DECODING UNIT FOR TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM WITH SUCH A DECODING UNIT

Description

Field of application of the invention

[0001] The present invention concerns the technical field of telecommunications and the subject of the invention is a decoder unit for telecommunication systems.

[0002] Moreover, a further subject of the present invention concerns a telecommunication system comprising the aforementioned decoder unit.State of the art

[0003] As is known, in modern telecommunication systems it is necessary to exchange a considerable amount of data with users connected to an interconnected network of radio base stations.

[0004] More specifically, the device associated with the user (commonly referred to as user equipment or "UE") is constituted by a smartphone, tablet, computer or laptop, smartwatch or any other similar device.

[0005] In practice, these systems use a plurality of antennas designed to dynamically vary the radiation pattern depending on the conditions of the transmission channel and / or the requirements of the architecture on which the telecommunications system is based.

[0006] More specifically, these antennas are associated with both the radio base station and the UE device.

[0007] Reconfigurable antennas are therefore antennas systems suited to dynamically varying the radiation pattern of the antenna (or beam pattern) or its polarization.

[0008] Reconfigurable antennas can be used in cellular communications (LTE, 4G, 5G NR FR1, 5G NR FR2 and other similar standards) to improve the connectivity of an EU user equipment with a radio base station or repeater.

[0009] The typical configuration of these communication systems also includes, in addition to the antennas, one or more RF devices called front-end devices and suited to provide a digital signal to all the blocks located downstream of the radio chain. Radio front-ends typically comprise filters, amplifiers, up / down converters, and digital / analogue converters.

[0010] Typically, the first block positioned downstream of the RF section is a modem configured to process the information associated with the digital signal coming from the antennas and decode a plurality of data sets necessary to ensure the maintenance and stability of transmission / reception between the UE equipment and the radio base station / s.

[0011] These modems are generally of the type available on the market and their operation is controlled by protocol standards, algorithms and programming sequences which are defined and maintained by the manufacturer of the equipment.

[0012] By accessing specific information contained in the signals decoded by the modem, such as the power, module or phase of the signal received by the radio base station, it is possible to define algorithms for controlling the radiation pattern of the antennas associated with the UE device.

[0013] Another use of the information which can be extracted by the modem and which is derived from the signal received from the antennas lies in the determination of the position of the UE device with respect to the position of the radio base stations belonging to the telecommunications system.

[0014] The reconfigurable antennas used in UE user equipment require access to parameters associated with the wireless connection for the purpose of determining, through the algorithms contained in the modem, the optimal radiation pattern to be selected.

[0015] To do this, the modem can decode the entire data frame received (or a part of it).

[0016] The information retrieved in this way by the modem is then made available to a processing unit (which may be integral with the modem, or external to it) that is suited to determine the optimal radiation pattern of the antenna associated with the UE equipment during communication between the former and a given radio base station.

[0017] These telecommunications systems require the use of a modem that must be able to "dialogue" with the processing unit of the radio chain in order to exchange with the latter information and parameters suited to define the selection of the pattern of the antennas (for example, information related to received power, CSI, etc.).

[0018] Consequently, the main drawback of these telecommunications systems lies in that the hardware / software portions designed to handle these processes must be developed in close symbiosis with the modems which, as already mentioned above, can vary considerably depending on the manufacturer of these equipment.

[0019] It is therefore evident that the development of the equipment suited to promote the control of the operation of the antennas or to be used for the geolocation of the UE is rather limited and complex due to this strong dependence on the characteristics of the various types of modems.

[0020] Furthermore, these equipment are rather expensive and their being dependent on "external" protocols, that is, protocols defined and managed by modem manufacturers, severely limits the flexibility of the entire radio chain, making it necessary to develop differentiated product lines depending on the modem manufacturer selected for any specific radio chain. KR102184513, US2002 / 057664 and the technical publication "A Novel PSS Timing Synchronization Algorithm for Cell Search in 5G NR System" - IEEE ACCESS, IEEE, USA, vol. 9, 01.01.2021 describe respective decoder units for telecommunications systems having all the above-mentioned drawbacks.Presentation of the invention

[0021] The present invention intends to overcome the technical drawbacks described above by providing a particularly efficient and high-performance decoder unit for telecommunications systems.

[0022] More specifically, the main object of the present invention is to provide a decoder unit for telecommunications systems which is essentially universal, meaning that its use is not affected by the type of construction of the other components of the system.

[0023] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a decoder unit for telecommunications systems that is easy to construct.

[0024] It is another object of the present invention to provide a particularly economic and reliable decoder unit for telecommunications systems.

[0025] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a decoder unit for telecommunications systems that is particularly flexible and can be easily adapted to any type of system.

