバンドで送信されることになり、また、ＯＤＵ１ａと無線部６ａで受信された他の無線局Ｂからのインバンドによる通話信号は、ルータ２７で無線フレームから抽出され、音声／ＩＰ変換回路２８でＩＰパケットから音声信号に変換されてハンドセット９に供給される。
【００５６】
このようにして、既設のＯＤＵ１ａ，１１ａを利用して２つの無線局Ａ，ＢでのＩＤＵ担当の保守者間で音声通信（通話）することも、可能となる。
【００５７】
＃５：これは、ＯＤＵ１のハンドセット２で他の無線局Ｂと、インバンドの通話信号でもって、通信を行なう場合のものである。この場合には、音声回線接続先切替回路７ａは無線部６ａ側の信号線８ａと音声／ＩＰ変換回路２８側の信号線２９ｂとを選択する。これにより、ハンドセット２から信号線３，４，８ａ，２９ｂ，２９ｃ，２９ａ，４ａを介してＯＤＵ１ａに至る音声回線が形成されることになる。この音声回線では、上記のように、ハンドセット２で生成された通話信号が信号線４をアウトバンドで無線部６ａに伝送され、ここで分離されて信号線８ａ，２９ｂを通り、音声／ＩＰ変換回路２８でパケット化されて、後は動作＃４の場合と同様に、ルータ２７でユーザ情報の無線フレームに挿入され、無線部６ａから信号線４ａやＯＤＵ１ａなどを介してインバンドで送信されることになり、また、ＯＤＵ１ａと無線部６ａで受信された他の無線局Ｂからのインバンドによる通話信号は、ルータ２７で無線フレームから抽出され、音声／ＩＰ変換回路２８でＩＰパケットから音声信号に変換されて音声回線接続先切替回路７ａに供給され、さらに、信号線８ａから無線部６ａに供給され、アウトバンドで信号線４を通ってＯＤＵ１のハンドセット２に供給される。
【００５８】
この場合、音声回線接続先切替回路７ａは信号線１０も選択でき、ＩＤＵ５担当の保守者も居る場合、この保守者がこの通話をモニタ可能な構成とすることができる。これにより、ＯＤＵ１担当の保守者と無線局Ｂの保守者との音声通話の最中でも、通話内容に応じたＩＤＵ５の設定操作が可能になり、作業効率のさらなる向上が望める。
【００５９】
このようにして、既設のＯＤＵ１ａ，１１ａを利用して２つの無線局Ａ，ＢでのＯＤＵ担当の保守者間で音声通信（通話）することも、可能となる。
【００６０】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように、本発明によれば、無線システムにおける保守者間の音声通話回線の確保が容易に実現できるので、無線局の新たな設置やその他の保守作業の効率のさらなる向上が可能になる。
【００６１】
また、特に、メッシュ型無線アクセス網においては、保守者間の音声通話を他社回線を全く必要とせず、このメッシュ型無線アクセス網を利用して実現することができる。
などの利点がある。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明による無線システムの一実施形態における音声通話回線構成を示す図である。
【図２】メッシュ型無線システムの説明図である。
【図３】本発明による無線システムの他の実施形態における音声通話回線構成を示す図である。
【図４】図３におけるＩＤＵ（屋内ユニット）の一具体例を示す構成図である。
【図５】従来の無線システムにおける音声通話方法の説明図である。
【符号の説明】
１，１ａ ＯＤＵ（屋外ユニット）
２ ハンドセット
３，４，４ａ 信号線
信号線
５ ＩＤＵ（屋内ユニット）
６，６ａ 無線部
７，７ａ 音声回線接続先切替回路
８，８ａ 信号線
９ ハンドセット
１０ 信号線
１１，１１ａ ＯＤＵ
１２ ハンドセット
１３，１４，１４ａ 信号線
１５ ＩＤＵ
１６ ハンドセット
１７ 信号線
１８ 公衆回線網（ＰＳＴＮ）
１９〜２１ 信号線
２２ ＬＡＮ
２３ メッシュ型無線アクセス網
２４，２５ 既設の無線リンク
２６ 新規の無線リンク
２７ ルータ
２８ 音声／ＩＰ変換回路
２９ａ〜２９ｃ 信号線[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wireless system such as an FWA (Fixed Wireless Access) system in which a plurality of nodes such as wireless stations are arranged in a distributed manner, and in particular, a voice call for communication performed when installing, maintaining, and operating a node. (Order wire) line connection.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, in a wireless system such as an FWA system, an antenna with high directivity is used, and thus direction adjustment at the time of installation of the antenna is essential. Here, referring to FIG. 5, for example, a work of adjusting the antenna direction of a maintenance person at the time of installation of a user station is exemplified by a point-to-point (P-P) method in which a base station and a user station are connected one-to-one. An example of the procedure and a configuration example of the contact means using voice calls required at that time will be described.
