Smart mobile communication relay system and method using beam steering

Abstract

To provide a smart mobile communication relay system and a method using beam steering for overcoming communication failures that occur during ultra-high frequency band mobile communication services.SOLUTION: A smart mobile communication relay system includes a donor unit 210 that receives and stores communication information from a base station at the time of initial startup, recognizes that a communication failure occurs on a receiving path of a beam based on the communication information, and switches beamforming to receive a beam in good condition among a plurality of beams.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2a

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for providing ultra-high frequency band mobile communication services, and more particularly, to a smart mobile communication relay system and method using beam steering that can quickly overcome a communication failure that occurs during ultra-high frequency band mobile communication services in a mobile communication relay system. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, the fifth generation (5G) repeater system is implemented in the ultra-high frequency (mmWave) band (e.g. 20~60GHz) to achieve high data transmission rates. In the 5G repeater system, in areas where the base station's radio waves are difficult to reach or are blocked by terrain, repeaters are used to improve call quality and expand coverage. In particular, in the case of in-building repeaters, a donor unit (DU) and a service unit (SU) are used.

[0003] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile communication relay system according to the prior art.

[0004] Referring to FIG. 1, a prior art mobile communication relay system includes a base station 10, a relay 20 having a donor unit DU and a service unit SU, and a user terminal 30.

[0005] The base station 10 transmits ultra-high frequency (mmWave) signals using multibeams. The donor unit DU of the repeater 20 receives ultra-high frequency band signals from the base station 10. The service unit SU converts the ultra-high frequency band signals received via the donor unit DU into high frequency RF signals and transmits them to the user terminal 30.

[0006] However, in such conventional mobile communication relay systems, when a communication failure occurs in a transmission path between a base station and a donor unit or between a service unit and a user terminal, a transmission path that can immediately avoid the communication failure cannot be constructed, which causes a problem that communication services become impossible. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a smart mobile communication relay system and method using beam steering, which can overcome a communication failure by performing beam steering of a donor antenna based on previously received communication information when a communication failure occurs during a mobile communication service in a super-high frequency band in a mobile communication relay system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The smart mobile communication relay system using beam steering according to the problem to be solved by the present invention includes one or more base stations that beamform a very high frequency signal and transmit a corresponding beam; a donor unit that receives and stores communication information from the base station at the time of initial startup, recognizes that a communication failure occurs on the receiving path of the beam based on the communication information, and performs beam steering by switching beam forming so that a beam in a good condition is received among a plurality of beams; and a service unit that converts an ultra-high frequency signal received through the donor unit into a high frequency signal and transmits the high frequency signal in the direction of a target, but performs beam forming and transmits a beam corresponding to the high frequency signal; A user terminal that performs beamforming with the service unit and receives the high frequency signal.

[0009] The communication information includes at least one of a physical cell identity (PCI), a synchronization signal block (SSB) beam ID, a reference signal received power (RSRP), and a signal to interference noise ratio (SINR).

[0010] The plurality of beams are also characterized in that they are beams assigned with PCIs transmitted from two base stations respectively, or beams assigned with beam identification numbers transmitted from one base station.

[0011] The plurality of beams are characterized in that they are transmitted from one base station and then relayed via a plurality of repeaters.

[0012] The repeater is fixedly installed on the ground.

[0013] The repeater and the user terminal are also characterized in that they are mounted on respective flying objects.

[0014] The donor unit is also characterized by including: a beamforming and receiving unit that performs beamforming, receives a beam of ultra-high frequency signals transmitted from the base station, and converts the beam into an intermediate frequency band signal; and a control unit that detects and lists the communication information from the received beam at initial startup, detects the occurrence of a communication failure on the receiving path of the beam based on the communication information, and switches beamforming.

[0015] The beamforming and receiving unit includes an array antenna; a SISO beamforming unit that performs SISO beamforming on the array antenna and transmits and receives the beam; a MIMO beamforming unit that performs MIMO beamforming on the array antenna and transmits and receives the beam; and a mixer that converts ultra-high frequency signals of the beams output from the SISO beamforming unit and the MIMO beamforming unit and then transmitted through a combiner and a coupler into intermediate frequency SISO signals and MIMO signals.

