JP4857161B2 - Trigger generating apparatus and pseudo base station apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to measurement and evaluation of waveform quality and power value of a signal output from a radio (RF) interface unit of a communication terminal (for example, a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone or a mobile terminal). The present invention relates to a technique for outputting a specific message related to the exchanged communication protocol and a trigger signal for measuring and evaluating signal waveform quality and power value at a specific timing.

  In the development of a communication terminal that communicates with a base station using a radio signal, a communication terminal in the development stage uses a predetermined communication standard (for example, TD-SCDMA (Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access) or GSM (Global System for Mobile). It is necessary not only to test whether communication with the base station apparatus is possible according to the communication protocol defined in Communications)), but also to test the quality of the signal output from the communication terminal in the development stage.

  As a test of the quality of the signal output from the communication terminal, a message related to the communication protocol exchanged with the base station is analyzed, and a determination is made by comparison with the expected message content, or data sent and received In order to check whether there is an error, a CRC error or the like is measured by a CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) bit added.

  For the radio signal output from the radio interface unit of the communication terminal, the output power value, output RF spectrum, signal waveform quality, and the like are measured using a power meter or spectrum analyzer.

  Here, for the measurement of the radio signal output from the radio interface unit of the communication terminal, specific conditions such as when a specific message related to a communication protocol exchanged with the base station is transmitted / received, or specific conditions such as a specific system timing are used. There is a desire to measure signal waveform quality, power value, etc. at a certain timing.

At this time, as a circuit for outputting a trigger signal by a combination of logical conditions, there is Patent Document 1 below. In Patent Document 1, a plurality of trigger detection circuits that monitor different electrical phenomena and detect predetermined trigger conditions are provided, and the detection operation of another trigger circuit is controlled while an output of a certain trigger detection circuit is for a predetermined time. Technology is disclosed.
JP-A-6-201730

  However, in such a conventional trigger generation device, the trigger detection circuit to be controlled only monitors when the electrical physical quantity (for example, the input level) exceeds the comparison reference value.

  For example, in TD-SCDMA, which is one of the communication standards between a communication terminal and a base station, the time of each block such as a hierarchical format (Frame, Subframe, Timeslot, Data symbols, etc.) constructed as shown in FIG. Each system timing that is determined by the timing format even if the electrical physical quantity (for example, power value or frequency) of the radio signal output from the radio interface unit of the communication terminal is monitored. It is not possible to detect the position of each block (indicating the start timing of each block such as Frame start timing, Subframe start timing, and Timeslot start timing). Further, regarding a message related to a communication protocol, it is not possible to specify a corresponding part by monitoring an electrical physical quantity of a radio signal output from the radio interface unit of the communication terminal.

  Similarly, the measurement of the electrical physical quantity of the radio signal output from the radio interface unit of the communication terminal in communication with the base station as shown in FIG. 6 is performed by an externally connected measuring instrument. Even in this case, it is very difficult to perform measurement in synchronization with a specific system timing when a specific message is transmitted / received.

  For example, the radio of the communication terminal is synchronized with the first specific system timing (for example, the start timing of Subframe # 2) after the power control message is transmitted and received as a message related to the communication protocol between the communication terminal and the base station. It is difficult to measure the power value of a radio signal output from the interface unit with a connected power meter.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem, and for the measurement of the radio signal output from the radio interface unit of the communication terminal, the transmission / reception of a specific message exchanged with the communication protocol of communication with the base station, and the specific It is an object of the present invention to provide a trigger generation apparatus and a pseudo base station apparatus that output a trigger signal in association with a timing synchronized with a system timing condition.

