Relay station device, communication device, communication system, and communication method

Abstract

To provide a relay station device capable of improving efficiency by reducing power consumption.SOLUTION: A relay station device includes a plurality of (n) RF functional units, each having an antenna port, and an on / off switching control unit that controls switching between an on state and an off state of each of the RF functional units on the basis of a received predetermined instruction signal, and each of the RF functional units corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of frequency bands, and when in the on state, the RF functional unit performs predetermined processing on signal components of a received signal to be relayed, which are in the frequency band corresponding to each of the RF functional units.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a relay station device, a communication device, a communication system, and a communication method. [Background technology]

[0002] 3GPP (registered trademark) Rel. 18 discusses NCR (Network-Controlled Repeaters) that control RF (Radio Frequency) repeaters from a base station device as an L1 relay station device in 5G NR (New Radio) (see Non-Patent Document 1). NCR specifies the control of turning the entire NCR-Fwd on / off using control information on the control link, but does not allow for control of turning each antenna port on / off when the NCR-Fwd has multiple antenna ports.

[0003] Furthermore, after LTE (Long Term Evolution), Carrier Aggregation (CA), which uses multiple bands for large-capacity communication, has been defined. In L1 relay, demodulation of signals passing through NCR-Fwd (Forwarding) is not performed, so it is not possible to change the processing depending on the signal received by the relay station device. Therefore, when relaying CA signals with an L1 relay station device, an RF configuration capable of covering all bands that can be used for CA signals relayed by the L1 relay station device is required in advance. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0004] [Non-Patent Document 1] 3GPP TR 38.867, “Study on NR network-controlled repeaters”, v18.0.0 [Non-Patent Document 2] 3GPP TS 38.133, “Requirements for support of radio resource management”, v18.2.0 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the conventional technology described above, when CA communication is performed between a base station device and a terminal device, not all component carriers (CCs) are always used, which may result in unnecessary power consumption in the L1 relay station device. In other words, the L1 relay station device cannot determine which CC has a signal during relaying, so it may perform relay processing for a CC that has no signal during relaying, resulting in unnecessary power consumption. As a specific example, the L1 relay station device performs relay processing for the entire maximum bandwidth used in CA, even when a signal is actually present for only one CC. However, such problems may also occur in communications other than CA communications.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a relay station device, a communication device, a communication system, and a communication method that can improve efficiency, such as by reducing power consumption. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] As one configuration example, a relay station device includes a plurality of n RF functional units, each having an antenna port, and an on / off switching control unit that controls switching between an on state and an off state of each RF functional unit based on a received predetermined instruction signal, each of the RF functional units corresponding to a plurality of frequency bands, and when in the on state, the RF functional unit performs a predetermined processing on signal components of a received signal to be relayed, which signal components correspond to the frequency band corresponding to each of the RF functional units.

[0008] As one configuration example, a communication device transmits an instruction signal to a relay station device having a plurality of n RF functional units, each having an antenna port, and an on / off switching control unit that controls switching between an on state and an off state for each RF functional unit based on a received predetermined instruction signal, the communication device including an on / off instruction unit that transmits the instruction signal to the relay station device, in which each of the RF functional units corresponds to one of a plurality of frequency bands, and in an on state, the RF functional unit performs a predetermined processing on signal components of a received signal to be relayed, the signal components being in the frequency band corresponding to each of the RF functional units.

[0009] As an example configuration, in a communication system having a communication device and a relay station device, the relay station device includes a plurality of n RF functional units, each having an antenna port, and an on / off switching control unit that controls switching between an on state and an off state of each RF functional unit based on a received predetermined instruction signal, each of the RF functional units corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of frequency bands, and in an on state, the RF functional unit performs a predetermined processing on a signal component of a received signal to be relayed, the signal component being of the frequency band corresponding to each of the RF functional units, and the communication device includes an on / off instruction unit that transmits the instruction signal to the relay station device.