[0026] It is another object of the present invention to provide a decoder unit that can be easily installed on or removed from already functioning telecommunications systems for the purpose of upgrading them.

[0027] These objects, together with others that will be better clarified below, are achieved by a decoder unit for telecommunications systems of the type according to claim 1.

[0028] Other objects that are described in greater detail below are achieved by a decoder unit for telecommunications systems according to the dependent claims.

[0029] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the same concerns also a telecommunications system of the type according to claim 10.Brief description of the drawings

[0030] The advantages and characteristics of the present invention are clearly illustrated in the following detailed description of some preferred but not limiting configurations of a decoder unit for telecommunications systems with special reference to the following drawings: Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a telecommunications system equipped with reconfigurable antennas (smart antennas); Figure 2 shows a simplified block diagram of a decoder unit for a telecommunications system according to the invention; Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5 and Figure 6 show respective block diagrams of telecommunications systems equipped with a decoder unit according to the invention; Figure 7 shows a block diagram of a telecommunications system equipped with a decoder unit according to the invention and suited to promote the control of the electrical characteristics of an antenna; Figure 8 shows a block diagram of a telecommunications system equipped with a decoder unit according to the invention and capable of geolocating a mobile device associated with a user. Detailed description of the invention

[0031] The present invention concerns a decoder unit suited to be installed in cellular telecommunications systems of the latest generation.

[0032] More specifically, the decoder unit that is the subject of the present invention, and indicated by the reference number 1 here below, can be installed in telecommunications systems of type LTE, 4G, 5G NR FR1 / FR2, etc.

[0033] The decoder unit 1 will be installed in systems suited to enable radio communication between a transceiver antenna 2 (for example, associated with a radio base station) and a piece of equipment associated with the user, indicated by the acronym UE (user equipment) here below.

[0034] This configuration is illustrated by way of example in the diagram shown in Figure 1.

[0035] Furthermore, the decoder unit 1 that is the subject of the present invention can be installed in systems equipped with antennas 2, 3 of the reconfigurable type, that is, antennas 2, 3 for which it is possible to control the radiation pattern to be used at a precise time instant by selecting it from a set of possible configurations defined during the design phase.

[0036] Alternatively, the decoder unit 1 that is the subject of the present invention can be installed in systems equipped with two or more antennas 2, 3 each of which has a corresponding fixed and predetermined radiation pattern.

[0037] In the example illustrated in Figure 1, the antennas 2 associated with the radio base station (BS) can operate with different radiation patterns, the selection of the optimal radiation pattern can be made in predetermined time slots, as indicated in the second line of the figure (slot 1 is associated with pattern no.4, slot 2 with pattern no. 5, slot 3 with pattern no. 7, etc.).

[0038] A similar selection mechanism can be reproduced also on the UE, in the case where said device is equipped with reconfigurable antennas 3.

[0039] In this case, the selection is indicated in the third line below the figure, where, as far as the UE is concerned, time slot 1 is associated with pattern no.1 while time slot 2 is associated with pattern no. 2.

[0040] The selection of the radiation patterns associated with the radio base antennas 2 and / or the UE antennas 3 is managed by an electronic control unit (not illustrated in the Figures) and is based on the choice of the configuration that makes it possible to optimize the instantaneous characteristics of the transmission channel.

[0041] By selecting the radiation patterns associated with the antennas 2, 3, it will then be possible to optimize the transmission and reception of the data frames exchanged between the UE and the radio base station.

[0042] Conveniently, the telecommunications systems of this type are governed by international standards that define how and what type of data must be exchanged between radio base stations and UEs.

[0043] In particular, a specific synchronization signal SSB (Synchronization Signal Block) must be transmitted, which comprises two different sub-signals: a primary synchronization signal (PSS) and a secondary synchronization signal (SSS).

[0044] The characteristics and data frames of said signals (SSB / PSS / SSS) are defined by the standards according to the domain type to which the communication belongs (LTE, 4G or 5G).

[0045] The SSB, PSS and SSS signals are generally transmitted by the radio base station, which is why the structure of said signals is known in advance, and their purpose is to carry information relating to the characteristic parameters of the wireless connection that makes it possible to place the radio base station in communication with all the UEs.

[0046] Furthermore, the information contained in the primary synchronization signal PSS and in the secondary synchronization signal SSS can be used as a mathematical metric capable of providing information on the transmission quality.

[0047] These signals, in fact, can be particularly useful when it is necessary to establish the quality of the radiation pattern used at a given time instant by the antennas 2 of the radio base station and by the antennas associated with the UE.