[0016] The control unit further includes: a first analog-digital converter that converts an analog SISO signal received from the mixer into a digital signal; a second analog-digital converter that converts an analog MIMO signal received from the mixer into a digital signal; a communication information detection and beamforming control unit that detects and outputs the communication information from the SISO signal and the MIMO signal, and when a communication failure occurs on the reception path, outputs a switching control signal to the SISO beamforming unit and the MIMO beamforming unit to switch beamforming; and a control unit that is provided with the communication information from the communication information detection and beamforming control unit at an initial startup, lists and stores the communication information, compares the communication information with currently detected and received communication information, and outputs the switching control signal to the communication information detection and beamforming control unit when it is determined that a communication failure has occurred on the reception path.

[0017] The communication failure may mean at least one of the following: a communication obstacle is present on a communication path between the base station and the repeater; the base station does not transmit a signal normally; and the donor unit does not receive a signal normally.

[0018] The smart mobile communication relay method using beam steering according to the problem to be solved by the present invention includes the steps of: beamforming an ultra-high frequency signal at one or more base stations and transmitting a corresponding beam; a donor unit receiving and storing communication information from the base station at the time of initial startup, and recognizing that a communication failure occurs on the receiving path of the beam based on the communication information; the donor unit switching beamforming and performing beam steering so that a beam in a good condition is received among a plurality of beams; a service unit converting the ultra-high frequency signal received through the donor unit into a high frequency signal and transmitting it in a target direction, beamforming the high frequency signal, and transmitting a corresponding beam; and a user terminal performing beamforming with the service unit and receiving the high frequency signal. Effect of the Invention

[0019] The smart mobile communication relay system using beam steering according to the present invention has an advantage that when a communication failure occurs due to a communication interference during a mobile communication service in a super-high frequency band in the mobile communication relay system, the communication failure can be overcome by performing beam steering of a donor antenna based on previously received communication information. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile communication relay system according to the prior art. [Figure 2a] 2a-2d are schematic diagrams of a smart mobile relay system using beam steering according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2b] 2a-2d are schematic diagrams of a smart mobile relay system using beam steering according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2c] 2a-2d are schematic diagrams of a smart mobile relay system using beam steering according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2d] 2a-2d are schematic diagrams of a smart mobile relay system using beam steering according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3a] 3a to 3d are schematic diagrams of a smart mobile relay system using beam steering according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3b] 3a to 3d are schematic diagrams of a smart mobile relay system using beam steering according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3c] 3a to 3d are schematic diagrams of a smart mobile relay system using beam steering according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3d] 3a to 3d are schematic diagrams of a smart mobile relay system using beam steering according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a detailed block diagram of a donor unit of a repeater according to the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a smart mobile relay method using beam steering according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, when adding reference symbols to components in each drawing, it should be noted that the same reference symbols are used as much as possible for the same components even if they are displayed in different drawings. In addition, when describing the present invention, detailed descriptions of related known configurations or functions are omitted if they are obvious to those skilled in the art or are deemed to obscure the gist of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 2a is a schematic diagram of a smart mobile relay system using beam steering according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 2 a , the smart mobile communication relay system using beam steering according to the present invention includes a first base station 110 , a second base station 120 , a first relay 210 and a user terminal 300 .

[0024] The operation of the smart mobile communication relay system using beam steering according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

[0025] The first base station 110 performs single input single output (SISO) beamforming to transmit a first beam of a very high frequency signal mmWave to which a first PCI (PCI #1) is assigned so as to converge toward a target direction. Similarly, the second base station 120 performs SISO beamforming at a location distant from the first base station 110 to transmit a third beam of a very high frequency signal mmWave to which a third PCI (PCI #3) is assigned in a target direction.

[0026] The first repeater 210 includes a donor unit (DU) 210A and a service unit (SU) 210B.

[0027] The donor unit 210A normally receives one of the first and third beams, for example, an ultra-high frequency mmWave signal by performing SISO beamforming to face the direction of the first beam. The service unit 210B receives the ultra-high frequency mmWave signal through the donor unit 210A, converts it to a high frequency RF signal, and performs SISO beamforming to transmit it in a manner that is concentrated in the direction of the user terminal 300.

[0028] At the initial startup of the first repeater 210, the donor unit 210A performs a searching function for beams received from base stations including the first base station 110 and the second base station 120, and receives and stores communication information such as the PCI (Physical Cell Identity), SSB (Synchronization Signal Block) Beam ID, RSRP (Reference Signals Received Power), and SINR (Signal to Interference Noise Ratio) of the beam with the best reception conditions.

[0029] After that, for some reason, a communication failure may occur on the receiving beam path of the donor unit 210A, for example, on the first beam path. In such a case, the donor unit 210A switches the SISO beamforming based on the communication information to receive a beam in a good condition, for example, a third beam signal. Therefore, the donor unit 210A can continuously receive the beam signal normally regardless of the communication failure.