[0010] As one configuration example, in a communication method in a communication system having a communication device and a relay station device, the relay station device includes a plurality of n RF functional units, each having an antenna port, and an on / off switching control unit that controls switching between an on state and an off state of each RF functional unit based on a received predetermined instruction signal, each of the RF functional units corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of frequency bands, and in an on state, the RF functional unit performs a predetermined processing on a signal component of a received signal to be relayed, the signal component being of the frequency band corresponding to each of the RF functional units, and the communication device transmits the instruction signal to the relay station device by an on / off instruction unit. Effect of the Invention

[0011] The relay station device, communication device, communication system, and communication method according to the present disclosure can improve efficiency, such as reducing power consumption. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of a communication system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic functional block configuration of a relay station device and a base station device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3A] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of component carriers of CC(1) to CC(4) according to the embodiment. [Figure 3B] A figure showing an example of a component carrier of CC(1) according to the embodiment. [Figure 3C] A figure showing an example of a component carrier of CC(2) according to the embodiment. [Figure 3D] A figure showing an example of a component carrier of CC(3) according to the embodiment. [Figure 3E] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a component carrier of CC(4) according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a signal of CC(1) according to the embodiment is communicated. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a signal communication flow including an instruction signal according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] [Communication Systems] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration example of a communication system 1 according to an embodiment. The communication system 1 includes a relay station device 11, a base station device 12, and m (m is an integer of 2 or more) terminal devices C1 to Cm. In this embodiment, each of the terminal devices C1 to Cm may be a mobile smartphone or the like, and the communication system 1 is a mobile communication system.

[0015] The relay station apparatus 11 relays wireless communication between the terminal devices C1 to Cm and the base station apparatus 12. Specifically, relay station device 11 receives signals wirelessly transmitted from terminal devices C1 to Cm, performs predetermined processing on the signals, and wirelessly transmits the signals to base station device 12. Similarly, relay station device 11 receives signals wirelessly transmitted from base station device 12, performs predetermined processing on the signals, and wirelessly transmits the signals to terminal devices C1 to Cm.

[0016] Here, in this embodiment, one base station device 12 is shown, but two or more base station devices may be included in the communication system 1. Furthermore, in this embodiment, m terminal devices C1 to Cm are shown, but the communication system 1 may include only one terminal device. Furthermore, in this embodiment, one relay station device 11 is shown, but two or more relay station devices may be included in the communication system 1.

[0017] In this embodiment, as an example, the communication system 1 uses carrier aggregation (CA), the base station device 12 is a gNB, and the relay station device 11 is an L1 relay station device that supports CA and supports the maximum bandwidth used in CA, but other configurations may be used. Note that base station device 12 may be called a BS (Base Station) or the like, and relay station device 11 may be called a Repeater or an RS (Relay Station) or the like.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic functional block configuration of the relay station device 11 and the base station device 12 according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a relay station device 11, a base station device 12, and one terminal device C1. In this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, one terminal device C1 will be explained as a representative, but the same applies to the other terminal devices C2 to Cm.

[0019] <Relay station equipment> The relay station device 11 includes four RF functional units D1 to D4. In the example of FIG. 2, a configuration example in which relay station apparatus 11 relays a signal transmitted from terminal apparatus C1 to base station apparatus 12 is shown.

[0020] In addition, the relay station device 11 is equipped with one antenna (each of the four antennas A1 to A4) for wireless communication with the terminal device C1, and one antenna (each of the four antennas B1 to B4) for wireless communication with the base station device 12, for each of the RF functional units D1 to D4. In the example of FIG. 2, connection points between the RF functional units D1 to D4 and the antennas A1 to A4 are shown as antenna ports P1 to P4. In the example of FIG. 2, connection points between the RF functional units D1 to D4 and the antennas B1 to B4 are shown as antenna ports P11 to P14.