[0048] Furthermore, the primary and secondary synchronization signals can be used to univocally identify the radio base station that transmitted the signal received by the UE equipment with respect to one or more radio base stations. This information can subsequently be used by the geolocation (or geographic localization) algorithms of the UE equipment with respect to one or more radio base stations.

[0049] The decoder unit that is the subject of the invention can be used to decode the primary and secondary synchronization signals for the purpose of obtaining the information required for selecting the best radiation pattern of the antennas (generally the antennas associated with the UE but in an alternative version of the invention the radiation pattern may also be selected with reference to the antennas associated with the radio base station and / or the UE side).

[0050] Alternatively, the decoding of the primary and secondary synchronization signals can provide useful information for the geolocation of the position of one or more UEs with respect to one (or more) radio base antennas.

[0051] As is explained in greater detail below, the present invention makes it possible to control the radiation pattern associated with the antennas of the radio base station 2 or with the antennas 3 associated with the UE, or to geolocate the latter by means of a decoder unit. In the examples schematically shown in the Figures, the device 1 that is the subject of the present invention is integrated in the UE.

[0052] In addition to the above, the decoder unit 1 described herein is particularly simple to construct and suited to be easily inserted both in the radio chains of new telecommunications systems and in the radio chains of already functioning telecommunications systems in such a way as to upgrade them.

[0053] The diagram shown in Figure 2 illustrates a generic version of the decoder unit 1 according to the invention applied to a UE equipment.

[0054] The antennas 3 of the UE equipment are connected to an analogue block 4 suited to condition the frequency and / or amplitude of the signal s A received / emitted by the same antennas 3.

[0055] An analogue / digital converter - ADC 5 suited to convert the output signal s A of the analogue block into a digital (that is, discrete) signal s D can be arranged downstream of said block 4.

[0056] Thus, at the output of the ADC block a modulated digital signal s D is available, that is, a signal whose information is affected by the transformations carried out by a modulator block placed upstream of the transmitting antenna 2.

[0057] More specifically, the decoder unit 1 that is the subject of the invention comprises a first decoder block 6 located downstream of the antennas 3.

[0058] In particular, the first decoder block 6 may have an input 7 placed downstream of the antennas 3 and operatively associated with the latter; more precisely, the input of said first block can be connected to the output 8 of the ADC converter.

[0059] In this way, it will be possible to apply the modulated digital signal s D originating from the antennas 3 to the input 7 of the first decoder block 5.

[0060] The first decoder block 6 serves the function of generating first information I 1 associated with the primary synchronization signal PSS.

[0061] In other words, the first decoder block 6 is suited to process the modulated signal s D originating from the ADC in such a way as to extract the digital information I 1 (or data frames) associated with the primary synchronization signal.

[0062] The first decoder block 6 is configured to promote the cyclic comparison (or cyclic correlation) of the modulated digital signal s D applied to its input 7 with a numerical sequence included in a first set NS 1 .

[0063] In the context of the present invention, the expressions "comparison between signals" or "correlation between signals" refer to the same type of activity, that is, the comparison of a digital signal subjected to evaluation (in this case the input signal to the first block) with a digital signal constituted by a predetermined frame.

[0064] When the input signal 7 to the first block 6 has a form and numerical characteristics substantially equal to those of the reference signal, the outcome of said comparison (or correlation) is positive.

[0065] In this specific case, the first block 6 is suited to promote the comparison between the single signal applied to the input 7 (the modulated digital signal s D originating from the antennas 3 ) and the information associated with a plurality of reference signals contained in a first set NS 1 .

[0066] More specifically, the first set NS 1 can comprise three reference signal sequences selected in accordance with the particular LTE standard associated with the telecommunications system.

[0067] The term "signal sequence" used in this description is intended as referred to a predetermined digital frame and associated with a specific digital signal present in the radio chain of an LTE system.

[0068] The number and definition of the signal sequences that are included in the first set NS 1 can be selected in such a way as to comply with the communication standards currently in use or to be developed in the future, among which the following cases can be mentioned: with reference to PSS NR (5G), the reference sequences are of the m-Sequence type; with reference to PSS LTE, the reference sequences are of the Zadoff-chu type; with reference to the 38.211 NR standard, the reference sequences are of the type indicated in Physical channels and modulation (Release 15).

[0069] Conveniently, the reference sequences associated with the first set NS 1 can vary over time and comply even with definitions imposed by future communication standards.

[0070] However, at present, the primary synchronization signal can have three signal sequences defined by the standard.

[0071] Conveniently, the first decoder block 6 can be set up in such a way as to generate a time offset OFT when the comparison made between the modulated digital signal s D applied to the input 7 and one of the three reference sequences of the first set NS 1 is positive.

