Network communication device with full-band monitoring mechanism and network communication monitoring method thereof

Abstract

A network communication device with a full-band monitoring mechanism includes: an antenna circuit, a receiving circuit, multiple sub-band filtering circuits, and multiple monitoring circuits. The antenna circuit receives a set of wireless signals across the entire frequency band. The receiving circuit includes multiple receivers that receive the wireless signals to generate a set of received signals. A first part of the receivers operates in a service mode to receive data signals in a corresponding working sub-band, while a second part of the receivers operates in a monitoring mode to monitor interference signals in the monitoring sub-bands across the entire frequency band. The sub-band filtering circuits filter the received signals generated by the receivers operating in monitoring mode to generate filtered signals. The monitoring circuits monitor the filtered signals generated by each sub-band filtering circuit to generate signal parameter statistics.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to technology, and more particularly to a network communication device with a full-band monitoring mechanism and a network communication monitoring method thereof. Background Technology

[0002] In wireless network communication, different frequency bands experience varying levels of interference depending on environmental conditions. For example, some frequency bands may experience significant interference due to heavy traffic, while others may be cleaner due to less traffic. Since frequency band load affects the quality of wireless communication, network communication devices with frequency band monitoring mechanisms to monitor the status of each sub-band can improve communication efficiency.

[0003] However, obtaining load information is currently costly, and it often requires the receiver to alternate between operating mode and monitoring mode. As the number of frequency bands increases, the receiver needs to spend more time completing monitoring and data collection, thus reducing the efficiency of frequency band monitoring. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the problems of the prior art, one object of the present invention is to provide a network communication device and a network communication monitoring method with a full-band monitoring mechanism, so as to improve the prior art.

[0005] This invention includes a network communication device with a full-band monitoring mechanism, comprising: an antenna circuit, a receiving circuit, multiple sub-band filtering circuits, and multiple monitoring circuits. The antenna circuit is configured to receive a set of wireless signals across the entire frequency band. The receiving circuit includes multiple receivers configured to receive the set of wireless signals to generate a set of received signals. A first portion of the receivers operates in a service mode to receive data signals corresponding to a working sub-band, while a second portion of the receivers operates in a monitoring mode to monitor interference signals in multiple monitoring sub-bands across the entire frequency band. The sub-band filtering circuits are configured to filter the set of received signals generated by the receivers operating in monitoring mode, respectively, to generate filtered signals. The monitoring circuits are configured to monitor the filtered signals generated by each sub-band filtering circuit, respectively, to generate multiple signal parameter statistics.

[0006] The present invention further includes a network communication monitoring method with a full-band monitoring mechanism, comprising: enabling an antenna circuit to receive a set of wireless signals across the entire frequency band; enabling a receiving circuit to receive the set of wireless signals by multiple receivers to generate a set of received signals, wherein a first part of the receivers operates in a service mode to receive data signals in a corresponding working sub-frequency band, and a second part of the receivers operates in a monitoring mode to monitor interference signals in multiple monitoring sub-frequency bands across the entire frequency band; enabling multiple sub-frequency band filtering circuits to filter the set of received signals generated by the receivers operating in monitoring mode to generate filtered signals; and enabling multiple monitoring circuits to monitor the filtered signals generated by each sub-frequency band filtering circuit to generate multiple signal parameter statistics.

[0007] Regarding the features, implementation, and effects of this case, the preferred embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 The following are block diagrams of a grid network system with a data stream transmission sorting mechanism, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] Figure 2 This shows a block diagram of the monitoring circuit in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] Figure 3A as well as Figure 3B This diagram shows a first part and a second part of a receiver, respectively, in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 4 This diagram illustrates the timing sequence of a receiver receiving data packets according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0012] Figure 5 This diagram shows a flowchart of a network communication monitoring method with a data stream transmission sorting mechanism, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0013] One objective of this invention is to provide a network communication device and its network communication monitoring method with a full-band monitoring mechanism. By setting up multiple receivers operating in monitoring mode and corresponding filtering and monitoring circuits, the time wastage and incomplete information caused by continuous switching between different frequency bands are avoided, achieving fast and complete full-band monitoring, and then selecting the better sub-frequency band for communication based on the results of frequency band monitoring.