In order to achieve the object, the trigger generation device of the present invention establishes synchronization based on a timing format of a predetermined communication method with a communication terminal that performs communication using a radio signal, and performs communication of the communication method. A transmitter / receiver 2 that communicates with the communication terminal using a protocol and outputs a communication sequence related to the communication and a reference timing signal based on the timing format;
A condition setting unit 5 for holding a predetermined message from a plurality of messages related to the communication protocol as a message condition and holding a predetermined system timing from the timing format as a timing condition;
The communication sequence output from the transmission / reception unit 2 is received, a message included in the communication sequence is analyzed, and a message matching notification is issued when a message that matches the message condition held in the condition setting unit 5 is detected. An output message condition determination unit 3;
The system receives the reference timing signal output from the transmission / reception unit 2, selects a system timing corresponding to the timing condition held in the condition setting unit 5 based on the reference timing signal, and corresponds to the timing condition A timing condition determination unit 4 that outputs a timing coincidence notification at a timing synchronized with the system timing;
A trigger signal generator 7 that outputs a trigger signal in synchronization with the first timing match notification received from the timing condition determination unit 4 after receiving the message match notification from the message condition determination unit 3 ;
The timing condition determination unit includes a system timing table (4a) in which the system timing is defined by a delay time from the reference timing signal, and refers to the system timing table to obtain timing for outputting the timing coincidence notification. It is characterized by that.

The pseudo base station apparatus of the present invention is a pseudo base station 100 that performs communication with a communication terminal that performs communication using a radio signal,
A trigger generating device 1 for outputting a trigger signal for measuring the signal output from the communication terminal by the external measuring device 30 at a specific timing;
A scenario storage unit 11 for storing a scenario in which a communication sequence with the communication terminal and an output condition of the trigger signal are described in advance;
A scenario execution unit 10 for executing the scenario,
The trigger generation device includes:
Establishing synchronization with the communication terminal based on a timing format of a predetermined communication method, communicating with the communication terminal using a communication protocol of the communication method, and a communication sequence and timing format related to the communication A transmission / reception unit 2 for outputting a reference timing signal based on
A condition setting unit 5 for holding a predetermined message from a plurality of messages related to the communication protocol as a message condition and holding a predetermined system timing from the timing format as a timing condition;
The communication sequence output from the transmission / reception unit 2 is received, a message included in the communication sequence is analyzed, and a message matching notification is issued when a message that matches the message condition held in the condition setting unit 5 is detected. An output message condition determination unit 3;
The system receives the reference timing signal output from the transmission / reception unit 2, selects a system timing corresponding to the timing condition held in the condition setting unit 5 based on the reference timing signal, and corresponds to the timing condition A timing condition determination unit 4 that outputs a timing coincidence notification at a timing synchronized with the system timing;
A trigger signal generator 7 that outputs the trigger signal in synchronization with the first timing match notification received from the timing condition determination unit 4 after receiving the message match notification from the message condition determination unit 3;
The transmission / reception unit communicates with the communication terminal based on a scenario executed by the scenario execution unit,
The condition setting unit holds the message condition and the timing condition set based on a scenario executed by the scenario execution unit.
In the pseudo base station apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention, the timing condition determination unit includes a system timing table (4a) in which the system timing is defined by a delay time from the reference timing signal. The timing for outputting the timing coincidence notification is obtained with reference to FIG.

The trigger generation device and the pseudo base station device according to the present invention transmit / receive a specific message exchanged using a communication protocol for communication with a base station for measurement of a radio signal output from a radio interface unit of a communication terminal. The trigger signal can be output at a timing synchronized with the condition of the first specific system timing later.

Therefore, by connecting the trigger signal output from the trigger generation device and the pseudo base station device according to the present invention to a measuring instrument such as a spectrum analyzer or a power meter, the specification is exchanged using a communication protocol for communication with the base station. The signal waveform quality and power value of the radio signal output from the radio interface unit of the communication terminal can be easily measured at a timing synchronized with a specific system timing associated with the transmission / reception of the message.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a trigger generating apparatus according to the present invention and its usage.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the trigger generation device 1 includes a transmission / reception unit 2, a message condition determination unit 3, a timing condition determination unit 4, a condition setting unit 5, an instruction unit 6, and a trigger signal generation unit 7. . Each configuration will be described below.