[0003]
In FIG. 5, when data is transmitted from the base station 100 to the user station 200, this data is inserted into a radio frame by the IDU (indoor unit) 107 in the base station 100 to become an information signal. Is processed as a transmission signal to the ODU (outdoor unit) 101 of the base station 100 via the connection cable 106. In this ODU 101, the transmission signal is frequency-converted, power-amplified and radiated from the antenna, and as a result, connected to the ODU 201 of the user station 200 via a wireless link.
[0004]
In the user station 200, processing such as amplification and frequency conversion of a signal received from the antenna is performed by the ODU 201, and then a signal is supplied to the IDU 204 via the connection cable 206. The IDU 204 performs processing such as demodulation of the signal and data extraction from the radio frame, and the received data is reproduced.
[0005]
Although there is a data flow from the user station 200 to the base station 100, this is also the same as described above, and the flow is only reversed.
[0006]
In constructing such a system, for example, in order to establish a radio link when installing a radio station such as the user station 200, an antenna of an ODU between this radio station and another radio station that communicates with the radio station is established. It is important to fix the orientation of the to the optimum direction.
[0007]
As a procedure for adjusting the direction of the antenna for that purpose at the time of installing the radio station, first, the ODUs 101 and 201 of both the base station 100 and the user station 200 roughly adjust the direction of the antenna according to the installation position. Next, one ODU, for example, the ODU 101 of the base station 100 is set in the transmission state, and the other ODU 201 is set in the reception state, and the direction of the antenna is finely adjusted in the direction in which the maximum reception power is obtained by the ODU 201. Next, the transmission / reception state is changed by these ODUs 101 and 201, and the same adjustment operation in the antenna direction is performed. As described above, the optimum antenna direction is generally determined by these ODUs 101 and 201 by alternately and repeatedly performing the antenna direction adjustment for obtaining the maximum received power at the ODUs 101 and 201. Is.
[0008]
Further, in such adjustment work, the voice communication between the ODU 101 and IDU 107 of the base station 100 and the maintenance personnel 103, 110, 202, and 205 in charge of the locations of the ODU 201 and IDU 204 of the user station 200 is made possible. This is ideal and advantageous in terms of work efficiency.
[0009]
Therefore, there is usually a connection means to the public line network (core network) 300 at the place where the wireless station (for example, the user station 200) is installed in such a wireless system, so there is a problem with the voice call between the IDUs 107 and 204. However, the following problems occur in the voice call between the ODUs 101 and 201 in the different radio stations 100 and 200 and the voice call between the same radio stations, for example, the IDU 107 and the ODU 101 in the base station 100. There is a case.
[0010]
First, as means for performing voice communication between the maintenance personnel 103 and 202 that adjust the orientation of the antennas of the ODUs 101 and 201 in the base station 100 and the user station 200, a PHS or a mobile phone may be used. However, since the installation positions of the ODUs 101 and 201 are generally high, communication means such as a PHS or a mobile phone cannot be used at a position where the antenna direction can be adjusted in the ODUs 101 and 201 in many cases. . For this reason, portable wireless devices 104 and 203 other than the PHS and the cellular phone are required as communication means between the ODUs 101 and 201.