[0021] Each of the RF functional units D1 to D4 includes one filter (each of the four filters 111-1 to 111-4) which is a band pass filter (BPF), and one processing unit (each of the four processing units 112-1 to 112-4) which performs predetermined processing. Each of the processing units 112-1 to 112-4 includes one on / off switching control unit (each of the four on / off switching control units 131-1 to 131-4).

[0022] In this embodiment, the four RF functional units D1 to D4 have the same configuration and perform the same operation, except that the filters 111-1 to 111-4 correspond to different frequency bands. For this reason, the following description will be given by taking one RF functional unit D1 and its antennas, antenna A1 and antenna B1, as representative examples.

[0023] A signal transmitted wirelessly from terminal device C1 is received by antenna A1. The received signal is input to the filter 111-1 from the antenna port P1 to which the antenna A1 is connected. Filter 111-1 extracts signal components in a predetermined frequency band from the input received signal and outputs the extracted signal to processing unit 112-1. The processing unit 112-1 performs a predetermined process on the signal component (the signal in that frequency band), and outputs the signal after the predetermined process to the antenna B1 from the antenna port P11 to which the antenna B1 is connected. The antenna B1 transmits the signal to the base station device 12 wirelessly.

[0024] 2 shows a configuration example in which the RF functional units D1 to D4 relay signals transmitted from the terminal device C1 to the base station device 12, but in a configuration in which the RF functional units D1 to D4 relay signals transmitted from the base station device 12 to the terminal device C1, the arrangement of the filters and processing units is generally reversed from that in the example of Fig. 2, since the direction of the signal flow is reversed. That is, in the relay station device 11, the signal from the base station device 12 is filtered and then subjected to a predetermined process, and the signal subjected to the predetermined process is wirelessly transmitted to the terminal device C1.

[0025] The on / off switching control unit 131-1 switches the operation state of the RF function unit D1 between on and off. In this embodiment, the RF functional unit D1 performs an operation of relaying wireless communication performed between the terminal device C1 and the base station device 12 when it is in an on state (which may be called an active state, etc.). On the other hand, in this embodiment, the RF functional unit D1 does not perform an operation of relaying wireless communication between the terminal device C1 and the base station device 12 when it is in an off state (which may also be called an inactive state, etc.).

[0026] In this embodiment, the on / off switching control units 131-1 to 131-4 control switching of the on / off state of the RF functional units D1 to D4 based on a predetermined instruction signal transmitted from the base station device 12 to the relay station device 11.

[0027] Here, as the on and off states of each of the RF functional units D1 to D4, for example, a state in which less power is consumed in the off state than in the on state is used. Therefore, the off state of each of the RF functional units D1 to D4 does not necessarily have to be a state in which all the functions of the RF functional units D1 to D4 are turned off, and may be, for example, a state in which some of the functions of the RF functional units D1 to D4 are turned off.

[0028] In addition, in the present embodiment, the description is given using the expression that each of the RF functional units D1 to D4 is switched between an on state and an off state, but, for example, an expression that each of the antenna ports (one or both of each of the antenna ports P1 to P4 and each of the antenna ports P11 to P14) is switched between an on state and an off state may be used. Also, the on / off switching control unit 131-1 may have a configuration that switches, for example, the connection between each of the antenna ports (one or both of each of the antenna ports P1 to P4 and each of the antenna ports P11 to P14) and an antenna (one or both of each of the antennas A1 to A4 and each of the antennas B1 to B4) between an on state and an off state.

[0029] In this embodiment, the relay station device 11 includes four RF functional units D1 to D4, but the number of RF functional units may be any number equal to or greater than two. In addition, in this embodiment, a case is shown in which a BPF is used as each of the filters 111-1 to 111-4 capable of extracting only signals (signal components) in a specific frequency band, but filters of other configurations (combinations of two or more filters) may also be used.