[0014] Please refer to Figure 1 . Figure 1This diagram shows a block diagram of a network communication device 100 with a full-band monitoring mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, the network communication device 100 may be a device that communicates according to the 802.11be communication protocol, such as, but not limited to, an access point (AP) device. The network communication device 100 includes: an antenna circuit 110, a receiving circuit 120, a sub-band filtering circuit 130, a monitoring circuit 140, a storage circuit 150, and a processing circuit 160.

[0015] Antenna circuit 110 is configured to receive a set of wireless signals WS across the entire frequency band. In one embodiment, the entire frequency band is 320 MHz and may be divided into multiple sub-bands, or sub-channels. In one embodiment, the smallest unit of a sub-band may be, for example, but not limited to, 20 MHz.

[0016] The wireless signal WS includes data signals that are actually transmitted to the network communication device 100, as well as interference signals that are not transmitted to the network communication device 100. Figure 1 An exemplary diagram illustrates a set of wireless signals (WS) transmitted along the horizontal axis in time, and is represented by grid squares as signals occupying one or more sub-bands along the vertical axis. Among them, Figure 1 Different sub-frequency bands are identified by numbers 1 to 16.

[0017] In one embodiment, the receiving circuit 120 is disposed in a radio frequency (RF) circuit and includes a plurality of receivers 125. Receivers 125 are configured to receive a wireless signal WS to generate a set of received signals RS. In one embodiment, each receiver 125 includes a plurality of mixers (not shown) with a center frequency switching mechanism to set the center frequency of the receiving path (channel) corresponding to each receiver 125.

[0018] The receiver 125 in the first part operates in service mode to receive data signals in the corresponding operating sub-band. More specifically, the receiver 125 in the first part receives the signal that is actually to be transmitted to the network communication device 100 in the corresponding operating sub-band, and further transmits the signal to other data processing circuits (not shown in the figure) to process the data in the signal.

[0019] The receiver 125 in the second part operates in monitoring mode to monitor interference signals in multiple monitoring sub-bands across the entire frequency band. More specifically, the receiver 125 in the second part can receive signals from all sub-bands within the 320 MHz full frequency band, and further monitors and analyzes these sub-band signals using other circuits such as sub-band filtering circuit 130 and monitoring circuit 140 to determine the communication quality of the sub-bands.

[0020] In one embodiment, the receiver 125 described above is not required to receive signals from only the smallest unit sub-band, but may selectively receive signals from a wider range of sub-bands (e.g., 40 or 80 MHz).

[0021] In one embodiment, the network communication device 100 may optionally include an analog-to-digital conversion circuit and a digital front-end circuit (not shown in the figures) to perform analog-to-digital conversion on the received signal RS generated by the receiver 125, and then perform, for example but not limited to, frequency down-conversion processing and transmit it to the sub-band filter circuit 130.

[0022] Sub-band filtering circuit 130 is configured to filter the received signals RS generated by receiver 125 operating in monitoring mode to generate filtered signals FS. In one embodiment, sub-band filtering circuit 130 may filter signals within a range of, for example but not limited to, 20 MHz to generate filtered signals FS within the corresponding sub-band range. In another embodiment, sub-band filtering circuit 130 is configured to filter the received signals RS generated by all receivers 125 to generate filtered signals FS.

[0023] Monitoring circuit 140 is configured to monitor the filtered signals FS generated by each sub-band filtering circuit 130 to generate multiple signal parameter statistics (SSDs). In one embodiment, the monitoring performed by monitoring circuit 140 includes, for example, but not limited to, the presence of preamble and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, and the magnitude of signal energy and received signal strength indicator (RSSI). Based on the above monitoring, the signal parameter statistics (SSDs) generated by monitoring circuit 140 include, for example, but not limited to, signal category statistics (STRs) and signal strength and distance statistics (SDRs).