[0011]
Also, it is normal that there is no extension telephone or the like for contacting the IDUs 107 and 204 on the building roof where the antenna direction is adjusted. Therefore, in the radio station, taking the base station 100 as an example, as a means for securing a voice communication line between the IDU 107 and the ODU 101, the handsets 102 and 109 are connected to the ODU 101 and the IDU 107, respectively. A wireless station device for a wireless system has been developed that includes circuits 105, 106, and 108 that enable communication using an interphone.
[0012]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The maintenance voice communication line of the wireless station used in the conventional wireless system is configured as described above. However, the communication between the wireless stations that establish the wireless link cannot be established only by the IDU interphone connection, In addition, there is a problem that the wireless station itself is not equipped with a means capable of reliably communicating as a voice communication means between the ODUs of the wireless station.
[0013]
An object of the present invention is to provide a radio system which can easily and surely obtain a line for performing voice communication related to the establishment, maintenance and operation of a radio link between radio stations, eliminating such problems. There is to do.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention By establishing a wireless link this A wireless system for performing data communication via a wireless link, A wireless station having an outdoor unit that has already established a wireless link is provided with an outdoor unit for establishing a new wireless link, and a call means is connected to the outdoor unit for establishing a new wireless link. Connect the communication means to the indoor unit of the radio station, To the indoor unit of the radio station, To establish a new radio link Communication means and radio stations in outdoor units indoor Unit communication means Outdoor unit with wireless link already established A voice signal connection destination switching circuit for selecting any two of the voice signal and the voice line connection destination switching circuit is provided. Outdoor to establish a new wireless link A radio link has already been established with the unit's means of communication Outdoor Voice line to the unit, Ya A wireless link has already been established with the communication means in the internal unit do it Have Outdoor Choose any of the voice links to and from the unit and include already established radio links Between radio stations A line for a call can be set.
[0016]
And includes already established radio links Between the radio stations In the communication line, the call signal from each call means and the call signal from other radio stations to each call means are transmitted through the already established radio link together with the call signal identification signal. Transmitted in-band with the same band as the information signal.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a voice communication line configuration of an embodiment of a radio system according to the present invention, showing the relationship between two radio stations A and B, where 1 is an ODU (outdoor unit), 2 Is a handset, 3 and 4 are signal lines, 5 is an IDU (indoor unit), 6 is a radio unit, 7 is a voice line connection destination switching circuit, 8 is a signal line, 9 is a handset, 10 is a signal line, 11 is an ODU, 12 is a handset, 13 and 14 are signal lines, 15 is an IDU, 16 is a handset, 17 is a signal line, 18 is a public network (PSTN), and 19 and 20 are signal lines.
[0018]
Here, this embodiment is a P-P wireless system, and describes an order wire connection method when a wireless link is started up between the wireless stations A and B shown in the figure. The radio stations A and B have the same configuration, but here, the configuration of the radio station A is shown in more detail.
[0019]
In FIG. 1, in the wireless station A, a handset 2 that generates an audio signal is connected to the ODU 1 so as to be detachable by a signal line 3 as a call means, and the audio signal generated by the handset 2 connected to the ODU 1 is The IDU 5 is supplied to the wireless unit 6 of the IDU 5 via the connection cable 4 between the IDU 5 and the ODU 1.
[0020]
Here, the signal line 4 for sending the audio signal may be a dedicated cable for the audio signal or a cable for a normal data signal. However, when this audio signal is sent to the control unit 6 using a data signal cable, this audio signal is converted into a modulated waveform in a carrier frequency band different from the carrier frequency of the data signal, and is sent superimposed on the data signal. You may do it. In addition, as a modulation method of the audio signal in the case of adopting this superposition method, a method capable of modulation / demodulation with a simple circuit such as ASK (Amplitude shift keying) is preferable.