[0030] Figures 2b to 2d show another example in which there are multiple (e.g., two) receive beam paths between the donor unit and the base station, where the donor unit switches SISO beamforming as described above when a communication failure occurs as described above.

[0031] 2b, the third base station 130 performs SISO beamforming to transmit a first beam of the very high frequency signal mmWave assigned with a first beam identification number Beam ID #1 and a fourth beam of the very high frequency signal mmWave assigned with a fourth beam identification number Beam ID #4 so as to converge toward a target direction. In normal times, the donor unit 210A of the first repeater 210 receives the first beam through SISO beamforming. In this state, if a communication failure occurs on the receiving path of the first beam, the SISO beamforming is switched based on the communication information as described above to receive the fourth beam in a good state.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 2c, the third base station 130 performs SISO beamforming to transmit the ultra-high frequency mmWave signal of the first beam assigned with the first identification number Beam ID #1 and the fourth beam assigned with the fourth identification number Beam ID #4 so as to concentrate it in the target direction.

[0033] The second repeater 220 and the third repeater 230 are arranged in parallel between the third base station 130 and the first repeater 210. The donor unit 220A of the second repeater 220 and the donor unit 230A of the third repeater 230 will be described as an example in which they perform multiple input multiple output (MIMO) beamforming.

[0034] Under normal circumstances, the donor unit 210A of the first repeater 210 receives the first beam via the second repeater 220, but if a communication failure occurs between the third base station 130 and the second repeater 220, it switches beamforming based on the communication information as described above and receives the fourth beam in good condition via the third repeater 230.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 2d, the third base station 130 performs SISO beamforming to transmit the first beam of the ultra-high frequency signal mmWave assigned with the first identification number Beam ID #1 and the fourth beam of the ultra-high frequency signal mmWave assigned with the fourth identification number Beam ID #4 so that they are concentrated in the target direction.

[0036] The second repeater 220 and the third repeater 230 are arranged in parallel between the third base station 130 and the first repeater 210. The donor unit 220A of the second repeater 220 and the donor unit 230A of the third repeater 230 will be described as an example in which they perform MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) beamforming.

[0037] Under normal circumstances, the donor unit 210A of the first repeater 210 receives the first beam via the second repeater 220, but if a communication failure occurs between the second repeater 220 and the first repeater 210, the donor unit 210A switches beamforming based on the communication information as described above and receives a fourth beam in good condition via the third repeater 230.

[0038] Figures 3a to 3d are diagrams showing another embodiment of the present invention. The difference between Figures 2a to 2d and Figures 3a to 3d is that the installation (or operation) positions of the repeaters and the user terminals are different. That is, in Figures 2a to 3d, the repeaters 210, 220, 230 and the user terminal 300 are installed and operated on the ground, whereas in Figures 3a to 3d, the repeaters 210, 220, 230 are mounted on an aircraft 510, and the user terminal 300 is mounted on an aircraft 520, and are operated in a three-dimensional space.

[0039] FIG. 4 is a detailed block diagram of a donor unit of a repeater according to the present invention.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 4, the donor unit 210A of the repeater according to the present invention includes a beamforming and receiving section 410 and a control section 420.

[0041] The beamforming and receiving unit 410 performs beamforming, receives a beam of a very high frequency signal mmWave transmitted from a base station, and converts it into a signal in the intermediate frequency IF band.

[0042] For this purpose, the beamforming and receiving unit 410 includes an array antenna 411 , a SISO beamforming unit 412 , a MIMO beamforming unit 413 , a combiner 414 , a coupler 415 , a local PLL 416 and a mixer 417 .

[0043] The array antenna 411 is an array antenna for the ultra-high frequency signal mmWave band.

[0044] The SISO beamforming unit 412 performs SISO beamforming on the array antenna 411, and transmits and receives beams of ultra-high frequency signals mmWave.

[0045] The MIMO beamforming unit 413 performs MIMO beamforming on the array antenna 411, and transmits and receives beams of ultra-high frequency signals mmWave.

[0046] A combiner 414 combines the ultra-high frequency signal mmWave received via the SISO beamforming unit 412 and the ultra-high frequency signal mmWave received via the MIMO beamforming unit 413 .

[0047] Coupler 415 couples the ultra-high frequency mmWave signal that is downlinked via the line.