[0030] Furthermore, in this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, a configuration is shown in which the RF functional units D1 to D4 are provided with the filters 111-1 to 111-4 and the processing units 112-1 to 112-4, but the internal configuration of each of the RF functional units D1 to D4 may be arbitrary. The content of the specified processing performed by each of processing units 112-1 to 112-4 is not particularly limited, and for example, a process that only amplifies (e.g., power amplification) the extracted signal may be used to relay the signal in the same frequency band, or a process that amplifies (e.g., power amplification) the extracted signal and also a frequency conversion process that converts the center frequency of the extracted signal to another arbitrary frequency band may be used to relay the signal in a different frequency band. In this embodiment, the RF functional units D1 to D4 do not have a function of performing demodulation.

[0031] In addition, in this embodiment, a configuration is shown in which processing units 112-1 to 112-4 are provided with on / off switching control units 131-1 to 131-4, respectively. However, on / off switching control units 131-1 to 131-4 may be provided at any positions in relay station device 11. In addition, in this embodiment, a configuration is shown in which separate on / off switching control units 131-1 to 131-4 are provided for each of the processing units 112-1 to 112-4, but as another example, a common on / off switching control unit may be provided for all of the processing units 112-1 to 112-4.

[0032] In addition, in this embodiment, for each RF functional unit D1 to D4 in the relay station device 11, the antennas A1 to A4 for wireless communication with the terminal devices C1 to Cm and the antennas B1 to B4 for wireless communication with the base station device 12 are shown as separate antennas, but as another example, these may be common, in which case the respective antenna ports P1 to P4 and the respective antenna ports P11 to P14 are common.

[0033] <Base station equipment> The base station device 12 includes an on / off instruction unit 211 . The on / off instruction unit 211 has a function of transmitting a predetermined instruction signal to the relay station device 11 wirelessly. Here, the on / off instruction unit 211 may be provided as a function separate from other communication function units, or may be provided integrally with other communication functions, for example.

[0034] <Carrier aggregation component carrier> In this embodiment, the communication system 1 uses a component carrier (CC) of CA. In this embodiment, a case will be shown in which four CCs, CC(1) to CC(4), are used.

[0035] 3A to 3E, examples of component carriers (CC) are shown. In each of the graphs shown in FIGS. 3A to 3E, the horizontal axis represents frequency, and the vertical axis represents signal strength.

[0036] FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an example of component carriers of CC(1) to CC(4) according to the embodiment. The graph in FIG. 3A shows a characteristic 2011 of CC(1), a characteristic 2012 of CC(2), a characteristic 2013 of CC(3), and a characteristic 2014 of CC(4).

[0037] FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating an example of a component carrier of CC(1) according to the embodiment. FIG. 3C is a diagram illustrating an example of a component carrier of CC(2) according to the embodiment. FIG. 3D is a diagram illustrating an example of a component carrier of CC(3) according to the embodiment. FIG. 3E is a diagram illustrating an example of a component carrier of CC(4) according to the embodiment.

[0038] Here, in the example of FIG. 2, a signal transmitted wirelessly from the terminal device C1 includes four CCs, CC(1) to CC(4), as in the example of FIG. 3A. In addition, in the example of Fig. 2, the signal extracted by the filter 111-1 of the RF functional unit D1 includes one CC, CC(1), as in the example of Fig. 3B. Fig. 3B illustrates a passband F1, which is a frequency band extracted by the filter 111-1. Similarly, in the example of Fig. 2, the signal extracted by the filter 111-2 of the RF functional unit D2 includes one CC, CC(2), as in the example of Fig. 3C. Fig. 3C illustrates a passband F2, which is a frequency band extracted by the filter 111-2. Similarly, in the example of Fig. 2, the signal extracted by the filter 111-3 of the RF functional unit D3 includes one CC, CC(3), as in the example of Fig. 3D. Fig. 3D illustrates a passband F3, which is a frequency band extracted by the filter 111-3. Similarly, in the example of Fig. 2, the signal extracted by the filter 111-4 of the RF functional unit D4 includes one CC, CC(4), as in the example of Fig. 3D. Fig. 3E illustrates a passband F4, which is a frequency band extracted by the filter 111-4.