  The transmission / reception unit 2 communicates with the communication terminal 20 using a radio signal based on a communication protocol of a predetermined communication standard, and outputs a communication sequence exchanged with the communication terminal 20 to the message condition determination unit 3. In addition, based on the timing format defined in a predetermined communication standard, signals are transmitted and received at system timing synchronized with the communication terminal 20 (timing defined in the timing format such as Frame start timing, Subframe start timing, Timeslot start timing, etc.). In order to do this, a reference timing signal serving as a reference for specifying each system timing is output to the timing condition determination unit 4.

  Furthermore, the transmission / reception unit 2 includes a synchronization acquisition unit 2a. The synchronization acquisition unit 2a performs a synchronization acquisition operation in order to establish system timing synchronization for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the communication terminal 20. The synchronization acquisition unit 2a generates a reference timing signal that serves as a reference for specifying the system timing, adjusts the phase of the reference timing signal by the synchronization acquisition operation, and establishes synchronization of the system timing with the communication terminal 20. The communication terminal 20 and the transmission / reception unit 2 perform communication based on the system timing at which synchronization is established by the synchronization acquisition operation of the synchronization acquisition unit 2a.

  The synchronization acquisition unit 2a not only generates the reference timing signal after the synchronization acquisition operation is completed due to the above-described configuration, but can also generate the reference timing signal even at the stage of synchronization acquisition (in the middle of synchronization establishment). .

  Here, the content of communication with the communication terminal 20 may be communication content according to an operation on the side of the communication terminal 20 based on a predetermined communication standard by the transmission / reception unit 2, or a communication sequence with the communication terminal 20 is described in advance. You may communicate with the communication terminal 20 by controlling the transmission / reception part 2 based on a scenario (for example, test of the communication terminal 20 etc.).

  When performing communication based on a scenario, in addition to the trigger signal generator 1, a scenario storage unit 11 that stores the scenario and a scenario execution unit 10 that executes the scenario stored in the scenario storage unit 11 are provided to execute the scenario. The unit 10 and the transmission / reception unit 2 are connected to perform communication based on the scenario. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which sets conditions (message conditions, timing conditions) with respect to the condition setting part 5 mentioned later from the scenario execution part 10. FIG. With such a configuration, the setting of conditions can be changed as the scenario progresses.

  The message condition determination unit 3 includes a message analysis unit 3a. The message condition determination unit 3 sequentially analyzes a communication sequence input from the transmission / reception unit 2, and matches a condition (message condition) set in a condition setting unit 5 described later. Is detected, a message match notification is output to the trigger signal generator 7.

  The message analysis unit 3a analyzes a message related to a communication protocol included in the communication sequence. Note that the message condition determination unit 3 may include a plurality of message analysis units 3a for each communication protocol, and the message analysis unit 3a may be switched and used according to the communication protocol to be used.

  The timing condition determination unit 4 includes a system timing table 4a. Based on the reference timing signal input from the transmission / reception unit 2, the system timing corresponding to the condition (timing condition) set in the condition setting unit 5 is set to the system timing. The timing coincidence notification is output to the trigger signal generation unit 7 at a timing obtained by referring to the table 4a and synchronized with the system timing coincident with the timing condition.

The system timing table 4a includes system timings defined by a timing format according to a communication standard as a time-related table from a reference timing signal.

Note that the timing condition determination unit 4 may include a plurality of system timing tables 4a for each communication standard, and the system timing table 4a may be switched and used according to the communication standard to be used.

  Here, FIG. 3 shows a system timing table 4a in which each system timing is defined by a delay time from the reference timing signal with respect to the system timing defined by the TD-SCDMA timing format shown in FIG.

  For example, when the start timing of Subframe # 1 Timeslot # 3 Midamble is used as a timing condition and output as a timing match notification, the timing match notification is output after 2575 microseconds from the input of the reference timing signal. The system timing shown in FIG. 3 is an example rather than the entire system timing in TD-SCDMA.