[0072] Specifically, the modulated signal s D present at the input of the first decoder block 6 (originating from the antennas 3 ) is cyclically compared with all the reference sequences of the first set NS 1 .

[0073] With each comparison it is possible to generate a correlation index C R whose value is included between 0.00 (no correlation) and 1.00 (perfect correlation).

[0074] To determine the reference sequence that generates a positive comparison (and thus corresponds to the one received at that instant from the antennas 3), it is sufficient to identify the correlation index C R with the highest value among all the C R indices calculated during the cyclic comparison.

[0075] The sequence associated with the correlation index C R having the highest value in fact represents the sequence (among the three available sequences) that at that time instant is associated with the modulated signal received from the antennas 3.

[0076] The cyclic comparison between the digital signal s D applied to the input 7 of the first block 6 and each reference sequence can have a predetermined duration.

[0077] For example, the comparison between the modulated digital signal s D present at the input 7 of the first block 6 and each respective signal sequence can be performed with a constant duration (that is, the same duration for all the signals contained in the first set NS 1 ) or, alternatively, one or more of said comparisons can have a duration different from the duration associated with the other comparisons.

[0078] The time instant of the matching between the digital signal s D present at the input 7 of the first block 6 and a signal of the reference sequence contained in the first set NS 1 (expressed by the value of the correlation index C R ) is identified as a time offset OFT.

[0079] The signal associated with the time offset OFT can be stored in the first decoder block 6 or, alternatively, by an external processing unit 9, as is better described further on in the present description.

[0080] As better illustrated in the block diagram shown in Figure 2, the first decoder block 6 can comprise one pair of outputs 10, 11.

[0081] On one of said outputs 10 the information I 1 associated with the reference sequence can be available, expressed as the value of the correlation index C R and obtained as a result of the comparison made by the first block 6 with the modulated digital signal s D present at the input 7 of the same block 6.

[0082] In other words, the correlation index C R suited to generate a positive comparison will be available at said output 10 ; however, the first decoder block 6 (or any external processing unit 9 ) will be able to retrieve also the information associated with the reference signal that generated said correlation index C R .

[0083] The other output 11 of the first block 6, instead, can provide a signal associated with the time offset OFT, that is, a signal containing information related to the instant when the comparison made by the first block had a positive outcome.

[0084] Conveniently, the decoder unit 1 comprises a demodulator 12 operatively connected to the antennas 3 and suited to promote the demodulation of the signal s D coming from the latter.

[0085] In particular, the demodulator 12 can be positioned downstream of the first decoder block 6.

[0086] As better illustrated in the block diagram shown in Figure 2, the demodulator 12 can include an input 13 operatively connected to the output 8 of the ADC (analogue / digital converter) block 5.

[0087] Typically, the demodulator block 12 can be of the OFDM type or a similar type, since this modulation standard is the one most commonly used in telecommunications systems.

[0088] The demodulator block 12 can comprise also a second input 14 which is operatively connected to the first decoder block 6 and in which the time offset OFT signal extracted during the comparison with positive outcome is available.

[0089] The demodulator block 12 has also a single output 15 associated with a demodulated digital signal s B containing the information received from the antennas 3.

[0090] In this way, the digital signal coming from the antennas 3 is subjected to a demodulation process which is parameterized over time by the offset signal OFT.

[0091] In particular, the demodulator block 12 starts demodulating the signal s D originating from the antennas 3 only starting from the time instant corresponding to that associated with the offset signal OFT.

[0092] In this way, there is substantial temporal synchrony between the instant in which the reference string associated with the primary synchronization signal PSS is identified and the instant in which the demodulator block 12 begins to demodulate the signal s D originating from the antennas 3.

[0093] The demodulated digital signal s B correlated over time with the offset signal OFT coming from the first decoder block 6 is present at the single output 15 of the modulator block 12.

[0094] Conveniently, the unit 1 comprises a second decoder block 16.

[0095] The second decoder block 16 is positioned downstream of the first decoder block 6 and of the demodulator block 12.

[0096] In particular, the second decoder block 16 comprises one pair of inputs 17, 18 : the first of said inputs 17 is operatively connected to the first decoder block 6 while the second input 18 is connected to the output 15 of the demodulator block 12.

[0097] In other words, the digital signal sequence that was selected during the comparison with positive outcome at the level of the first decoder block 6 is applied to one of said inputs 17.

[0098] The signal s B demodulated by the demodulator block 12 and originating directly from the antennas 3, instead, is applied to the other input 17 of said block 16.

[0099] The second decoder block 16 is configured to process said two signals present at the respective inputs 17, 18 so as to transmit, at its single output 19, a signal containing information I 2 to the secondary synchronization signal SSS.