[0021]
The wireless unit 6 includes a circuit that transmits and receives the audio signal from the handset 2 by a method according to the connection method between the IDU 5 and the ODU 1, and the audio signal is sent to the audio line connection destination switching circuit 7 via the signal line 8. Supply. In addition, the voice line connection destination switching circuit 7 has a signal line 10 to which a handset 9 as a communication means is detachably connected, and a signal line 20 connected to a public line (PSTN) 18 is also provided. It is connected.
[0022]
The voice line connection destination switching circuit 7 operates as shown in the following Table 1 according to the needs of the maintenance personnel.
[0023]
[Table 1]

Next, each operation shown in Table 1 will be described.
[0024]
# (1): A maintenance person (not shown) that adjusts the direction of the antenna in ODU1 (hereinafter referred to as a maintenance person in charge of ODU1: the same applies to other radio stations) and a maintenance (not shown) that monitors the reception status of this ODU1 with IDU (Hereinafter, referred to as a maintenance person in charge of IDU5: the same applies to other wireless stations), voice communication (call) can be performed. In this case, the handset 2 of ODU1 is connected to the handset 9 of IDU5. When the call line operation is performed, the voice line connection destination switching circuit 7 selects the signal line 10 connected to the maintenance person's handset 9 in the IDU 5, whereby the voice line by the signal lines 3, 4, 8, 10 is selected. And the audio signal supplied from the signal line 8 is supplied to the handset 9. In this case, the voice signal generated by the handset 9 is also supplied to the handset 2 of the ODU1 via the voice line by performing a call operation to the handset 2 of the ODU1 by the handset 9. This is the same for the other radio stations B. Therefore, a call can be made between a maintenance person in charge of ODU and a maintenance person in charge of IDU at the same radio station.
[0025]
# ▲ 2 ▼: The voice line connection destination switching circuit 7 is also connected to the public line 18 via the transmission / reception unit and the signal line 20 (not shown). Similarly, in the wireless station B, the IDU 15 is not shown. The voice line connection destination switching circuit is connected to the public line 18 via a transmission / reception unit (not shown) and the signal line 19. Therefore, when the audio line connection destination switching circuit 7 in the radio station A selects the signal line 20, the audio signal from the receiving unit 6 is transmitted to the radio station B via the signal line 20, the public line 18, and the signal line 19. Sent to the transceiver. In this wireless station B, the received audio signal is supplied to the audio line connection destination switching circuit. This audio line connection destination switching circuit is in accordance with the destination information added to the audio signal from the transmission / reception unit. The audio signal is sent to the handset 12 of the ODU 11 or the handset 16 of the IDU 15. Accordingly, the audio signal generated by the handset 2 is transmitted to the handset 12 via the above-mentioned line, and conversely, the audio signal generated by the handset 12 is transmitted to the handset 2 via the above-mentioned line. A call can be made between the maintenance person in charge of OUD 1 of the wireless station A and the maintenance person in charge of ODU 11 of the wireless station B.
[0026]
When a call is made between the ODUs 1 and 11 of the wireless stations A and B via the public line network 18 as described above, the voice line connection destination switching circuit 7 can also select the signal line 10 at the same time. The maintenance person in charge of the IDU 5 can monitor this call. As a result, even during voice calls between the ODUs 1 and 11 of the wireless stations A and B, the IDU 5 can be set according to the content of the call, and further improvement in work efficiency can be expected.
[0027]
# (3): Calls to other wireless stations B via the public network 18 can be executed from the handsets 9 and 16 of the IDUs 5 and 15. Therefore, when such a call operation is performed, the voice line from the handset 9 to the signal lines 10 and 20, the public line network 18, the signal line 19, the IDU 15 at the wireless station B, and the handset 16 via the signal line 17 is established. As a result, the maintenance personnel in charge of IDU between the different radio stations A and B can communicate with each other and can communicate with each other. When a voice call is made in this manner, the voice line can be switched freely depending on the operation of the maintenance person in charge of the IDU, so that any one of the ODU1 and IDU5 of the wireless station A and the ODU11 and IDU15 of the wireless station B The voice call between the two points becomes possible.
