Software radio system

Abstract

To provide a technology that makes analog conversion unnecessary by using VoIP, demodulates multiple voices without the limitations of an analog voice conversion circuit, and enables communication with a higher-level device.SOLUTION: A software radio system that is composed of multiple higher-level devices, a modulation / demodulation module including an interface module, and an RF module demodulates multiple received data as multiple modulated signals received from the RF module into multiple audio signals using a modulation / demodulation module, converts the demodulated multiple audio signals to VoIP using an interface module, and outputs them to the multiple higher-level devices. The modulation / demodulation module simultaneously demodulates the multiple modulated signals. The interface module simultaneously converts the multiple audio signals to VoIP and generates multiple converted audio signals that can be received by the multiple higher-level devices via VoIP.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure is a technique that is effective when applied to a software radio system. [Background technology]

[0002] A software radio is a radio that can support multiple wireless communication methods with the same hardware resources in the radio by switching the execution program of the radio by a software program. In a software radio, a file that defines a desired function is downloaded from a network to change the configuration of a module in the software radio, thereby realizing multiple wireless communication methods. For example, JP 2022-120919 A ​​proposes a software radio.

[0003] On the other hand, for example, JP 2008-271415 A proposes a receiving and outputting audio device that receives and plays audio data via VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) communication using a TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) network such as the Internet or an intranet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-120919 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2008-271415 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a software radio, the number of analog voice conversion circuits required is the same as the number of demodulation circuits.

[0006] The present disclosure aims to provide a technique that makes analog conversion unnecessary by using VoIP, demodulates multiple voices without the limitations of an analog voice conversion circuit, and enables communication with a higher-level device.

[0007] Other objects and novel features will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A brief summary of representative aspects of this disclosure is as follows.

[0009] According to one embodiment, in a software defined radio system including a plurality of higher level devices, a modulation / demodulation module including an interface module, and an RF module, the software defined radio system includes: The multiple received data as multiple modulated signals received from the RF module are demodulated into multiple audio signals by a modulation / demodulation module; The demodulated voice signals are converted to VoIP by the interface module and output to multiple higher-level devices. The modulation / demodulation module demodulates multiple modulated signals simultaneously, The interface module simultaneously converts a plurality of voice signals into VoIP signals to generate a plurality of converted voice signals, which can be received by a plurality of higher-level devices via VoIP. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the software radio system of the above embodiment, it is possible to provide a technique that makes analog conversion unnecessary by converting to VoIP, demodulates multiple voices without the limitations of an analog voice conversion circuit, and enables communication with a higher-level device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a software defined radio. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the software structure of a software defined radio. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a software defined radio system according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a VoIP conversion circuit according to an embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a communication method between the CPU and the higher-level device according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a software defined radio system according to a comparative example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, the embodiments and examples will be described with reference to the drawings. However, in the following description, the same components are given the same reference numerals and repeated description may be omitted. Note that the drawings may be shown more diagrammatically than the actual embodiment in order to make the description clearer, but they are merely examples and do not limit the interpretation of the present invention.

[0013] Software radio technology is a wireless communication technology that can switch wireless communication methods by changing control software without making changes to the hardware itself. Figure 1 shows an overview of a software radio 100. The hardware modules of the software radio 100 include an antenna 101, a high frequency unit 102, an A / D·D / A unit 103, a digital signal processing unit 104, and a control unit 105. The antenna 101 transmits and receives radio frequency signals. The high frequency unit 102 converts a radio frequency band reception signal received by the antenna 101 into a low frequency band reception signal, or converts a low frequency band transmission signal into a radio frequency band transmission signal. The A / D·D / A unit 103 converts a received analog signal into a digital signal, or converts a digital signal to be transmitted into an analog signal. The digital signal processing unit 104 performs processing such as encoding a transmission signal and decoding a reception signal. The control unit 105 includes, for example, a memory that stores a software program and a CPU that executes the software program stored in the memory, and receives control from a control terminal 107 via a network 106 and controls the hardware modules of the software radio.