[0100] Thus, the second decoder block 16 is suited to promote the cyclic comparison (or cyclic correlation) of the demodulated digital signal s B applied to one of its inputs 18 with a plurality of digital signal sequences included in a second set NS 2 .

[0101] Analogously to what has already been described above with reference to the first decoder block 6, the expressions "comparison between signals" or "correlation between signals" are intended to refer to the same type of activity, that is, the comparison of a digital signal subjected to evaluation (in this case the input signal to the first block) with a digital signal constituted by a predetermined frame.

[0102] When the demodulated signal s B applied to the input 18 of the second block 16 has a form and numerical characteristics substantially equal to those of the reference signal contained in the second set NS 2 , the outcome of said comparison (or correlation) is positive.

[0103] In particular, the second set NS 2 can comprise a predetermined number of reference signal sequences selected in accordance with the specific LTE standard associated with the telecommunications system.

[0104] The term "signal sequence" used in the present description is intended to refer to a predetermined digital frame and associated with a specific digital signal present in the radio chain of an LTE system.

[0105] The number and definition of the signal sequences included in the second set NS 2 can be selected in such a way as to comply with the communication standards currently in use or to be developed in the future, among which the following cases can be mentioned: 5GNR formula 7.4.2.2.1 of document 38.211 NR; Physical channels and modulation (Release 15); LTE formula 6.11.2.1.

[0106] Conveniently, the reference sequences associated with the second set NS 2 can vary over time and comply even with definitions imposed by future communication standards.

[0107] However, at present, the secondary synchronization signal SSS can have three hundred and thirty-six (no. 336) signal sequences defined by the standard.

[0108] In a first version of the decoder unit 1, the information I 2 available at the output 19 of the second block 16 can be associated exclusively with the secondary synchronization signal SSS of the telecommunications system.

[0109] In other words, the information associated with the specific signal sequence of the second set NS 2 (among the three hundred and thirty-six sequences defined by the standard) contained in the demodulated signal s B actually received at that time instant from the antennas 3 (that is, the sequence contained in the second set that enables matching with the signal s A actually received from the antennas 3 ) can be retrieved at the output 19 of the second block 16.

[0110] Alternatively, the set of information associated with both the synchronization signals of the system, the primary synchronization signal PSS and the secondary synchronization signal SSS, can be available as an output at the second block 16.

[0111] Conveniently, the decoder unit 1 according to the invention may comprise a CPU 9 suited to process the first information I 1 and the second information I 2 generated by the first decoder block 6 and the second decoder block 16.

[0112] The result of this processing will make it possible to obtain digital output data D OUT to be used by the CPU 9 itself (or by an additional CPU external to the unit) to control and vary the dynamic behaviour of the antennas 3 or to determine the portion of the mobile equipment UE with respect to a radio base antenna of the communication system.

[0113] The unit that is the subject of the present invention can comprise also an optional block 20 positioned downstream of the first decoder block 6 and of the second decoder block 16.

[0114] This block 20 can be configured to extract some useful parameters from the signal s A received from the antennas 3 as it makes it possible to decode the portion of the synchronization signal SSB called the PBCH (Physical Broadcast channel).

[0115] Two pieces of information are in fact associated with the PBCH portion: the DM-RS (DeModulation Reference Signal) which can be used to evaluate the channel and assess its signal-to-noise ratio; the BCH (Broadcast channel) which contains a message (MIB; Master Information Block) with information associated with the characteristics of the radio base station (for example, sub-carrier spacing or SSB block index).

[0116] Conveniently, the decoder unit 1 that is the subject of the present invention can be used in a radio chain 21 provided with a plurality of devices, one of which is a standard modem 22 suited to extract a plurality of control information from the signal coming from the antennas 3.

[0117] More specifically, a further subject of the present invention concerns a telecommunications system comprising at least one transmitting station (not illustrated in the Figures), one or more mobile devices associated with one or more users and of the type described above. Each mobile device includes one or more antennas suited to transmit / receive an electromagnetic signal containing information associated with data synchronization (SSB), a converter device suited to convert the analogue signal received by the antennas into a digital modulated signal, a modem suited to decode the digital signal coming from the converter into a plurality of digital data sets, at least one decoder unit operatively connected to the digital modulated signal coming from the converter device and a CPU operatively connected to the converter device, the decoder unit and possibly the modem.

[0118] Figure 3 shows a portion of the telecommunications system that is the subject of the present invention; in particular, it is possible to observe a first configuration of a radio chain 21 in which the analogue signal s A received from the antennas 3 is first divided by means of the signal divider block and then applied to two respective branches connected to each other in parallel.