[0024] Please refer to Figure 2 . Figure 2 This diagram shows a block diagram of a monitoring circuit 140 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, the monitoring circuit 140 includes a packet detection circuit 200, a packet payload detection circuit 210, an energy detection circuit 220, and a signal strength detection circuit 230.

[0025] Packet detection circuit 200 is configured to determine whether a preamble exists in the filtered signal FS to generate a preamble determination result PR. Packet payload detection circuit 210 is configured to determine whether orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols exist in the filtered signal FS to generate a symbol determination result SR.

[0026] In one embodiment, the filtered signal FS can be determined to have a preamble and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing symbols by, for example, but not limited to, autocorrelation or crosscorrelation operations.

[0027] The preamble determination result PR and the sign determination result SR can identify the load characteristics of the signal in the monitoring sub-band corresponding to each sub-band filter circuit 130. More specifically, the signal category of the signal in each monitoring sub-band can be determined by the corresponding preamble determination result PR and sign determination result SR as either WiFi or a wireless signal transmitted based on other communication standards.

[0028] In one embodiment, the packet detection circuit 200 and the packet content detection circuit 210 can further count the number of times the preamble judgment result RP and the symbol judgment result SR are counted, and the count of each preamble judgment result RP and symbol judgment result SR will be included in the signal category statistics result STR.

[0029] Energy detection circuit 220 is configured to determine the signal energy ES of the filtered signal FS. Signal strength detection circuit 230 is configured to determine the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of the filtered signal FS.

[0030] The signal energy (ES) and signal strength indicator (RSSI) can identify the signal strength in the monitoring sub-band corresponding to each sub-band filter circuit 130, thereby determining the extent of potential interference. Furthermore, the interference distance can also be estimated based on the RSSI.

[0031] In one embodiment, the energy detection circuit 220 and the signal strength detection circuit 230 can further perform statistical analysis on the average values ​​of the signal energy ES and the signal strength indicator RSSI, and the average values ​​of each signal energy ES and the signal strength indicator RSSI will be included in the signal strength and distance statistical result SDR.

[0032] Therefore, after the operation of the above circuit, the monitoring circuit 140 will generate signal parameter statistics SSD, which includes signal category statistics (STR) and signal strength and distance statistics (SDR). It should be noted that the circuitry and monitored parameters of the monitoring circuit 140 described above are merely an example. In other embodiments, the monitoring circuit 140 may include different circuitry to monitor other parameters, depending on actual needs.

[0033] Storage circuit 150 is configured to store signal parameter statistics data SSD generated by monitoring circuit 140. Processing circuit 160 can operate monitoring software and is configured to access information parameter statistics data SSD from storage circuit 150 via, for example, but not limited to, direct memory access (DMA) circuitry, to determine the signal type, signal strength, and distance of one of the monitoring sub-bands.

[0034] In one embodiment, the processing circuit 160 is further configured to set the operating sub-band corresponding to the receiver 125 of the first part according to the signal type, signal strength and distance of each monitoring sub-band.

[0035] More specifically, the processing circuit 160 can obtain the signal interference status of each sub-band by monitoring the signal type, signal strength, and distance of the sub-band, and then determine the communication quality of each sub-band. For example, the processing circuit 160 can, for example but not limited to, set the detection frequency within a preset time period, and determine the communication quality of the sub-band based on whether the number of times a specific signal type is detected and its energy level exceed a preset threshold. Based on the communication quality of each sub-band, the processing circuit 160 can enable the network communication device 100 to avoid sub-bands with poor communication quality and instead select sub-bands with better communication quality as the operating sub-bands for communication, so that communication can be carried out in the better sub-band.