  In FIG. 3, each system timing is defined by a delay time from the reference timing signal, but may be defined by the number of clock signals used in the trigger generation device 1.

  The trigger signal generation unit 7 includes a trigger condition determination unit 7a and an output unit 7b. The trigger condition determination unit 7a determines that the conditions for generating the trigger signal are met for the first timing match notification from the timing condition determination unit 4 after receiving the message match notification from the message condition determination unit 3, and the timing condition determination A message timing coincidence notification is output to the output unit 7b at a timing synchronized with the timing coincidence notification from the unit 4. The output unit 7b receives the message timing coincidence notification from the trigger condition determination unit 7a and generates a signal in the format (trigger output format) set in the condition setting unit 5 described later. The trigger signal generation unit 7 outputs the signal generated by the output unit 7b.

  The condition setting unit 5 includes a message condition table 5a and a timing condition table 5b. The condition setting unit 5 displays a condition setting item for outputting a trigger signal on the display unit 6a included in the instruction unit 6 and provides the condition setting item to the operator. The trigger signal output conditions selected and set by the operator using the input means 6b included in the instruction unit 6 are set in the message condition determination unit 3, the timing condition determination unit 4, and the trigger signal generation unit 7, respectively.

The condition setting items provided by the condition setting unit 5 to the instruction unit 6 include a message condition, a timing condition, and a trigger output format.
When both the set message condition and the set timing condition are satisfied, a trigger signal is output in the set trigger output format.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a trigger condition setting screen provided from the condition setting unit 5 to the instruction unit 6 and displayed on the display unit 6 a of the instruction unit 6.

  In setting the message condition, it is selected which message is to be output when a message is detected from a plurality of messages such as a bearer control message and a power control message related to the communication protocol. The selection of the message is not limited to one, and a plurality of messages may be selected and the AND condition or the OR condition may be selected.

  In the setting of the timing condition, it is selected which timing signal to output the trigger signal from among the system timings determined by the communication method.

  When setting the trigger output format, select whether to output the trigger signal each time or only once when the message condition and timing condition are satisfied. Select whether the trigger signal is output as a pulse or level. Select the output level of the trigger signal.

  The condition setting for outputting the trigger signal may be configured such that the output condition is described in the scenario described above, and is set from the scenario execution unit 10 to the condition setting unit 5 by executing the scenario.

  The instruction unit 6 includes a display unit 6a such as a monitor and an input unit 6b such as a mouse or a keyboard. The condition setting item provided by the condition setting unit 5 is displayed on the display unit 6a, and the input unit 6b described above. Select and set the trigger output condition.

  Next, the operation of the trigger generator configured as described above will be described (see FIGS. 1 to 4).

  In this description, an example is shown in which the operator sets the trigger signal output condition using the instruction unit 6 and then starts communication with the communication terminal and outputs the trigger signal. However, as described above, the trigger output condition setting is as follows. The trigger output condition may be set from the instruction unit 6 after the communication is started.

  Condition setting items are displayed on the display means 6a of the instruction unit 6 from the message condition table 5a and the timing condition table 5b provided in the condition setting unit 5 (FIG. 4). The operator sets the output condition of the trigger signal by the input means 6b such as a mouse.

  FIG. 4 shows a state after selection. In the example of FIG. 4, every time a power control message is detected, a TTL level pulse signal synchronized with the start timing of the next Subframe # 2 is set to be output as a trigger signal. is doing.

  In response to the trigger signal output condition setting by the operator, the condition setting unit 5 sets a trigger signal output condition in each of the message condition determination unit 3, the timing condition determination unit 4, and the trigger signal generation unit 7.

  The message condition determination unit 3 is set to output a message match notification to the trigger signal generation unit 7 when a message included in the communication sequence is analyzed and a power control message is detected.