[0028]
Next, another embodiment of the wireless system according to the present invention will be described. This embodiment is a mesh type wireless system, and here, an order wire connection method in such a wireless system will be described. Prior to the description, first, a mesh type wireless system will be described with reference to FIG. The concept of the wireless system will be briefly described.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 2A, the mesh type wireless system is configured to construct a mesh type network topology by connecting a plurality of wireless stations 31 and 33 through a wireless link 32. One or more radio stations 33 constituting the network are connected to the backbone network 30.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 2B, these wireless stations 31 and 33 are for wireless communication with other wireless stations adjacent to each other (that is, connected by the wireless link 32 (FIG. 2A)). Wireless devices 34 and routers 36 connected to these wireless devices 34, and each wireless device 34 is connected to each other by an antenna 35 whose directivity is narrowed toward an antenna of another wireless station in each adjacent direction. Wirelessly connected to a radio station radio. The router 36 is connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) 37, exchanges data with the LAN 37, relays data addressed to other radio stations, and in a direction where a destination radio station exists. Data is transmitted from the radio 34 facing the antenna 35. That is, each wireless link is a P-P system, but has a mesh network topology as a whole.
[0031]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a voice communication line configuration of another embodiment of the mesh type wireless system according to the present invention. 1a and 11a are ODUs, 4a and 14a are signal lines, 21 is a signal line, 22 is a LAN, 23 Is a mesh-type wireless access network, 24 and 25 are existing wireless links, and 26 is a new wireless link. The same reference numerals are given to portions corresponding to those in FIG.
[0032]
In the same figure, radio stations A and B, like the radio stations C and D, constitute a mesh-type radio access network 23. The wireless station A has already established the wireless link 24 with the wireless station C by the ODU 1a, and the wireless station B has already established the wireless link 25 with the wireless station D by the ODU 11a. Has been. Therefore, data communication between the wireless stations A and B is possible by the route of ODU1a-wireless link 24-wireless station C -...- wireless station D-wireless link 25-ODU11a.
[0033]
In this embodiment, in FIG. 3, in the mesh-type wireless access network 23, in order to enable direct data communication between the existing wireless stations A and B, the wireless station A has ODU 1 and the wireless station B has ODU 11. When establishing a new wireless link 26 by establishing the new wireless link 26, the orientation of these antennas is adjusted so that the antennas of the ODUs 1 and 11 face each other with high accuracy. The present invention relates to a voice call line configuration that enables a call.
[0034]
Here, each radio station already connected to the mesh-type radio access network 23 has the configuration shown in FIG. 2B, and a radio as shown in FIG. 2B for each installed ODU. Machine 34, antenna 35, router 36, and LAN 37. The LAN 22 shown to the wireless station A corresponds to this LAN 37.
[0035]
Each wireless station that has already established a connection with the mesh-type wireless access network 23 includes a router having a unique address. For this reason, a packet addressed to the address assigned to the wireless station that desires voice communication is transmitted. By sending the converted voice data, voice communication by the mesh type wireless access network 23 can be performed, and order wire communication in-band (transmission within the band of data communication) becomes possible. The same applies to the radio stations A and B that newly establish a new radio link. The address for designating the transmission destination may be an Ether network MAC (Media Access Control) address or an IP (Internet Protocol) address depending on the system to be applied. In the following, the type wireless access network 23 is an IP network, and the above address is an IP address.
[0036]
When a new wireless link 26 is constructed between the wireless stations A and B connected to the mesh-type wireless access network 23, the antenna direction is adjusted when the ODU1 of the wireless station A and the ODU11 of the wireless station B are installed. As described above, the voice communication line between maintenance personnel required for performing the operation depends on other communication systems by in-band overwire communication using the existing ODUs 1a and 11a in the radio stations A and B. Therefore, it can be realized only by the unique mesh type wireless access network 23.
[0037]
It goes without saying that not only when a wireless link is installed, but also voice communication between wireless stations for the purpose of maintaining an existing wireless link can be realized by using voice IP.
