Networking device, method and mobile communication system for NSA

Abstract

The embodiment of the present invention discloses a networking device, method and mobile communication system for NSA. The networking device for NSA includes a first baseband unit, a second baseband unit and a mixed-mode radio frequency module, wherein the second baseband unit is configured to process at least 5G baseband data, the first baseband unit is configured to process other baseband data different from 5G baseband data, and a first communication link is constructed between the first baseband unit, the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode radio frequency module; a second communication link is constructed between the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode radio frequency module, and a main signaling link is constructed between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit. The 5G network can be introduced on the basis of the existing base station equipment, so as to improve the equipment utilization rate and reduce the construction cost of the base station.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of wireless communication technology, and in particular to a networking device, method and mobile communication system for NSA. Background Art

[0002] The 5G era has arrived, with the expected speed of G per second. The 5G network architecture is very simple, that is, 5G base stations connected to the 5G core network. This is the ultimate form of the 5G network architecture and can support all applications connected to the 5G network. Although the network architecture is simple, building such a 5G network requires the construction of a large number of base stations and 5G core networks, which is very expensive. At present, China Mobile alone has nearly 2.3 million 4G base stations. If a 5G network of the same size is built, the cost will be huge. According to relevant consulting companies, the 4G network will carry 88% of the world's traffic in 2020, and even by 2025, the number of 4G users in the world will still account for 50%-60%. Therefore, compared with the 4G network, the industry is more cautious about investing in 5G, hoping to test the waters and proceed step by step.

[0003] Non-standalone (NSA) networking is a hybrid networking method that provides 5G services through 4G and 5G. The existing technologies for NSA networking that are publicly available basically focus on how terminals select networks, and rarely explain how to introduce 5G networks based on the existing 234G base station equipment. Therefore, how to introduce 5G networks based on existing base station equipment has become an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of one or more embodiments of this specification is to provide a networking device, method and mobile communication system for NSA, which can introduce 5G network on the basis of existing base station equipment, improve equipment utilization and reduce base station construction costs.

[0005] To solve the above technical problems, one or more embodiments of this specification are implemented as follows:

[0006] In a first aspect, a networking device for NSA is provided, comprising a first baseband unit, a second baseband unit and a mixed-mode radio frequency module, wherein the second baseband unit is configured to process at least 5G baseband data, the first baseband unit is configured to process other baseband data different from the 5G baseband data, and a first communication link is constructed between the first baseband unit, the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode radio frequency module; a second communication link is constructed between the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode radio frequency module, and a main signaling link is constructed between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit.

[0007] In the second aspect, a networking method for NSA is proposed, which is applicable to a networking device including a first baseband unit, a second baseband unit and a mixed-mode RF module. The method includes: configuring the second baseband unit to at least process 5G baseband data, and configuring the first baseband unit to process other baseband data different from 5G baseband data; establishing a first communication link between the first baseband unit, the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode RF module; establishing a second communication link between the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode RF module; and establishing a main signaling link between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit.

[0008] In a third aspect, a wireless communication system is proposed, comprising the networking device as described above.

[0009] It can be seen from the technical solutions provided by one or more embodiments of the above specification that the networking device for NSA provided in the embodiment of the present invention transforms and networks the second baseband unit that supports at least 5G baseband data processing and the first baseband unit that supports other baseband data processing different from 5G baseband data, and shares the same mixed-mode RF module to realize the reception and transmission of different antenna data corresponding to the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit respectively. The mixed-mode RF module can utilize the RF module of the old base station, and the first baseband unit can also utilize the old 2G / 3G / 4G baseband processing equipment, that is, it can make full use of the original equipment resources of the old base station to introduce 5G baseband processing equipment to realize NSA networking, provide users with 5G network speed while making full use of old equipment, and reduce the cost of base station construction. Specifically, a first communication link can be constructed between the first baseband unit, the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode RF module, a second communication link can be constructed between the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode RF module, and a main signaling link can be constructed between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit. The normal operation of the first baseband unit, such as a 4G base station, is achieved through the first communication link, and the normal operation of the 5G base station is achieved through the second communication link. In addition, a main signaling link for information sharing is constructed between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit to ensure that the base stations on both sides share and coordinate resources to ensure that the networking device provides 5G network speed to meet user needs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] In order to more clearly illustrate one or more embodiments of this specification or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the description of one or more embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in this specification. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative labor.

[0011] Figure 1An embodiment of the present invention provides an architecture diagram of NSA networking using 4G and 5G networking.

[0012] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of a networking device for NSA provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 3 It is a structural diagram of another networking device for NSA provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 4 It is a structural diagram of another networking device for NSA provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the correspondence between the first topology relationship, the second topology relationship and the third topology relationship in another networking device for NSA provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 6 The present invention provides another schematic diagram of signaling transmission on a main signaling link, a first communication link and a second communication link in a networking device for NSA in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 7 The present invention provides another schematic diagram of antenna data transmission on a main signaling link, a first communication link, and a second communication link in a networking device for NSA in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 8 The present invention provides another schematic diagram of signaling transmission on a main signaling link, a first communication link and a second communication link in a networking device for NSA in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Fig. 9 The figure is a schematic diagram of the steps of a networking method for NSA provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Fig.10 The present invention provides another step diagram of a networking method for NSA according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Fig.11 The figure is a schematic diagram of the steps of another networking method for NSA provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Fig.12 The figure is a schematic diagram of the steps of another networking method for NSA provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Fig.13 The figure is a schematic diagram of the steps of another networking method for NSA provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Fig.14The figure is a schematic diagram of the steps of another networking method for NSA provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Fig.15 The figure is a schematic diagram of the steps of another networking method for NSA provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Fig.16 The figure is a schematic diagram of the steps of another networking method for NSA provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Fig.17 The figure is a schematic diagram of the steps of another networking method for NSA provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Fig.18 The figure is a schematic diagram of the steps of another networking method for NSA provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] 90-4G core network; 10-first baseband unit; 20-second baseband unit; 30-mixed-mode RF module; 110-first baseband processing module, 210-second baseband processing module; 120-first base station control module; 220-second base station control module; 111-first signaling forwarding module; 211-second signaling forwarding module; 311-first RF device; 321-second RF device; 112-first baseband processor; 212-second baseband processor; A-signaling on the main signaling link; B-signaling on the second communication link; C-signaling on the first communication link, D-antenna data on the second communication link; E-antenna data on the first communication link; A'-signaling between the first base station control module and the mixed-mode RF module that temporarily occupies the main signaling link; B'-signaling between the first base station control module and the mixed-mode RF module that temporarily occupies the second communication link. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions in this specification, the technical solutions in one or more embodiments of this specification will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in one or more embodiments of this specification. Obviously, the one or more embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of this specification, not all of the embodiments. Based on one or more embodiments in this specification, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work should fall within the scope of protection of this document.

[0031] Reference Figure 1As shown, the networking device for NSA provided by the embodiment of the present invention is suitable for the integration of 5G network and other wireless mobile networks different from 5G network, such as 2G / 3G / 4G. It can introduce 5G baseband processing equipment on the basis of making full use of existing base station resources, improve the utilization rate of old base stations and reduce the construction cost of base stations. It is necessary to explain that the networking device can be connected to the 4G core network or the 5G core network according to the performance of the matched equipment. The networking device for NSA provided by this specification and its various steps will be described in detail below.