[0014] FIG. 2 shows the software structure of the software defined radio 100.

[0015] The hardware modules 220 to 222 correspond to the high frequency unit 102, the A / D·D / A unit 103, and the digital signal processing unit 104 in FIG. 1, respectively. The hardware device drivers 210 to 212 drive these hardware modules 220 to 222, respectively. These operate on a given OS (Operating System) 209, but the CORBA middleware 208 allows applications to be separated from the OS and hardware. When the software radio 100 is powered on, the OS 209, the hardware device drivers 210 to 212, and the CORBA middleware 208 are started first. Then, the environment software 215 is started. The environment software 215 is a software program that must be running at all times in order for the software radio 100 to operate, and includes the user interface software 201, the domain management software 202, the hardware management software 204, and the hardware control software 205 to 207. The hardware control software 205 to 207 are also provided corresponding to the hardware device drivers 210 to 212, respectively, and are upper level software programs that control these.

[0016] A feature of the software defined radio device 100 is that radio functions such as filters, modulation / demodulation, equalization, and synchronization functions are programmable, and system-specific radio functions such as radio parameters, modulation method, transmission / reception frequency, bandwidth, and transmission speed, can be changed by rewriting the software program. These rewritable software programs are the wireless communication software 203. For this reason, the wireless communication software 203 can be started even when the power is turned on, but most of the time it is started based on an instruction from the user interface software 201.

[0017] The user interface software 201 connects and communicates with the domain management software 202 and the wireless communication software 203. The domain management software 202 connects to the user interface software 201 as well as to the hardware management software 204, and the hardware management software 204 connects to hardware control software 205, 206, and 207. The hardware control software 205, 206, and 207 connect to the wireless communication software 203 and hardware device drivers 210, 211, and 212, and the wireless communication software 203 connects to the user interface software 201 and the hardware control software 205, 206, and 207. EXAMPLES

[0018] Next, the configuration of a software radio system 300 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining a software radio system according to an embodiment. Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a VoIP conversion circuit according to an embodiment. Fig. 5 is a diagram for explaining a communication method between a CPU and a higher-level device according to an embodiment.

[0019] 3, the software radio system 300 includes a software radio 100, a network 4 to which the software radio 100 is connected, and multiple higher-level devices (HEA, HEB, HEC) connected to the network 4. In the explanation of Fig. 1, a case in which the software radio 100 has four demodulation circuits (DMA, DMB, DMC, DMES) is given as an example, but the invention is also applicable to a software radio system that performs demodulation using five or more demodulation circuits.

[0020] The receiving section of the software defined radio 100 includes an antenna 3, a radio frequency section RFM configured as an RF module, and a modulation / demodulation section MDD configured by an FPGA (field-programmable gate array) 5. The radio frequency section RFM can be rephrased as an RF module, and the modulation / demodulation section MDD can be rephrased as a modulation / demodulation module.

[0021] The FPGA 5 of the modulation / demodulation unit MDD includes a distribution circuit RDDVC, a plurality of receiving unit circuits RUA, RUB, and RUC, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) conversion circuit VoIPC, and a central processing unit CPU.

[0022] The distribution circuit RDDVC distributes the received data, and distributes the multiple received data RDA, RDB, RDC received from the antenna 3, and the received data RDES which is an emergency signal. The multiple received data RDA, RDB, RDC are treated as normal received data, and the received data RDES is treated as emergency received data.