[0119] This radio chain operates according to the frequency division mode and for this reason the band of the transmitted signal is separate from and not superimposed on the band of the received signal.

[0120] In the first branch the decoder unit 1, the optional block 20 and the CPU 9 are connected in series.

[0121] The function of the first branch is to extract the information I 1-2 described above from the synchronization signal SSB.

[0122] To do this, the decoder unit 1 acts exclusively on the signal received from the antennas 3.

[0123] The second branch, instead, is constituted by the standard modem 22 which is suited to perform a plurality of predetermined processing operations on the signal s A received from the antennas 3.

[0124] The modem 22 associated with the second branch can be configured to promote the treatment and processing of the signal received from the antennas 3 and / or the signal transmitted by the antennas 3.

[0125] In the configuration illustrated in Figure 3, the modem 22 is of the FDD (frequency division diplexing) type, that is, capable of providing an analogue radio frequency signal at its output.

[0126] The output / input of modem 22 can be directly connected to an analogue / digital conversion block and vice versa (ADC / DAC block).

[0127] Furthermore, said ADC / DAC block can be directly connected to a block suited to raise, or respectively lowering, the frequency of the signal originating from the modem 22, or respectively from the antennas 3.

[0128] Furthermore, said block can in turn be directly connected to an amplifier and / or filter block positioned directly downstream of the signal divider block.

[0129] An alternative configuration of the radio chain 21 is, however, visible in Figure 4.

[0130] In this case, in the radio chain 21 the decoder unit 1, the additional block 20, the CPU 9 and the standard modem 22 are respectively connected in series.

[0131] In this case, the first branch of the chain (to which the decoder unit 1 is connected) operates exclusively on the signal received by the antennas, while the second branch (to which the modem 22 is connected) operates exclusively on the signal transmitted by the antennas 3.

[0132] The modem 22 can be of the FDD type, even if in this case the modem is equipped with an I / Q port, that is, a port capable of receiving and providing only digital output / input signals.

[0133] For this reason, the analogue output signal from the antennas 3 is first converted into a digital signal so that it can be processed by the decoder unit 1 and the CPU 9, and subsequently said signal (suitably conditioned by the CPU 9 ) is supplied to the I / Q input port of the modem 22.

[0134] After performing the appropriate processing of the signal received from the CPU, the modem produces as an output a digital transmission signal intended to be first converted into an analogue signal (through a DAC block).

[0135] The analogue signal is then raised in frequency and subsequently amplified and / or filtered before being transmitted to the antennas 3.

[0136] With reference to the first branch of the chain, upstream of the decoder unit 1, the signal s A received from the antennas is converted into a digital signal.

[0137] In practice, in this configuration the analogue signal s A coming from the antennas s A is first converted into a digital signal to allow the decoder unit 1 and the CPU 9 to extract all the information described above from it, then the digital signal s B is reconverted (or recomposed) into an analogue signal s A so that the standard modem 22 can function properly.

[0138] Two alternative formulations of the radio chain 21 are illustrated in Figure 5 and Figure 6.

[0139] In this case, a time-division (time division multiplexing) is applied to the signal received / transmitted by the antennas 3.

[0140] A TX / RX switch block is connected downstream of the antennas 3 to provide alternating sequences of time intervals in which the received signal and the transmitted signal are respectively present.

[0141] Conveniently, the signal received by the antennas 3 is supplied to the first chain (where there is the decoder unit 1 ), while the signal transmitted by the antennas 3 comes exclusively from the modem 22 and is applied to them according to the time division scheme.

[0142] The modem 22 shown in Figure 4 is of the TDD type with analogue inputs / outputs, which is why the output signal from the CPU 9 must be converted into an analogue signal and raised in frequency before it reaches the modem 22.

[0143] The blocks at the output of the modem 22, instead, are quite similar to those shown in the diagram in Figure 5.

[0144] In the diagram in Figure 4, the modem 22 is of the TDD type but with digital I / Q inputs / outputs.

[0145] What has already been described above with reference to the diagram in Figure 5 applies also in this case, with the difference that the transmitted / received signal follows the rules imposed by the time division.

[0146] As already briefly described at the beginning of the present description, the decoder unit 1 that is the subject of the present invention can be used to select, at a given time instant, the best radiation pattern of a reconfigurable antenna 3 from among those defining a predetermined set of patterns.

[0147] This type of application is generally referred to as beam steering control and is schematized in the configuration of the radio chain 21 illustrated in the diagram in Figure 7.

[0148] In this example, the transmitter / receiver unit is made up of three reconfigurable antennas 3 each of which can transmit / receive an electromagnetic signal according to a specific radiation pattern belonging to a specific set.