[0032] Embodiment 1

[0033] Reference Figure 2 The figure shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a networking device for NSA provided by an embodiment of the present invention. It can be understood that the networking device for NSA provided by an embodiment of the present invention is part of a wireless communication system, and a 4G baseband processing device and a 5G baseband processing device share a radio frequency unit to realize the transmission and reception of antenna data. The networking device includes: a first baseband unit 10, a second baseband unit 20 and a mixed-mode radio frequency module 30, wherein:

[0034] The second baseband unit 20 is configured to process at least 5G baseband data, and the first baseband unit 10 is configured to process other baseband data than the 5G baseband data;

[0035] The second baseband unit 20 can process at least 5G baseband data as a 5G baseband processing device, and the first baseband unit 10 can process 2G / 3G / 4G baseband data as other baseband processing devices. The unit here can be one baseband processing device or multiple baseband processing devices.

[0036] A first communication link is established between the first baseband unit, the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode radio frequency module;

[0037] The first baseband unit 10 constructs a first communication link via the second baseband unit to the mixed-mode RF module 30, the purpose of which is to realize information transmission different from the 5G baseband processing device, such as the 4G baseband processing device and the RF device. The information that can be transmitted includes signaling, baseband data different from 5G, and corresponding antenna data. The realization of the first communication link can realize the transmission of other baseband data on the 5G baseband processing device. A second communication link is constructed between the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode RF module;

[0038] The main function of the mixed-mode RF module 30 is at least to simultaneously realize the transmission and reception of 4G and 5G antenna data. The mixed-mode RF module 30 may include multiple RF devices, which are connected in parallel to the second baseband unit after various cascading.

[0039] A second communication link is constructed between the second baseband unit 20 and the mixed-mode RF module 30, which is different from the first communication link and realizes information transmission between the 5G baseband processing device and the RF device. The information that can be transmitted includes signaling, 5G baseband data and corresponding antenna data.

[0040] It can be seen that the second baseband unit 20 realizes transmission different from 5G baseband data, which can realize dual-link transmission of different antenna data received by the same mixed-mode RF module.

[0041] A main signaling link is established between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit;

[0042] A main signaling link is constructed between the first baseband unit 10 and the second baseband unit 20 for sharing information between the two baseband units. It should be noted that the main signaling link transmits signaling to ensure information and resource sharing and coordination between the first baseband unit 10 and the second baseband unit 20.

[0043] The first baseband unit and the second baseband unit in the networking device for NSA provided by the embodiment of the present invention share a mixed-mode radio frequency device, and the second baseband unit interacts and shares information with the first baseband unit through the main signaling link, so that the second baseband unit allocates antenna data positions to the first baseband unit on its own interconnected optical port and radio frequency optical port. Therefore, the networking device can introduce 5G baseband processing equipment on the basis of using existing 2G / 3G / 4G base station equipment (including 2 / 3 / 4G baseband units and mixed-mode radio frequency modules) to realize NSA networking, improve the utilization rate of existing base station equipment, and reduce the cost of base station construction.

[0044] See also Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments, in the networking device for NSA provided by the embodiments of the present invention, a second topological relationship is configured between the second baseband unit and the mixed mode RF module, the second baseband unit and the mixed mode RF module are communicatively connected according to the second topological relationship, a first topological relationship is configured between the first baseband unit and the mixed mode RF module, and the first topological relationship and the second topological relationship are set to a one-to-one correspondence.

[0045] The purpose of configuring the topological relationship is to ensure that the second communication link between the second baseband unit 20 and the mixed mode RF module 30 is connected, taking into account the establishment of the first communication link from the first baseband unit to the mixed mode RF module 30 through the second baseband unit 20. The second baseband unit 20 and the mixed mode RF module 30 are connected in communication according to the second topological relationship, and the second baseband unit 20 can allocate resources to the baseband and the mixed mode RF module 30 based on the second topological relationship to open the second communication link.

[0046] See also Figure 5As shown, the mixed-mode RF module 30 may include multiple RF devices. The RF devices are numbered RU51 and RU11 differently because they are connected to different baseband units. However, they are actually the same mixed-mode RF module. Figure 5 Different numbers of the RF devices RU connected to the same baseband unit represent RF devices with different ID numbers, such as RF devices RU51 and RF RU52 are connected in series and configured to the RF optical port 1 of the first baseband unit. The present application adopts the same mixed-mode RF device, and the mixed-mode RF module is respectively configured to the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit, wherein the mixed-mode RF module and the first baseband unit are connected in a real-to-virtual manner, and the mixed-mode RF module and the second baseband unit are connected in a real-to-real manner.

[0047] As Figure 5 As shown, a first topological relationship is configured between the first baseband unit 10 and the mixed-mode RF module 30. The first topological relationship is a virtual link, that is, it is not actually connected after configuration. The purpose is that the first baseband unit 10 allocates resources on the baseband and the mixed-mode RF module 30 according to the configuration of the first topological relationship.

[0048] The first topological relationship includes the topological shapes of different RF devices in the mixed-mode RF module 30 connected to the RF optical ports of the first baseband unit 10 after completing their internal cascades, and the topological relationship involves the models of the RF devices at the cascade position, and the optical port numbers configured to be connected to the RF optical ports of the first baseband unit 10. Similarly, the second topological relationship includes the topological shapes of different RF devices in the mixed-mode RF module 30 connected to the RF ports of the second baseband unit 20 after completing their internal cascades, and the topological relationship involves the models of the RF devices at the cascade position, and the optical port numbers configured to be connected to the RF optical ports of the second baseband unit 20.

[0049] The first topological relationship and the second topological relationship are set to correspond one to one, that is, the topological shapes of the first topological relationship and the second topological relationship are the same, the models of the radio frequency devices involved in the cascade position in the topological relationship are the same, and the optical port numbers of the radio frequency optical ports connected to the second baseband unit 20 are configured to correspond. The purpose of this is to use the same topological relationship to respectively allocate the same baseband and the resources of the corresponding mixed-mode radio frequency modules to the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit, so as to prepare for further opening the first communication link.

[0050] The first baseband processing module BPM (full name: Baseband Process Module) and the second BPM in the figure are respectively an embodiment of the first baseband processing module 110 and the second baseband processing module 210, which will be described in detail below.

[0051] See also Figure 5As shown, in some embodiments, in the networking device provided by the embodiments of this specification, a third topological relationship is configured between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit, and a communication line is set between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit according to the third topological relationship, and one of the communication lines serves as a main signaling link.

[0052] Similarly, the purpose of configuring the third topological relationship is to respectively mobilize the first baseband unit 10 and the second baseband unit 20 to allocate corresponding resources to realize the third topological relationship, such as Figure 5 An actual connection is performed according to the third topological relationship to form a communication line between the first baseband unit 10 and the second baseband unit 20 .

[0053] One of the communication lines is set as a main signaling link for transmitting signaling between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit to share messages.

[0054] See also Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, in the networking device provided by the embodiment of the present specification, the first baseband unit 10 includes a first baseband processing module 110 and a first base station control module 120, the second baseband unit 20 includes a second baseband processing module 210 and a second base station control module 220, the first baseband processing module 110 includes a first signaling forwarding module 111, the second baseband processing module 210 includes a second signaling forwarding module 211, the first base station control module 120 configures a signaling forwarding route for the first signaling forwarding module 111 in the first communication link and the main signaling link, and the second base station control module 220 configures a signaling forwarding route for the second signaling forwarding module 211 in the first communication link, the main signaling link, and the second communication link.