[0023] The multiple receiving unit circuits RUA, RUB, RUC, RUES include demodulation circuits DMA, DMB, DMC, DMES that demodulate the received data RDA, RDB, RDC, RDES, and reception level calculation circuits RLDA, RLDB, RLDC, RLDES that calculate the reception levels of the received data RDA, RDB, RDC, RDES to generate reception presence / absence signals RDPAA, RDPAB, RDPAC, RDPAES. The demodulation circuits DMA, DMB, DMC, DMES simultaneously demodulate the received data RDA, RDB, RDC, RDES to generate analog demodulated data ADMDA, ADMDB, ADMDC, ADMDES. The analog demodulated data ADMDA, ADMDB, ADMDC, ADMDES can be referred to as analog voice signals or analog voice demodulated data. Also, the analog demodulated data ADMDA, ADMDB, ADMDC, ADMDES can be referred to as multiple voice signals. The plurality of voice signals (ADMDA, ADMDB, ADMDC, ADMDES) include a plurality of normal voice signals (ADMDA, ADMDB, ADMDC) and an emergency voice signal (ADMDES).

[0024] The VoIP conversion circuit VoIPC converts the analog demodulated data ADMDA, ADMDB, ADMDC, and ADMDES to VoIP at the same time. In the VoIP conversion, for example, the analog voice demodulated data (ADMDA, ADMDB, ADMDC, and ADMDES) is encoded and compressed by a desired encoding method to generate digital voice demodulated data (DDA, DDB, DDC, and DDES). It is preferable that the digital voice demodulated data (DDA, DDB, DDC, and DDES) is in a digital data format suitable for forming a communication packet used for VoIP. The digital voice demodulated data (DDA, DDB, DDC, and DDES) is made into a plurality of converted voice signals, and is made to include a plurality of converted normal voice signals (DMDA, DMDB, and DMDC) and a converted emergency voice signal (DMDES).

[0025] In this example, the VoIP conversion circuit VoIPC has conversion circuits CONV (CONVCA, CONVCB, CONVCC, CONVCES). The conversion circuit CONVCA converts analog audio demodulated data ADMDA into digital audio demodulated data DDA. The conversion circuit CONVCB converts analog audio demodulated data ADMDB into digital audio demodulated data DDB. The conversion circuit CONVCC converts analog audio demodulated data ADMDC into digital audio demodulated data DDC. The conversion circuit CONVCES converts analog audio demodulated data ADMDES into digital audio demodulated data DDES. It is preferable to configure the conversion circuits CONV (CONVCA, CONVCB, CONVCC, CONVCES) so that their conversion operations can be performed simultaneously.

[0026] The central processing unit CPU communicates with the higher-level devices (HEA, HEB, HEC). The central processing unit CPU includes an emergency signal detection circuit EMED for detecting the presence or absence of reception of emergency demodulated data ADMDES.

[0027] The flow of the receiving operation is as follows:

[0028] 1) A plurality of pieces of received data (RDA, RDB, RDC, RDES) received from the antenna 3 are each distributed by the received data distribution circuit RDDVC.

[0029] 2) The distributed received data (RDA, RDB, RDC, RDES) is divided into normal received data RDA, RDB, RDC and emergency received data RDES. The received data (RDA, RDB, RDC, RDES) is simultaneously demodulated by the demodulation circuits DMA, DMB, DMC, DMES. The demodulated analog demodulated data ADMDA, ADMDB, ADMDC, ADMDES is notified to the VoIP conversion circuit VoIPC.

[0030] In addition, if the reception level calculation circuits RLDA, RLDB, RLDC, and RLDES determine that a signal is being received (above a predetermined reception level), they notify the VoIP conversion circuit VoIPC of reception presence / absence signals RDPAA, RDPAB, RDPAC, and RDPAES indicating that a signal is being received.

[0031] 3) The VoIP conversion circuit VoIPC simultaneously converts the analog demodulated data ADMDA, ADMDB, ADMDC, and ADMDES to VoIP to generate digital demodulated data DDA, DDB, DDC, and DDES.Then, the VoIP conversion circuit VoIPC notifies the central processing unit CPU of the digital demodulated data DDA, DDB, DDC, and DDES and the reception presence / absence signals RDPAA, RDPAB, RDPAC, and RDPAES.