[0038]
4 is a block diagram showing a specific example of the IDU 5 in the wireless device A in FIG. 3, in which 7a is a voice line connection destination switching circuit, 6a is a radio unit, 8a is a signal line, 27 is a router, 28 is voice. The / IP conversion circuits 29a to 29c are signal lines, and portions corresponding to those in the previous drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description is omitted.
[0039]
In the figure, a wireless unit 6a corresponds to the wireless unit 6 in FIG. 1, and is connected to ODUs 1 and 1a (FIG. 3) via signal lines 4 and 4a. The voice line connection destination switching circuit 7a corresponds to the voice line connection destination switching circuit 7 in FIG. 1, and is connected to the radio unit 6a via the signal line 8a. Further, the voice line connection destination switching circuit 7a is connected to the public line network 18 (FIG. 3) via the signal line 20, and is further detachable via the signal line 10 so as to be a maintenance person in charge of the IDO 5. A handset 9 for (not shown) is connected.
[0040]
The above configuration is the same as that of the IDU 5 in FIG. 1, but in this embodiment, a router 27 (corresponding to the router 36 in FIG. 2B) is further connected to the wireless unit 6a through the signal line 29a. The voice / IP conversion circuit 28 is connected to the voice line connection destination switching circuit 7a via the signal line 29b. The router 27 is connected to the LAN 22 (FIG. 3) through the signal line 21 and is connected to the voice / IP conversion circuit 28 through the signal line 29c. The voice line connection destination switching circuit 7a selects one of the signal lines 8a, 10, 20, and 29b according to the situation and establishes a predetermined voice line.
[0041]
The above configuration is the same for the IDUs of the radio stations 31 and 33 as shown in FIG. 2A connected to the mesh type radio access network 23.
[0042]
In the following, referring also to FIG. 3, the signal line 4 connecting the ODU 1 and the radio unit 6a transmits an audio signal (hereinafter referred to as a call signal) for calling with the handset 2 of the maintenance person in charge of the ODU 1 The signal line 4a that passes in the out-band (signal band other than the transmission data band) and connects the ODU 1a and the radio unit 6a transmits the call signal with the other radio station B in-band (within the transmission data band). It is inserted into this transmission data and transmitted).
[0043]
The radio unit 6a extracts an out-band call signal from the signal line 4 and supplies it to the voice line connection destination switching circuit 7a. The in-band call signal from the signal 4a includes user information to be supplied to the LAN 22, etc. Since it cannot be distinguished from data, it is supplied to the router 27 via the signal line 29a as an information signal extracted from the radio frame.
[0044]
The router 27 refers to IP header information, identification information inserted into the datagram, and the like from the information signal supplied from the wireless unit 6a, and transmits user information as transmission data to the LAN 22 via the signal line 21. In addition, the call signal is output to the voice / IP conversion circuit 28 as IP packetized voice information.
[0045]
The voice / IP conversion circuit 28 converts the IP packet from the router 27 into a voice signal, supplies the voice signal to the voice line connection destination switching circuit 7a, and for voice communication from the voice line connection destination switching circuit 7a. The voice signal is converted into an IP packet and supplied to the router 27 via the signal line 29c. This voice signal that has been converted into an IP packet is added with identification information that makes it possible to identify this user information, and is inserted into a radio frame of transmission data consisting of user information supplied from the LAN 22 via the signal line 21. Then, it is supplied as an in-band call signal to the wireless unit 6a through the signal line 29a. The wireless unit 6a supplies the transmission data into which the call signal is inserted in-band in this way to the existing ODU 1a via the signal line 4a and transmits the transmission data to the wireless station B.
[0046]
Next, the operation of the voice line connection destination switching circuit 7a will be described. The operations are summarized as shown in Table 2 below.
[0047]
[Table 2]

The operation shown in Table 2 is a voice line connection method that can be switched by changing the setting of the voice line connection destination switching circuit 7a by the maintenance person. [In], [out] in the item of “route” in Table 2 The signal lines indicated by are for in-band and out-band communication of communication signals.