[0039] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a signal of CC(1) according to the embodiment is communicated. FIG. 4 shows an example of a state in which only a signal having a CC(1) signal component is transmitted wirelessly from a terminal device C1 in a communication system 1 similar to that shown in FIG. In this case, in the base station device 12, the on / off instruction unit 211 transmits a predetermined instruction signal W1 to the relay station device 11 by wireless. In the example of FIG. 4, the instruction signal W1 includes an instruction to operate the RF functional unit D1 corresponding to the frequency band of CC(1) and to stop the operations of the RF functional units D2 to D4 corresponding to the other frequency bands.

[0040] In the example of FIG. 4, in the relay device 11, the RF functional unit R1 is turned on and operates normally. On the other hand, the other RF functional units R2 to R4 are switched to the off state by the on / off switching control units 131-2 to 131-4 in accordance with the instruction signal W1 received from the base station apparatus 12, and do not operate. As a result, only the RF functional unit R1 required for CC(1) is turned on and operates, while the other RF functional units R2 to R4 are turned off and do not operate.

[0041] Here, while Figures 3A to 3E illustrate signal components in multiple frequency bands (in this embodiment, multiple component carriers), the signal components in multiple frequency bands may be arranged, for example, in continuous frequency bands, or may be arranged in discrete frequency bands. For example, NR CCs may be in different frequency bands, as in LTE, but there may also be different CCs contiguous in the same frequency band.

[0042] Furthermore, the signal components of multiple frequency bands (multiple component carriers in this embodiment) may be communicated, for example, one by one, or two or more signal components may be communicated simultaneously. The two or more signal components communicated simultaneously may have adjacent frequency bands, such as a combination of CC(1) and CC(2), or may have discrete frequency bands, such as a combination of CC(1) and CC(3).

[0043] In this embodiment, the relay station device 11 includes antenna ports equal to the number of any CCs that may be used for CA communication via the relay station device 11 in the area in which the relay station device 11 is installed. In this case, relay station device 11 may support, for example, all CCs, or may support only a specific part of CCs. When relay station device 11 supports only a specific part of CCs, relay station device 11 may be configured to notify base station device 12 of its capability when performing initial connection with base station device 12 using a function such as NCR-MT (Mobile termination), or may be configured to register the capability of relay station device 11 in base station device 12 or the like in advance. Here, in NCR, the capabilities of the relay station device are configured to be registered in advance on the base station device or network (NW) side.

[0044] In NCR, NCR-Fwd is a function that amplifies and forwards uplink (UL: UpLink) and downlink (DL: DownLink) RF signals between a gNB and a user equipment (UE: User Equipment). NCR-Fwd communicates with the UE via an access link and with the gNB via a backhaul link. In addition, in the NCR, the NCR-MT is a function that exchanges information with the gNB. The NCR-MT communicates with the gNB via the control link (C-link). The base is the radio access line (NR Uu) interface.

[0045] <Communication of command signals> FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a signal communication flow including an instruction signal according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 shows a relay station device 11, a base station device 12, and a terminal device C1.

[0046] (Process T1) When controlling communication, the base station device 12 transmits, by means of the on / off instruction unit 211, an instruction signal for switching on and off each of the RF function units D1 to D4 in the relay station device 11 to the relay station device 11 wirelessly. As a result, in the relay station device 11, the RF functional units R1 to R4 are turned on or off in accordance with the instruction signal.

[0047] (Process T2) Moreover, the base station apparatus 12 wirelessly transmits a CC notification signal (CC designation signal) to the terminal apparatus C1. As a result, the terminal device C1 performs wireless transmission using the CC of the notified frequency band in accordance with the notification signal. In this embodiment, the notification signal is a signal that notifies the terminal device C1 of resource allocation of CA from the base station device 12.

[0048] Here, in the base station device 12, the on / off instruction unit 211 matches the CC used by the terminal device C1 with the CC that issues an instruction to switch the relay station device 11 to the on state. As a result, the frequency band used for transmission by the terminal device C1 matches the frequency band that is switched to the on state in the relay station device 11.