  The timing condition determination unit 4 is set to output a timing coincidence notification to the trigger signal generation unit 7 at a timing synchronized with the start timing of Subframe # 2.

  The trigger signal generator 7 is set to output a TTL level pulse signal at the first timing match notification from the timing condition determination unit 4 after receiving the message match notification from the message condition determination unit 3. .

  Subsequently, communication between the communication terminal 20 and the transmission / reception unit 2 is started. The synchronization acquisition unit 2a included in the transmission / reception unit 2 performs a synchronization acquisition operation in order to communicate with the communication terminal 20, and communicates with the communication terminal 20 at the system timing when synchronization is established by the synchronization acquisition operation. A reference timing signal serving as a reference is generated and output from the transmission / reception unit 2 to the timing condition determination unit 4. In addition, a communication sequence exchanged with the communication terminal 20 is output to the message condition determination unit 3.

  In the message condition determination unit 3, when a communication sequence with the communication terminal 20 is input from the transmission / reception unit 2, messages included in the communication sequence are sequentially analyzed by the message analysis unit 3 a. As a result of analysis by the message analysis unit 3 a, when a power control message that is a message condition set by the condition setting unit 5 is detected, a message match notification is output from the message condition determination unit 3 to the trigger signal generation unit 7.

  In the timing condition determination unit 4, when the reference timing signal is input from the transmission / reception unit 2, the system timing table 4 a (FIG. 3) is referred to, and the timing condition set by the condition setting unit 5 is the start timing of Subframe # 2. A timing coincidence notification is output to the trigger signal generation unit 7 after 5 msec from the input of the reference timing signal.

  In the trigger condition determination unit 7 a included in the trigger signal generation unit 7, the message match notification and the timing match notification are received at the first timing match notification from the timing condition determination unit 4 after receiving the message match notification from the message condition determination unit 3. Is output to the output unit 7b (message timing coincidence notification). Further, the output unit 7b receives a message / timing coincidence notification from the trigger condition determination unit 7a, generates a TTL level pulse signal, and outputs it from the trigger signal generation unit 7 as a trigger signal.

  In the externally connected power meter 30, the radio signal power value output by the communication terminal 20 in synchronization with the start timing of Subframe # 2 after receiving the power control message by the trigger signal output from the trigger signal generation unit 7. Measure. This makes it possible to verify whether the communication terminal 20 that has received the power control message is performing transmission output control at a predetermined timing.

  FIG. 5 shows an image of the trigger signal output in the operation example described above. (I) The timing condition determination unit 4 receives the reference timing signal output from the transmission / reception unit 2. (Ii) The timing condition determination unit outputs the timing coincidence notification to the trigger signal generation unit 7 after 5 msec from the reference timing signal because the set timing condition is the start timing of Subframe # 2.

  (Iii) The message condition determination unit 3 analyzes the communication sequence and outputs a message match notification to the trigger signal generation unit 7 when a power control message that is a set message condition is detected. (Iv) The trigger signal generation unit 7 receives the message match notification output from the message condition determination unit 3 and the timing match notification output from the timing condition determination unit 4 and receives the first timing match after the message match notification. A trigger signal is generated at a timing synchronized with the notification. The trigger signal generated by the trigger signal generator 7 is output from the trigger generator 1.

  If the processing delay time in the trigger signal generation unit 7 or the delay time from the trigger input to the measurement of the external measuring instrument 30 is previously known in a fixed amount, a timing correction value (for example, in the system timing table 4a) -5 microseconds or the like) may be stored, and the start timing time set in the system timing table 4a may be reduced (or added) to correct and output the trigger signal timing.