[0036] Please refer to the following at the same time Figure 3A as well as Figure 3B . Figure 3A as well as Figure 3B This diagram shows two receivers 125, which are respectively a first part and a second part, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] like Figure 3A As shown, the first part, receiver 125, is designated RX0 (hereinafter referred to as receiver RX0), and operates continuously in service mode, with a center frequency F0 set to receive data signals in sub-band SB0 (operating sub-band). The second part, receiver 125, is designated RX1 (hereinafter referred to as receiver RX1), and operates in monitoring mode, with a center frequency F1 set to monitor interference signals in sub-band SB1 (monitoring sub-band).

[0038] In some applications, data signals require multiple receivers to be received. Therefore, as... Figure 3B As shown, since each receiver includes a mixer with a center frequency switching mechanism, when the receiving capability of receiver RX0 is insufficient, receiver RX1 is configured to switch the center frequency from F1 to F0 via the mixer to sub-band SB0, so as to receive data signals together with receiver RX0. When the data signal reception is complete, receiver RX1 can switch back to sub-band SB1 to continue monitoring.

[0039] Please refer to the following at the same time Figure 4 . Figure 4 This diagram shows the timing of the receiver 125 receiving data packets DP in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 4 The frequency band state BS of the aforementioned sub-band B0 (operating sub-band) is illustrated. The frequency band state BS is initially in an idle state (IDLE), and then, upon the arrival of the data packet DP, the receiver 125 sequentially receives the packet header PH and packet content PL contained in the data packet DP. The packet header PH may further include, for example, but not limited to, a short training field (STF), a long training field (LTF), and a signal field (SIG).

[0041] It should be noted that the content of the header PH described above is only an example. In other embodiments, the header PH may optionally include other fields.

[0042] Receiver RX0 first performs packet detection (PD) corresponding to sub-band SB0, and then begins packet data reception (DR) after the long training field (LTF) in the packet header (PH) has been detected. Therefore, receiver RX0 always receives data signals corresponding to sub-band SB0.

[0043] Receiver RX1 first performs interference signal monitoring (MON) on sub-band SB1 (monitoring sub-band). When receiver RX0 receives packet header PH, receiver RX1 switches to sub-band SB0 and performs judgment procedure DTP to determine whether the receiving capability of receiver RX0 is sufficient based on one of the short training field STF, long training field LTF, and signal field SIG of packet header PH.

[0044] Therefore, corresponding to Figure 4 In situation 1 indicated in the text, when the receiving capability of receiver RX0 is insufficient, receiver RX1 maintains packet data reception (DR) on sub-band SB0 to receive data signals together with receiver RX0, and only switches back to the corresponding sub-band SB1 for interference signal monitoring after the data signal reception is completed.

[0045] And corresponding to Figure 4 In situation 2 indicated in the diagram, when receiver RX1 determines through the judgment procedure DTP that receiver RX0 has sufficient receiving capability, receiver RX1 switches back to the corresponding sub-band SB1 to continue monitoring for interference signals.

[0046] It should be noted that the above-mentioned receiver's frequency band switching mechanism can be implemented... Figure 1 The processing is performed under the control of the processing circuit 160. Furthermore, the above example is illustrated with the data signal requiring two receivers to receive it. In other embodiments, when the data signal requires a larger number of receivers to receive it and the receiving capacity of the receivers in operating mode is insufficient, other receivers in monitoring mode can switch sub-bands to support this. The invention is not limited thereto.

[0047] In some technologies, the frequency band monitoring mechanism uses a time-division multiplexing approach, with software controlling the receiver to continuously jump between the operating sub-band and all sub-bands to be monitored until all bands have been monitored. This method is not only time-consuming but also fails to obtain complete monitoring information.

[0048] Therefore, the network communication device 100 can avoid the time waste and incomplete information caused by continuous switching between different frequency bands by setting up multiple receivers operating in monitoring mode and corresponding filtering and monitoring circuits, thereby achieving fast and complete full-band monitoring, and then selecting the better sub-band for communication based on the results of frequency band monitoring.