[0048]
Here, each operation # 1 to # 5 in Table 2 will be described.
[0049]
# 1: This is a case where a maintenance person in charge of ODU1 of the wireless station A uses the handset 2 to make a call with another wireless station B via the public network 18, and in this case, as shown in FIG. As in the above embodiment, the voice line connection destination switching circuit 7a selects the signal line 8a on the radio unit 6a side and the signal line 20 on the public line network 18 side. As a result, the voice lines of the signal lines 3, 4, 8 a, 20, the public line network 18,... Are formed from the handset 2, and the ODU 1 communicates with other wireless stations B via the public line network 18. A voice call between maintenance personnel is possible, and can communicate with each other.
[0050]
In this way, when the maintenance person in charge of ODU1 makes a call with the maintenance person of another wireless station B via the public line network 18, the voice line connection destination switching circuit 7a is simultaneously connected to the signal line. 10 can be selected, and the maintenance person in charge of the IDU 5 can monitor this call. As a result, even during a voice call between the maintenance staff in charge of ODU1 and the maintenance staff at radio station B, the IDU 5 can be set according to the content of the call, and work efficiency can be further improved.
[0051]
# 2: This is a case where a call is made between a maintenance person in charge of ODU1 and a maintenance person in charge of IDU5 in the same radio station A. In this case, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. The line connection destination switching circuit 7a selects the signal line 8a on the radio unit 6a side and the signal line 10 on the handset 9 side of the maintenance person in charge of the IDU 5. As a result, the voice lines of signal lines 3, 4, 8a, and 10 are formed from the handset 2, and the voice call between the maintenance personnel in charge of the ODU1 and the IDU5 becomes possible and communicate with each other. Can do.
[0052]
# 3: This is a case where the maintenance person in charge of IDU 5 of the radio station A uses the handset 9 to make a call with another radio station B via the public network 18, and in this case, as shown in FIG. As in the embodiment described above, the voice line connection destination switching circuit 7a selects the signal line 10 on the handset 9 side and the signal line 20 on the public line network 18 side. As a result, the voice lines of the signal lines 10 and 20, the public line network 18,... Are formed from the handset 9, and the maintainer between the IDU 5 and the other radio station B via the public line network 18. Voice calls between each other are possible and can communicate with each other.
[0053]
Also in the mesh type radio system, when the radio link is set up between the first two radio stations, the above operations # 1 to # 3 are used, and the order wire connection is the same as in the case of the P-P method. Become a method.
[0054]
On the other hand, the operations # 4 and # 5 are for making a call with the partner radio station B by transmitting a call signal in-band using the existing mesh type wireless system network 23, and FIG. This is a difference from the embodiment shown in FIG.
[0055]
# 4: This is a case where the handset 9 of the IDU 5 communicates with another wireless station B using an in-band call signal. In this case, the voice line connection destination switching circuit 7a selects the signal line 10 on the handset 9 side and the signal line 29b on the voice / IP conversion circuit 28 side. As a result, a voice line from the handset 9 to the ODU 1a through the signal lines 10, 29b, 29c, 29a, and 4a is formed. In this voice line, as described above, the call signal generated by the handset 9 is packetized by the voice / IP conversion circuit 28, inserted into the radio frame of the user information by the router 27, and transmitted from the radio unit 6a via the ODU 1a or the like. The in-band call signal from the other radio station B received by the ODU 1a and the radio unit 6a is extracted from the radio frame by the router 27 to be transmitted to the voice / IP conversion circuit. At 28, the IP packet is converted into an audio signal and supplied to the handset 9.
[0056]
In this way, it is also possible to perform voice communication (call) between maintenance personnel in charge of IDUs at the two wireless stations A and B using the existing ODUs 1a and 11a.