[0049] As a specific example, when the base station device 12 notifies the terminal device C1 of the CC index of CA (resource allocation of CA) in (processing T2), the base station device 12 may notify the relay station device 11 of a predetermined instruction signal in (processing T1). The instruction signal may include, for example, information instructing the on / off of the RF functional units D1 to D4 corresponding to the CC (information instructing the on / off of the antenna port corresponding to the CC), or may include the CC index itself. The instruction signal controls the on / off of each of the RF functional units D1 to D4 in the relay station device 11 (the on / off of each antenna port). In this specific example, a new communication step is added in which the base station device 12 transmits an instruction signal including control information related to the CC of the CA to the relay station device 11 (process T1).

[0050] In the example of Figure 5, a configuration is shown in which the timing of (processing T1) precedes the timing of (processing T2). However, as another example, a configuration in which the timing of (processing T2) precedes the timing of (processing T1), or a configuration in which these timings are simultaneous (or nearly simultaneous), may be used.

[0051] In addition, in the example of Figure 5, the signal (instruction signal) transmitted from base station device 12 to relay station device 11 in (processing T1) and the signal transmitted from base station device 12 to terminal device C1 in (processing T2) are shown as separate signals, but as another example, these signals may be shared, in which case the shared signal transmitted wirelessly from base station device 12 is received by both relay station device 11 and terminal device C1.

[0052] Here, in this embodiment, the instruction signal from the on / off instruction unit 211 is configured to give no particular instruction (information representing the instruction content) to an RF functional unit (any of the RF functional units D1 to D4) to be turned on, and to give a predetermined instruction (information representing the instruction content) to an RF functional unit (any of the RF functional units D1 to D4) to be turned off; however, as another example, a configuration may be used in which no particular instruction (information representing the instruction content) is given to an RF functional unit (any of the RF functional units D1 to D4) to be turned off, and a predetermined instruction (information representing the instruction content) is given to an RF functional unit (any of the RF functional units D1 to D4) to be turned on, or a configuration may be used in which a predetermined instruction (information representing the instruction content) is given to both of these.

[0053] As described above, relay station device 11 according to this embodiment includes a plurality of n (four in this embodiment) RF functional units (RF functional units D1 to D4 in this embodiment), each having an antenna port (antenna ports P1 to P4 and antenna ports P11 to P14 in this embodiment), and an on / off switching control unit (on / off switching control units 131-1 to 131-4 in this embodiment) that controls switching between the on state and the off state of each RF functional unit based on a predetermined instruction signal received. Each RF function unit corresponds to one of the multiple frequency bands. In the ON state, the RF functional units perform a predetermined process on signal components of the received signal to be relayed, the signal components being in a frequency band corresponding to each RF functional unit.

[0054] Therefore, in the relay station device 11 according to this embodiment, each RF functional unit can be switched between an on state and an off state. Therefore, for example, by turning on only the RF functional units required for relay processing, it is possible to achieve efficiency such as reducing power consumption compared to the case where all RF functional units are always turned on.

[0055] For example, in relay station device 11, when relaying a communication signal (a signal to be relayed) communicated between a base station device (in this embodiment, base station device 12) and a terminal device (in this embodiment, terminal device C1), an instruction signal from the base station device controls on / off of the RF radio unit (on / off of the antenna port), thereby making it possible to reduce unnecessary power consumption that may occur during relaying. In other words, in relay station device 11, power consumption can be reduced by only performing relay processing corresponding to a signal (signal component) in a frequency band in which the signal (signal component) to be relayed exists.

[0056] Here, when signals (signal components) of two or more different frequency bands are to be relayed at the same time, the signal that combines the signals (signal components) of these two or more different frequency bands becomes the signal to be relayed. On the other hand, when a signal (signal component) of only one frequency band is to be relayed, the signal (signal component) of that frequency band becomes the signal to be relayed. Furthermore, signals (signal components) in two or more different frequency bands may carry different information, but may also carry the same information.