[0048] A mixer 417 uses an output signal of a local PLL (Local Phase Locked Loop) 416 to convert the ultra-high frequency mmWave signal received from the coupler 415 into an intermediate frequency IF SISO signal and a MIMO signal.

[0049] At the time of initial startup, the control unit 420 detects communication information such as PCI, SSB ID, RSRP, and SINR of all beams from the SISO signal and the MIMO signal, and lists them. After that, the control unit 420 detects the occurrence of communication failure on the receiving path of the donor unit 210A based on the communication information, and switches the beamforming of the SISO beamforming unit 412 and the MIMO beamforming unit 413 to receive a beam in good condition.

[0050] For this purpose, the control unit 420 includes a first analog-to-digital converter 421 , a second analog-to-digital converter 422 , a communication information detection and beamforming control unit 423 , and an MCU (McClock Controller Unit) 424 .

[0051] A first analog-to-digital converter 421 converts the analog SISO signal received from the mixer 417 into a digital signal.

[0052] A second analog-to-digital converter 422 converts the analog MIMO signal received from the mixer 417 into a digital signal.

[0053] The communication information detection and beamforming control unit 423 detects communication information such as PCI, SSB ID, RSRP, and SINR from the SISO signal and the MIMO signal, and outputs the information to the MCU 424. Furthermore, when a communication failure occurs on the receiving path of the donor unit 210A, the communication information detection and beamforming control unit 423 outputs a first switching control signal CTL1 to the SISO beamforming unit 412 and a second switching control signal CTL2 to the MIMO beamforming unit 413 under the control of the MCU 424. As a result, the beamforming of the SISO beamforming unit 412 and the MIMO beamforming unit 413 is switched, and a beam in a good condition is received.

[0054] For example, when multi-PCI is assigned to the ultra-high frequency signal mmWave, a first switching control signal CTL1 is output to the SISO beamforming unit 412 and a second switching control signal CTL2 is output to the MIMO beamforming unit 413 so that a PCI beam with good RSRP and SINR is beamformed from the remaining PCI beams, excluding PCI beams that are not received properly due to communication failure.

[0055] As another example, when multiple SSB IDs (Beam IDs) are assigned to the ultra-high frequency signal mmWave, a first switching control signal CTL1 is output to the SISO beamforming unit 412 and a second switching control signal CTL2 is output to the MIMO beamforming unit 413 so that an SSB ID beam with good RSRP and SINR is beamformed from among the remaining SSB ID beams, excluding SSB ID beams that are not received properly due to communication failure.

[0056] At the time of initial startup, the MCU 424 is provided with communication information such as PCI, SSB ID, RSRP, and SINR from the communication information detection and beamforming control unit 423, processes it into a list, and stores it. The MCU 424 compares this with the currently detected and received communication information. When the comparison result determines that a communication failure has occurred on the receiving path of the donor unit 210A, the MCU 424 outputs a first switching control signal CTL1 and a second switching control signal CTL2 to the communication information detection and beamforming control unit 423.

[0057] The communication failure refers to one or more of the following: a communication obstacle (e.g., a blocker) is present on the communication path between the base station and the repeater; the base stations 110, 120, and 130 do not transmit signals normally; and the donor unit 210A does not receive signals normally.

[0058] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a smart mobile communication relay method using beam steering according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] Referring to FIG. 5, the smart mobile communication relay method using beam steering according to the present invention includes an ultra-high frequency signal beamforming step (S1), a communication interference recognition step (S2), a beam steering step (S3), a high frequency signal beamforming step (S4) and a high frequency signal receiving step (S5).

[0060] In a very high frequency signal beamforming step (S1), at least one of the first to third base stations 110 to 130 beamforms a very high frequency signal and transmits the corresponding beam in a target direction.

[0061] In a communication failure recognition step (S2), the donor unit 210A receives and stores communication information from the base station at the time of initial startup, and recognizes that a communication failure occurs on the receiving path of the beam based on the communication information.

[0062] In a beam steering step (S3), the donor unit 201A switches beam forming and performs beam steering so that a good beam among a plurality of beams is received. In a high frequency signal beam forming step (S4), the service unit 210B converts the ultra high frequency signal received through the donor unit 210A into a high frequency signal and transmits it toward the target, and then beam forms the high frequency signal and transmits a corresponding beam. In a high frequency signal receiving step (S5), the user terminal 300 performs beam forming with the service unit 210B and receives the high frequency signal.