[0057]
# 5: This is a case where the handset 2 of the ODU1 communicates with another wireless station B using an in-band call signal. In this case, the voice line connection destination switching circuit 7a selects the signal line 8a on the radio unit 6a side and the signal line 29b on the voice / IP conversion circuit 28 side. As a result, a voice line is formed from the handset 2 to the ODU 1a through the signal lines 3, 4, 8a, 29b, 29c, 29a, and 4a. In this voice line, as described above, the call signal generated by the handset 2 is transmitted to the radio unit 6a through the signal line 4 in the out band, and is separated here and passed through the signal lines 8a and 29b to be converted into voice / IP. Packetized by the circuit 28, and thereafter inserted into a radio frame of user information by the router 27 and transmitted in-band from the radio unit 6a via the signal line 4a, ODU1a, etc., as in the case of the operation # 4. In addition, the in-band call signal from the other radio station B received by the ODU 1a and the radio unit 6a is extracted from the radio frame by the router 27, and the voice signal is converted from the IP packet by the voice / IP conversion circuit 28. And is supplied to the voice line connection destination switching circuit 7a, and further supplied from the signal line 8a to the radio unit 6a. It is supplied to the set 2.
[0058]
In this case, the voice line connection destination switching circuit 7a can also select the signal line 10, and if there is a maintenance person in charge of the IDU 5, the maintenance person can monitor this call. As a result, even during a voice call between the maintenance staff in charge of ODU1 and the maintenance staff at radio station B, the IDU 5 can be set according to the content of the call, and work efficiency can be further improved.
[0059]
In this way, it is also possible to perform voice communication (call) between ODU staffs in charge of the two wireless stations A and B using the existing ODUs 1a and 11a.
[0060]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily secure a voice communication line between maintenance personnel in a wireless system, so that it is possible to further improve the efficiency of new installation of a wireless station and other maintenance work. Become.
[0061]
In particular, in a mesh type wireless access network, a voice call between maintenance personnel is not required at all, and can be realized using this mesh type wireless access network.
There are advantages such as.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a voice communication line configuration in an embodiment of a wireless system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a mesh type wireless system.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a voice call line configuration in another embodiment of the wireless system according to the present invention.
4 is a block diagram showing a specific example of an IDU (indoor unit) in FIG. 3. FIG.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a voice call method in a conventional wireless system.
[Explanation of symbols]
1,1a ODU (outdoor unit)
2 Handset
3, 4, 4a Signal line
Signal line
5 IDU (indoor unit)
6,6a Radio unit
7, 7a Voice line connection destination switching circuit
8,8a signal line
9 Handset
10 signal lines
11, 11a ODU
12 Handset
13, 14, 14a Signal line
15 IDU
16 Handset
17 Signal line
18 Public network (PSTN)
19-21 Signal line
22 LAN
23 Mesh type wireless access network
24,25 Existing radio link
26 New radio link
27 routers
28 Voice / IP conversion circuit
29a-29c signal line

Claims (2)

Between the radio station by establishing a radio link between them, via the radio link, a wireless system for performing data communication,
An outdoor unit for establishing a new radio link is provided in the radio station having an outdoor unit for which a radio link has already been established, and a call means is connected to the outdoor unit for establishing a new radio link. In addition, a call means is connected to the indoor unit of the radio station,
To the indoor unit of the radio station, it has already established a radio link with the call means in the indoor unit of the call unit and the wireless station in the outdoor unit for establishing a new radio link of the radio stations A call signal voice line connection destination switching circuit for selecting any two of the outdoor units ;
The voice line connection destination changeover circuit, and voice lines between the previously and the outdoor unit has been established wireless link and call means in 該屋outside unit for establishing a new radio link, in 該屋 the unit call means already appropriately select one of the voice lines between the outdoor unit the radio link is established, for a call between wireless stations that already contains wireless link has been established A wireless system characterized in that a line can be set. In claim 1,
In a line for a call between the wireless stations including the already established wireless link, a call signal from each of the call means and a call signal from another wireless station to each of the call means are those calls. A radio system characterized by being transmitted in-band with the signal identification signal and the same band as the information signal transmitted through the radio link.

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