[0057] Moreover, in relay station device 11 according to this embodiment, the signal to be relayed is a communication signal of carrier aggregation. Each signal component in a plurality of frequency bands corresponds to a respective component carrier in the carrier aggregation. Therefore, relay station device 11 according to this embodiment is applicable to a communication system in which carrier aggregation is used.

[0058] For example, in an L1 relay station device that supports communications in which different information is carried on component carriers of multiple frequency bands, such as carrier aggregation, relay processing can be switched on / off for each RF functional unit (for each antenna port) corresponding to each frequency band (each component carrier).

[0059] Moreover, in the relay station device 11 according to this embodiment, the predetermined processing of the RF functional unit does not include demodulation processing. Therefore, in the relay station device 11 according to this embodiment, even when an RF function unit without a demodulation function is used, it is possible to achieve efficiency such as reducing power consumption.

[0060] Note that, when the RF function unit has a demodulation function, the problem to be solved by this embodiment may not occur, but the technology according to this embodiment may be applied in this case.

[0061] Furthermore, in relay station device 11 according to this embodiment, the instruction signal is transmitted wirelessly from a communication device that is to be a communication partner. Therefore, in the relay station device 11 according to this embodiment, it is possible to control the on / off switching of each RF function unit from an external communication device. Here, the communication device is, for example, a base station device, but as another example, it may be a terminal device. As yet another example, when a plurality of relay station devices including relay station device 11 continuously relay a relay target signal in series, a relay station device (another relay station device) in a stage preceding relay station device 11 may transmit an instruction signal to relay station device 11. In this case, the other relay station device corresponds to the communication device that transmits the instruction signal. It is also possible to provide a communication method performed in the communication device.

[0062] Here, the configuration of controlling the on / off of each RF functional unit in the relay station device as in this embodiment may be applied, for example, only to a signal transmitted from one communication device to another communication device, or may be applied to both a signal transmitted from one communication device to the other communication device and a signal transmitted from the other communication device to the one communication device. In addition, the one communication device and the other communication device may be, for example, a base station device and a terminal device, or a terminal device and a base station device, in the order of description.

[0063] Furthermore, signals that undergo various processes in a communication system including a relay station device according to this embodiment may be handled, for example, in the form of a digital signal, or in the form of an analog signal, or may be handled in part in the form of a digital signal and in other parts in the form of an analog signal. The relay station device according to the present embodiment may be installed in a fixed position, or may be installed in a mobile device that can move. The mobile device may be, for example, an automobile, an airplane, or an unmanned aerial vehicle (a so-called drone).

[0064] [About the above embodiment] As a result, it will be possible to improve the overall service quality in wireless networks, for example, and thereby contribute to Goal 9 of the United Nations-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is to "build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation."

[0065] A program for implementing the functions of any of the components of any of the above-described devices may be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium, and the program may be read into a computer system and executed. The term "computer system" as used herein includes hardware such as an operating system or peripheral devices. The term "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, optical magnetic disks, ROMs, and CDs (Compact Discs)-ROMs (Read Only Memory), and storage devices such as hard disks built into computer systems. The term "computer-readable recording medium" also refers to storage devices that hold a program for a certain period of time, such as volatile memory inside a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. The volatile memory may be, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory). The recording medium may be, for example, a non-transitory recording medium.

[0066] The above-mentioned program may be transmitted from a computer system in which the program is stored in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by transmission waves in the transmission medium. Here, the "transmission medium" that transmits the program refers to a medium that has a function of transmitting information, such as a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. The above program may be for implementing some of the above functions. Furthermore, the above program may be a so-called differential file that can implement the above functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system. The differential file may be called a differential program.