[0055] The first baseband unit 10 (full name in English: Base Band Unit, abbreviated as BBU) includes a first baseband processing module BPM (full name in English: Baseband Process Module, abbreviated as BPM) and a first base station control module CCM (full name in English: Clock Control Module, abbreviated as CCM), and the first BPM includes a first signaling forwarding module. 30 is a 4&5G mixed mode radio frequency module (full name in English: Radio Unit, abbreviated as RU). The second BBU includes a second BPM and a second CCM, and the second BPM includes a second signaling forwarding module. The first BPM completes the processing of 2G / 3G / 4G baseband data, realizes the conversion of baseband data and antenna data, and the antenna data is input / output from the radio frequency optical port of the first BPM. The second BPM completes the processing of 5G baseband data, realizes the conversion of baseband data and antenna data, and the antenna data is input / output from the radio frequency optical port of the second BPM.

[0056] The first CCM and the second CCM are connected via a clock synchronization cable, and the first BPM and the second BPM can be connected via optical fiber communication. The first CCM and the second CCM respectively complete the device management, clock management and transmission management in their respective baseband units, specifically:

[0057] a. Equipment management: The first / second CCM is responsible for the power-on management, version loading, and communication link management of each module in the respective baseband unit;

[0058] b. Clock management: The first / second CCM is synchronized with the clock source to provide a reference clock for each baseband unit;

[0059] c. Transmission management: The first / second CCM connects to the core network to complete the transmission of business data with the core network.

[0060] As described above, one and only one of the interconnected optical fibers between the first baseband processing module and the second baseband processing module is selected as the main signaling link, which is used to transmit signaling between the first baseband unit BBU and the second baseband unit BBU, such as device configuration, shared device status, etc. All interconnected optical fibers between the first baseband processing module and the second baseband processing module can transmit signaling between the first baseband unit and the mixed-mode RF module, such as the configuration message of the first baseband unit to the mixed-mode RF module RU.

[0061] See also Figure 6 As shown, in some embodiments, in the networking device provided by the embodiments of this specification, the signaling on the main signaling link includes the signaling between the first base station control module and the second base station control module, the signaling on the first communication link includes the signaling between the first base station control module and the mixed mode RF module, the signaling on the second communication link includes the signaling between the second base station control module and the mixed mode RF module, the first signaling forwarding module and the second signaling forwarding module are configured to forward the signaling between the first base station control module and the second base station control module, respectively; the first signaling forwarding module and the second signaling forwarding module are configured to forward the signaling between the first base station control module and the mixed mode RF module, respectively; the second signaling forwarding module is configured to forward the signaling between the second base station control module and the mixed mode RF module.

[0062] The first baseband processing module BPM and the second baseband processing module BPM each have a signaling forwarding module. The first signaling forwarding module of the first baseband processing module forwards the signaling sent by the first base station control CCM to the second base station control CCM from the main signaling link to the second signaling forwarding module in the second baseband processing module BPM, and the second signaling forwarding module forwards it to the second base station control module CCM, and the signaling of the second base station control module CCM received from the main signaling link is forwarded to the first base station control module CCM. The first signaling forwarding module of the first baseband processing module BPM forwards the signaling sent by the first base station control module CCM to the mixed-mode radio frequency module RU from the interconnected optical fiber link to the second baseband processing BPM, and forwards the signaling of the mixed-mode radio frequency module RU received from the interconnected optical fiber link to the first base station control module CCM. The second signaling forwarding module in the second baseband processing module BPM forwards the signaling sent by the second base station control module CCM to the first base station control module from the main signaling link to the first baseband processing module BPM, and forwards the signaling of the first base station control module CCM received from the main signaling link to the second base station control module CCM. The second signaling forwarding module in the second baseband processing module BPM forwards the signaling sent by the second baseband control module CCM to the mixed-mode RF module RU from the RF optical fiber link between the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode RF module to the mixed-mode RF module RU, and forwards the signaling sent by the mixed-mode RF module RU to the second baseband unit received by the RF optical fiber link to the second baseband unit. In addition, the second signaling forwarding module of the second baseband control module BPM also forwards the signaling sent by the first basestation control module CCM to the mixed-mode RF module RU received on the interconnected optical fiber link from the RF optical fiber link to the mixed-mode RF module RU, and forwards the signaling sent by the mixed-mode RF module RU to the first baseband unit received by the RF optical fiber link to the first baseband processing module BPM through the interconnected optical fiber link.

[0063] See also Figure 8 As shown, in some embodiments, in the networking device provided by the embodiments of this specification, the first signaling forwarding module is configured to forward the signaling between the first base station control module and the mixed-mode RF module to the second base station control module through the main signaling link, and the second signaling forwarding module is configured to forward the signaling between the first base station control module and the mixed-mode RF module between the second base station control module and the mixed-mode RF module.

[0064] Figure 8A' represents the signaling between the first base station control module and the mixed-mode RF module that temporarily occupy the main signaling link; B' represents the signaling between the first base station control module and the mixed-mode RF module that temporarily occupy the second communication link. There is only one optical fiber on the interconnecting optical fiber between the first baseband processing module BPM and the second baseband processing module BPM as the main signaling link, which is used to transmit signaling between the first baseband unit BBU and the second baseband unit BBU, such as device configuration, shared device information, etc. The signaling between the first baseband unit BBU and the second mixed-mode RF module RU is also transmitted through the main signaling link as a kind of signaling between the first baseband unit BBU and the second baseband unit BBU, such as the configuration message of the first baseband control module to the mixed-mode RF module RU.

[0065] See also Figure 5-Figure 8 As shown, in some embodiments, in the networking device provided by the embodiments of this specification, the first baseband processing module 110 includes a first RF optical port and a first interconnected optical port (see numbers 1-6, of which only the first three 1-3 are applicable), the second baseband processing module includes a second interconnected optical port (see numbers 1-3) and a second RF optical port (see numbers 4-6), the mixed-mode RF module 30 includes a first RF channel (on the RF device on the virtual link), the mixed-mode RF module 30 includes a second RF channel (on the RF device on the RF optical fiber link), the first interconnected optical port is communicatively connected to the second interconnected optical port based on a third topological relationship, the second RF optical port is communicatively connected to the second RF channel based on a second topological relationship, the second interconnected optical port is configured in one-to-one correspondence with the second RF optical port, and the first RF optical port is configured in one-to-one correspondence with the first RF channel based on the first topological relationship, wherein the first RF optical port and the first interconnected optical port are the same optical port, for example, the first RF optical port and the first interconnected optical port share the optical port numbered 1-3 of the first BMP in the figure.

[0066] The first baseband processing module BPM can at least complete the processing of 4G baseband data and convert the baseband data into antenna data. The first baseband processing module BMP has an interconnection optical port that can exchange antenna data with the second baseband processing module BPM. The second baseband processing module BPM completes the processing of 5G baseband data, realizes the conversion of 5G baseband data and antenna data, and the antenna data is input and output from the RF optical port, and the RF optical port is connected to the mixed-mode RF module through an RF optical fiber link.

[0067] The second baseband processing module BPM also has an interconnected optical port that can exchange antenna data of the first baseband data with the first baseband processing module BPM, and can send the first antenna data of the first baseband processing module BPM to the RF optical port to complete forwarding of the first antenna data.

[0068] The interconnection optical port and the RF optical port of the second baseband processing module BPM correspond one to one. The one-to-one correspondence here means that the number of both sides is the same. In the past, the antenna data can only be sent and received between one of the interconnection optical ports and one RF optical port. The second baseband processing module BMP is connected to the mixed-mode RF module RU through an optical fiber. In order to distinguish the interconnection optical fiber connection between the first baseband processing module and the second baseband processing module, it can be called an RF optical fiber connection here.

[0069] Mixed-mode RF modules and mixed-mode RF modules can be 4&5G mixed-mode RF RUs, with 2G / 3G / 4G RF channels and 5G RF channels, that is, the first RF channel mentioned above is the 2G / 3G / 4G RF channel, and the second RF channel is the 5G RF channel. In the downlink direction, the antenna data sent by the baseband unit is sent from the corresponding RF channel to the air interface, and in the uplink direction, the data received by the air interface is converted into antenna data and sent to the baseband unit.