The block diagram which shows the whole structure of the trigger generator concerning this invention, and its usage form The figure which shows the outline of the timing format in TD-SCDMA An example of a system timing table in the trigger generator according to the present invention An example of a trigger condition setting screen in the trigger generator according to the present invention Image of trigger signal output in trigger generator according to the present invention Connection example when measuring electrical physical quantities of wireless signals output from conventional communication terminals

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Trigger generator 2 Transmission / reception part 2a Synchronization acquisition part 3 Message condition determination part 3a Message analysis part 4 Timing condition determination part 4a System timing table 5 Condition setting part 5a Message condition table 5b Timing condition table 6 Instruction part 6a Display means 6b Input means 7 trigger signal generation unit 7a trigger condition determination unit 7b output unit 10 scenario storage unit 11 scenario control unit 20 communication terminal 30 external measuring device 100 pseudo base station device 101 having trigger generation device conventional pseudo base station device

Claims (3)

Establishing synchronization based on a timing format of a predetermined communication method with a communication terminal that performs communication using a radio signal, and communicating with the communication terminal using a communication protocol of the communication method. A transmission / reception unit (2) for outputting a communication sequence and a reference timing signal based on the timing format;
A condition setting unit (5) for holding a predetermined message from a plurality of messages related to the communication protocol as a message condition and holding a predetermined system timing from the timing format as a timing condition;
When the communication sequence output from the transmission / reception unit (2) is received, a message included in the communication sequence is analyzed, and a message that matches the message condition held in the condition setting unit (5) is detected A message condition determination unit (3) for outputting a message match notification;
The system receives the reference timing signal output from the transmission / reception unit (2), selects a system timing corresponding to the timing condition held in the condition setting unit (5) based on the reference timing signal, and A timing condition determination unit (4) that outputs a timing match notification at a timing synchronized with the system timing corresponding to the condition;
After receiving the message match notification from the message condition determining unit (3), a trigger signal generating unit (7) that outputs a trigger signal in synchronization with the first timing match notification received from the timing condition determining unit (4) ) and equipped with a,
The timing condition determination unit includes a system timing table (4a) in which the system timing is defined by a delay time from the reference timing signal, and refers to the system timing table to obtain timing for outputting the timing coincidence notification. A trigger generator characterized by that. A pseudo base station (100) that performs communication with a communication terminal that performs communication using a radio signal,
A trigger generator (1) for outputting a trigger signal for measuring the signal output from the communication terminal at a specific timing by the external measuring device (30);
A scenario storage unit (11) for storing a scenario in which a communication sequence with the communication terminal and an output condition of the trigger signal are described in advance;
A scenario execution unit (10) for executing the scenario,
The trigger generation device includes:
Establishing synchronization with the communication terminal based on a timing format of a predetermined communication method, communicating with the communication terminal using a communication protocol of the communication method, and a communication sequence and timing format related to the communication A transmission / reception unit (2) for outputting a reference timing signal based on
A condition setting unit (5) for holding a predetermined message from a plurality of messages related to the communication protocol as a message condition and holding a predetermined system timing from the timing format as a timing condition;
When the communication sequence output from the transmission / reception unit (2) is received, a message included in the communication sequence is analyzed, and a message that matches the message condition held in the condition setting unit (5) is detected A message condition determination unit (3) for outputting a message match notification;
The system receives the reference timing signal output from the transmission / reception unit (2), selects a system timing corresponding to the timing condition held in the condition setting unit (5) based on the reference timing signal, and A timing condition determination unit (4) that outputs a timing match notification at a timing synchronized with the system timing corresponding to the condition;
After receiving the message match notification from the message condition determination unit (3), a trigger signal generation unit that outputs the trigger signal in synchronization with the first timing match notification received from the timing condition determination unit (4) ( 7)
The transmission / reception unit communicates with the communication terminal based on a scenario executed by the scenario execution unit,
The pseudo base station apparatus, wherein the condition setting unit holds the message condition and the timing condition set based on a scenario executed by the scenario execution unit. The timing condition determination unit includes a system timing table (4a) in which the system timing is defined by a delay time from the reference timing signal, and refers to the system timing table to obtain timing for outputting the timing coincidence notification. The pseudo base station apparatus according to claim 2.

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