[0149] The selection of the radiation pattern is carried out by the CPU 9 based on the information received from the decoder unit 1.

[0150] In particular, the CPU 9 will be configured to change one or more parameters associated with the antenna 3 (for example, signal frequency, phase, power, etc.) in order to promote the operation of the same according to a given radiation pattern selected from those available.

[0151] However, in order to perform the selection of the radiation pattern of one or more antennas 3 associated to a given radio chain 21, the CPU 9 must receive as an input, in addition to the information I 1-2 generated by the decoder unit 1, further information associated with the cell identifier to which the UE equipment is connected.

[0152] This information can be retrieved from the standard modem 22 which then will be operatively connected to the CPU in such a way that all the information regarding the cell identifier can be made available to the CPU.

[0153] Conveniently, the modem 22 can be of the type described above, that is, with TDD specification and analogue or digital I / Q inputs / outputs.

[0154] The decoder unit 1 that is the subject of the present invention can also be used to detect the geographical position of the UE device with respect to the points where the transmitting antennas 3 (generally belonging to a radio base station) are installed.

[0155] In this case, the decoder unit 1 can thus be installed in the radio chains in order to promote the geolocation of the EU.

[0156] This special configuration of the radio chain 21 is schematically shown in the diagram in Figure 8.

[0157] In this case, the communication system comprises two antennas 3 of the non-reconfigurable type, that is, with a fixed radiation pattern.

[0158] Each antenna 3 is connected to a respective branch of the radio chain 21 which comprises a respective analogue-to-digital conversion block 5 and a respective decoder unit 1.

[0159] Instead, there is only one CPU 9 connected to both the decoder units 1, said CPU being configured to process the information I 1-2 coming from the latter in such a way as to generate output data D OUT associated with the estimated position of the UE with respect to the fixed points where the transmitting antennas are located.

[0160] In order to geolocate a UE, in addition to the information associated with the synchronization signal SSB extracted by the decoder units 1, it is necessary to know the phase delay of the signal s A coming from the upper antenna, indicated by number 3', with respect to the signal s A coming from the lower antenna, indicated by number 3".

[0161] The calculation of the phase delay between the signal s A received from the two antennas 3', 3" is carried out by the CPU 9.

[0162] In this case, each decoder unit 1 is configured to provide the CPU 9 with a portion of the analogue signal s A coming from the antennas 3', 3" (not previously altered or decoded).

[0163] These portions of the signal are taken in a synchronous manner, that is, they are sampled starting from a common time instant (for example, starting from the time offset OFT defined by the first decoder block 6 of unit 1 ).

[0164] The CPU 9 can then calculate the time delay that separates the two original signals s A coming from the antennas 3', 3" which were sampled synchronously.

[0165] Calculating this delay will allow the CPU 9 to determine the phase delay between the analogue signal s A received from the two antennas 3', 3" of the communication system.

[0166] Knowing this parameter (associated with the phase delay) and the information from the first block 6 and the second block 16 of the decoder unit 1 will then allow the CPU 9 to find the position of the UE with respect to the fixed points at which the transmitting antennas are installed.

[0167] Also in this case, the modem 22 can be of the type described above, that is, with TDD specification and analogue or digital I / Q inputs / outputs.

[0168] The present invention can be carried out in other variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive features claimed and described herein; these technical features can be replaced by different technically equivalent elements and materials; the shapes and dimensions of the invention can be any, provided that they are compatible with its use.

[0169] The numbers and reference signs included in the claims and in the description are only intended to increase the clarity of the text and must not be considered as elements limiting the technical interpretation of the objects or processes identified by them.

Claims

1. A decoder unit (1) for telecommunications systems, wherein the telecommunications system comprises a transmitting antenna (2) and at least one piece of equipment associated with a user and provided with, respectively, at least one antenna (3) with a reconfigurable radiation pattern selected from within a predetermined set of radiation patterns and / or two or more antennas (3), each having a fixed radiation pattern, said antennas (3) being suited to transmit / receive a synchronization signal (SSB) comprising primary synchronization signals (PSS) and secondary synchronization signals (SSS), said decoder unit (1) comprising: - a first decoder block (6) connected to the at least one antenna (3) of the equipment to process the modulated signal (sD) coming from the latter and obtain first digital information (I1) associated with the primary synchronization signal (PSS); - a demodulator (12) operatively connected to the at least one antenna (3) of the equipment to demodulate the modulated signal (sD) coming from the latter and obtain a demodulated signal (sB); - a second decoder block (16) suited to obtain second digital information (I2) associated with the secondary synchronization signal (SSS); - a CPU (9) suited to process said first information (I1) and / or said second information (I2) in such a way as to generate digital output data (DOUT); wherein said digital output data (DOUT) are associated with the selection of a radiation pattern for the at least one antenna (3) of the equipment and / or with the position of the at least one antenna (3) of the equipment with respect to the transmitting antenna (2); characterized in that said second decoder block (16) is positioned downstream of said first decoder block (6) and of said demodulator (12), said second information (I2) being obtained by said second decoder block (16) following the processing of the demodulated signal (sB) exiting from said demodulator (12).