[0070] The radio frequency optical port and the interconnection optical port of the first baseband processing module BPM can be the same optical port, that is, the radio frequency optical port and the interconnection optical port share Figure 5 The optical ports numbered 1-3 in the example, the antenna data are input and output from the interconnected optical ports (optical ports numbered 1-3), and the first antenna data sent by the first baseband processing module is exchanged with the second baseband processing module.

[0071] The second baseband processing module BPM has 6 optical ports (optical ports numbered 1-6). Optical ports numbered 1-3 are interconnection optical ports, optical ports numbered 4-6 are RF optical ports, and one RF optical port corresponds to one interconnection optical port, such as numbered 1 to 4, numbered 2 to 5, and numbered 3 to 6. The interconnection optical port of the second baseband processing module exchanges the first antenna data with the first baseband processing module BPM, and sends the first antenna data of the first baseband processing module to its own RF optical port. 2G / 3G / 4G / 5G antenna data is input and output from the RF optical port of the second baseband processing module.

[0072] The first RF optical port and the first RF channel are configured in a one-to-one correspondence based on the first topological relationship. The one-to-one correspondence here means that the number of the first RF optical ports and the first RF channels configured according to the first topological relationship is the same, and one RF optical port corresponds to one interconnection optical port. Figure 5 As shown, the RF channel of the RF device with ID code RU_51 is configured to correspond one-to-one with the RF optical port numbered 1, and the RF channel of the RF device with ID code RU_61 is configured to correspond one-to-one with the RF optical port numbered 2. The purpose of this configuration is that the first baseband unit allocates resources for the baseband and mixed-mode RF modules.

[0073] See also Figure 5-Figure 8As shown, in some embodiments, in the networking device provided by the embodiments of this specification, the first base station control module 120 configures a first antenna data route for the mixed mode RF module 30 between the first baseband processing module and the first interconnected optical port, and the first base station control module and the second base station control module at least share the first antenna data route, the device information of the mixed mode RF module and the first topological relationship (see the virtual link shown in the figure, including the RF device ID of the mixed mode RF module 30 and the optical port number of the first interconnected optical port) and the third topological relationship. After that, the second base station control module 210 at least configures a third antenna data route for the mixed mode RF module 30 between the second interconnected optical port and the second RF optical port.

[0074] There are multiple interconnected optical fibers between the first baseband processing module BPM and the second baseband processing module BPM, which is the third topological relationship mentioned above, including the optical port numbers of the first interconnected optical port and the second interconnected optical port, which are used to transmit the first antenna data between the first baseband unit BBU and the mixed-mode RF module RU.

[0075] The first antenna data route between the first baseband unit BBU and the mixed-mode radio frequency module RU includes two parts: the first antenna data route from the first baseband processor 112 to the interconnected optical port of the first baseband processing module BPM, and the third antenna data route from the interconnected optical port of the second baseband processing module BPM to the mixed-mode radio frequency module RU. The first antenna data route is configured by the first base station control module CCM; the third antenna data route from the interconnected optical port of the second baseband control module BPM to the mixed-mode radio frequency module RU is configured by the second base station control module CCM.

[0076] The antenna data on the second RF optical port of the second baseband processing module BPM includes two parts: the first antenna data from the first baseband processor 112 of the first baseband processing module to the mixed mode RF module RU via the second interconnected optical port, and the second antenna data from the second baseband processor 212 of the second baseband processing module to the mixed mode RF module RU. The third antenna data routing from the second interconnected optical port to the second RF optical port and the second antenna data routing from the second baseband processor 212 of the second baseband processing module to the second RF optical port are both configured by the second base station control module CCM.

[0077] See also Figure 5-Figure 8As shown, in some embodiments, in the networking device provided in the embodiments of this specification, the equipment information of the mixed mode RF module includes the serial ID of the mixed mode RF module, and after the second base station control module derives the correspondence between the ID of the mixed mode RF module and the ID of the mixed mode RF module based on the ID of the mixed mode RF module, the first topological relationship, the second topological relationship and the third topological relationship, the third antenna data route from the second interconnected optical port to the second RF optical port is configured for the mixed mode RF module according to the ID of the mixed mode RF module and the first antenna data route, and the second antenna data route from the second baseband processing module to the second RF optical port is configured for the mixed mode RF module.

[0078] The second base station control module obtains the correspondence between the RF device ID of the mixed mode RF module and the RF device ID of the mixed mode RF module according to the first topological relationship, the second topological relationship, the third topological relationship and the device information of the mixed mode RF module, with the purpose of converting the first antenna data of the mixed mode RF module into the third antenna data of the mixed mode RF module. According to the correspondence, the second base station control module obtains the RF device ID of the mixed mode RF module corresponding to the RF device ID of the mixed mode RF module, thereby establishing a third antenna data route and finding an endpoint. In addition, for the mixed mode RF module RU, since the position of the first antenna data on the second interconnected optical port of the second baseband processing module BPM is consistent with the position of the first antenna data on the first interconnected optical port of the first baseband processing module BPM, the first base station control module CCM informs the second base station control module CCM of the information of the position of the first antenna data of the mixed mode RF module RU on the first interconnected optical port through the main signaling link, and the second base station control module allocates the first antenna data coming from the second interconnected optical port to the third antenna data route on the second RF optical port according to the above information.

[0079] The networking process is as follows:

[0080] Configure interconnected optical ports on the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit, and configure the mixed-mode radio frequency module, the first topological relationship, the second topological relationship, and the third topological relationship with the mixed-mode radio frequency module;

[0081] Initialize the first signaling forwarding module and the second signaling forwarding module, configure the signaling forwarding routes of the main signaling link, the first communication link and the second communication link, and the mixed-mode radio frequency module RU establishes the first communication link and the second communication link to the first baseband unit BBU and the second baseband unit BBU respectively according to the standard;

[0082] The first base station control module CCM sends the third topological relationship and the first topological relationship of the "virtual configuration" RU under the interconnected optical port to the second base station control module CCM through the main signaling link;

[0083] The second base station control module CCM calculates the correspondence between the RF device ID of the mixed-mode RF module and the ID of the RF device RU of the mixed-mode RF module according to the second topological relationship, the third topological relationship sent by the first base station control module, and the first topological relationship, so that according to the correspondence, the second base station control module obtains the RF device ID of the mixed-mode RF module corresponding to the RF device ID of the mixed-mode RF module one by one, converts the ID of the RF device of the mixed-mode RF module RU into the ID of the RF device of the mixed-mode RF module RU, and finds an endpoint for establishing the third antenna data route;

[0084] When a 2G / 3G / 4G cell is established, the first base station control module allocates a first antenna data route of the mixed-mode radio frequency module RU from the first baseband processor of the first baseband processing module BPM to the interconnection optical port of the first baseband processing module BPM for the first baseband unit, and informs the second base station control module CCM of the antenna data position of the mixed-mode radio frequency module RU at the first interconnection optical port in the form of an RU carrier through signaling;

[0085] When the second base station control module CCM allocates the antenna data position on the second radio frequency optical port to the mixed mode radio frequency module RU, the third antenna data route is allocated according to the radio frequency device ID of the corresponding mixed mode radio frequency module converted from the above text, and the second antenna data route is allocated;

[0086] The configuration of the first antenna data routing, the second antenna data routing and the third antenna data routing is completed, and the cell is established successfully.