[0063] Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in relation to preferred embodiments for illustrating the technical idea of ​​the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the exact configuration and operation as illustrated and described, and it will be fully understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the technical idea. Therefore, all such appropriate changes, modifications, and equivalents should be considered to fall within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 110 1st base station 120 2nd base station 130 3rd base station 210 First Repeater 510, 510 flying object 220 Second Repeater 230 Third Repeater 300 User terminals 410 Beamforming and Receiver 420 Control Unit

Claims

1. one or more base stations for beamforming very high frequency signals and transmitting corresponding beams; a donor unit that receives and stores communication information from the base station at the time of initial startup, recognizes that a communication failure occurs on the receiving path of the beam based on the communication information, and performs beam steering by switching beam forming so that a beam in a good condition is received among a plurality of beams; and a service unit that converts an ultra-high frequency signal received through the donor unit into a high frequency signal and transmits the signal in the direction of a target, but performs beam forming and transmits the corresponding beam; A smart mobile relay system with beam steering, comprising: the service unit; and a user terminal that performs beamforming and receives the high frequency signal.

2. The communication information is The smart mobile communication relay system using beam steering according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes at least one of PCI (Physical Cell Identity), SSB (Synchronization Signal Block) Beam ID, RSRP (Reference Reignals Received Power), and SINR (Signal to Interference Noise Ratio).

3. The plurality of beams include: Whether the PCIs transmitted from the two base stations are assigned beams or not 2. The smart mobile communication relay system using beam steering according to claim 1, wherein a beam identification number is assigned to a beam transmitted from one base station.

4. The plurality of beams include:

2. The smart mobile communication relay system using beam steering as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beam is transmitted from one base station and then relayed via a plurality of repeaters.

5. The repeater includes:

2. The smart mobile communication relay system using beam steering according to claim 1, which is fixedly installed on the ground.

6. The repeater and the user terminal include The smart mobile communication relay system using beam steering according to claim 1, characterized in that it is mounted on each flying object.

7. The donor unit comprises: a beamforming and receiving unit that performs beamforming, receives a beam of a very high frequency signal transmitted from the base station, and converts the beam into a signal in an intermediate frequency band; A smart mobile communication relay system using beam steering as described in claim 1, characterized in that it includes: a control unit that detects and lists the communication information from the received beam at initial startup, detects that a communication failure has occurred on the receiving path of the beam based on the communication information, and switches beamforming.

8. The beamforming and receiving unit includes: An array antenna; a SISO beamforming unit that performs SISO beamforming on the array antenna and transmits or receives the beam; a MIMO beamforming unit that performs MIMO beamforming on the array antenna and transmits or receives the beam; The smart mobile communication relay system using beam steering according to claim 7, further comprising: a mixer that converts the very high frequency signals of the beams output from the SISO beam forming unit and the MIMO beam forming unit and then transmitted through a combiner and a coupler into intermediate frequency SISO signals and MIMO signals.

9. The control unit is a first analog-to-digital converter for converting an analog SISO signal received from the mixer into a digital signal; a second analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog MIMO signal received from the mixer into a digital signal; a communication information detection and beamforming control unit that detects and outputs the communication information from the SISO signal and the MIMO signal, and outputs a switching control signal to the SISO beamforming unit and the MIMO beamforming unit to switch beamforming when a communication failure occurs on the receiving path; and a control unit that receives the communication information from the communication information detection and beamforming control unit at the time of initial startup, processes the communication information into a list, and stores it, and compares the communication information with currently detected and received communication information, and when it is determined that a communication failure has occurred on the receiving path, outputs the switching control signal to the communication information detection and beamforming control unit.

10. The communication failure is The smart mobile communication relay system using beam steering as claimed in claim 1 or 9, characterized in that it means any one or more of the following: when there is a communication obstacle on the communication path between the base station and the repeater, when the base station does not transmit a signal normally, and when the donor unit does not receive a signal normally.

11. beamforming the very high frequency signals at one or more base stations and transmitting the beams accordingly; a donor unit receiving and storing communication information from the base station at an initial startup, and recognizing that a communication failure occurs on a receiving path of the beam based on the communication information; The donor unit switches beamforming and performs beam steering so that a beam having a good condition is received among a plurality of beams; A service unit converts the ultra-high frequency signal received through the donor unit into a high frequency signal and transmits the high frequency signal toward a target, and then beamforms the high frequency signal to transmit a beam accordingly; A smart mobile communication relay method using beam steering, comprising: a user terminal performing beamforming with the service unit to receive the high frequency signal.

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