[0032] 4) The central processing unit CPU notifies each of the higher-level devices (HEA, HEB, HEC) of the normal demodulated data ("DDA, DDB, DDC" converted to VoIP from "ADMDA, ADMDB, ADMDC"). However, when the emergency signal detection circuit EMED of the central processing unit CPU confirms the reception presence / absence signal RDPAES indicating the reception of the emergency demodulated data ADMDES, it outputs the emergency demodulated data DDES to all of the higher-level devices HEA, HEB, HEC.

[0033] The VoIP conversion circuit VoIPC and the central processing unit CPU can be regarded as interface modules for the higher-level devices HEA, HEB, and HEC.

[0034] Next, the VoIP conversion circuit VoIPC will be described with reference to FIG.

[0035] 4, the VoIP conversion circuit VoIPC includes a conversion circuit CONV that performs VoIP conversion, a ring buffer RB8S, and a write control circuit WTCR that controls writing to the ring buffer RB8S. The central processing unit CPU also includes a read control circuit RDCR that controls reading from the ring buffer RB8S.

[0036] The conversion circuit CONV is configured to receive the analog demodulated data ADMDA, ADMDB, ADMDC, ADMDES and the reception presence / absence signals RDPAA, RDPAB, RDPAC, RDPAES, and simultaneously converts the analog demodulated data ADMDA, ADMDB, ADMDC, ADMDES into VoIP to generate the digital demodulated data DDA, DDB, DDC, DDES. The write control circuit WTCR writes the digital demodulated data DDA, DDB, DDC, DDES and the reception presence / absence signals RDPAA, RDPAB, RDPAC, RDPAES to the ring buffer RB8S.

[0037] In other words, the software radio 100 can simultaneously demodulate multiple modulated signals (RDA, RDB, RDC, RDES) and perform VoIP conversion to generate digital demodulated data DDA, DDB, DDC, DDES so that the multiple demodulated audio signals (ADMDA, ADMDB, ADMDC, ADMDES) can be simultaneously received by the higher-level devices HEA, HEB, HEC via VoIP.

[0038] In the VoIP conversion circuit VoIPC, an 8-plane (1S-8S) ring buffer RB8S is provided in the interface with the central processing unit CPU. When the write control circuit WTCR receives a plurality of digital demodulated data (DDA, DDB, DDC, DDES), it writes the data into the 8-plane (1S-8S) ring buffer RB8S. In the first write DM1 of the demodulated data, the demodulated data DDA is written to the 1st plane 1S, the demodulated data DDB is written to the 2nd plane 2S, the demodulated data DDC is written to the 3rd plane 3S, and the emergency signal DDES is written to the 4th plane 4S. The next demodulated data is written as the second write DM2, and is written from the 5th plane 5S to the 8th plane 8S. Each plane nS (n=1-8) of the 8 planes (1S-8S) is provided with a header area R1 and a demodulated data area R2. In the header area R1, a reception presence / absence signal RDPAm (m=A, B, C, ES), which is information on the presence / absence of received data, is written. In the demodulated data area R2, digital demodulated data DDm (m=A, B, C, ES) is written. After the second write DM2, the first write DM1 is performed again.

[0039] The read control circuit RDCR of the central processing unit CPU reads out the reception presence / absence (RDPAm) and digital demodulation data (DDm) written on each side (1S-8S).

[0040] Next, a communication method between the central processing unit CPU and the higher-level devices HEA, HEB, and HEC will be described with reference to FIG.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 5, the higher-level devices HEA, HEB, and HEC are assigned IP addresses and port numbers. For example, the IP address IPA of the higher-level device HEA is XXA, and the port number Prt is XPA. The IP address IPA of the higher-level device HEB is XXB, and the port number Prt is XPB. The IP address IPA of the higher-level device HEC is XXC, and the port number Prt is XPC. In Fig. 5, 41 indicates a normal state, that is, a state in which the emergency signal detection circuit EMED of the central processing unit CPU confirms a reception presence / absence signal RDPAES indicating the reception or absence of emergency demodulated data ADMDES (EMES0). Also, in Fig. 3, 42 indicates a state in which the emergency signal detection circuit EMED of the central processing unit CPU confirms a reception presence / absence signal RDPAES indicating the reception or absence of emergency demodulated data ADMDES (EMES1).