[0087] In some embodiments, in the networking device provided by the embodiments of the present specification, the first base station control module performs configuration management and operation maintenance on the standard of the first baseband unit of the mixed mode RF module; the second base station control module performs configuration management and operation maintenance on the standard of the second baseband unit of the mixed mode RF module; the first base station control module and the second base station control module perform configuration management and operation maintenance on the standards of the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit that are not related to the mixed mode RF module; the second base station control module performs version management on the mixed mode RF module.

[0088] The clock of the first base station control module is synchronized with that of the second base station control module. The first base station control module performs equipment management, configuration management, version management and operation maintenance on the first baseband unit; the second base station control module performs equipment management, configuration management, version management and operation maintenance on the second baseband unit.

[0089] In some embodiments, in the networking device provided in the embodiments of this specification, the mixed-mode RF module performs configuration management and operation maintenance on the first communication link and the second communication link based on the standard of the first baseband unit and the standard of the second baseband unit.

[0090] From the above analysis, it can be seen that the networking device for NSA provided in the embodiment of the present invention transforms and networks the second baseband unit that supports at least 5G baseband data processing and the first baseband unit that supports other baseband data processing different from 5G baseband data, and shares the same mixed-mode RF module to realize the reception and transmission of different antenna data corresponding to the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit respectively. The mixed-mode RF module can utilize the RF module of the old base station, and the first baseband unit can also utilize the old 2G / 3G / 4G baseband processing equipment, that is, it can make full use of the original equipment resources of the old base station to introduce 5G baseband processing equipment to realize NSA networking, provide users with 5G network speed while making full use of old equipment, and reduce the cost of base station construction. Specifically, a first communication link can be constructed between the first baseband unit, the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode RF module, a second communication link can be constructed between the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode RF module, and a main signaling link can be constructed between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit. The normal operation of the first baseband unit, such as a 4G base station, is achieved through the first communication link, and the normal operation of the 5G base station is achieved through the second communication link. In addition, a main signaling link for information sharing is constructed between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit to ensure that the base stations on both sides share and coordinate resources to ensure that the networking device provides 5G network speed to meet user needs.

[0091] Embodiment 2

[0092] Reference Fig. 9 As shown, a networking method for NSA provided by an embodiment of the present invention is applicable to a networking device including a first baseband unit, a second baseband unit and a mixed-mode radio frequency module. The networking method includes:

[0093] Step 10: configuring the second baseband unit to process at least 5G baseband data, and configuring the first baseband unit to process other baseband data different from the 5G baseband data;

[0094] The second baseband unit 20 can process at least 5G baseband data as a 5G baseband processing device, and the first baseband unit 10 can process 2G / 3G / 4G baseband data as other baseband processing devices. The unit here can be one baseband processing device or multiple baseband processing devices.

[0095] Step 20: Establishing a first communication link between the first baseband unit, the second baseband unit and the mixed mode RF module;

[0096] The first baseband unit 10 constructs a first communication link via the second baseband unit to the mixed-mode RF module 30, the purpose of which is to realize information transmission different from the 5G baseband processing device, such as the 4G baseband processing device and the RF device. The information that can be transmitted includes signaling, baseband data different from 5G, and corresponding antenna data. The realization of the first communication link can realize the transmission of other baseband data on the 5G baseband processing device. A second communication link is constructed between the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode RF module;

[0097] The main function of the mixed-mode RF module 30 is at least to simultaneously realize the transmission and reception of 4G and 5G antenna data. The mixed-mode RF module 30 may include multiple RF devices, which are connected in parallel to the second baseband unit after various cascading.

[0098] Step 30: Establishing a second communication link between the second baseband unit and the mixed mode RF module;

[0099] A second communication link is constructed between the second baseband unit 20 and the mixed-mode RF module 30, which is different from the first communication link and realizes information transmission between the 5G baseband processing device and the RF device. The information that can be transmitted includes signaling, 5G baseband data and corresponding antenna data.

[0100] It can be seen that the second baseband unit 20 realizes transmission different from 5G baseband data, which can realize dual-link transmission of different antenna data received by the same mixed-mode RF module.

[0101] Step 40: Establish a main signaling link between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit.

[0102] A main signaling link is constructed between the first baseband unit 10 and the second baseband unit 20 for sharing information between the two baseband units. It should be noted that the main signaling link transmits signaling to ensure information and resource sharing and coordination between the first baseband unit 10 and the second baseband unit 20.

[0103] The first baseband unit and the second baseband unit in the networking device for NSA provided by the embodiment of the present invention share a mixed-mode radio frequency device, and the second baseband unit interacts and shares information with the first baseband unit through the main signaling link, so that the second baseband unit allocates antenna data positions to the first baseband unit on its own interconnected optical port and radio frequency optical port. Therefore, the networking device can introduce 5G baseband processing equipment on the basis of using existing 2G / 3G / 4G base station equipment (including 2 / 3 / 4G baseband units and mixed-mode radio frequency modules) to realize NSA networking, improve the utilization rate of existing base station equipment, and reduce the cost of base station construction.

[0104] See also Fig.10As shown, in some embodiments, the networking method provided in the embodiments of this specification, the mixed-mode radio frequency module includes a mixed-mode radio frequency module and a mixed-mode radio frequency module;

[0105] Step 30: Establishing a second communication link between the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode radio frequency module, specifically comprising:

[0106] Step 300: a first topological relationship is configured between the first baseband unit and the mixed-mode radio frequency module, and a second topological relationship is configured between the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode radio frequency module, and the first topological relationship and the second topological relationship are set to be in one-to-one correspondence;

[0107] The purpose of configuring the topological relationship is to ensure that the second communication link between the second baseband unit 20 and the mixed mode RF module 30 is connected, taking into account the establishment of the first communication link from the first baseband unit to the mixed mode RF module 30 through the second baseband unit 20. The second baseband unit 20 and the mixed mode RF module 30 are connected in communication according to the second topological relationship, and the second baseband unit 20 can allocate resources to the baseband and the mixed mode RF module 30 based on the second topological relationship to open the second communication link.

[0108] See also Figure 5 As shown, the mixed-mode RF module 30 may include multiple RF devices. The RF devices are numbered RU51 and RU11 differently because they are connected to different baseband units. However, they are actually the same mixed-mode RF module. Figure 5 Different numbers of the RF devices RU connected to the same baseband unit represent RF devices with different ID numbers, such as RF devices RU51 and RF RU52 are connected in series and configured to the RF optical port 1 of the first baseband unit. The present application adopts the same mixed-mode RF device, and the mixed-mode RF module is respectively configured to the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit, wherein the mixed-mode RF module and the first baseband unit are connected in a real-to-virtual manner, and the mixed-mode RF module and the second baseband unit are connected in a real-to-real manner.

[0109] As Figure 5 As shown, a first topological relationship is configured between the first baseband unit 10 and the mixed-mode RF module 30. The first topological relationship is a virtual link, that is, it is not actually connected after configuration. The purpose is that the first baseband unit 10 allocates resources on the baseband and the mixed-mode RF module 30 according to the configuration of the first topological relationship.

[0110] The first topological relationship includes the topological shapes of different RF devices in the mixed-mode RF module 30 connected to the RF optical ports of the first baseband unit 10 after completing their internal cascades, and the topological relationship involves the models of the RF devices at the cascade position, and the optical port numbers configured to be connected to the RF optical ports of the second baseband unit 20. Similarly, the second topological relationship includes the topological shapes of different RF devices in the mixed-mode RF module 30 connected to the RF ports of the second baseband unit 20 after completing their internal cascades, and the models of the RF devices at the cascade position, and the optical port numbers configured to be connected to the RF optical ports of the second baseband unit 20.

[0111] Step 310: A communication connection is established between the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode radio frequency module according to a second topological relationship.