[0067] In addition, the function of any of the components in any of the above-described devices may be realized by a processor. For example, each process in the embodiment may be realized by a processor that operates based on information such as a program and a computer-readable recording medium that stores information such as a program. Here, the functions of each part of the processor may be realized by individual hardware, or the functions of each part may be realized by integrated hardware. For example, the processor may include hardware, and the hardware may include at least one of a circuit that processes digital signals and a circuit that processes analog signals. For example, the processor may be configured using one or more circuit devices mounted on a circuit board, or one or both of one or more circuit elements. An IC (Integrated Circuit) or the like may be used as the circuit device, and a resistor or a capacitor or the like may be used as the circuit element.

[0068] Here, the processor may be, for example, a CPU. However, the processor is not limited to a CPU, and various processors such as a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) may be used. The processor may be, for example, a hardware circuit using an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The processor may be, for example, a plurality of CPUs, or a hardware circuit using a plurality of ASICs. The processor may be, for example, a combination of a plurality of CPUs and a hardware circuit using a plurality of ASICs. The processor may include, for example, one or more of an amplifier circuit or a filter circuit that processes an analog signal.

[0069] Although the embodiments of this disclosure have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and designs that do not deviate from the gist of this disclosure are also included. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 1...communication system, 11...relay station device, 12...base station device, 111-1 to 111-4...filters, 112-1 to 112-4...processing units, 131-1 to 131-4...on / off switching control units, 211...on / off instruction unit, 2011 to 2014...characteristics, A1 to A4, B1 to B4...antennas, C1 to Cm...terminal devices, D1 to D4...RF function units, F1 to F4...passbands, P1 to P4, P11 to P14...antenna ports, W1...instruction signal

Claims

1. A plurality of (n) RF functional units each having an antenna port; an on / off switching control unit that performs control to switch between an on state and an off state of each of the RF functional units based on a received predetermined instruction signal; Equipped with Each of the RF functional units corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of frequency bands, the RF functional unit, in an on-state, performs a predetermined process on a signal component of a received signal to be relayed, the signal component being in the frequency band corresponding to each of the RF functional units; Relay station equipment.

2. The relay target signal is a carrier aggregation communication signal, Each signal component of the plurality of frequency bands corresponds to each component carrier in the carrier aggregation. The relay station device according to claim 1 .

3. The predetermined processing of the RF functional unit does not include demodulation processing. The relay station device according to claim 1 .

4. The instruction signal is wirelessly transmitted from a communication device to be a communication partner. The relay station device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A communication device that transmits an instruction signal to a relay station device including a plurality of (n) RF functional units, each having an antenna port, and an on / off switching control unit that controls switching between an on state and an off state of each of the RF functional units based on a received instruction signal, an on / off instruction unit that transmits the instruction signal to the relay station device; In the relay station device, each of the RF functional units corresponds to each of a plurality of frequency bands, and in an on state, the RF functional units perform a predetermined process on a signal component of a received relay target signal, the signal component being in the frequency band corresponding to each of the RF functional units. Communications equipment.

6. In a communication system having a communication device and a relay station device, The relay station device, A plurality of (n) RF functional units each having an antenna port; an on / off switching control unit that performs control to switch between an on state and an off state of each of the RF functional units based on a received predetermined instruction signal; Equipped with Each of the RF functional units corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of frequency bands, The RF functional unit, in an on-state, performs a predetermined process on a signal component of a received signal to be relayed, the signal component being in the frequency band corresponding to each of the RF functional units; The communication device includes: an on / off instruction unit that transmits the instruction signal to the relay station device; Communication systems.

7. A communication method in a communication system having a communication device and a relay station device, The relay station device, A plurality of (n) RF functional units each having an antenna port; an on / off switching control unit that performs control to switch between an on state and an off state of each of the RF functional units based on a received predetermined instruction signal; Equipped with Each of the RF functional units corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of frequency bands, The RF functional unit, in an on-state, performs a predetermined process on a signal component of a received signal to be relayed, the signal component being in the frequency band corresponding to each of the RF functional units; The communication device includes: An on / off instruction unit transmits the instruction signal to the relay station device. Communication methods.

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