[0042] As shown in Figure 5, when the central processing unit CPU normally sends a packet of each transmission data (DMDA, DMDB, DMDC), it incorporates the IP address IPA and port number Prt of the corresponding higher-level device HEA, HEB, HEC to which the packet is to be sent into the packet and transmits it to network 4.

[0043] On the other hand, as soon as the CPU confirms that it has received the emergency data ADMDES, it sends the emergency data (DMDES) to the IP address IPA and port number Prt of each upper device (HEA, HEB, HEC). This makes it possible to immediately notify each upper device (HEA, HEB, HEC) of the emergency signal (DMDES).

[0044] Fig. 6 is a diagram for explaining a software radio system according to a comparative example. A software radio device 100r of a software radio system 300r shown in Fig. 6 has the following configuration.

[0045] There are multiple demodulation circuits (DMA, DMB, DMC, DMES), and the demodulated signals (ADMDA, ADMDB, ADMDC, ADMDES, etc.) are converted to analog audio by analog audio conversion circuits (AACA, AACB, AACC) and output as analog signals to each higher-level device (HEA, HEB, HEC) via analog audio lines.

[0046] Normally, the switching circuit SW is configured to transmit the demodulated signals (ADMDA, ADMDB, ADMDC) to the analog audio conversion circuits (AACA, AACB, AACC).

[0047] The central processing unit CPU receives the emergency signal ADMDES from the host device HEMS, which issues emergency instructions. The emergency signal switching instruction circuit EMSWC in the central processing unit CPU controls the switching circuit SW to transmit the emergency signal ADMDES to the analog voice conversion circuit (AACA, AACB, AACC). This allows the emergency signal to be output to each host device (HEA, HEB, HEC).

[0048] The software defined radio system 300r has the following problems.

[0049] 1) An analog voice conversion circuit is required according to the number of demodulation circuits. 2) Remote communication is difficult due to the use of analog voice lines. 3) Since the switchover is performed after receiving an emergency signal, it is difficult to notify the emergency signal immediately.

[0050] In order to solve the above problems, the software defined radio system 300 of the embodiment has the following configuration.

[0051] The software defined radio system 300 is composed of multiple higher level devices (HEA, HEB, HEC), a modulation / demodulation module MDD including an interface module (a central processing unit CPU and a VoIP conversion circuit VoIPC), and an RF module RFM. Multiple received data (RDA, RDB, RDC, RDES) as multiple modulated signals received from the RF module RFM are demodulated into multiple voice signals (ADMDA, ADMDB, ADMDC, ADMDES) by the modulation / demodulation module MDD. The demodulated multiple voice signals (ADMDA, ADMDB, ADMDC, ADMDES) are converted to VoIP by the interface module and output to multiple higher level devices (HEA, HEB, HEC). The modulation / demodulation module MDD simultaneously demodulates multiple modulated signals (RDA, RDB, RDC, RDES). The interface module simultaneously converts multiple voice signals (ADMDA, ADMDB, ADMDC, ADMDES) to VoIP and generates multiple converted voice signals (DMDA, DMDB, DMDC, DMDES) that enable higher-level devices (HEA, HEB, HEC) to receive VoIP.