[0112] The first topological relationship and the second topological relationship are set to correspond one to one, that is, the topological shapes of the first topological relationship and the second topological relationship are the same, the models of the radio frequency devices involved in the cascade position in the topological relationship are the same, and the optical port numbers of the radio frequency optical ports finally connected to the second baseband unit 20 correspond. The purpose of this is to use the same topological relationship to respectively allocate the same baseband and the resources of the corresponding mixed-mode radio frequency modules to the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit, so as to prepare for further opening the first communication link.

[0113] Figure 5 The first baseband processing module BPM (English full name: Baseband Process Module) and the second BPM are respectively an embodiment of the first baseband processing module 110 and the second baseband processing module 210, which will be described in detail below.

[0114] See also Fig.11 As shown, in some embodiments, the networking method provided by the embodiments of this specification, the first baseband unit includes a first baseband processing module and a first base station control module, the second baseband unit includes a second baseband processing module and a second base station control module, the first baseband processing module includes a first signaling forwarding module, and the second baseband processing module includes a second signaling forwarding module;

[0115] Step 20: Establishing a first communication link between the first baseband unit, the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode radio frequency module, specifically comprising:

[0116] Step 200: Use the first base station control module to configure a signaling forwarding route for the first signaling forwarding module in the first communication link, and use the second base station control module to configure a signaling forwarding route for the second signaling forwarding module in the first communication link.

[0117] The first baseband unit 10 (full name in English: Base Band Unit, abbreviated as BBU) includes a first baseband processing module BPM (full name in English: Baseband Process Module, abbreviated as BPM) and a first base station control module CCM (full name in English: Clock Control Module, abbreviated as CCM), and the first BPM includes a first signaling forwarding module. The mixed mode module 30 is a 4&5G mixed mode radio frequency module (full name in English: Radio Unit, abbreviated as RU). The second BBU includes a second BPM and a second CCM, and the second BPM includes a second signaling forwarding module. The first BPM completes the processing of 2G / 3G / 4G baseband data, realizes the conversion of baseband data and antenna data, and the antenna data is input / output from the radio frequency optical port of the first BPM. The second BPM completes the processing of 5G baseband data, realizes the conversion of baseband data and antenna data, and the antenna data is input / output from the radio frequency optical port of the second BPM.

[0118] Step 30: Establishing a second communication link between the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode radio frequency module, specifically comprising:

[0119] Step 320: Use the second base station control module to configure a signaling forwarding route for the second signaling forwarding module in the second communication link.

[0120] The first CCM and the second CCM are connected via a clock synchronization cable, and the first BPM and the second BPM can be connected via optical fiber communication. The first CCM and the second CCM respectively complete the device management, clock management and transmission management in their respective baseband units, specifically:

[0121] a. Equipment management: The first / second CCM is responsible for the power-on management, version loading, and communication link management of each module in the respective baseband unit;

[0122] b. Clock management: The first / second CCM is synchronized with the clock source to provide a reference clock for each baseband unit;

[0123] c. Transmission management: The first / second CCM connects to the core network to complete the transmission of business data with the core network.

[0124] Step 40: Establishing a main signaling link between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit, specifically including:

[0125] Step 400: Use the first base station control module to configure a signaling forwarding route for the first signaling forwarding module in the main signaling link, and use the second base station control module to configure a signaling forwarding route for the second signaling forwarding module in the main signaling link.

[0126] As described above, one and only one of the interconnected optical fibers between the first baseband processing module and the second baseband processing module is selected as the main signaling link, which is used to transmit signaling between the first baseband unit BBU and the second baseband unit BBU, such as device configuration, shared device status, etc. All interconnected optical fibers between the first baseband processing module and the second baseband processing module can transmit signaling between the first baseband unit and the mixed-mode RF module, such as the configuration message of the first baseband unit to the mixed-mode RF module RU.

[0127] In some embodiments, in the networking method provided in the embodiments of this specification, the signaling on the primary signaling link includes signaling between the first base station control module and the second base station control module, the signaling on the first communication link includes signaling between the first base station control module and the mixed mode radio frequency module, and the signaling on the second communication link includes signaling between the second base station control module and the mixed mode radio frequency module;

[0128] Step 200: After the first base station control module is used to configure a signaling forwarding route for the first signaling forwarding module on the first communication link, and the second base station control module is used to configure a signaling forwarding route for the second signaling forwarding module on the first communication link, the method further includes:

[0129] Step 210: configure the first signaling forwarding module and the second signaling forwarding module to respectively forward signaling between the first base station control module and the mixed-mode radio frequency module.

[0130] The first baseband processing module BPM and the second baseband processing module BPM each have a signaling forwarding module. The first signaling forwarding module of the first baseband processing module forwards the signaling sent from the first base station control module CCM to the second base station control module CCM from the main signaling link to the second signaling forwarding module in the second baseband processing module BPM, and the second signaling forwarding module forwards it to the second base station control module CCM, and the signaling of the second base station control module CCM received from the main signaling link is forwarded to the first base station control module CCM. The first signaling forwarding module of the first baseband processing module BPM forwards the signaling sent from the first base station control module CCM to the mixed-mode radio frequency module RU from the interconnected optical fiber link to the second baseband processing BPM, and forwards the signaling of the mixed-mode radio frequency module RU received from the interconnected optical fiber link to the first base station control module CCM.

[0131] Step 320: After the second base station control module is used to configure a signaling forwarding route for the second signaling forwarding module on the second communication link, the method further includes:

[0132] Step 330: configure the second signaling forwarding module to forward signaling between the second base station control module and the mixed-mode radio frequency module.

[0133] The second signaling forwarding module in the second baseband processing module BPM forwards the signaling sent by the second base station control module CCM to the first base station control module from the main signaling link to the first baseband processing module BPM, and forwards the signaling of the first base station control module CCM received from the main signaling link to the second base station control module CCM.

[0134] Step 400: After the first base station control module is used to configure a signaling forwarding route for the first signaling forwarding module on the primary signaling link, and the second base station control module is used to configure a signaling forwarding route for the second signaling forwarding module on the primary signaling link, the method further includes:

[0135] Step 410: configure the first signaling forwarding module and the second signaling forwarding module to respectively forward signaling between the first base station control module and the second base station control module.

[0136] The second signaling forwarding module in the second baseband processing module BPM forwards the signaling sent by the second baseband control module CCM to the mixed-mode RF module RU from the RF optical fiber link between the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode RF module to the mixed-mode RF module RU, and forwards the signaling sent by the mixed-mode RF module RU to the second baseband unit received by the RF optical fiber link to the second baseband unit. In addition, the second signaling forwarding module of the second baseband control module BPM also forwards the signaling sent by the first basestation control module CCM to the mixed-mode RF module RU received on the interconnected optical fiber link from the RF optical fiber link to the mixed-mode RF module RU, and forwards the signaling sent by the mixed-mode RF module RU to the first baseband unit received by the RF optical fiber link to the first baseband processing module BPM through the interconnected optical fiber link.

[0137] In some embodiments, the networking method provided in the embodiments of this specification, step 400: using the first base station control module to configure the signaling forwarding route for the first signaling forwarding module in the main signaling link, and using the second base station control module to configure the signaling forwarding route for the second signaling forwarding module in the main signaling link, the method further includes:

[0138] Step 420: Configure the first signaling forwarding module and the second signaling forwarding module to forward signaling between the first base station control module and the mixed-mode radio frequency module through the main signaling link.

[0139] There is one and only one optical fiber on the interconnection optical fiber between the first baseband processing module BPM and the second baseband processing module BPM as the main signaling link, which is used to transmit signaling between the first baseband unit BBU and the second baseband unit BBU, such as device configuration, shared device information, etc.