2. Unit according to claim 1, characterized in that said first decoder block (6) is suited to cyclically compare the modulated signal (sA) coming from the at least one antenna (3) of the equipment with a first set of reference sequences (NS1).

3. Unit according to claim 2, characterized in that said first decoder block (6) is suited to generate a time reference offset signal (OFT) when the modulated signal (sD) substantially coincides with one of said reference sequences (NS1).

4. Unit according to claim 3, characterized in that said first decoder block (6) has an input (7) operatively connected to said at least one antenna (3) of the equipment and one pair of outputs (10, 11), first digital information (I1) being present on one (10) of said outputs (10, 11) and being associated with the reference sequence (NS1) corresponding to that present in the modulated signal (sD) coming from the at least one antenna (3) of the equipment detected at the instant of time offset (OFT), said offset signal (OFT) being present on the other (11) of said outputs (10,11).

5. Unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said demodulator (12) has one pair of inputs (13, 14) and a single output (15), one of said inputs (13) being operatively connected to the at least one antenna (3) of the equipment to receive the modulated signal (sD), the other input (14) being operatively connected to the output (11) of the first decoder block (6) to receive said offset signal (OFT), a signal (sB) being present in said single output (15) of said demodulator (12) and being associated with the demodulation of the signal (sD) coming from the at least one antenna (3) of the equipment, said demodulation being carried out starting from the time instant associated with the offset signal (OFT).

6. Unit according to claim 5, characterized in that said second decoder block (16) is suited to cyclically compare the demodulated signal (sB) present at the output (15) of said demodulator (12) with a second set of reference signal sequences (NS2).

7. Unit according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said second decoder block (16) comprises one pair of inputs (17, 18) and a single output (19), one of said inputs (17) being connected to the output (10) of the first decoder block (6) in which there is the first digital information (I1) and the other input (18) being connected to the output (15) of the demodulator (12), the second digital information (I2) being available in said single output (19) and being associated with the reference sequence (NS2) corresponding to that present in the demodulated signal (sB) present at the output (15) of said demodulator block (12) and detected in the instant of time offset (OFT).

8. Unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said CPU (9) is suited to control the operation of said first decoder block (6) and of said second decoder block (16) in order to process said first information (I1) and said second information (I2) and to generate output data (DOUT) referred to the electrical parameters associated with the at least one antenna (3) of the equipment so as to selectively choose one or more radiation patterns from within the set of radiation patterns associated with the latter.

9. Unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the equipment comprises at least two non-reconfigurable antennas (3) with a fixed radiation pattern, characterized in that said CPU (9) is suited to compare the respective modulated signals (sA) exiting from the antennas (3) to determine the phase delay between them, said CPU (3) being furthermore suited to process, respectively, the first information (I1) generated by the first decoder block (6), the second information (I2) associated with the second decoder block (16), and the information associated with the phase delay to generate output data (DOUT) associated with the geographical position of the equipment associated with the user with respect to the transmitting antenna (2) of the telecommunications system.

10. Telecommunications system comprising: - at least one transmitting station provided with at least one antenna (2); - one or more pieces of equipment associated with respective users; wherein each of said pieces of equipment comprises: - one or more antennas (3) suited to transmit / receive an electromagnetic signal containing information associated with data synchronization (SSB), said synchronization signal comprising at least one primary synchronization signal (PSS) and at least one secondary synchronization signal (SSS); - a converter device (5) suited to convert the analogue signal (sA) exiting from said one or more antennas (3) into a modulated digital signal (sB); - a modem (22) suited to decode the modulated digital signal coming from said converter (5) into digital data sets; - at least one decoder unit (1) operatively connected to said converter (5); - a CPU (9) operatively connected, respectively, to said converter device (5), to said at least one decoder unit (1) and possibly to said modem (22); wherein said at least one decoder unit (1) is of the type according to one or more of the preceding claims.

11. System according to claim 10, characterized in that said at least one decoder unit (1) is connected in series to said modem (22) downstream thereof.

12. System according to claim 11, characterized in that said at least one decoder unit (1) is connected in parallel to said modem (22).