[0049] Please refer to Figure 5 . Figure 5 This diagram shows a flowchart of a network communication monitoring method 500 with a data stream transmission sorting mechanism, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] In addition to the aforementioned device, the present invention also discloses a network communication monitoring method 500, which is applied to, for example, but not limited to, [other applications]. Figure 1 In the network communication device 100, one of the network communication monitoring methods 500 is implemented, for example... Figure 5 As shown, it includes the following steps:

[0051] In step S510, the antenna circuit 110 receives a set of wireless signals WS across the entire frequency band.

[0052] In step S520, the receiver circuit 120 includes a plurality of receivers 125 to receive the wireless signal WS to generate a set of received signals RS. The first part of the receivers 125 continuously operates in service mode to receive data signals in the corresponding working sub-frequency band, and the second part of the receivers 125 operates in monitoring mode to monitor interference signals in multiple monitoring sub-frequency bands in the entire frequency band.

[0053] In step S530, the sub-band filtering circuit 130 filters the received signal RS generated by the receiver 125 operating in monitoring mode to generate the filtered signal FS.

[0054] In step S540, the monitoring circuit 140 monitors the filtered signal FS generated by each sub-band filtering circuit 130 in relation to multiple signal parameters, so as to generate multiple signal parameter statistics data SSD.

[0055] It should be noted that the above-described implementation is merely an example. In other embodiments, those skilled in the art can make modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0056] In summary, the network communication device and network communication monitoring method of the present invention with a full-band monitoring mechanism avoids the time waste and incomplete information caused by continuous switching between different frequency bands by setting up multiple receivers operating in monitoring mode and corresponding filtering circuits and monitoring circuits, thereby achieving fast and complete full-band monitoring, and then selecting the better sub-frequency band for communication based on the results of frequency band monitoring.

[0057] Although the embodiments of this case are described above, these embodiments are not intended to limit this case. Those skilled in the art can make changes to the technical features of this case based on the explicit or implicit content of this case. All such changes may fall within the scope of patent protection sought in this case. In other words, the scope of patent protection in this case shall be determined by the claims in this specification.