[0140] Step 320: After configuring a signaling forwarding route for the second signaling forwarding module on the second communication link using the second base station control module, the method further includes:

[0141] Step 340: configure the second signaling forwarding module to forward the signaling between the first base station control module and the mixed-mode radio frequency module between the second base station control module and the mixed-mode radio frequency module.

[0142] See also Figure 8 As shown, A' represents the signaling between the first base station control module and the mixed mode RF module temporarily occupying the main signaling link; B' represents the signaling between the first base station control module and the mixed mode RF module temporarily occupying the second communication link. The signaling between the first baseband unit BBU and the second mixed mode RF module RU is also transmitted through the main signaling link as a kind of signaling between the first baseband unit BBU and the second baseband unit BBU, such as the configuration message of the first base station control module to the mixed mode RF module RU.

[0143] From the above analysis, it can be seen that the networking method for NSA provided in the embodiment of the present invention transforms and networks the second baseband unit that supports at least 5G baseband data processing and the first baseband unit that supports other baseband data processing different from 5G baseband data, and shares the same mixed-mode RF module to realize the reception and transmission of different antenna data corresponding to the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit respectively. The mixed-mode RF module can utilize the RF module of the old base station, and the first baseband unit can also utilize the old 2G / 3G / 4G baseband processing equipment, that is, the original equipment resources of the old base station can be fully utilized to introduce 5G baseband processing equipment to realize NSA networking, providing users with 5G network speed while making full use of old equipment, thereby reducing the cost of base station construction. Specifically, a first communication link can be constructed between the first baseband unit, the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode RF module, a second communication link can be constructed between the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode RF module, and a main signaling link can be constructed between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit. The normal operation of the first baseband unit, such as a 4G base station, is achieved through the first communication link, and the normal operation of the 5G base station is achieved through the second communication link. In addition, a main signaling link for information sharing is constructed between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit to ensure that the base stations on both sides share and coordinate resources to ensure that the networking device provides 5G network speed to meet user needs.

[0144] Embodiment 3

[0145] A wireless communication system provided by an embodiment of the present invention includes the networking device described above. The networking device includes: a first baseband unit 10, a second baseband unit 20 and a mixed-mode radio frequency module 30, wherein:

[0146] The second baseband unit 20 is configured to process at least 5G baseband data, and the first baseband unit 10 is configured to process other baseband data than the 5G baseband data;

[0147] The second baseband unit 20 can process at least 5G baseband data as a 5G baseband processing device, and the first baseband unit 10 can process 2G / 3G / 4G baseband data as other baseband processing devices. The unit here can be one baseband processing device or multiple baseband processing devices.

[0148] A first communication link is established between the first baseband unit, the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode radio frequency module;

[0149] The first baseband unit 10 constructs a first communication link via the second baseband unit to the mixed-mode RF module 30, the purpose of which is to realize information transmission different from the 5G baseband processing device, such as the 4G baseband processing device and the RF device. The information that can be transmitted includes signaling, baseband data different from 5G, and corresponding antenna data. The realization of the first communication link can realize the transmission of other baseband data on the 5G baseband processing device. A second communication link is constructed between the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode RF module;

[0150] The main function of the mixed-mode RF module 30 is at least to simultaneously realize the transmission and reception of 4G and 5G antenna data. The mixed-mode RF module 30 may include multiple RF devices, which are connected in parallel to the second baseband unit after various cascading.

[0151] A second communication link is constructed between the second baseband unit 20 and the mixed-mode RF module 30, which is different from the first communication link and realizes information transmission between the 5G baseband processing device and the RF device. The information that can be transmitted includes signaling, 5G baseband data and corresponding antenna data.

[0152] It can be seen that the second baseband unit 20 realizes transmission different from 5G baseband data, which can realize dual-link transmission of different antenna data received by the same mixed-mode RF module.

[0153] A main signaling link is established between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit;

[0154] A main signaling link is constructed between the first baseband unit 10 and the second baseband unit 20 for sharing information between the two baseband units. It should be noted that the main signaling link transmits signaling to ensure information and resource sharing and coordination between the first baseband unit 10 and the second baseband unit 20.

[0155] The first baseband unit and the second baseband unit in the networking device for NSA provided by the embodiment of the present invention share a mixed-mode radio frequency device, and the second baseband unit interacts and shares information with the first baseband unit through the main signaling link, so that the second baseband unit allocates antenna data positions to the first baseband unit on its own interconnected optical port and radio frequency optical port. Therefore, the networking device can introduce 5G baseband processing equipment on the basis of using existing 2G / 3G / 4G base station equipment (including 2 / 3 / 4G baseband units and mixed-mode radio frequency modules) to realize NSA networking, improve the utilization rate of existing base station equipment, and reduce the cost of base station construction.

[0156] From the above analysis, it can be seen that the networking device for NSA provided in the embodiment of the present invention transforms and networks the second baseband unit that supports at least 5G baseband data processing and the first baseband unit that supports other baseband data processing different from 5G baseband data, and shares the same mixed-mode RF module to realize the reception and transmission of different antenna data corresponding to the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit respectively. The mixed-mode RF module can utilize the RF module of the old base station, and the first baseband unit can also utilize the old 2G / 3G / 4G baseband processing equipment, that is, it can make full use of the original equipment resources of the old base station to introduce 5G baseband processing equipment to realize NSA networking, provide users with 5G network speed while making full use of old equipment, and reduce the cost of base station construction. Specifically, a first communication link can be constructed between the first baseband unit, the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode RF module, a second communication link can be constructed between the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode RF module, and a main signaling link can be constructed between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit. The normal operation of the first baseband unit, such as a 4G base station, is achieved through the first communication link, and the normal operation of the 5G base station is achieved through the second communication link. In addition, a main signaling link for information sharing is constructed between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit to ensure that the base stations on both sides share and coordinate resources to ensure that the networking device provides 5G network speed to meet user needs.

[0157] In short, the above description is only a preferred embodiment of this specification and is not intended to limit the protection scope of this specification. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of this specification shall be included in the protection scope of this specification.

[0158] It should also be noted that the terms "include", "comprises" or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, commodity or device including a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, commodity or device. In the absence of more restrictions, the elements defined by the sentence "comprises a ..." do not exclude the existence of other identical elements in the process, method, commodity or device including the elements.

[0159] Each embodiment in this specification is described in a progressive manner, and the same or similar parts between the embodiments can be referred to each other, and each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments. In particular, for the system embodiment, since it is basically similar to the method embodiment, the description is relatively simple, and the relevant parts can be referred to the partial description of the method embodiment.

[0160] The above is a description of a specific embodiment of the specification. Other embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims. In some cases, the actions or steps recorded in the claims can be performed in an order different from that in the embodiments and still achieve the desired results. In addition, the processes depicted in the drawings do not necessarily require the specific order or continuous order shown to achieve the desired results. In some embodiments, multitasking and parallel processing are also possible or may be advantageous.

Claims

1. A networking device for NSA, comprising a first baseband unit, a second baseband unit and a mixed-mode radio frequency module, wherein the second baseband unit is configured to process at least 5G baseband data, the first baseband unit is configured to process other baseband data different from the 5G baseband data, and a first communication link is established between the first baseband unit, the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode radio frequency module; A second communication link is established between the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode RF module, and a main signaling link is established between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit; The second baseband unit interacts and shares information with the first baseband unit via a main signaling link, so that the second baseband unit allocates antenna data positions to the first baseband unit on its own interconnection optical port and radio frequency optical port.

2. According to the networking device of claim 1, a second topological relationship is configured between the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode RF module, and the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode RF module are communicatively connected according to the second topological relationship; a first topological relationship is configured between the first baseband unit and the mixed-mode RF module, and the first topological relationship and the second topological relationship are set to be one-to-one corresponding.