[0052] The interface module of the modulation / demodulation module MDD includes a central processing unit CPU. The modulation / demodulation module MDD includes a plurality of demodulation circuits (DMA, DMB, DMC, DMES) and a plurality of reception level calculation circuits (RLDA, RLDB, RLDC, RLDES). The plurality of reception level calculation circuits (RLDA, RLDB, RLDC, RLDES) calculate the reception level of the plurality of reception data (RDA, RDB, RDC, RDES) input to the plurality of demodulation circuits (DMA, DMB, DMC, DMES), and when the reception level exceeds a certain value, it is determined that reception has occurred and notifies the central processing unit CPU. The multiple voice signals (ADMDA, ADMDB, ADMDC, ADMDES) include multiple normal voice signals (ADMDA, ADMDB, ADMDC) and an emergency voice signal (ADMDES), and the multiple converted voice signals (DMDA, DMDB, DMDC, DMDES) include multiple converted normal voice signals (DMDA, DMDB, DMDC) and a converted emergency voice signal (DMDES). When the central processing unit CPU does not receive an emergency voice signal (ADMDES) (normal time), it notifies the multiple higher-level devices (HEA, HEB, HEC) of the multiple converted normal voice signals (DMDA, DMDB, DMDC). When the central processing unit CPU receives an emergency voice signal (ADMDES) (emergency time), it notifies the multiple higher-level devices (HEA, HEB, HEC) of the converted emergency voice signal (DMDES) instead of the multiple converted normal voice signals (DMDA, DMDB, DMDC).

[0053] Furthermore, in the software radio system 300, a plurality of converted normal voice signals (DMDA, DMDB, DMDC) can be notified to the corresponding higher-level devices (HEA, HEB, HEC), and when the emergency voice signal (ADMDES) is received, the converted emergency voice signal (DMDES) can be notified to all higher-level devices (ADMDA, ADMDB, ADMDC).

[0054] Depending on the embodiment, one or more of the following advantages can be obtained.

[0055] 1) VoIP eliminates the need for analog conversion, making it possible to demodulate multiple voice signals and communicate them to a higher-level device without the limitations of analog voice conversion circuits.

[0056] 2) By using VoIP, network communication using network 4 becomes possible, making it possible to communicate with remote locations.

[0057] 3) Emergency signals can be automatically determined and switched, eliminating the need for switching instructions from the host device (HEMS). In addition, emergency signals can be instantly sent to each host device.

[0058] The invention made by the inventor has been specifically described above based on examples. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and examples, and various modifications are possible. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 100: Software Defined Radio 300: Software-defined radio system RFM: Radio frequency unit (RF module) MDD: Modulation / Demodulation section (modulation / demodulation module) VoIPC: VoIP conversion circuit CPU: Central Processing Unit

Claims

1. In a software defined radio system including a plurality of higher level devices, a modulation / demodulation module including an interface module, and an RF module, demodulating a plurality of received data as a plurality of modulated signals received from the RF module into a plurality of audio signals by the modulation / demodulation module; The demodulated voice signals are converted into VoIP signals by the interface module and output to the plurality of higher-level devices; The modulation / demodulation module simultaneously demodulates the plurality of modulated signals; The interface module simultaneously converts the plurality of voice signals into VoIP signals to generate a plurality of converted voice signals, thereby enabling the plurality of higher-level devices to receive the VoIP signals.

2. 2. The software defined radio system according to claim 1, the interface module includes a central processing unit; the modulation / demodulation module includes a plurality of demodulation circuits and a plurality of reception level calculation circuits; the plurality of reception level calculation circuits calculate reception levels for the plurality of reception data input to the plurality of demodulation circuits, and when the reception level exceeds a certain value, determine that reception has occurred and notify a central processing unit; The plurality of voice signals include a plurality of normal voice signals and an emergency voice signal, and the plurality of converted voice signals include a plurality of converted normal voice signals and a converted emergency voice signal, When the central processing unit does not receive the emergency voice signal, the central processing unit notifies the plurality of higher level devices of the plurality of converted normal voice signals; a central processing unit that, when receiving the emergency voice signal, notifies the plurality of higher-level devices of the converted emergency voice signal instead of the plurality of converted normal voice signals.

3. 3. The software defined radio system according to claim 2, The plurality of converted normal voice signals are each capable of being notified to a corresponding higher-level device; a software radio system capable of notifying all of said plurality of higher-level devices of said converted emergency voice signal when said emergency voice signal is received;

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