[0058] Symbol Explanation

[0059] 100: Network communication device

[0060] 110: Antenna Circuit

[0061] 120: Receiver circuit

[0062] 125: Receiver

[0063] 130: Sub-band filter circuit

[0064] 140: Monitoring Circuit

[0065] 150: Storage circuit

[0066] 160: Processing Circuit

[0067] 200: Packet Detection Circuit

[0068] 210: Packet payload detection circuit

[0069] 220: Energy Detection Circuit

[0070] 230: Signal strength detection circuit

[0071] 500: Network Communication Monitoring Methods

[0072] S510~S540: Steps

[0073] BS: Frequency Band Status

[0074] DP: Data packet

[0075] DR: Packet Data Reception

[0076] DTP: Judgment Procedure

[0077] ES: Signal Energy

[0078] FS: Filtered signal

[0079] IDLE: Idle state

[0080] LTF: Long Training Field

[0081] MON: Interference Signal Monitoring

[0082] PD: Packet Detection

[0083] PH: Baotou

[0084] PL: Packet Contents

[0085] PR: Preamble determination result

[0086] RS: Receive signal

[0087] RSSI: Signal Strength Indicator

[0088] RX0, RX1: Receivers

[0089] SB0, SB1: Sub-bands

[0090] SDR: Signal Strength and Distance Statistics

[0091] SIG: Signal field

[0092] SR: Sign determination result

[0093] SSD: Signal Parameter Statistics

[0094] STF: Short Training Field

[0095] STR: Signal Category Statistics

[0096] WS: Wireless signal

Claims

1. A network communication device with a full-band monitoring mechanism, comprising: Antenna circuitry configured to receive a set of wireless signals across the entire frequency band; A receiving circuit includes multiple receivers configured to receive the set of wireless signals to generate a set of received signals, wherein the multiple receivers in a first part operate in a service mode to receive data signals in a corresponding operating sub-frequency band, and the multiple receivers in a second part operate in a monitoring mode to monitor interference signals in multiple monitoring sub-frequency bands within the full frequency band. Multiple sub-band filtering circuits are configured to filter the group of received signals generated by the multiple receivers operating in the monitoring mode, respectively, to generate filtered signals. as well as Multiple monitoring circuits are configured to monitor the filtered signals generated by each of the multiple sub-band filtering circuits, in order to generate multiple signal parameter statistics. The plurality of receivers in the second part are configured to switch to the operating sub-band when the plurality of receivers in the first part receive the packet header, and to maintain data signal reception in the operating sub-band when the receiving capability of the plurality of receivers in the first part is insufficient based on the packet header, and to switch back to one of the corresponding plurality of monitoring sub-bands when the receiving capability of the plurality of receivers in the first part is sufficient based on the packet header.

2. The network communication device according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of monitoring circuits comprises: A packet detection circuit, configured to determine whether a preamble exists in the filtered signal to generate a preamble determination result; and A packet payload detection circuit is configured to determine whether orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols exist in the filtered signal to generate a symbol determination result. The signal category statistics among the multiple signal parameter statistics include the statistical counts of the preamble determination results and the symbol determination results.

3. The network communication device according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of monitoring circuits comprises: An energy detection circuit is configured to determine the signal energy of the filtered signal; and A signal strength detection circuit is configured to determine the signal strength indication of the filtered signal. The signal strength and distance statistics among the plurality of signal parameter statistics include the signal energy and the signal strength indication.

4. The network communication device according to claim 1, further comprising: Storage circuitry, configured to store statistical data of the plurality of signal parameters; and The processing circuit is configured to access the plurality of signal parameter statistics from the storage circuit to determine the signal type, signal strength, and distance of one of the plurality of monitoring sub-bands.

5. The network communication apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to set the operating sub-band for communication based on the signal type, signal strength and distance of each of the plurality of monitoring sub-bands.

6. The network communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of receivers includes a plurality of mixers, and when the receiving capability of the plurality of receivers in the first part is insufficient, the plurality of receivers in the second part are configured to switch to the operating sub-band through the plurality of mixers to jointly receive data signals with the corresponding plurality of receivers in the first part.

7. The network communication device according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of receivers in the second part switch back to one of the plurality of monitoring sub-bands after the data signal reception ends.

8. The network communication device according to claim 1, wherein the packet header includes a short training field, a long training field, and a signal field, and the plurality of receivers in the second part determine whether the receiving capability of the plurality of receivers in the first part is sufficient based on one of the short training field, the long training field, and the signal field.

9. A network communication monitoring method with a full-band monitoring mechanism, comprising: This enables the antenna circuit to receive a set of wireless signals across the entire frequency band. The receiving circuit includes multiple receivers that receive the set of wireless signals to generate a set of received signals, wherein the first part of the multiple receivers operates in service mode to receive data signals in a corresponding operating sub-frequency band, and the second part of the multiple receivers operates in monitoring mode to monitor interference signals in multiple monitoring sub-frequency bands within the full frequency band. Multiple sub-band filtering circuits are used to filter the group of received signals generated by the multiple receivers operating in the monitoring mode, respectively, to generate filtered signals. as well as Multiple monitoring circuits monitor the filtered signals generated by each of the multiple sub-band filtering circuits to generate multiple signal parameter statistics. The plurality of receivers in the second part are configured to switch to the operating sub-band when the plurality of receivers in the first part receive the packet header, and to maintain data signal reception in the operating sub-band when the receiving capability of the plurality of receivers in the first part is insufficient based on the packet header, and to switch back to one of the corresponding plurality of monitoring sub-bands when the receiving capability of the plurality of receivers in the first part is sufficient based on the packet header.

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