3. In the networking device as described in claim 2, a third topological relationship is configured between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit, and a communication line is set between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit according to the third topological relationship, and one of the communication lines serves as the main signaling link.

4. The networking device as described in claim 2, wherein the first baseband unit includes a first baseband processing module and a first base station control module, the second baseband unit includes a second baseband processing module and a second base station control module, the first baseband processing module includes a first signaling forwarding module, the second baseband processing module includes a second signaling forwarding module, the first base station control module configures a signaling forwarding route for the first signaling forwarding module in the first communication link and the main signaling link, and the second base station control module configures a signaling forwarding route for the second signaling forwarding module in the first communication link, the main signaling link, and the second communication link.

5. The networking device as described in claim 4, wherein the signaling on the main signaling link includes the signaling between the first base station control module and the second base station control module, the signaling on the first communication link includes the signaling between the first base station control module and the mixed-mode RF module, the signaling on the second communication link includes the signaling between the second base station control module and the mixed-mode RF module, the first signaling forwarding module and the second signaling forwarding module are configured to respectively forward the signaling between the first base station control module and the second base station control module; the first signaling forwarding module and the second signaling forwarding module are configured to respectively forward the signaling between the first base station control module and the mixed-mode RF module; the second signaling forwarding module is configured to forward the signaling between the second base station control module and the mixed-mode RF module.

6. In the networking device as described in claim 4, the first signaling forwarding module is configured to forward the signaling between the first base station control module and the mixed-mode RF module to the second base station control module through the main signaling link, and the second signaling forwarding module is configured to forward the signaling between the first base station control module and the mixed-mode RF module between the second base station control module and the mixed-mode RF module.

7. The networking device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the first baseband processing module includes a first RF optical port and a first interconnected optical port, the second baseband processing module includes a second interconnected optical port and a second RF optical port, the mixed-mode RF module includes a first RF channel, the mixed-mode RF module includes a second RF channel, the first interconnected optical port and the second interconnected optical port are communicatively connected based on a third topological relationship, the second RF optical port and the second RF channel are communicatively connected based on the second topological relationship, the second interconnected optical port and the second RF optical port are configured in a one-to-one correspondence, the first RF optical port and the first RF channel are configured in a one-to-one correspondence based on the first topological relationship, wherein the first RF optical port and the first interconnected optical port are the same optical port; the third topological relationship is a topological relationship configured between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit.

8. The networking device as described in claim 7, the first base station control module configures a first antenna data route for the mixed-mode RF module between the first baseband processing module and the first interconnected optical port, the first base station control module and the second base station control module at least share the first antenna data route, the equipment information of the mixed-mode RF module, the first topological relationship and the third topological relationship, and the second base station control module at least configures a third antenna data route for the mixed-mode RF module between the second interconnected optical port and the second RF optical port.

9. In the networking device as described in claim 8, the equipment information of the mixed mode RF module includes the serial number ID of the mixed mode RF module, and after the second base station control module derives the correspondence between the ID of the mixed mode RF module and the ID of the mixed mode RF module based on the ID of the mixed mode RF module, the first topological relationship, the third topological relationship and the second topological relationship, the third antenna data route from the second interconnected optical port to the second RF optical port is configured for the mixed mode RF module according to the ID of the mixed mode RF module and the first antenna data route, and the second antenna data route from the second baseband processing module to the second RF optical port is configured for the mixed mode RF module.

10. A networking method for NSA, applicable to a networking device including a first baseband unit, a second baseband unit and a mixed-mode radio frequency module, the method comprising: Configuring the second baseband unit to at least process 5G baseband data, and configuring the first baseband unit to process other baseband data different from the 5G baseband data; Establishing a first communication link between the first baseband unit, the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode radio frequency module; Establishing a second communication link between the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode radio frequency module; Establishing a main signaling link between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit; The second baseband unit interacts and shares information with the first baseband unit via a main signaling link, so that the second baseband unit allocates antenna data positions to the first baseband unit on its own interconnection optical port and radio frequency optical port.

11. The networking method according to claim 10, wherein the mixed-mode radio frequency module comprises a mixed-mode radio frequency module and a mixed-mode radio frequency module, and establishing a second communication link between the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode radio frequency module specifically comprises: A second topological relationship is configured between the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode radio frequency module; A communication connection is established between the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode radio frequency module according to the second topological relationship; Accordingly, establishing a first communication link between the first baseband unit, the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode radio frequency module specifically includes: A first topological relationship is configured between the first baseband unit and the mixed-mode RF module, and the first topological relationship and the second topological relationship are set to be in one-to-one correspondence.

12. The networking method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the first baseband unit comprises a first baseband processing module and a first base station control module, the second baseband unit comprises a second baseband processing module and a second base station control module, the first baseband processing module comprises a first signaling forwarding module, and the second baseband processing module comprises a second signaling forwarding module; Establishing a first communication link between the first baseband unit, the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode radio frequency module specifically includes: Using the first base station control module to configure a signaling forwarding route for the first signaling forwarding module on the first communication link, and using the second base station control module to configure a signaling forwarding route for the second signaling forwarding module on the first communication link; and, Establishing a second communication link between the second baseband unit and the mixed-mode radio frequency module specifically includes: Using the second base station control module to configure a signaling forwarding route on the second communication link for the second signaling forwarding module; Establishing a main signaling link between the first baseband unit and the second baseband unit, specifically including: The first base station control module is used to configure a signaling forwarding route for the first signaling forwarding module in the main signaling link, and the second base station control module is used to configure a signaling forwarding route for the second signaling forwarding module in the main signaling link.

13. The networking method according to claim 12, wherein the signaling on the primary signaling link includes signaling between the first base station control module and the second base station control module, the signaling on the first communication link includes signaling between the first base station control module and the mixed-mode radio frequency module, and the signaling on the second communication link includes signaling between the second base station control module and the mixed-mode radio frequency module; After the first base station control module is used to configure a signaling forwarding route for the first signaling forwarding module on the first communication link, and the second base station control module is used to configure a signaling forwarding route for the second signaling forwarding module on the first communication link, the method further includes: The first signaling forwarding module and the second signaling forwarding module are configured to respectively forward signaling between the first base station control module and the mixed-mode radio frequency module; After the second base station control module is used to configure the signaling forwarding route for the second signaling forwarding module on the second communication link, the method further includes: The second signaling forwarding module is configured to forward signaling between the second base station control module and the mixed-mode radio frequency module; After the first base station control module is used to configure a signaling forwarding route for the first signaling forwarding module on the primary signaling link, and the second base station control module is used to configure a signaling forwarding route for the second signaling forwarding module on the primary signaling link, the method further includes: The first signaling forwarding module and the second signaling forwarding module are configured to forward signaling between the first base station control module and the second base station control module respectively.

14. The networking method according to claim 12, wherein after the first base station control module is used to configure a signaling forwarding route for the first signaling forwarding module on the primary signaling link, and the second base station control module is used to configure a signaling forwarding route for the second signaling forwarding module on the primary signaling link, the method further comprises: Configuring the first signaling forwarding module and the second signaling forwarding module to forward signaling between the first base station control module and the mixed-mode radio frequency module through a primary signaling link; After configuring a signaling forwarding route for the second signaling forwarding module on the second communication link using the second base station control module, the method further includes: The second signaling forwarding module is configured to forward the signaling between the first base station control module and the mixed-mode radio frequency module between the second base station control module and the mixed-mode radio frequency module.

15. A wireless communication system, comprising the networking device according to any one of claims 1-9.

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